Mobile Robot Platform With Vertical Reach for Aircraft Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robot platforms used for processing aircraft structural components face limitations in working range and the ability to handle end effectors with large weight and processing forces, which restricts their productivity and movement.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot platform with a height adjustment unit and specifically configured robot kinematics, where the rotational axes of the robot joints are oriented orthogonally to the vertical adjustment direction, allowing for a large working range and the ability to handle heavy end effectors and absorb significant processing forces, with features like linearly adjustable height units and self-propelled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid articulated arm robot is used with a height adjustment unit, then the robot can bear heavy end effectors and processing forces, but the movement space and working range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the height adjustment unit movable rather than fixed. The unit can extend and retract vertically, allowing the robot to dynamically adjust its working height and reach different processing zones. This transforms a static structure with limited working range into a dynamic system that can adapt its position, thereby expanding the effective working area without compromising the robot's load-bearing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimensionality through the height adjustment unit. By adding the capability to move in the vertical direction (z-axis) in addition to the robot's horizontal movement, the system expands from a two-dimensional working plane to a three-dimensional working volume. This dimensional expansion significantly increases the working range while maintaining the robot's structural strength for handling heavy loads.
2Productivity
If the robot working range is increased to improve productivity, then frequent platform movement is avoided, but the robot must handle heavier end effectors and processing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment unit provides dynamic vertical movement capability that allows the robot to access workpieces at different heights within an extended working range. This dynamic adjustment enables the robot to process aircraft structural components across a larger volume without requiring platform relocation, thereby improving productivity while the unit's robust design ensures it can handle the increased processing forces associated with the heavier end effectors required for extended range.
3Strength
If the height adjustment unit is made rigid to support heavy loads, then the robot can handle heavy end effectors, but the adjustment mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the height adjustment function as a separate, dedicated unit rather than integrating it into the robot's main structure. This modular approach allows the height adjustment unit to be optimized independently for both strength and simplicity. By separating the vertical adjustment mechanism from the robot's articulated arm, the design achieves the necessary load-bearing capacity without unnecessarily complicating the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a mobile robot platform for processing an aircraft structural component with a robot, with a platform which can be moved on a floor in a horizontal movement direction, and with a height adjustment unit, arranged on the platform, the robot being arranged in a vertically adjustable fashion on the height adjustment unit and in at least one processing mode of the mobile robot platform the height adjustment unit is arranged in a non-pivoting fashion with respect to the platform, the robot having robot kinematics for positioning an end effector, and the robot kinematics having a first robot joint with a first robot limb, which is mounted ahead of the first robot joint, and with a second robot limb, which is mounted after the first robot joint, and a second robot joint ahead of which the second robot limb is mounted and after which a third robot limb is mounted.