Modular Sensor Payload Interface for Reconfigurable Robotic Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic devices are often too specialized for specific operations, leading to increased costs, complexity, and size, and lack adaptability and flexibility for diverse tasks.
Innovation Solution
A modular sensor payload system with a universal mounting interface for interchangeable sensor systems, onboard computation and power modules, and communication systems, enabling flexible configuration and customization for various robotic operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robotic devices are tailored for specific operations, then operational effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into a base platform and interchangeable sensor payload modules. Each sensor system (optical, infrared, acoustic, chemical, etc.) is packaged as a separate modular unit that can be independently selected and attached, allowing the base robot to remain simple while achieving specialized capabilities through module combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal mounting interface is designed to accommodate multiple types of sensor systems on a single robotic platform. The standardized interface allows one base robot to perform multiple different operations by simply changing the sensor payload, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple specialized robotic devices are deployed for different operations, then task-specific performance is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the robotic system into a shared base platform and specialized sensor modules, the expensive task-specific components are isolated to small, interchangeable units. The base platform can be manufactured once and reused across multiple applications, significantly reducing the cost compared to building multiple complete specialized robots.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sensor payloads can be easily detached and replaced between tasks. Instead of deploying multiple expensive specialized robots, the system recovers the base platform after each task and attaches a different sensor module for the next task, effectively reusing the expensive platform infrastructure across multiple applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to accommodate different functions, then versatility is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sensor systems are packaged in compact, standardized modular units that attach to the base platform. This segmentation allows versatility to be achieved through module combinations rather than integrating all possible sensors into a single large device, keeping the base robot compact while achieving high versatility through interchangeable modules.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a robotic device is designed to be versatile for multiple operations, then adaptability is improved, but suitability for specific operations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system dynamically reconfigures its sensor payload based on the specific operation required. The base platform remains constant, but the sensor modules are changed to match the task at hand, allowing the system to be highly adaptable across operations while maintaining optimal suitability for each specific task through dedicated sensor configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Modular sensor payload systems coupled to a mobile robot for performing robotic operations and methods for operating the payload system. The payload system comprises one or more sensor systems, a primary payload comprising an onboard computation module; an onboard power module, and a communication system configured to establish communication between the mobile robot, the primary payload, and the one or more sensor systems, wherein the one or more sensor systems, the communication system, and the primary payload are configured to be electrically coupled in a modular configuration via an universal mounting interface provided on each of the one or more sensor systems, the communication system, and the primary payload, and wherein a given sensor system of the one or more sensor systems can be coupled to any other sensor system, the communication system, or the primary payload in the modular configuration.