Auger-Drive Grain Robot for Walk-Down in Flat Bulk Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk storage of granular materials poses safety hazards for workers due to conditions such as heat, dust, and potential entrapments, necessitating human intervention that can lead to falls, entanglements, and other dangers.
Innovation Solution
A robotic device with an auger-based drive system is used to manage and traverse piled granular materials, performing tasks like inspection, leveling, and mapping, reducing the need for human entry by enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workers manually manage bulk stored granular materials, then tasks can be performed with simple equipment, but worker safety is compromised due to exposure to heat, dust, and entrapment hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic device serves as an intermediary between the operator and the hazardous bulk stored granular materials. The robot equipped with sensors, cameras, and manipulation tools can safely navigate and manage materials in environments with heat, dust, and entrapment risks, eliminating direct worker exposure while performing inspection, sampling, and material management tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system that uses sensors, computer vision, and autonomous navigation to perform tasks. The robotic device substitutes human workers in hazardous environments, using electronic control and automated mechanisms instead of manual labor to manage bulk stored granular materials
2Reliability
If a robotic device with auger-based drive system is used to traverse piled granular materials, then safety is improved by minimizing human exposure, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device is equipped with self-propulsion capabilities through an auger-based drive system that allows it to autonomously traverse piled granular materials without external assistance. The robot can independently navigate, position itself, and perform tasks on uneven surfaces within bulk stores, reducing the need for complex external support systems
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic device integrates multiple functions including locomotion via auger-based drive, material manipulation, sensing, navigation, and task execution. This multi-functional design consolidates various subsystems into a single platform, improving safety by replacing human workers while managing the inherent complexity through functional integration
3Productivity
If manual inspection and management of bulk stored materials is performed, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but productivity and efficiency are reduced due to hazardous conditions limiting worker access
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device enables continuous inspection and management operations within bulk stores by eliminating interruptions caused by worker safety concerns. The robot can operate continuously in hazardous environments with heat, dust, and potential entrapment risks, maintaining productive action without the limitations of manual worker access and rotation requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot, via the auger-based drive system, relative to grain in a flat storage bulk store. The processor is further configured to direct traversal, by the robot, of a portion of a pile of the grain in the flat storage bulk store. The traversal is performed to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of pile of grain system to walk-down the grain in the portion. The sediment gravity flow is incited by disruption of viscosity of the portion of the pile of grain through agitation of the portion of the pile of grain by auger rotation of the auger-based drive.