Dust-Tolerant Robotic Interface With Sealed Latching Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic interfaces in dusty environments, such as the lunar surface, face interference from environmental dust, which can contaminate mechanical components and block electrical power and data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A dust-tolerant robotic interface system featuring an active side with a latching system and a passive side with a complementary latching feature, both sealed to prevent dust ingress, allowing for structural latching and electrical connection while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mechanical components are physically mated to establish structural coupling, then mechanical connection is achieved, but environmental dust contaminates the mechanical components and interferes with mechanical coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The interface system performs structural latching before establishing electrical connections. The latching system secures the mechanical coupling first, creating a sealed environment that prevents dust contamination before electrical contacts are made, thereby protecting both mechanical and electrical components
Solution Approach 2:
The interface system divides the connection process into distinct sequential stages: structural latching phase and electrical connection phase. This segmentation allows the mechanical coupling to be established and sealed first, protecting it from dust, while electrical connections are made in a controlled manner afterward
2Reliability
If electrical contacts are exposed to establish power and data transmission, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but environmental dust blocks conduction and interferes with signals
Solution Approach 1:
The interface system establishes mechanical structural latching and sealing before making electrical contacts. This preliminary action creates a protected environment that prevents dust from blocking electrical conduction, ensuring reliable power and data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The interface system uses sealed enclosures and protective barriers as intermediaries between the electrical contacts and the dusty external environment. These intermediaries allow electrical transmission to occur while blocking dust particles from reaching and blocking the conduction paths
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed enclosures are used to prevent dust ingress, then dust protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed enclosure is divided into separate functional sections: a sealed mechanical latching section and a sealed electrical connection section. Each section has its own sealing mechanisms, allowing dust protection to be applied only where necessary rather than requiring a completely complex sealed structure throughout
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed enclosure structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides dust protection for mechanical components, protects electrical contacts, and maintains structural integrity during the connection process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex sealing systems for each function
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A system and method for a dust tolerant robotic interface is provided herein. The system includes: an active side comprising an active side connector body and a passive side comprising a passive side connector body, wherein the active side connector body comprises an active latching feature, wherein the passive side connector body is configured to couple to the active side connector body, the passive side connector body comprising a passive latching feature configured to couple to the active latching feature; and a latching system coupled to the active side connector body, the latching system having a latched and unlatched configuration, the latching system configured to lock the active latching feature to the passive latching feature when the active side and passive side of the system are structurally latched, and the latching system is in the latched configuration.