Interconnectable Portable Trainers With Shared Power and Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instructional trainers are bulky, heavy, and require lab setups with AC outlets, limiting accessibility and portability, as they often include unnecessary components like PLCs or control circuitry to operate devices, making them impractical for student use outside a lab setting, especially in distance education programs.
Innovation Solution
The development of portable and interconnectable trainers that share power and control signals, allowing students to connect multiple trainers to reduce weight and size by eliminating redundant components, using rechargeable batteries or power banks for operation without AC outlets, and incorporating signal distribution relays for control signal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional instructional trainers include PLCs and control circuitry to operate devices, then the trainers can function as complete training systems, but the trainers become bulky and heavy, limiting portability
Solution Approach 1:
The training system is divided into separate modular components: a power source unit (which may be shared) and individual trainer units. Each trainer unit contains only the specific components needed for its training function, eliminating redundant PLCs and control circuitry from each unit. This segmentation allows trainers to be lightweight and portable while maintaining full training functionality when connected to the shared power source.
Solution Approach 2:
A shared power source unit provides universal power and control capabilities to multiple trainer units. This multi-functional unit contains the PLC, control circuitry, and power distribution systems that can serve any connected trainer, eliminating the need for each trainer to have its own complete control system. This universality reduces the weight of individual trainers while preserving system functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional instructional trainers include all necessary components to operate independently, then the trainers can function without lab setups, but the trainers become bulky and require extensive lab space and AC outlets
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trainer units are merged into a distributed system that shares common infrastructure (power source, control systems). Individual trainers are minimized in size by containing only essential components, while the shared power source provides the bulk infrastructure. This merging allows trainers to be portable and compact yet still function independently when connected to the shared system.
Solution Approach 2:
A shared power source unit acts as an intermediary between the external environment (AC outlets, power grid) and the individual trainer units. This intermediary handles all power distribution and control signal routing, allowing trainers to be simple, portable devices that don't require direct connection to lab infrastructure. The intermediary enables trainer independence while keeping trainer size minimal.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional instructional trainers are designed for lab settings with AC outlets, then the trainers can operate continuously, but the trainers cannot be used outside lab settings, limiting accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static lab-bound configuration to a dynamic portable configuration. Trainer units are designed to be movable and can operate in various locations by connecting to the shared power source wherever it is positioned. The shared power source can be moved between locations, enabling the training system to adapt to different usage environments including off-site locations, thereby increasing operational flexibility while maintaining continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system architecture shifts from requiring vertical integration (all components in one location with AC outlet) to horizontal distribution (separated components connected via wiring). The shared power source and trainer units can be arranged in various spatial configurations and moved to different locations. This dimensional change allows the system to operate without being anchored to lab walls or AC outlets, enabling portable use while maintaining operational continuity through the distributed connection architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of interconnecting trainers is provided. The trainers may share power and/or exchange control signals, resulting in reduction in weight/size and increase in portability. Some of the trainers may include a rechargeable battery to allow the trainers to operate without being connected to an AC outlet. A power source selector switch may select an external AC power source or the internal battery to be used by the trainer. Some the trainers may include one or more DC and/or AC signal distribution relays that may receive control signals from student designed circuits or controllers and may provide DC and/or AC signals to other trainers. Some of the trainers may include built-in devices such as oscilloscopes, signal generators with displays, multimeters, and pneumatic devices.