Biomimetic Aquatic Weight-Shift Mechanism for Compact Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biomimetic aquatic devices are bulky, costly, and prone to mechanical failures due to wear and tear of components like screw rods, limiting their ability to emulate smaller aquatic creatures and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A biomimetic aquatic device with a housing, driving module, cam, and weight unit, where the weight unit moves along a cam groove via an engaging member, adjusting the center of gravity to achieve ascending and descending movements, utilizing a power source assembly as the weight and reducing component count to minimize size and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional buoyant regulation mechanism with water supply and drainage is used, then ascending and descending movement is achieved, but the overall volume becomes relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water supply and drainage system from the biomimetic aquatic device, replacing it with a weight adjustment mechanism. The weight unit is moved along the screw rod to change the center of gravity, eliminating the need for a large inner space required for water regulation, thus reducing overall device volume while maintaining ascending and descending capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic system (water supply and drainage) with a mechanical system (screw rod and weight unit). The screw rod rotates to move the weight unit linearly, adjusting the center of gravity to achieve buoyancy control, thereby eliminating the need for large water storage space.
2Ease of operation
If a screw rod mechanism is used for weight adjustment, then center of gravity adjustment is achieved, but the screw rod becomes worn out after a period of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the screw rod as a replaceable component. When the screw rod becomes worn, it can be discarded and replaced with a new one, rather than attempting to repair or refurbish it. This approach maintains operational reliability while keeping the replacement process simple and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motor-driven rotating mechanism that dynamically adjusts the weight unit's position along the screw rod. This dynamic adjustment capability allows for precise center of gravity control during operation, improving ease of operation while the screw rod remains a simple, replaceable transmission component.
3Reliability
If waterproof function and water leakage prevention are implemented, then buoyant regulation mechanism reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the buoyant regulation mechanism that requires waterproofing (water supply and drainage system) entirely, replacing it with a mechanical weight adjustment system. This elimination of the waterproofing requirement directly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to control ascending and descending movement through center of gravity adjustment.
4Reliability
If a large inner space is provided for water accommodation, then buoyant regulation is achieved, but the device cannot emulate smaller aquatic creatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a motor-driven screw rod mechanism that can dynamically and precisely adjust the weight unit's position along the screw rod. This dynamic adjustment allows for fine control of the center of gravity, enabling the device to achieve buoyant regulation in a compact form factor that can emulate smaller aquatic creatures, thereby improving adaptability across different size scales.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves miniaturization and improved durability by reducing the overall volume and minimizing the need for additional weights, while enhancing the efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs through a compact design and reduced wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
The cam is mounted co-rotatably to the driving shaft, and has a cam groove formed in an outer surface of the cam and having at least a portion that extends spirally about the axis of the driving shaft. The weight unit is mounted to the driving module, is movable along the axis of the driving shaft relative to the driving module, and includes an engaging member engaging and movable along the cam groove.
Data Source
AI summary
A biomimetic aquatic device includes a housing, a driving module, a cam, and a weight unit. The driving module is disposed in a receiving space of the housing, and includes a driving shaft rotatable about its own axis. The cam is mounted co-rotatably to the driving shaft, and has a cam groove formed in an outer surface of the cam and having at least a portion that extends spirally about the axis. The weight unit is mounted to the driving module, is movable along the axis relative to the driving module, and includes an engaging member engaging and movable along the cam groove. When the driving shaft and the cam are rotated, the weight unit moves relative to the driving module along the axis via engagement between the engaging member and the cam groove, thereby changing a center of gravity of the biomimetic aquatic device.