Modular Robot Design System for Rapid Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of service robots is hindered by high costs, lengthy development times, lack of configurability, dependence on internet connectivity, and limited reactivity, making them unaffordable and inefficient for diverse applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular robot design system that utilizes a library of reusable modules and accessories, connected via smart connectors, to rapidly assemble customized robots for specific functions, reducing development time and cost while enhancing configurability and reactivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robots are developed from the ground up for specific applications, then they can be optimized for their intended function, but the development cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is divided into modular components that can be independently developed, tested, and reused across different applications. This segmentation allows functional optimization for specific tasks while maintaining a reusable core platform, dramatically reducing development time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal base module is created that can serve multiple different robot configurations and applications. This base module contains common functionality that can be adapted to various specialized tasks, enabling both functional optimization and rapid deployment across diverse use cases.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom robots are developed for each deployment, then they can meet specific requirements, but the cost becomes prohibitive for most enterprises
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments robot functionality into a reusable base module and application-specific modules. This allows enterprises to pay only for the customization needed while sharing the cost of the base module across multiple deployments, making custom robots economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The base module is pre-developed and validated before specific deployments. This preliminary action creates a proven platform that can be rapidly replicated and adapted, eliminating the need to reinvent core functionality for each new robot, thereby reducing costs.
3Reliability
If complete custom development is performed for each robot, then specific functions are optimized, but the process becomes inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the development process into base module creation and application-specific module integration, the system maintains high functional performance while dramatically improving development efficiency. The base module can be developed once and reused, allowing parallel development of multiple specialized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The base module is developed and validated in advance, creating a ready-to-use platform that accelerates subsequent robot development. This preliminary action enables teams to focus on application-specific optimizations without redeveloping core functionality, thereby improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for designing a robot for performing a specified function includes a library, a robot design server, and a robot data server. The library stores data about modules and accessories for a robot and has at least unique IDs, dimensions, and firmware for operation of each module and accessory. The robot design server receives a set of functions and requirements of the new robot, finds a set of modules or accessories which match at least one of the set of functions and requirements, performs a set of validation tests against a set of criteria, identifies at least one design which passed the set of validation tests, and generates a list of modules and accessories and their unique IDs of a selected design and a connection map for the selected design. The robot data server downloads to the assembled robot the data and metadata of its modules and accessories.