Ground Deposition Spray Rail for Flexible Autonomous Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ground marking technologies require significant manual effort, pre-planning, and costly resources to print images on ground surfaces, lacking flexibility and scalability for various sizes and complexities.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous deposition robot (ADR) with a deposition arrangement featuring a horizontal mounting rail and spray head system, allowing for orthogonal movement of spray nozzles, coupled with a detachable print head accessory for adjustable width, and connected to a cloud system for real-time management and diagnostics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual ground marking is used, then flexibility in printing any image any size any color is achieved, but significant pre-planning, manual effort, and costly resources are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in printing any image any size any colorVSAvoidsignificant pre-planning and manual effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous deposition robot performs ground marking operations independently without requiring manual operation. The system navigates autonomously, controls spray nozzles automatically, and completes deposition tasks without human intervention, eliminating the need for manual ground marking operations while maintaining flexibility through programmable control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical ground marking operations with an automated robotic system. The deposition arrangement uses a controller to manage spray nozzles, movement, and material deposition, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated electro-mechanical systems that reduce pre-planning requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional marking devices with fixed spray arms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different printing sizes and resolutions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different printing sizes and resolutionsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray head arrangement is designed to be movable along the horizontal mounting rail, allowing dynamic adjustment of the spray nozzle position. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to different printing widths and resolutions by repositioning the spray head, rather than requiring multiple fixed-width spray arms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The deposition arrangement separates the spray nozzles from the main vehicle body through a movable spray head arrangement on a horizontal rail. This segmentation allows independent positioning of the spray head relative to the vehicle, enabling flexible adjustment for different printing requirements without complicating the overall vehicle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If spray nozzles are positioned fixedly relative to the vehicle, then device complexity is reduced, but navigational accuracy and print precision are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigational accuracy and print precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray head arrangement can move along the horizontal mounting rail to maintain optimal positioning relative to the ground surface. This dynamic adjustment capability, controlled by a motorized mechanism, ensures precise material deposition even as the vehicle moves, improving print precision without requiring the nozzles to be fixed rigidly to the vehicle body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect the position of the spray head arrangement and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustments to maintain accurate positioning of the spray nozzles relative to the vehicle and ground surface, ensuring navigational accuracy and print precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 high-resolution, flexible, and scalable ground printing with improved navigational accuracy, reducing manual effort and costs, suitable for large-scale applications like NFL 'full pitch' print activations.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of spray nozzles, mounted to the spray head arrangement, wherein the plurality of spray nozzles is aligned in a horizontal axis in the first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpray deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250222482A1Improved deposition arrangement for a ground deposition machine

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 MICROPPLY LTD

AI summary

A deposition arrangement, suitable for use in a ground deposition apparatus, the ground deposition apparatus operable to move in a first direction, the deposition arrangement comprising: a horizontal mounting rail arranged in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction; a spray head arrangement, the spray head arrangement being movably connected to the horizontal mounting rail and arranged in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and substantially orthogonal to the second direction; a plurality of spray nozzles, mounted to the spray head arrangement, and wherein the plurality of spray nozzles is aligned in a horizontal axis in the first direction.