Modular Animal Gait Walkway With Adjustable Channel Width
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal gait analysis devices lack modularity, scalability, ease of maintenance, and signal acquisition accuracy, particularly when accommodating animals of different body types or requiring specific experimental designs, and are often cumbersome and expensive to upgrade.
Innovation Solution
An animal gait analysis apparatus with a testing platform and footprint signal modules that are mechanically and electrically connectable to form customizable walking paths, featuring a testing enclosure with adjustable side panels and movable partitions, and a control device to manage these components for precise gait analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical refraction systems with glass plates are used, then footprint detection capability is improved, but system complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical refraction system with glass plates with a pressure sensor-based detection system. The pressure sensing plate directly detects foot contact through mechanical pressure, eliminating the need for complex optical components, light sources, and reflection-based detection mechanisms. This substitution simplifies the overall system structure while maintaining footprint detection capability.
2Device complexity
If fixed-dimensional walking channels are used, then device structure is simplified, but adaptability to different animal body types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable side panels that can change spacing dynamically to accommodate animals of different body types. The side panels can be moved along guide rails to create walking channels of various widths, transforming a static structure into a dynamic, adaptable system that maintains simplicity while providing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensing plate serves multiple functions: it detects foot contact, measures pressure distribution, and can be configured in different dimensions. Combined with adjustable side panels, this universal design allows the same basic structure to adapt to various animal sizes and experimental requirements without requiring completely different apparatuses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular footprint signal modules are used, then adaptability and ease of maintenance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensing plate is divided into multiple independent modular units that can be connected in series to form walking paths of different lengths and configurations. Each module contains its own pressure sensors and can function independently, allowing flexible assembly while keeping individual module complexity low. The segmentation enables easy maintenance by replacing only defective modules rather than the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
An animal gait analysis is provided and includes a testing platform, a plurality of footprint signal modules mechanically connectable end-to-end and electrically connectable to form a walking path of a predetermined configuration, a testing enclosure disposed above the walking path, and a control device electrically connected to the footprint signal modules, wherein the testing enclosure comprises at least two side panels disposed opposite each other, at least one obstacle, and at least one movable partition, the spacing between the side panels is automatically adjusted by a drive mechanism to accommodate test objects of different body types, the obstacle is selectively connected to a surface of the footprint signal modules, and the movable partition is selectively connected to a surface of the footprint signal modules.