Interceptor Circuit for Robotic Device Refurbishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electro-mechanical devices, such as robotic medical devices, are artificially limited in usage cycles, leading to premature disablement and increased costs due to unnecessary replacement, environmental waste, and potential biohazard risks.
Innovation Solution
An interceptor device is inserted between the control system and the robotic device, intercepting requests and responses to mimic a higher usage count, preventing permanent disablement and allowing for extended refurbishment by managing usage counts and blocking overwrite operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturers artificially limit the usage cycles of robotic devices, then device reliability is maintained according to manufacturer specifications, but device lifespan is reduced and replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
An interceptor device is introduced as an intermediary component between the control system and the robotic device. The interceptor captures and modifies usage count data packets, preventing the control system from accurately tracking and limiting device usage. This allows the robotic device to continue operation beyond manufacturer-specified cycle limits while maintaining the appearance of compliance with the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The interceptor creates ačå copy of the usage count data, presenting a manipulated version to the control system while the actual device continues to function. By copying and modifying the usage count information, the system maintains the illusion of accurate tracking while actually extending device operational life.
2Reliability
If robotic devices are replaced after reaching usage limits, then new devices ensure optimal performance, but financial costs and environmental waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding robotic devices after reaching manufacturer-specified usage limits, the system recovers and extends their operational life through the interceptor mechanism. The interceptor allows continued use of devices that would otherwise be discarded, reducing electronic waste and the environmental impact of manufacturing and disposing of medical devices.
3Reliability
If usage count data is permanently overwritten in memory, then device disablement is enforced, but refurbishment and extension of device life become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The interceptor performs preliminary action by intercepting and modifying usage count data before it can be permanently overwritten in the device's memory. By capturing and manipulating the data packets during transmission, the system prevents the irreversible disablement that would occur from memory overwriting, thereby enabling future refurbishment and extension of device operational life.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for extending the life of a detachable robotically controlled device that has an electrical interface for communicating between a control system and a robotically controlled device-based circuit mounted within the robotically controlled device includes a circuit that is connected to the electrical interface. The circuit has logic that intercepts requests from the electrical interface such that the logic array recognizes at least one request from the control system and the logic array responds to the at least one request by sending a response to the control system over the electrical interface. At least one other request is forwarded by the logic array to the robotically controlled device-based circuit of which a response from the robotically controlled device-based circuit is received by the logic array and the response is forwarded by the logic array to the control system over the electrical interface.