Mobile Robot Lifting Jack Stowage for Payload Transport Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous mobile robots equipped with jacks for payload lifting and transportation face challenges due to the design of wheels on these jacks, which are not synchronized with the robot's movement, leading to inefficiencies and potential weight-bearing issues.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a lifting device, such as a pallet jack, with wheels that can be elevated by actuators to be above ground level when not in use, allowing the mobile robot to move freely without interference and ensuring the weight is properly distributed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifting device is equipped with wheels for linear motion, then the jack can move independently, but the wheels interfere with the mobile robot's movement and cause weight-bearing issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wheels from the lifting device when not in use, extracting the harmful element (wheels) that cause interference with the mobile robot's movement. The lifting device is designed to be retractable into the body of the robot, leaving only the necessary lifting functionality while eliminating the problematic wheel components during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device is designed with dynamic characteristics, being able to extend when needed for lifting operations and retract into the robot body during movement. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between two states: operational state with wheels extended for lifting, and transportation state with wheels retracted to eliminate interference.
2Ease of operation
If the lifting device is extended for payload lifting, then the jack can perform its lifting function, but the extended configuration interferes with the mobile robot's mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device implements dynamic extension and retraction capabilities. During payload lifting operations, the device extends to provide the necessary lifting function. During mobile robot movement, the device retracts into the body to minimize interference and allow free movement, thus resolving the contradiction between lifting capability and movement speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device is segmented into movable components that can be independently controlled to extend or retract. This segmentation allows the system to separate the lifting function from the mobility function, enabling the lifting device to be extended only when needed for lifting while remaining retracted during transportation to maintain mobility.
3Reliability
If the lifting device remains stationary during payload transport, then the payload can be securely carried, but the lifting device cannot be repositioned to different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lifting device with the mobile robot body, creating an integrated system. The lifting device is mounted on the robot and can be extended/retracted as needed. This combination allows the payload to be securely carried when the lifting device is extended and stationary, while the entire robot can move to reposition the payload to different locations, thus achieving both stability and adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (100) for moving a payload, comprising: a driving mechanism; a lifting device (102); one or more load bearing surfaces (118, 120), and a central wall (104), a first side wall (106) and a second side wall (108) that are arranged to form a boundary defining a space (116) for residing the lifting device; an attachment mechanism mounted to the lifting device; and a processor configured to operate the apparatus to: control the lifting device to lift the payload and place the payload on the one or more load bearing surfaces; and control the driving mechanism to move the apparatus to transport the payload to a location, wherein the lifting device is in a stowed configuration when not in use, wherein the first side wall/the second side wall comprises one or more actuators (112, 113) comprising an extendable member extendable to engage the lifting device to support it at above ground level.