Portable Robot Face for Ambulance Tele-Consultation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic tele-presence systems lack portability and flexibility in providing remote medical consultations, especially in emergency situations where patients need to be transported, limiting their ability to maintain continuous communication and observation.
Innovation Solution
A portable robot face system coupled to a remote station via a wireless network, allowing the robot face to be attached to various platforms, gurneys, and stands, enabling remote medical consultations across different locations, with features like articulate joints, wireless transceivers, and detachable mechanisms for easy movement and power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a robotic tele-presence system is designed for fixed installation, then it provides stable audio-visual communication, but it lacks portability and cannot follow patients during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic tele-presence system is divided into separable components including a portable robot unit with camera, microphone, and speaker, and a remote station with monitor and control interface. This segmentation allows the robot to be easily transported between locations while maintaining functional integrity for continuous communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed installation to a dynamic portable configuration. The robot can be moved to different locations (ambulance, ER, ICU) and repositioned within spaces using articulating joints, enabling it to adapt to changing patient locations while maintaining communication capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot is made portable for easy movement, then it can follow patients during transport, but it may compromise structural stability and positioning precision
Solution Approach 1:
The robot incorporates articulating joints that provide controlled movement and positioning capability. These joints allow the robot to be dynamically repositioned to optimal viewing angles while maintaining stability during observation, bridging the gap between mobility and positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
An articulating arm or mounting mechanism serves as an intermediary between the portable robot body and the support structure. This intermediary component enables easy attachment and detachment while providing stable positioning when the robot is in use, allowing the robot to be both mobile and stable as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A tele-presence system that includes a portable robot face coupled to a remote station. The robot face includes a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker and a robot microphone. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The portable robot face can be attached to a platform mounted to the ceiling of an ambulance. The portable robot face can be used by a physician at the remote station to provide remote medical consultation. When the patient is moved from the ambulance the portable robot face can be detached from the platform and moved with the patient.