Packable Robot with Foldable Arm and Camera

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ground robots are either too heavy and large to be carried in a soldier's backpack or too small and non-maneuverable to navigate complex terrain such as stairs and restricted areas.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, compact, and packable robot with a chassis, main tracks, a foldable robot arm, and a foldable camera assembly, equipped with advanced sensors and mission modules, allowing for remote control and operation in tight spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the robot is made maneuverable enough to climb stairs and navigate complex terrain, then its mobility and capability are improved, but its weight and size increase making it unsuitable for backpack deployment

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemobilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot is divided into modular components including a chassis, separate arm assembly, and camera assembly that can be independently folded and stored. This segmentation allows the robot to achieve complex mobility capabilities when deployed while maintaining a compact, lightweight form factor for backpack transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The robot employs dynamic folding mechanisms where the arm and camera assembly can transition between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the robot to adapt its morphology based on operational needs, providing full mobility when required and compact storage when transport is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Weight of moving object

If the robot is made compact and lightweight for backpack deployment, then its portability is improved, but its maneuverability decreases preventing it from navigating stairs and restricted terrain

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidmaneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the robot into distinct functional modules (chassis, arm, camera), each component can be optimized independently. The chassis remains lightweight for portability while the arm and camera assemblies provide enhanced maneuverability when deployed, resolving the contradiction between compact size and operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The arm assembly and camera assembly are designed to nest within or alongside the chassis when in the stowed position. This nesting arrangement allows the robot to maintain a compact footprint for backpack deployment while accommodating fully functional maneuverable components when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robot arm and camera assembly are always deployed, then the robot's operational capability is maximized, but the robot's size and complexity increase making it difficult to transport and store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational capabilityVSAvoidsize

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot employs dynamic folding mechanisms where the arm and camera assembly can transition between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the robot to adapt its morphology based on operational needs, providing full functionality when required and compact storage when transport is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The robot achieves high mobility, enabling it to navigate stairs and other obstacles while being small enough to fit in a backpack, thus providing a versatile and effective tool for dismounted forces in close quarters combat.

Implementation Method 1

A motor in a housing rotates the flipper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a slip clutch is attached to the flipper arm and is driven by the motor via a gear train

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

a slip clutch is attached to the flipper arm and is driven by the motor via a gear train

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 4

The stator and rotor disposed about the housing drives the main track and the flipper track

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3515672B1Remotely controlled packable robot

Publication Date: 2025.01.22 FOSTER MILLER INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a pair of main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the bottom surface of the chassis and the main tracks. A robot arm is foldable from a stored position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis. A camera assembly may be foldable from a stowed position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis next to the robot arm to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis.