Retractable-Wheel Robot Motion Control for Standing and Seated States
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous robotics devices face challenges in attitude control, particularly as their structure becomes more complex, limiting motion expression and potentially giving a cold impression when simplified, and resulting in increased power consumption during stationary periods.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device with a motion control unit that allows an autonomous mobile object to store and protrude wheels, maintaining a standing state during movement and a seated state during stops, enabling rich motion expression with easier attitude control and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the structure of a robotics device becomes more complicated to realize various autonomous motions, then the range of motion expression is improved, but the difficulty of attitude control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wheel structure movable rather than fixed. The wheel can dynamically change its state between protruding from and retracting into the main body, allowing the robot to transition between standing and seated states. This dynamic configuration enables rich motion expression without requiring a permanently complex structure, as the simplicity is restored when the wheel is retracted.
2Ease of operation
If the structure of a robotics device is simplified to ease attitude control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the range of motion expression is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing a dynamic wheel configuration that can change state based on operational requirements. When the wheel protrudes, the robot achieves a standing state with enhanced motion expression capabilities. When the wheel retracts, the structure simplifies to a seated state that is easier to control and more stable. This dynamic transformation allows the robot to have both simple and complex structural characteristics as needed.
3Speed
If the wheel is kept protruded to maintain standing state for movement, then the mobility is improved, but the power consumption increases during stationary periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between two distinct states: the wheel protrudes during movement phases to enable mobility, and the wheel retracts during stationary phases to reduce power consumption. This periodic switching between extended and retracted states allows the robot to optimize its energy usage by maintaining mobility only when movement is required, while conserving energy during stationary periods.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an information processing device to realize a rich motion expression of an autonomous mobile object by easier attitude control. The information processing device includes: a motion control unit that controls a motion of an autonomous mobile object, wherein the autonomous mobile object includes a wheel that can be stored inside a main body and that can be protruded to an outside of the main body, and the motion control unit keeps a standing state by making the wheel protruded to the outside of the main body and performs driving control of the wheel and attitude control of the autonomous mobile object in movement of the autonomous mobile object, and makes the autonomous mobile object remain still in a seated state during a stop thereof by storing the wheel inside the main body is provided.