Laboratory Mobile Robot Docking With Self-Aligning Transport Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robots in laboratory systems face inaccuracies and imprecisions in reaching target positions, leading to gaps when docking with interface modules, which complicates the transfer of sample container carriers due to uneven floors and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous mobile robot with a transport module equipped with sensor units and alignment drive systems that detect and correct misalignment, using spring-biased fingers and adjustable surfaces to ensure precise alignment and bridging of gaps, allowing reliable transfer of sample containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common mobile robot is used for transporting sample container carriers, then the robot can move autonomously over the laboratory floor, but stop position inaccuracy and floor unevenness lead to gaps between the robot and interface module, complicating carrier transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The transport module incorporates an adjustable transport surface that can dynamically change its position and orientation to compensate for misalignment between the mobile robot and interface module. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to varying stop positions and floor unevenness, enabling reliable sample container carrier transfer despite the robot's inherent positioning inaccuracies
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable transport surface acts as an intermediary element between the mobile robot's driving base and the interface module. By introducing this intermediate adjustable surface, the system can bridge the gap caused by positioning inaccuracies, allowing smooth transfer of sample container carriers without requiring high-precision stop position accuracy
2Device complexity
If the mobile robot docks directly with the interface module without alignment correction, then the docking process is simple, but misalignment and gaps prevent reliable transfer of sample container carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a sensor unit that detects misalignment between the transport surface and interface module during docking. This feedback information is used to control the alignment drive unit, which automatically adjusts the transport surface to eliminate gaps and misalignment, ensuring reliable sample container carrier transfer while maintaining an automated docking process
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment drive unit automatically adjusts the transport surface based on sensor feedback without requiring external intervention. The system performs self-alignment during the docking process, correcting misalignment and bridging gaps autonomously to enable reliable carrier transfer
3Reliability
If additional trays are used to bridge gaps for carrier transfer, then transfer reliability improves, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using static additional trays to bridge gaps, the invention employs a dynamically adjustable transport surface that can change its position and orientation. This dynamic adjustment mechanism eliminates the need for extra intermediary trays, achieving reliable carrier transfer while maintaining system simplicity and reducing space requirements
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 reliable and efficient transfer of sample container carriers by compensating for misalignment and uneven surfaces, reducing the need for additional trays and improving handling in narrow laboratory spaces.
Implementation Method 1
the transport module has a pair of spring-biased fingers protruding in flush extension of the transport surface so that, upon docking, the gap in between the transport surface and the interface module can be bridged
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mobile robot for a laboratory system, the mobile robot being adapted for transporting sample container carriers and for docking to at least one interface module of the laboratory system, the mobile robot comprising a driving base which is adapted to move the mobile robot over a laboratory floor on which the at least one interface module is to be placed, and a transport module mounted to the driving base, the transport module comprising a transport surface for carrying sample container carriers placed thereon, a sensor unit for detecting misalignment in positioning of the transport surface relative to the interface module upon docking, and an alignment drive unit for adjusting the transport surface relative to the driving base to compensate for detected misalignment.