Packable Robot Stowable Arm and Chassis Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ground robots are either too heavy and large to fit in a soldier's backpack or too small and non-maneuverable to navigate complex terrain effectively, such as stairs.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, compact, remotely controlled ground robot with a chassis, motive subsystem, camera assembly, and robot arm that can be packed in a backpack, featuring a unique design with rotatable flipper arms, stowable components, and a power distribution system to manage battery current draw, allowing for maneuverability in tight spaces and over obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the robot is made larger and heavier to improve maneuverability and climbing capability, then it can navigate complex terrain better, but it cannot fit in a soldier's backpack
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is divided into modular components including a chassis, robot arm assembly, camera assembly, and motive subsystem that can be independently configured and packaged. This segmentation allows the robot to be disassembled for compact storage in a backpack while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm stows within the chassis by nesting the arm components inside the robot body. The camera assembly and other peripherals are also integrated into the chassis structure, creating a compact nested configuration that reduces overall volume for backpack transport while preserving full operational capability when deployed.
2Weight of moving object
If the robot is made smaller and lighter to fit in a backpack, then it becomes portable, but it loses maneuverability and cannot climb stairs effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The robot incorporates a deployable robot arm with multiple degrees of freedom that can be extended and positioned dynamically during operation. The arm includes an elbow joint and wrist mechanisms that provide dynamic maneuverability for navigating complex terrain and climbing stairs, while the arm retracts into the chassis when not in use to maintain compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot uses vertical deployment of the robot arm and camera assembly from the chassis to gain operational height and reach without increasing the base footprint. This dimensional approach allows the compact robot to achieve the maneuverability of a larger system by utilizing vertical space during operation rather than horizontal expansion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot includes advanced sensors and mission modules, then it becomes more capable for dismounted forces, but it increases weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly serves multiple functions including navigation, surveillance, and target acquisition. The robot arm can perform both manipulation tasks and act as a mounting platform for sensors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining advanced sensor capabilities for dismounted forces.
4Ease of manufacture
If the robot arm and camera assembly are permanently mounted, then they are stable and accessible, but the robot cannot be packed compactly
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm and camera assembly are pre-configured with quick-connect mechanisms and standardized mounting interfaces that allow for rapid deployment and secure attachment to the chassis. This preliminary preparation enables the components to be easily accessed and mounted when needed while allowing compact storage when stowed, resolving the conflict between accessibility and compact packaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A remotely controlled packable robot includes a chassis, a motive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the chassis and the motive subsystem. A rearward arm base member mount is located between the chassis and a rotatable arm shoulder and is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the arm underneath the robot in the open channel.