Biomimetic Turtle Limb Drive With Waterproof Modular Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biomimetic turtles have complex transmission mechanisms requiring multiple motors and waterproof components, leading to high manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A biomimetic turtle design with a simplified mechanical structure using a waterproof housing unit, detachable limb modules, and a single motor per limb, along with a flexible flipper material and a weight module for control, allowing for easy maintenance and appearance modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional biomimetic turtles use multiple motors and complex transmission mechanisms to control front and hind limbs, then movement control is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical transmission mechanisms (gears, pulleys, link rods) with a direct motor-limb connection. Each limb module is driven directly by a single motor, eliminating the need for intermediate transmission components and significantly simplifying the overall mechanical structure while maintaining movement control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The turtle is divided into independent modular limb units, where each limb (front or hind) operates as a separate module with its own dedicated motor. This segmentation allows each limb to be controlled independently with minimal mechanical complexity, while the modular design facilitates easier manufacturing and maintenance
2Reliability
If waterproof motors are used to protect motors from water, then waterproof function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motors from the water-exposed environment by housing them within the waterproof shell. The motors remain in a dry, protected compartment while the shell itself provides the waterproof barrier, allowing the use of standard non-waterproof motors without compromising the overall waterproof integrity of the device
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproof shell acts as an intermediary barrier between the motors and water. Instead of making the motors themselves waterproof, the shell provides the protective function, isolating the motors from water exposure while allowing the device to maintain its waterproof capability
3Ease of operation
If multiple motors and complex transmission mechanisms are used in front and hind limbs, then movement control is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each limb is designed as an independent modular unit with its own dedicated motor. This segmentation means that if one limb or motor fails, only that specific module needs to be accessed or replaced, rather than dealing with a complex interconnected transmission system where failure of one component could affect multiple limbs
Solution Approach 2:
By eliminating complex transmission mechanisms (gears, pulleys, belts, link rods) and using direct motor-to-limb drive, the patent removes numerous potential failure points and simplifies the mechanical structure. This reduction in mechanical complexity directly translates to easier maintenance and repair, as there are fewer components to service or replace
Data Source
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AI summary
A biomimetic turtle (100) includes a waterproof housing unit (1), front and hind limb driving motors (4, 5), and front and hind limb modules (6, 7). The waterproof housing unit (1) includes a waterproof casing (11) having front and hind limb connecting holes (112, 113), and front and hind limb connectors (12, 13) connected respectively to the front and hind limb connecting holes (112, 113). Each front limb driving motor (4) includes a front limb driving shaft (42) connected to a respective one of the front limb connectors (12). Each hind limb driving motor (5) includes a hind limb driving shaft (52) connected to a respective one of the hind limb connectors (13). The front and hind limb modules (6, 7) are driven by the front and hind limb driving motors (4, 5) via the front and hind limb connectors (12, 13), respectively.