Automatic Vehicle Cover with Segmented Folding Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for fully automatic and smart vehicle covering systems that can protect vehicles from environmental factors like sunlight, rain, and dust without manual intervention, and that can adapt to changing conditions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle covering system comprising a cover with folding mechanisms, arm mechanisms, and a control system that automatically opens and closes the cover based on environmental conditions, using sensors to determine when to activate the system and motors to drive the mechanisms, allowing for automatic deployment and retraction of the cover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual covering methods are used, then the system is simple, but automation is lost and user intervention is required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveautomationVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover system is divided into multiple segments or panels that can move independently. Each panel is attached to arms that can be controlled separately, allowing the complex covering action to be broken down into simpler, manageable movements that are easier to automate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic arms that can rotate and extend to different positions, allowing the cover to adapt to various vehicle types and sizes. This dynamic structure enables automatic deployment and retraction through motorized control, transforming a static manual system into a dynamic automated one

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the cover is always deployed, then protection is continuous, but energy consumption increases and accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is deployed periodically based on detected environmental conditions rather than remaining constantly deployed. Sensors trigger the covering action only when needed (e.g., during rain, snow, or extreme sunlight), allowing the system to maintain protection reliability while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the cover retracted during normal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses environmental sensors to continuously monitor conditions and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic decision-making about when to deploy or retract the cover, ensuring protection is provided reliably when needed while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from constant deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the cover is always deployed, then protection is continuous, but vehicle accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects environmental conditions and deploys or retracts the cover without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service capability maintains continuous protection when needed while automatically providing full accessibility when environmental conditions are favorable, eliminating the trade-off between protection and user convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Extent of automation

If folding mechanisms are added, then automatic deployment is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic deploymentVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The folding mechanism allows the cover panels to nest within each other when retracted, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting arrangement compactly stores the cover when not in use and simplifies the deployment process by allowing panels to unfold in a predetermined sequence, reducing the overall complexity of the automation mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10328782B2Automatic vehicle cover

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 SAJEDI MAJID

AI summary

A vehicle covering system that may include a cover having a first fold and a last fold, a first arm and a second arm, an arm (opening/closing) mechanism to open and close the first arm and the second arm, a folding mechanism to fold and unfold the cover; and a control system to cause the opening/closing mechanism to open the first arm and the second arm from a closed position to an opened position and cause the arm mechanism to close the first arm and the second arm from an opened position to a closed position, and cause the folding mechanism to fold and unfold the cover when the first and the second arms are in an opened position.