Adjustable Damping Attachment for Robotic Tool Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robots face difficulties in grasping and using tools designed for humans, requiring manual fastening and decoupling, which is inefficient for quickly switching between tasks.
Innovation Solution
An attachment device with a robot-engaging portion and a tool-engaging portion, featuring a damping member that adjusts oscillation transfer, allowing secure and efficient tool attachment and detachment for robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fastening devices such as screws or bolts are used to secure the tool to the robot, then the tool can be firmly attached to the robot, but the user must manually couple and decouple the tool, which is time-consuming and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is divided into two separate portions: a robot-engaging portion that couples to the robot's end effector and a tool-engaging portion that couples to the tool. These portions are connected by a damping member that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows the robot to grasp and manipulate the attachment device separately from manual fastening operations, enabling quicker tool changes while maintaining secure attachment through the damping member's adjustable coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member is configured to be adjusted to vary the magnitude of oscillations transferred between the tool-engaging portion and the robot-engaging portion. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt the coupling stiffness based on task requirements, providing firm attachment when needed while enabling rapid reconfiguration for tool changes. The adjustable damping characteristic transforms a static fastening system into a dynamic one that can respond to different operational demands.
2Reliability
If manual fastening devices are used, then secure tool attachment is achieved, but the complexity of the attachment process increases due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The robot's end effector is equipped with fingers that can directly grasp and manipulate the attachment device's robot-engaging portion. This self-service capability allows the robot to perform attachment and detachment operations autonomously without requiring manual fastening or complex manual intervention. The simple grasping motion of the robot's fingers replaces complex manual fastening procedures, reducing process complexity while maintaining reliable attachment through the damping member's mechanical coupling.
3Ease of operation
If the damping member is positioned between the robot-engaging portion and tool-engaging portion, then oscillation transfer can be controlled, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member serves multiple functions within the attachment device: it connects the robot-engaging portion to the tool-engaging portion, provides adjustable oscillation damping, and enables the robot to grasp and manipulate the device through its intermediate position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite adding oscillation control capability. The single damping member component performs what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables robots to quickly and easily grab and use different tools, improving task efficiency by varying the magnitude of oscillations transferred between the tool and the robot, facilitating rapid tool changes without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A damping member is positioned at least partially between the robot-engaging portion and the tool-engaging portion. The damping member is configured to be adjusted to vary a magnitude of oscillations that are transferred from the tool-engaging portion to the robot-engaging portion.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment device includes a robot-engaging portion having a recess formed in an outer surface thereof for receiving a finger of a robot. The attachment device also includes a tool-engaging portion coupled to the robot-engaging portion. The tool-engaging portion is configured to be coupled to a tool that is to be used by the robot to perform a task. A damping member is positioned at least partially between the robot-engaging portion and the tool-engaging portion. The damping member is configured to be adjusted to vary a magnitude of oscillations that are transferred from the tool-engaging portion to the robot-engaging portion.