External Docking Station for Electromechanical Gun Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guns face challenges in user interface design that impact reliability and safety, including power consumption, computational complexity, and increased vulnerability to hacking due to wireless communication interfaces, as well as inconvenience in battery charging and software updates.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with a physical cradle and electrical interface that allows for secure communication and configuration of guns, enabling ergonomic design, battery charging, and software updates through a USB or wireless interface, while reducing power consumption and attack surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user interface is included in the gun for configuring components and receiving software updates, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a docking station as an intermediary device that handles the user interface functions externally. The docking station includes a display, buttons, and processing capabilities, allowing users to configure gun components and update software without these features being integrated into the gun itself. This resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation through the docking station while keeping the gun's power consumption and complexity low.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication interfaces are added to the gun for communication and updates, then adaptability is improved, but vulnerability to hacking and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station serves as a secure intermediary for all wireless communications. The gun maintains minimal wireless capabilities (only for basic communication with the docking station), while the docking station handles complex wireless protocols, software updates, and configuration tasks. This architecture provides adaptability through the docking station's capabilities while reducing the gun's attack surface and vulnerability to hacking.
3Ease of operation
If computational capabilities are increased in the gun for processing user interface and communication, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station assumes the role of the computational hub, housing the processor, memory, and operating system needed for complex operations. The gun's electronics are simplified to primarily control firing and basic sensor functions. This division allows sophisticated user interface and communication capabilities without increasing the gun's device complexity, as the computational burden is transferred to the docking station.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides system and techniques that allow a device to be coupled with an electromechanical gun. The electromechanical gun may be physically coupled with a cradle of the device, and the electromechanical gun may be communicatively coupled with an electrical interface of the device. The device may include a display mechanism that is capable of visually conveying information, a power source configured to supply power to the display mechanism, an electrical interface configured to be coupled with an electromechanical gun so as to allow power to be directed from the power source to the electromechanical gun, and a processor configured to process incoming messages received from the electromechanical gun and transmit outgoing messages to the electromechanical gun. The processor may perform a handshake procedure with the electromechanical gun, and the processor may process the incoming messages or transmit the outgoing messages based on the handshake procedure.