Heatable Covers for Cold Robot Manipulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot manipulator systems are not designed to operate effectively in cold environments, with components such as motors, gears, and electronic components being temperature-critical and prone to failure at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A robot manipulator system with heatable covers attached to critical components, controlled by a temperature sensor and control unit to apply heat energy, ensuring minimum operational temperatures and maintaining freedom of movement by efficient heat transfer through conductive materials and flexible designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robot manipulator systems operate in cold environments, then productivity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to temperature-critical components failing
Solution Approach 1:
A heatable cover acts as an intermediary component between the cold environment and the temperature-critical components (motors, gears, electronics). The cover transfers heat energy to these components, maintaining their operational temperature without requiring modification to the components themselves. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by protecting reliability while allowing continuous operation in cold environments.
2Reliability
If heatable covers are added to maintain component temperatures, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into modular heatable covers that can be attached to specific manipulator segments containing temperature-critical components. Each cover is an independent unit with its own heating element and temperature control, allowing the system to add only the necessary heating capacity without creating a complex integrated thermal management system. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If heatable covers are attached to manipulator segments, then reliability is improved, but weight of moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heatable covers are designed as thin, flexible shells that conform to the manipulator segment surfaces. These thin-film structures provide the necessary heating function while minimizing added weight. The flexible material allows the cover to be attached without significantly increasing the moment of inertia or weight of the manipulator segments, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and weight increase.
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 robot manipulator systems to operate reliably in cold environments by maintaining critical component temperatures, reducing the risk of failure and ensuring continuous functionality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heatable cover attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to an exemplary robot manipulator system having a robot manipulator with a kinematic chain of stiff robot manipulator segments, which are linked together by hinged joints. A robot controller controls execution of a robot program. At least one temperature sensor provides measured temperature values. At least one heatable cover is attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon, with an amount of heat energy being controlled dependent on measured temperature values of the at least one temperature sensor.