Modular Cube Robots With Universal Coupling for Motion Variety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot toys lack versatility in shape and motion, requiring specific blocks for different configurations and functions, leading to increased purchase costs and limited user creativity.
Innovation Solution
A modular robot system comprising cube-shaped units with step motors and controllers, allowing for connection via mounting grooves and unique identification-based control sequences, enabling various shapes and motions through adjustable step motor control sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robot toys are provided as finished products with specific functions and motions, then the robot toys can operate automatically with supplied power, but children and teenagers are likely to lose interest in playing with them due to limited motion variety
Solution Approach 1:
The robot toy is divided into multiple separable blocks, each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows children to assemble different configurations of blocks to create various robot shapes and motions, maintaining automatic operation while significantly increasing motion variety and playability
Solution Approach 2:
Each block is designed with universal connection interfaces and can serve multiple functions depending on its position in the assembled robot. The same block can contribute to different motions and functions in various configurations, enabling a single set of blocks to provide diverse robot shapes and motions without requiring separate specialized blocks
2Adaptability or versatility
If blocks with specific functions are provided to allow robot toys to take various outer shapes and motions, then the robot toys can be configured in different ways, but all blocks needed for the robot toys should be prepared in advance and other blocks have to be additionally purchased if different functions or motions are desired
Solution Approach 1:
Each block is designed with universal connection interfaces and can serve multiple functions depending on its position in the assembled robot. The same block can contribute to different motions and functions in various configurations, enabling a single set of blocks to provide diverse robot shapes and motions without requiring separate specialized blocks
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of blocks during play. Children can continuously change the arrangement and connection of blocks to create new robot configurations, enabling unlimited configuration variety with a fixed set of blocks rather than requiring additional blocks for each new configuration
3Adaptability or versatility
If specific blocks are provided for different functions and motions, then the robot toys can be configured in various ways, but the purchase cost becomes substantially raised
Solution Approach 1:
Each block is designed with universal connection interfaces and can serve multiple functions depending on its position in the assembled robot. The same block can contribute to different motions and functions in various configurations, enabling a single set of blocks to provide diverse robot shapes and motions without requiring separate specialized blocks
Data Source
AI summary
A modular robot system is capable of being configured to allow a plurality of cube-shaped unit robots to be coupled to one another. The modular robot system has N cube-shaped unit robots (where N is an integer greater than 2), each cube-shaped unit robot including: a cube-shaped housing; a step motor located inside the housing; and a controller located inside the housing to control the step motor, wherein the housing has a mounting groove formed on one surface thereof to mount a rotary body rotating by a rotary shaft of the step motor thereon and connection grooves with the same shape as each other formed on the five surfaces thereof, so that through connectors mounted on the connection grooves, one cube-shaped unit robot is connectable to another cube-shaped unit robot.