Eating Aid Robot Cycle Control for Disability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with disabilities face challenges in controlling existing eating aid robots, making it difficult for them to feed themselves due to the complexity of maneuvering joysticks or pressing multiple buttons to control the robot's arm and eating tool.
Innovation Solution
An eating aid robot with an arm capable of horizontal and vertical movement, connected to a maneuvering device that sends signals for different movements and pauses, allowing users to control the robot with a simple button or joystick, enabling easy operation by selecting and executing subsequent movements or pauses based on the current state of the cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a joystick or multiple buttons are used to control the eating aid robot, then the robot can perform complex movements and operations, but the ease of operation deteriorates for users with disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the next action based on the current cycle state, eliminating the need for users to manually control each movement. The robot serves itself by autonomously selecting and executing the next appropriate action from the cycle, while still allowing users to initiate or pause the process with simple inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the current cycle state and uses this feedback to automatically determine the next action. The control unit receives information about the current phase of the eating cycle and automatically selects the appropriate subsequent action, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the current state without requiring complex user input.
2Measurement precision
If multiple buttons or complex joystick maneuvers are required to control each movement, then precise control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically manages the complexity of coordinating multiple movements and actions. Instead of requiring users to manually control each degree of freedom, the system self-manages the sequence of actions based on the current cycle state, maintaining precision while reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-defines cycles of actions that include sequences of movements and pauses. By preparing these action cycles in advance and automatically selecting the next action based on the current state, the system eliminates the need for real-time complex control decisions by the user.
3Ease of operation
If the robot follows a predefined cycle of movements and pauses, then the ease of operation improves, but the adaptability to different eating situations may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the predefined cycles to different eating situations by automatically selecting and executing appropriate actions based on the current cycle state. The cycle structure provides a framework for ease of operation, while the dynamic selection of next actions based on real-time state information enables adaptability to different eating scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
An eating aid robot and a method performed thereby are provided. The robot comprises an arm capable of engaging an eating tool at an end of the arm. The arm is moveable to move the eating tool horizontally and vertically, wherein the arm is configured to be positioned with the eating tool in at least two vertical levels. The robot is connectable to a maneuver device which sends a signal to the robot, wherein the arm follows a cycle of different vertical and horizontal movements and pauses when the arm is kept still with the eating tool in at least one of the vertical levels. The method comprises receiving the signal from the maneuver device, and selecting a subsequent movement and/or pause of the cycle for the arm based on in which of the movements or pauses of the cycle the arm currently is when receiving the signal.