Extendable Bumper for Unmanned Transport Vehicle Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned transport vehicles face challenges in obstacle detection, particularly when transporting large transport-objects, as their bumpers are often limited in size and cannot detect obstacles on the sides or behind the vehicle, leading to reduced safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an extendable and contractible bumper with collision detection sensors, driven by a motor, which adjusts its position based on the width of the transport-object to enhance obstacle detection capabilities and reduce blind spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bumper is made larger to detect obstacles on the sides and behind the vehicle, then the obstacle detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper is designed as an extendable and contractible structure that can dynamically adjust its length along the vehicle width direction. The bumper includes a movable portion that can be extended when obstacles are detected on the sides or behind the vehicle, and contracted when not needed, thereby improving obstacle detection capability without permanently increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion. The movable portion can be independently extended or contracted based on detection needs, allowing the bumper to adapt its configuration dynamically. This segmentation enables the system to achieve larger detection coverage only when necessary, rather than maintaining a permanently large structure
2Reliability
If the bumper is extended to reduce blind spots for obstacle detection, then the safety is improved, but the standby space and protrusions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can extend and contract. When obstacles are detected on the sides or behind the vehicle, the movable portion extends to eliminate blind spots and improve safety. When no such obstacles are present, the bumper contracts to minimize its footprint and reduce the standby space it occupies
Solution Approach 2:
The length of the bumper along the vehicle width direction is changed dynamically based on detection needs. The system adjusts the bumper's dimensional parameter (length) in response to environmental conditions, extending it to improve safety when needed and contracting it to reduce space occupation when not needed
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
This configuration enhances the vehicle's ability to detect obstacles, improves safety by reducing the risk of collisions, and allows for more efficient operation by minimizing standby spaces and protrusions, even when transporting wide objects.
Implementation Method 1
The bumper includes a collision detection sensor
Implementation Method 2
a bumper driver configured to extend and contract the bumper in the vehicle width direction by moving at least a portion of the bumper in the vehicle width direction
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an unmanned transport vehicle includes a vehicle body, a connector, a bumper, and a bumper driver. The vehicle body includes a moving mechanism and a moving mechanism driver. The moving mechanism driver is configured to drive the moving mechanism. The connector is at the vehicle body and connectable to a transport-object. The bumper is adjacent to the vehicle body in a first direction. The bumper includes a collision detection sensor. The bumper is extendable and contractible in a second direction. The second direction intersects the first direction. The bumper driver is configured to extend and contract the bumper in the second direction by moving at least a portion of the bumper in the second direction.