Automatic Flag Housing With Sensor-Triggered Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flag deployment systems in towed water sports require manual operation, which can be inconvenient and potentially unsafe due to distractions or neglect by the designated flagger, compromising participant safety.
Innovation Solution
A flag housing and deployment system with an actuation system that automatically raises and lowers a flag based on predefined triggering events, using sensors and an energy source to move the flag between housed and deployed positions, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual flag operation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to human distraction and error
Solution Approach 1:
The flag deployment system performs itself automatically through sensors detecting water sport participant status and an actuation system that autonomously raises or lowers the flag without requiring manual intervention from the flagger, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of raising and lowering the flag is replaced with an automated actuation system that uses sensors, control logic, and mechanical actuators to perform the flag deployment function automatically, trading manual labor for an automated mechanical-electrical system
2Productivity
If manual flag operation is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to frequent manual interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The flag deployment system operates continuously and automatically, with sensors constantly monitoring participant status and the actuation system responding immediately to state changes, eliminating interruptions caused by manual operation and ensuring continuous safety signaling
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically detecting when flag deployment is needed and executing the deployment without requiring external human intervention, thereby improving operational efficiency while consuming energy only when triggered by actual safety conditions
3Ease of operation
If manual flag operation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to flagger burden and distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The flag deployment system performs itself automatically through sensors detecting water sport participant status and an actuation system that autonomously raises or lowers the flag without requiring manual intervention from the flagger, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors and control logic serve as intermediaries between the water sport environment and the flag deployment mechanism, automatically translating participant status into appropriate flag actions without requiring the flagger to directly monitor or manually operate the flag
Data Source
AI summary
A flag housing and deployment system includes: a housing with a hollow interior between proximal and distal ends; an elongated member positioned within the housing and configured to couple to a flag at a distal end of the elongated member; and an actuation system operably coupled to the elongated member. The actuation system is configured to: move the elongated member from the housed to deployed position based on an occurrence of a first triggering event; and move the elongated member from the deployed to housed position based on an occurrence of a second event. In the deployed position, the elongated member extends out of the distal end of the housing such that the flag and the distal end of the elongated member are outside of the housing. In the housed position, the elongated member is positioned within the housing such that the flag is housed within the housing.