Height-Adjustable Trash Box for User and Robot Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing trash box designs, where the input port is placed high due to being fixed to the wall, make it difficult for short individuals, such as children, to deposit trash, while also complicating the collection process for autonomous mobile robots.
Innovation Solution
A trash box with a height-adjustable main body, equipped with a driving device that changes its height based on detected presence of people or robots, allowing the input port to be lowered for user convenience and raised for robot collection, thereby balancing user accessibility and robotic collection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the trash box is fixed to the wall at a distance from the floor face, then trash can be collected from the bottom surface, but the input port is placed at a high position making it difficult for short people to put trash in
Solution Approach 1:
The trash box main body is made height-adjustable through a driving device that can move the main body between a first height (suitable for robot collection) and a second height (suitable for user input). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt its height based on operational mode, making it easy for users to deposit trash while maintaining the capability for bottom collection
Solution Approach 2:
The driving device automatically adjusts the height of the trash box main body based on detected presence of people or robots, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously transitioning between height positions to optimize for either user convenience or robotic collection efficiency
2Productivity
If the trash box is fixed to the wall at a distance from the floor face, then collection from lower side is enabled, but autonomous mobile robot collection becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The height-adjustable main body dynamically transitions between a first height optimized for autonomous mobile robot collection and a second height for user input operations. This dynamic positioning enables efficient robotic collection from the bottom surface while maintaining structural capability for both operational modes
Solution Approach 2:
The driving device uses detection mechanisms to sense the presence of people or robots and automatically adjusts the trash box height accordingly. This feedback-based control optimizes productivity by ensuring the trash box is at the appropriate height for the current operational context, thereby enhancing collection efficiency
3Ease of manufacture
If the input port is placed at a high position, then wall mounting is simplified, but accessibility for short users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The input port's height is made dynamic through the height-adjustable main body. The driving device transitions the main body between heights, allowing the input port to be positioned at an accessible height for short users during input operations while maintaining the capability for wall-mounted installation
Solution Approach 2:
The height parameter of the trash box main body is changed between different states to optimize for different operational requirements. By adjusting this physical parameter, the system maintains ease of wall mounting while improving accessibility for short users during trash deposition
Data Source
AI summary
A trash box is a trash box including a trash box main body in which trash is accommodated. A top surface or a side surface of the trash box main body includes an input port via which the trash is put into the trash box main body. A bottom surface of the trash box main body includes an opening-closing portion. The trash box main body is placed such that the opening-closing portion faces a reference plane that is a floor face or ground. The trash box main body is changeable in height from the reference plane.