Modular Robotic Linkages for Rapid Task Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design and construction of custom robotic manipulators can be costly and time-consuming, limiting their efficiency and versatility in various industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular robotic manipulator system using interchangeable components such as linkages, connectors, and housings, which can be assembled into different modules and configurations based on a schematic, allowing for the creation of various robotic manipulators with specific functions, including the use of electronics for actuation and data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If custom robotic manipulators are designed and constructed for specific tasks, then task performance efficiency is improved, but design and construction cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic manipulator is divided into modular segments (linkages, connectors, housings) that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation allows for rapid reconfiguration of the manipulator for different tasks without requiring complete redesign, thus reducing design and construction time while maintaining task-specific efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic reconfigurability where the manipulator can be easily modified and reconfigured based on task requirements. The modular design enables the structure to adapt dynamically to different operational needs, achieving high productivity for specific tasks while avoiding the time loss of custom design for each task.
2Productivity
If custom robotic manipulators are designed and constructed for specific tasks, then task performance efficiency is improved, but design and construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular components are designed with universal interfaces and standardized connection mechanisms that allow the same parts to be used across multiple manipulator configurations and tasks. This universality reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for custom-built components for each task while maintaining high task-performance efficiency through flexible configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the manipulator into standardized modules, the system enables cost-effective mass production of individual components that can be combined in various ways. This approach reduces overall construction cost compared to custom manufacturing while preserving the ability to optimize for specific tasks through modular arrangement.
3Productivity
If modular components are used to build robotic manipulators, then reconfiguration speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the manipulator into standardized modules with uniform connection interfaces, which simplifies the reconfiguration process. Despite the increased number of components, the standardization reduces operational complexity by providing consistent assembly procedures and compatibility rules, enabling fast reconfiguration without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows for parameter changes in terms of configuration and arrangement rather than fundamental design changes. The same standardized components can be arranged in different parameters (positions, orientations, connections) to create various manipulator types, achieving rapid reconfiguration while managing complexity through parameter-based variation rather than structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Modular components may be used to build a robotic manipulator. A subset of the modular components can be selected to build the robotic manipulator based on a schematic. The subset of modular components can be assembled in different combinations to build the robotic manipulator. Using one of the combinations of the subset of modular components, the robotic manipulator can be built.