Removable LiDAR Bumper Mount for Steer Wheel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial materials handling vehicles face challenges in integrating sensor technology while maintaining unobstructed access to steer wheel assemblies for maintenance and ensuring a wide field of view for sensors like LiDAR.
Innovation Solution
A sensor accommodating bumper mount is designed with a removable sensor assembly unit that partially obstructs the steer wheel access opening when mounted and provides full access when unmounted, featuring a bumper mount housing with complementary openings and adjustable mounting hardware for LiDAR sensors, allowing for a field of view of 170-210 degrees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor assembly is mounted on the vehicle body, then sensor functionality is provided, but access to the steer wheel assembly is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting system is divided into separate components: a sensor assembly that can be independently mounted and removed from the vehicle body. This segmentation allows the sensor to provide functionality when needed while being removable to restore full access to the steer wheel assembly for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly mounting is designed to be dynamically configurable - it can be installed when sensor monitoring is required and removed when maintenance access to the steer wheel assembly is needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt between operational states, resolving the contradiction between having sensor functionality and maintaining ease of access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor assembly is mounted on the vehicle body, then sensor functionality is provided, but the vehicle body structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting system is segmented into independent components that can be attached to the vehicle body without permanently modifying its structure. The sensor assembly includes its own mounting hardware and interface elements, allowing it to be installed and removed as a separate unit, thus adding functionality while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly is designed as a universal mounting system that can be installed on various vehicle body configurations using standardized mounting interfaces. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor assembly to serve different sensing purposes (proximity detection, obstacle detection, etc.) without requiring different mounting structures, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial materials handling vehicle including a vehicle body supported by steer wheel and wheel assemblies, a bumper coupled to the body, and a sensor accommodating bumper mount mounted to the vehicle body and/or bumper, the body and the bumper cooperatively defining a steer wheel access opening. The sensor accommodating bumper mount comprises a bumper mount housing with complementary steer wheel access opening, a sensor assembly mount removably mounted to the bumper and/or bumper mount housing, and a sensor assembly mounted to the sensor assembly mount. The sensor assembly and mount at least partially obstruct the steer wheel access opening and complementary steer wheel access opening when the sensor assembly mount is mounted to the bumper and/or bumper mount housing, providing at least partial access to the steer wheel assembly through the steer wheel access opening and the complementary steer wheel access opening when the sensor assembly mount is unmounted.