Auger-Driven Grain Management Robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk storage facilities for granular materials pose safety hazards due to hot, dusty, and unstable environments, where workers risk falls, entrapments, and health issues like Farmer's Lung, necessitating safer and more efficient management of piled materials.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device equipped with an auger-based drive system that can operate autonomously or remotely, allowing it to move and manage granular materials within bulk stores by adjusting slopes, inspecting, agitating, and dispersing materials to reduce safety risks and prevent spoilage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If workers manually manage piled granular materials in bulk stores, then they can directly perform inspection and handling tasks, but they are exposed to safety hazards including falls, entrapments, explosions, heat stroke, and respiratory issues
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic system serves as an intermediary between workers and the hazardous bulk stored granular materials. The robot performs inspection and handling tasks within the bulk store while workers remain in safer external environments, connected via remote control systems. This mediator approach eliminates direct worker exposure to falls, entrapments, explosions, heat stroke, and respiratory hazards while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system equipped with sensors, actuators, and control systems. The robot uses computer vision, LIDAR, and other sensing technologies to navigate and interact with granular materials, substituting human mechanical labor with intelligent automation that operates autonomously or remotely in hazardous environments.
2Productivity
If workers enter bulk stores to manage granular materials, then they can perform inspection and handling tasks, but they are exposed to hot, dusty, and dangerous work environments
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system acts as an intermediary that performs material management tasks within the hazardous bulk store environment while workers remain externally protected. The robot is equipped with environmental controls and protective systems that allow it to operate in hot, dusty conditions without transferring these hazards to human workers.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual inspection and handling operations are replaced with automated robotic systems equipped with specialized sensors and tools. The robot performs tasks such as material inspection, slope management, and handling operations while filtering and protecting against environmental hazards like heat and dust, thereby maintaining productivity without worker exposure.
3Ease of operation
If workers climb on the surface of piled granular materials, then they can perform inspection and handling tasks, but they risk falls and entrapments
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system serves as a safe intermediary that accesses the surface of piled granular materials without human workers being directly exposed to fall and entrapment risks. The robot is equipped with stabilization systems, sensors, and controlled movement capabilities that allow it to traverse hazardous surfaces reliably, while workers operate remotely from safe distances.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual surface climbing and inspection operations are replaced with automated robotic systems that use sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to navigate and stabilize on granular surfaces. The robot's intelligent control systems continuously monitor surface conditions and adjust positioning to prevent falls and entrapments, providing reliable operation without human risk.
4Device complexity
If manual methods are used to manage bulk stored granular materials, then equipment complexity is low, but productivity and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into modular functional components including sensing subsystems (cameras, LIDAR, temperature sensors), actuation subsystems (motors, augers, conveyors), control subsystems (processors, controllers), and communication subsystems. This segmentation allows each module to be independently optimized and maintained, managing overall system complexity through modular architecture while achieving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is designed as a multi-functional platform that can perform various material management tasks including inspection, sampling, slope management, agitation, and handling operations. By consolidating multiple functions into a single versatile robot rather than separate specialized equipment, the system improves productivity without proportionally increasing complexity, as one platform replaces multiple pieces of manual equipment.
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
The robotic device enhances safety by minimizing human entry into hazardous environments, reduces the risk of entrapments and falls, and improves material handling efficiency through autonomous or remote-controlled operations, effectively managing granular material slopes and preventing spoilage.
Implementation Method 1
The robotic device includes an auger-based drive system that can operate on or in relation to a portion of piled granular material in a bulk store. The augers move and disrupt piled granular material as a consequence of the movement of the device.
Implementation Method 2
traversing the portion of piled granular material to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of piled granular material by disruption of viscosity of the portion of piled granular material
Implementation Method 3
The traversal of the portion of piled grain by the robot breaks up a crust layer of the surface of the piled grain
Data Source
AI summary
A piled grain surface management robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory. The processor is configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor is also configured to direct a traversal of a surface of piled grain in a bulk store, wherein a crust layer of the surface is broken up by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system during the traversal.