Internal Roller Ball Drive for Compact Omnidirectional Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobilities with wheel-based steering systems have limited turning radius and are unable to perform special driving maneuvers like crab driving, diagonal driving, and 360-degree rotation due to structural constraints, and existing ball drive apparatuses occupy significant space.
Innovation Solution
A ball drive apparatus with a drive unit positioned inside a hollow spherical ball housing, featuring rollers that contact the inner surface to rotate the ball, and a modular design with wireless charging and control systems for enhanced mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional ball drive apparatus with rollers outside the ball is used, then the ball can be rotated to enable mobility, but the apparatus occupies a very large volume which reduces the space for users to board or for cargo to be loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit including rollers, drive motor, and steering motor is nested inside the ball housing. The rollers are positioned inside the ball to contact the inner circumferential surface, allowing the ball to rotate while minimizing the external volume of the drive apparatus. This nested configuration resolves the contradiction by containing all necessary components within the ball's internal space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional ball drive apparatus with external rollers is used, then the ball can rotate to enable special driving maneuvers, but the apparatus occupies significant space reducing mobility efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is designed with movable components inside the ball, including rollers that can contact different portions of the inner circumferential surface. The steering motor can rotate the rollers about a vertical axis, enabling dynamic adjustment of the drive direction. This dynamic configuration allows the compact apparatus to achieve versatile driving maneuvers including crab driving, diagonal driving, and 360-degree rotation.
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 special driving maneuvers and increases usable space within the mobility by reducing the apparatus size, allowing for improved maneuverability and efficient use of internal space.
Implementation Method 1
at least one roller that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the ball housing to rotate the ball housing
Implementation Method 2
a transmission coil electrically connected to the main battery and configured to transmit electric energy of the main battery to the drive unit using a wireless charging method
Data Source
AI summary
A ball drive apparatus can be rotatably provided on a body of a mobility to drive the mobility. The ball drive apparatus can include a ball housing formed in a hollow spherical shape, a tire attached to an outer circumferential surface of the ball housing, and a drive unit provided inside the ball housing, wherein the drive unit includes at least one roller that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the ball housing to rotate the ball housing.