Modular Underwater Robot Stacked Plates Narrow Gaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional underwater robots face challenges in navigating complex underwater environments due to their three-dimensional structures, which make it difficult to explore narrow spaces and avoid obstacles, limiting their versatility and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A modular underwater robot design featuring stacked support plates with hollow portions for chambers and thrusters, allowing for reduced height, improved flexibility, and six-degree-of-freedom motion, along with a control method using 5G signals for precise attitude adjustment and obstacle avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional three-dimensional structure underwater robots are used, then the robot structure is stable and complete, but the robot cannot easily enter narrow gaps and encounters obstacles in slit terrains
Solution Approach 1:
The robot body is divided into multiple flat support plates stacked together with intervals between them, creating a segmented modular structure. This segmentation allows the robot to compress its height and enter narrow gaps while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot transitions from a traditional three-dimensional volumetric structure to a two-dimensional planar stacked structure. By arranging support plates in layers with intervals, the robot reduces its vertical profile while maintaining functional components, enabling it to navigate slit terrains effectively.
2Length of moving object
If the robot uses a compact modular design with chambers at the same height, then the overall height is reduced for entering narrow gaps, but the mounting and positioning of components becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The robot body is segmented into multiple support plates with standardized mounting holes and hollow portions. Each plate is designed with specific features (mounting holes, hollow portions for chambers) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plates are designed as universal modular components with standardized features including mounting holes, hollow portions, and inclined portions. These multi-functional plates can accommodate various chambers (first chamber for control components, second chamber for energy components) and thrusters, simplifying manufacturing through standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed vector thrusters are positioned at inclined portions, then the robot achieves six-degree-of-freedom motion capability, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support plates incorporate inclined portions at specific locations rather than symmetric arrangements. These asymmetric inclined portions position the fixed vector thrusters to generate forces in multiple directions, enabling six-degree-of-freedom motion while the modular plate structure keeps the overall design manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot achieves dynamic six-degree-of-freedom motion capability through the strategic placement of fixed vector thrusters at inclined portions of the modular support plates. This allows the robot to adapt its motion in three-dimensional space while maintaining a relatively simple modular structural design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a modular underwater robot and a control method therefor. The modular underwater robot includes support plates, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a power assembly, where the supporting plates are stacked, and front end edges and rear end edges of the support plates are respectively provided with a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion; the first chamber is disposed in the first hollow portion; the second chamber is disposed in the second hollow portion, and the second chamber and the first chamber are in a same horizontal position; and the power assembly includes fixed vector thrusters and vertical thrusters. As such, the fixed vector thrusters can enable the modular underwater robot to move forward, backward, or rotatably, so that flexibility of the modular underwater robot can be improved.