Remote Manipulator Arm for Hazardous Road Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Road maintenance personnel, including police officers and others, face significant risks while removing debris and objects from active roads, as they often need to exit their vehicles to perform these tasks, exposing them to potential vehicle collisions and hazardous conditions.
Innovation Solution
A remote controlled mechanical manipulator system is integrated with a vehicle, featuring an articulated arm, a gripping element, and a video camera, allowing operators to safely remove objects from a distance using a joystick or control device, enhancing safety by enabling control of the arm and camera from within the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If road maintenance personnel manually remove debris from active roads, then the removal task can be performed, but the personnel are exposed to significant safety risks from vehicle collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a robotic arm system as an intermediary device between the operator and the debris removal task. The operator controls the robotic arm remotely from inside the vehicle, allowing debris to be removed without the operator exposing themselves to traffic hazards. This mediator enables safe interaction with the hazardous environment while maintaining full operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the operator's functions from the physical debris removal task. The operator remains inside the vehicle providing control commands, while the robotic arm executes the physical removal actions. This segmentation allows the operator to maintain safety while the robotic component handles the dangerous work outside the vehicle.
2Reliability
If a robotic arm system is used to remove debris remotely, then operator safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system is designed with multiple gripping elements that can be exchanged based on the type of debris or hazard being handled. The same arm structure can perform various tasks such as picking up small debris, handling large objects, or manipulating hazardous materials by simply changing the end effector, reducing the need for multiple specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines several functions into a single integrated platform: the robotic arm provides positioning, the interchangeable grippers provide manipulation capabilities, the video camera provides visual feedback, and the control system provides remote operation. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
3Reliability
If the operator remains inside the vehicle to control the arm, then safety is improved, but the ability to directly observe and manually handle debris is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a video camera mounted on the robotic arm that transmits real-time visual feedback to the operator inside the vehicle. This feedback loop allows the operator to see the arm's movements and the debris from the arm's perspective, enabling precise control and observation without physical exposure to hazards. The visual information compensates for the loss of direct visual contact with the debris.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for remote object handling including a public safety vehicle having a front portion. An articulated arm has a first end and a second end distinct from the first end, the arm being coupled to the front portion at the first end, and has at least one pivot disposed between the first end and the second end. A gripping element is removably coupled to the second end, wherein the gripping element is one of a pincer device, a hand device having at least three fingers or a shovel. A video camera is also coupled to the second end. An arm control is disposed within the vehicle and is operable to control the operation of the arm, the manipulator and the video camera, and a video interface is coupled to the video camera which is operable to display output from the video camera.