Concealed End Effector Storage in Service Robots for Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional service robots with tool storage are visually observable and accessible, leading to potential hygiene issues and functional concerns when people interact with the tools.
Innovation Solution
A robot design featuring a self-propelled carriage with robotic arms, a storage unit, and a covering that conceals the tool storage, allowing for secure and hygienic handling of end effectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the tool storage is made visually observable and accessible to people, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but hygiene and functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tool storage from public view by placing it within the robot body, separating the storage function from the aesthetic exterior. The tools are taken out from traditional visible displays and integrated into the robotic structure, allowing aesthetic design while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the hidden storage and the workspace. It mediates the interaction by retrieving tools from the concealed storage and presenting them for use, eliminating direct human contact with the storage while maintaining accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the tool storage is made visually observable and accessible to people, then the ease of operation is improved, but hygiene and functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs self-service by automatically retrieving and presenting tools from its storage using its robotic arm. This eliminates the need for human hands to contact the storage area, maintaining hygiene while preserving ease of operation through automated tool delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm serves as an intermediary that handles tool retrieval and presentation. It bridges the gap between the concealed storage and the user, allowing easy tool access without direct human contact with the storage compartment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tool storage is concealed within the robot body, then hygiene and functionality are improved, but the aesthetic appeal and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tool storage with the robot body structure, combining the functional storage space with the aesthetic exterior design. This integration allows the storage to be concealed while maintaining overall visual appeal through unified robotic form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an intermediary that enables access to the concealed storage without compromising its hidden status. It retrieves tools from the concealed storage and presents them to the user, maintaining both hygiene and aesthetic appeal while preserving functionality.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the tool storage is concealed within the robot body, then hygiene is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robot provides self-service by automatically retrieving tools from its concealed storage using its robotic arm and presenting them to the user. This maintains hygiene by eliminating direct contact with storage while preserving ease of operation through automated tool delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm serves as an intermediary that facilitates easy tool access from the concealed storage. It retrieves tools automatically and presents them to the user, maintaining hygiene while ensuring operational ease through streamlined tool delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a self-propelled carriage, one or more robotic arms that are mounted on the carriage and allow an end effector to be attached thereto and detached therefrom, a storage that is mounted on the carriage and allows, to be stored, the end effector removed from the one or more robotic arms and the end effector to be attached to the one or more robotic arms, and a covering that is mounted on the carriage and covers the storage from above.