Flexible Ring Moving Device for Changing Geometries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic vehicles face challenges in adapting to environments with continuously changing geometries, limiting their ability to perform tasks such as inspection and transportation effectively.
Innovation Solution
A structure adaptable moving device featuring flexible rings with drive members and biasing elements, such as helical springs, that enable omnidirectional movement and differential steering, allowing the device to navigate complex environments by selectively driving and restricting motor sections and utilizing centralized spring arrangements for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional robotic vehicles use fixed rigid structures, then manufacturing and control are simplified, but adaptability to environments with changing geometries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic vehicle is divided into multiple modular sections along its longitudinal axis, each with independent drive members. This segmentation allows different sections to move independently, enabling the vehicle to adapt to varying geometries while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic reconfigurable structure where sections can change relative positions and orientations. The flexible connections and independent drive members enable the structure to dynamically adapt its shape to match environment geometries
2Ease of operation
If conventional robotic vehicles use omnidirectional movement capability, then navigation flexibility is improved, but acceleration performance in varying environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the vehicle have drive members with locally optimized characteristics. Sections can selectively activate specific drive members based on local environmental conditions, enabling accelerated response to varying geometries while maintaining overall navigation flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle employs dynamic control of drive members where sections can independently adjust their movement patterns. This dynamic response allows the vehicle to accelerate efficiently when encountering changing geometries rather than relying on fixed omnidirectional movement patterns
3Adaptability or versatility
If drive members selectively drive one section of the flexible ring, then differential movement and steering are enabled, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented to match the physical segmentation of the vehicle, with each section having its own drive members that can be independently controlled. This modular control architecture enables differential movement while keeping control complexity manageable through distributed control
Solution Approach 2:
Each section's drive members are capable of self-regulation and autonomous operation to a degree, reducing the burden on the central control system. The sections can independently adjust their movement based on local conditions, simplifying overall control while maintaining differential movement capability
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
Enables the device to maneuver omnidirectionally in environments with changing geometries, facilitating applications like inspection and transportation by allowing vertical, horizontal, and side-to-side movements, while maintaining operational flexibility and power through integrated power sources and electronic modules.
Implementation Method 1
one or more biasing members configured on the at least one flexible ring so as to enable the flexible ring to be flexibly and stretchably moved omnidirectionally
Implementation Method 2
the biasing members may be helical spring type
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2a~2e
Figure 3a~4c
AI summary
A structure adaptable moving device (100) includes a flexible ring (110) and one or more driving mechanism (120). The flexible ring (110) may be adaptable to the changing or non-changing geometries of an environment. Further, the driving mechanism (120) may be configured to the flexible ring (110) and capable of moving the flexible ring (110) in the environment with the changing geometries.