Modular Robotic Arm Segment Design for Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing general-purpose high Degree of Freedom (DoF) robotic arms are assembled with numerous complex parts, leading to hard-coded designs that are difficult to customize, assemble, repair, or modify, making them prohibitively expensive for personal or educational usage.
Innovation Solution
A modularized robotic arm segment design that allows for customizable configurations by enabling Roll (X axis) and Pitch (Y axis) rotations, with each segment comprising a shaft and joint housings that can be combined to form various robotic arm configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing general-purpose high DoF robotic arms are assembled with numerous complex parts, then the robotic arm achieves high degree of freedom and functionality, but the design becomes hard-coded, difficult to customize, assemble, repair, or modify, and prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm is divided into modular segments that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each segment contains standardized interfaces (sockets and shafts) that allow flexible combination to create different configurations. This segmentation enables customization without requiring numerous distinct parts, as the same modular components can be reconfigured for different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal joint housings and standardized shafts that can serve multiple functions across different robotic arm configurations. The same joint housing design with standardized sockets can accommodate different shaft types and lengths, allowing a single component design to fulfill multiple roles in various customized robotic arm builds, thereby reducing the total number of unique parts required.
2Ease of operation
If existing robotic arms use numerous complex distinct parts, then high DoF functionality is achieved, but assembly, repair, and modification become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the robotic arm into standardized modular units with consistent interfaces, the assembly process becomes systematic and simplified. Each segment can be independently assembled and then connected to others through standardized socket-shaft interfaces, reducing the overall complexity of assembly compared to integrating numerous complex distinct parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter variations within a standardized component framework - different shaft lengths, joint configurations, and segment combinations - to achieve high DoF functionality without increasing part complexity. This approach allows assembly ease through standardization while maintaining the capability for complex robotic arm configurations through parameter adjustment rather than part proliferation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing robotic arms are designed with numerous distinct parts, then high functionality is achieved, but the cost becomes prohibitively expensive for personal or educational usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high functionality through universal joint housings and standardized components that can be configured for different applications. By designing components that serve multiple functions across various robotic arm configurations, the total number of unique parts to be manufactured is reduced, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining adaptability for personal and educational use.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the robotic arm into standardized modular components enables economies of scale in manufacturing. The same joint housing designs and interface standards can be mass-produced and then combined in different configurations, reducing per-unit costs compared to manufacturing numerous complex distinct parts for each specific robotic arm model.
Data Source
AI summary
A segment for a robotic arm with a shaft having a first end and a second end; a first joint housing having a first recess and a second recess and a second joint housing having a first cavity and a second cavity, the first recess is engageable with the first cavity to form a first socket and the second recess is engageable with the second cavity to form a second socket, and the first socket is engageable with the first end of a shaft to facilitate movement along a longitudinal (roll) axis, and the second socket is engageable with a second end of the shaft to facilitate movement along a lateral (pitch) axis; a robotic arm having at least one of the segment described above.