Modular Home Robot With Sensor-Triggered Function Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home robots are typically designed for specific functions and are not easily adaptable, requiring multiple robots for various tasks and being limited in mobility and user interaction without manual activation.
Innovation Solution
A module-type home robot with a separable main body and device modules, equipped with proximity and voice recognition sensors, allowing for automatic activation and function adaptation based on user presence or absence, enabling versatile functionality and autonomous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If home robots are designed for specific functions with fixed configurations, then reliability of specific function is improved, but adaptability to different functions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The home robot is divided into a main body and multiple detachable device modules. Each module can be independently attached or detached, allowing the robot to be reconfigured for different functions. The main body includes a controller and power supply, while device modules contain specific functional components such as sensors, actuators, or specialized equipment, enabling reliable performance of specific tasks while maintaining adaptability through modular reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The main body of the home robot is designed with universal interfaces and a controller capable of managing multiple types of device modules. This universal design allows a single robot platform to perform multiple different functions by simply changing the attached device modules, thereby achieving both reliability in specific functions and adaptability across various tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a robot is large in size, then functionality and capacity are improved, but ease of movement and mobility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is segmented into a compact main body and separate device modules that can be attached only when needed. This segmentation allows the main body to remain small and mobile, while functionality is expanded through the attachment of specific device modules for particular tasks, thus maintaining ease of movement while providing adequate functionality and capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple home robots are equipped for various functions, then adaptability to different functions is improved, but device complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple device modules are merged with a single main body robot, allowing one robot to perform multiple functions by attaching different modules. This merging approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate robots into a single reconfigurable system, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining adaptability to different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
A single home robot is designed with universal capabilities to perform multiple functions through module attachment. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for purchasing and managing multiple specialized robots, reducing overall device complexity and cost while providing the same level of adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If automatic activation and interaction functions are added, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs sensors to detect user presence and automatically activates appropriate functions in advance, eliminating the need for manual activation. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare and execute functions automatically based on detected conditions, improving ease of operation while managing energy consumption by activating only when necessary.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to easily achieve desired functions with a single product, automatic interaction without user input, and autonomous operation even in the absence of a user, enhancing convenience and security.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor or a voice recognition sensor may sense an ambient user in real time
Implementation Method 2
a proximity sensor or a voice recognition sensor may sense an ambient user in real time
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed is a module-type home robot. The module-type home robot includes a main body, a device module configured to perform specific functions, a device module coupling unit on the main body and configured to couple to the device module, an input unit configured to receive a user input, an output unit configured to output voice and images, a sensing unit configured to sense a user, and a control unit configured to receive a trigger signal, and activate the device module or the output unit according to the received trigger signal to perform one of the specific functions, wherein the received trigger signal is a user proximity signal, a user voice signal, a user movement signal, a specific time sensing signal or an environment change sensing signal.