Autonomous Tire Changing Bot for Dynamic Vehicle Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automotive service facilities face challenges in efficiently and effectively changing tires due to labor shortages, skill level mismatches among technicians, and varying consumer demand, leading to limitations in throughput and efficiency, especially with manual and semi-automated methods that require constant technician presence and are labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

An automated tire changing system that includes autonomous traverse tire changing bots and a control architecture, allowing a single technician to monitor multiple tire changes by using robotic arms and tools to perform tasks such as tire mounting, balancing, and inflation, with the ability to change tires with the wheel remaining on the vehicle or being removed, and featuring a control console for managing operations and inventory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual or semi-automated tire changing methods are used, then a single technician can perform tire changes, but the number of tire changes per unit time is limited due to labor intensity and constant technician presence requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tire changes per unit timeVSAvoidlabor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous tire changing bot performs tire changing operations independently without requiring constant human intervention. The system autonomously navigates to vehicles, identifies tires needing service, and executes the complete tire changing process including removal, replacement, and installation, thereby eliminating the need for continuous technician presence and significantly increasing throughput capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system equipped with specialized end effectors for tire manipulation. The bot uses automated mechanical systems for bead breaking, tire removal, and wheel installation, substituting human labor with programmable robotic mechanisms that can operate continuously without fatigue or breaks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If senior vehicle service technicians are assigned to perform tire changes, then high skill level is ensured, but labor costs increase and availability may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskill levelVSAvoidcost efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous bot performs tire changing operations independently without requiring constant human intervention. The system autonomously navigates to vehicles, identifies tires needing service, and executes the complete tire changing process including removal, replacement, and installation, thereby eliminating the need for continuous technician presence and significantly increasing throughput capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If multiple tire changing machines are deployed to increase throughput, then more tire changes can be performed simultaneously, but the number of required technicians and machines increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidnumber of machines

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous tire changing bot is designed as a universal platform capable of servicing multiple different vehicle types and tire configurations. The system can adapt to various wheel sizes, mounting patterns, and tire types through programmable control and interchangeable end effectors, allowing a single bot design to replace multiple specialized machines while maintaining high throughput capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The bot employs dynamic navigation and positioning systems that allow it to adapt its movement and operation in real-time based on vehicle location and tire configuration. The system can dynamically adjust its approach for each tire change task, enabling flexible servicing of multiple vehicles in sequence without requiring fixed infrastructure or multiple dedicated stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250018577A1Autonomous traverse tire changing bot, autonomous tire changing system, and method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 AUTOMATED TIRE INC

AI summary

An autonomous traverse tire changing bot includes a carriage having a carriage frame with a carriage drive section effecting autonomous traverse of the carriage, along a traverse path, relative to a traverse surface or a floor on which the bot rests, and a bot frame including at least one actuator mounted to the carriage and a bot drive section with a motor defining an actuator degree of freedom, wherein the at least one actuator has an end effector having a tire engagement tool disposed so that articulation of the at least one actuator with the actuator degree of freedom effects engagement contact of the tire engagement tool and a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a controller effects traverse of the bot along the traverse path effecting dynamic positioning of the at least one actuator relative to a variable position of the vehicle with the tire mounted thereon.