Automatic Following Cart Robot With Sensor-Guided Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cart robots lack an automatic following function, making it inconvenient for users to manage carts while shopping or transporting heavy objects, as they need to constantly return to the cart or carry items to it, limiting their mobility and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A cart robot equipped with a basket assembly, a main body, a handle assembly, a wheel assembly with in-wheel motors, and sensor modules (TOF, lidar, and UWB) that detect obstacles and track user movement, allowing it to automatically follow the user and provide power assistance, while the battery is positioned to maintain stability and prevent backward pushing on inclined surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cart is manually pushed or pulled by the user, then the user has direct control over the cart, but the user must constantly return to the cart or carry items to it, reducing mobility and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The cart robot autonomously follows the user by detecting the user's position and movement using sensors (UWB, camera, RFID) and automatically adjusting its own position and orientation, enabling the cart to serve itself in tracking and following the user without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pushing/pulling with an automated control system that uses sensors (UWB, camera, RFID), processors, and actuators to detect user position and control wheel motors, substituting the mechanical user-cart interaction with an automated sensing-and-actuation system
2Ease of manufacture
If the battery module is positioned at the rear of the main body, then the structure is simpler, but the center of gravity shifts backward causing the cart to be pushed backward on inclined surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the battery module with a specific gravity at the front of the main body rather than uniformly distributing weight or placing it at the rear, creating a localized weight concentration that shifts the center of gravity forward to prevent backward sliding on inclines
Solution Approach 2:
The front-positioned battery module acts as a counterweight that balances the overall weight distribution of the cart robot, creating a forward bias in the center of gravity that counteracts the tendency to slide backward on inclined surfaces
3Stability of the object's composition
If the basket assembly is fixed to the main body, then the structure is more stable, but the cart cannot be used for logistics transportation with removable loading boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a fixed basket structure to a dynamic, reconfigurable system where the basket assembly can be detached and replaced with different loading box configurations, allowing the cart to adapt between stable shopping mode and versatile logistics mode
Solution Approach 2:
The cart robot achieves universality by designing the basket assembly and main body interface to accommodate multiple types of containers (shopping baskets, loading boxes, luggage packaging members), enabling a single platform to serve both retail shopping and logistics transportation functions
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
The cart robot enhances user convenience by enabling automatic following and power-assisted movement, improving navigation around obstacles, and maintaining stability on inclined surfaces, thus simplifying the handling and control of carts in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
an in-wheel motor mounted inside each main wheel, wherein each in-wheel motor receives power from the battery module and supplies a driving force to each main wheel
Implementation Method 2
a first sensor module including a plurality of sensors installed in a front side and at least a portion of each of left and right sides of the main housing, wherein the first sensor module detects an obstacle in front of the robot
Implementation Method 3
a second sensor module spaced from the first sensor module to detect an obstacle
Implementation Method 4
a third sensor module installed on the upper frame to detect and track a location of a transmission module
Data Source
AI summary
A basket assembly for receiving goods therein; a main body coupled to a bottom of the basket assembly to support the basket assembly; a handle assembly installed on one side of the main body; a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to a bottom of the main body to move the main body in a direction in which a force is applied to the handle assembly; and a battery installed inside the main body for supplying electrical energy to the wheel assembly.