Systems and methods for automatically reconfiguring a building structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building structures are statically configured, making them inefficient for accommodating items of varying sizes, leading to inefficiencies in storage and delivery due to fixed dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable building structure with movable elements that can adjust their configuration based on the dimensions of incoming items, using actuators and sensors to modulate the physical configuration in real-time, allowing for flexible accommodation of different item sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional building structures use fixed physical elements, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to accommodate items of varying sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming static building elements into movable ones. Walls are made movable along tracks, shelves can be repositioned vertically, and doors can slide horizontally. This allows the building structure to dynamically adjust its configuration to accommodate items of varying sizes while maintaining structural stability through controlled movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the building structure into modular components that can be independently moved and reconfigured. Each wall section, shelf, and door operates as a separate module that can be adjusted without affecting the entire structure, enabling flexible adaptation while keeping individual component complexity manageable.
2Productivity
If building structures are statically configured, then ease of manufacture is improved, but productivity in accommodating deliveries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects incoming deliveries and triggers appropriate structural reconfigurations, enabling rapid adaptation to delivery requirements. Movable walls and shelves respond dynamically to delivery size and type, significantly improving productivity in accommodating various deliveries without requiring complex manual reconfiguration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The building structure incorporates automated detection and control systems that enable self-service reconfiguration. Sensors detect delivery characteristics and the control system automatically positions walls and shelves to optimal configurations, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving delivery accommodation efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If building structures use movable elements for reconfiguration, then adaptability to item dimensions is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing multi-functional components that serve both structural and reconfiguration purposes. Tracks serve as both support structures and movement guides, actuators provide both positioning and locking functions, and control systems manage both detection and actuation. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability to item dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for automatically modulating a physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure. A reconfigurable building structure may be constructed of physical elements that are movable with respect to one another to facilitate actuating the reconfigurable building structure between a plurality of different physical configurations. The physical configuration of a reconfigurable building structure may be adjusted to accommodate for physical dimensions of an item that is going to be moved into the reconfigurable building structure. For example, a spacing between two shelves may be expanded in response to an order being placed for a large item. In this way, when the item is delivered to a physical address associated with the reconfigurable building structure, various physical characteristics of the reconfigurable building structure may have already been modulated to accept the item.