Multi-tread Vehicle Articulation for Confined Space Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing small interior spaces in aircraft, such as wing bays, is challenging due to the need for large access ports and uneven topography, which limits scaling and complicates navigation for both humans and robotic systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-tread vehicle with interconnected tread sections that can articulate through pivot and bend, allowing it to fold and extend to access tight spaces, reducing the number and size of required access ports, and equipped with proximity sensors and cameras for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large access ports are used to access small interior spaces, then human access is enabled, but the structural complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into multiple modular tread sections that can be independently deployed and configured. Each section can navigate through small access ports separately, eliminating the need for large openings while maintaining operational capability through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human mechanical access with an autonomous robotic tread system that uses tracked motion and articulation mechanisms to navigate confined spaces, eliminating the need for human-sized access ports while achieving the same inspection and maintenance objectives
2Ease of operation
If large access ports are used to access small interior spaces, then human access is enabled, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into multiple modular tread sections that can be independently deployed and configured. Each section can navigate through small access ports separately, eliminating the need for large openings while maintaining operational capability through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human mechanical access with an autonomous robotic tread system that uses tracked motion and articulation mechanisms to navigate confined spaces, eliminating the need for human-sized access ports while achieving the same inspection and maintenance objectives
3Strength
If the multi-tread vehicle is made rigid for stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to navigate uneven topography deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into multiple rigid tread sections connected by articulation joints. Each section maintains structural integrity while the joints provide flexibility, allowing the system to navigate uneven surfaces through coordinated articulation while preserving the strength benefits of rigid construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic articulation between tread sections that allows the vehicle to adapt its configuration in real-time to match the terrain geometry. The articulation joints enable the rigid sections to pivot and bend, providing navigation capability across uneven topography while maintaining structural strength during operation
4Adaptability or versatility
If the multi-tread vehicle is made flexible to navigate uneven topography, then navigation capability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into multiple rigid tread sections connected by articulation joints. Each section maintains structural integrity while the joints provide flexibility, allowing the system to navigate uneven surfaces through coordinated articulation while preserving the strength benefits of rigid construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic articulation between tread sections that allows the vehicle to adapt its configuration in real-time to match the terrain geometry. The articulation joints enable the rigid sections to pivot and bend, providing navigation capability across uneven topography while maintaining structural strength during operation
5Device complexity
If the vehicle is designed as a single unit for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to access tight spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into multiple modular tread sections that can be independently deployed and configured. Each section can navigate through small access ports separately, eliminating the need for large openings while maintaining operational capability through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic articulation between tread sections that allows the vehicle to adapt its configuration in real-time to match the terrain geometry. The articulation joints enable the rigid sections to pivot and bend, providing navigation capability across uneven topography while maintaining structural strength during operation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are multi-tread vehicles and methods of operating such vehicles to access small interior spaces. A multi-tread vehicle may include two or more tread sections such that each pair of adjacent tread sections is interconnected by a connector section. Furthermore, each pair may have one or more degrees of articulations, such as being pivotable with respect to each other around one or more axis and/or being bendable with respect to each other around one or more axis. These articulation degrees may be provided by the connector section and/or by couplings between the connector section and each tread section. In some embodiments, each tread section may include two portions detachably coupled to each other. This detachable coupling may be used for disassembly of the multi-tread vehicle after or even during its use, for example, when only a portion of the vehicle needs to be retrieved from an interior space.