Retractable Limb Expansion Mechanism for Compact Movable Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transformable devices, such as robots with multiple joints, face limitations in deformation mechanisms, particularly in size and practicality for industrial or service robots, as they are often designed for entertainment rather than practical applications, and lack efficient mechanisms for quick deformation and space-saving configurations.
Innovation Solution
A novel expansion device and movable body design featuring a main body with retractable limb portions, including links and joints, and a linear member that couples the end link to the main body, allowing for quick deformation into a compact shape to prevent damage and facilitate storage and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transformable device with multiple joints is designed for entertainment purposes, then character property and user entertainment are enhanced, but the device size is limited to hand-foldable dimensions and lacks practicality for industrial applications
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent limb portions (first limb portion, second limb portion, etc.), each with its own expansion and contraction capability. This segmentation allows the device to be folded into a compact shape for storage while maintaining the ability to expand to functional sizes for practical applications, resolving the contradiction between entertainment character design and practical device size requirements.
2Productivity
If a robot device with multiple movable parts is designed for industrial applications, then practical functionality is improved, but the deformation mechanism becomes complex and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The limb portions are designed with dynamic expansion and contraction capabilities through linear members that can be extended or retracted. This dynamic design allows the device to transform between compact storage configuration and expanded functional configuration, providing practical functionality for industrial applications while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized limb portion designs.
3Ease of operation
If a transformable device is designed to be folded by hand, then ease of operation is improved, but the device cannot achieve the size and functionality required for industrial robots
Solution Approach 1:
The linear members within each limb portion are designed to be extendable and retractable through automated or semi-automated mechanisms, allowing the device to perform its own expansion and contraction operations. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual hand-folding while maintaining ease of operation, enabling the device to achieve industrial-scale functionality without requiring proportionally complex external manipulation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an expansion device and a movable body including a mechanism for quick deformation. An expansion device includes a main body and a limb portion attached to the main body, in which the limb portion includes a main link connected to the main body via a joint, an end link provided at a front end of the limb portion, at least one or more limb joints that are interposed between the main link and the end link and connect the main link and the end link, and a linear member of which both ends couple an end at the front end side of the limb portion of the end link and the main body and are retractable to one or both of the end link and the main body.