Wall-Following Lift Platform Control for Curved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lift devices lack the ability to efficiently move a platform along a wall surface while maintaining a constant distance and orientation, especially on curved surfaces like concave or convex walls.
Innovation Solution
A lift device with a control system that includes processing circuitry to receive user inputs for moving the platform along a wall surface, maintaining a constant distance and orientation using sensors for feedback, and operating the lift assembly accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional lift devices are used to move the platform along a wall surface, then the platform can be positioned at different heights, but the platform cannot maintain a constant distance and orientation from curved wall surfaces (concave or convex)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors (e.g., LIDAR, ultrasonic, or optical sensors) to continuously measure the distance between the platform and the wall surface. This measurement feedback is processed by a control system that automatically adjusts the lift device's position and orientation to maintain a constant distance from the wall, enabling the platform to follow curved surfaces while preserving precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The lift device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through multiple degrees of freedom, allowing the platform to adapt its position and orientation in real-time. The system can dynamically adjust vertical position, horizontal position, and angular orientation to conform to varying wall geometries, transforming a static lift device into a dynamically adaptable system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lift device adds control systems and sensors to maintain constant distance and orientation, then the ability to follow wall surfaces improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various wall geometries (flat, concave, convex) using a unified control architecture. The same sensor suite and control algorithms serve multiple purposes: distance measurement, orientation detection, and position adjustment, reducing the need for separate specialized systems for different surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic control and sensor-based feedback systems. Instead of requiring multiple mechanical linkages and manual adjustments to follow curved surfaces, the system uses electronic sensors and actuators to achieve the same result with fewer mechanical components, reducing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the platform moves along curved surfaces while maintaining constant distance, then operational precision improves, but the time and computational resources required for control increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary calculations of the optimal platform position and orientation based on predicted wall geometry. By pre-computing adjustment parameters before actual movement is needed, the system reduces real-time computational burden while maintaining positioning accuracy, as the heavy computational work is done in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor feedback and control adjustments are performed at periodic intervals rather than continuously. This periodic sampling approach maintains adequate positioning accuracy while reducing the computational load and processing time required, as the system only needs to recalculate and adjust at discrete time points rather than maintaining continuous real-time computation.
Data Source
AI summary
A lift device includes a base assembly, a lift assembly, a platform assembly, and a control system. The lift assembly is coupled with the base assembly. The lift assembly is configured to raise or lower. The platform assembly is coupled with an end of the lift assembly. The platform assembly is configured to be raised and lowered by the lift assembly. The control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a user input,. The user input includes a request to move the platform assembly in a direction along a wall surface relative to the wall surface while maintaining a constant distance from the wall surface and orientation relative to the wall surface. The processing circuitry is configured to operate at least the lift assembly to move the platform assembly in the direction along the wall surface.