Robotic Road Maintenance Modules for Safer Material Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current road maintenance techniques face safety, ergonomic, efficiency, labor, equipment, material usage, quality, and environmental challenges due to reliance on manual labor, high equipment costs, inconsistent quality, and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A robotic maintenance vehicle (RMV) with a vehicle platform, control system, multi-axis robot, optical system, and location translator, capable of automating road maintenance tasks, such as sealing cracks, setting cones, and painting, using interchangeable modules to reduce human error and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual labor is used for road maintenance tasks, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but worker safety deteriorates due to exposure to high-speed traffic, hazardous materials, and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical labor with an automated robotic system equipped with sensors, processors, and robotic arms that perform crack sealing, cone setting, and line painting tasks. This substitution eliminates worker exposure to traffic hazards and hazardous materials while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic maintenance vehicle is self-propelled and self-operating, with autonomous navigation capabilities that allow it to perform maintenance tasks without human intervention in hazardous zones. The system self-manages material dispensing, positioning, and task execution, keeping workers safe from traffic and equipment hazards.
2Reliability
If multiple dedicated trucks and equipment are used for different maintenance tasks, then task specialization is achieved, but equipment cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a single robotic maintenance vehicle that can perform multiple functions including crack sealing, cone setting, and line painting through interchangeable modules and tools. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple dedicated trucks and equipment, reducing overall equipment cost and complexity while maintaining task specialization through modular attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate maintenance functions (crack sealing, cone setting, line painting) into a single integrated robotic platform. By merging these functions into one vehicle with modular tooling, the system reduces the number of equipment units needed while preserving the specialized capabilities required for each task.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual application of road maintenance material is used, then operator judgment is applied, but material usage consistency deteriorates leading to waste or suboptimal coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system incorporates sensors that detect crack dimensions, material flow rates, and application quality in real-time. This feedback enables the control system to automatically adjust material dispensing parameters to maintain consistent application quality and optimal coverage, eliminating the variability inherent in manual application while preserving adaptive response to different road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual material application with automated robotic dispensing systems that precisely control material flow and placement. This substitution eliminates operator variability in material application consistency while maintaining the ability to adapt to different crack sizes and road conditions through programmable parameters and sensor feedback.
4Productivity
If multiple vehicles and equipment are deployed for road maintenance, then task capability is enhanced, but environmental impact worsens due to carbon emissions and heat
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic maintenance vehicle performs multiple maintenance tasks (crack sealing, cone setting, line painting) in a single deployment, replacing multiple separate vehicles and equipment. This consolidation reduces the total number of vehicles on the road, thereby reducing cumulative carbon emissions and environmental impact while maintaining comprehensive task capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple maintenance functions into one robotic platform, reducing the fleet size required for comprehensive road maintenance. By combining previously separate operations into a single vehicle, the system reduces overall fuel consumption and carbon emissions associated with operating multiple dedicated trucks and equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
The robotic maintenance vehicle (RMV) has a propulsion system, a control system, an electrical power source, a maintenance module, a multi-axis robot, an optical system, and a location translator. The maintenance module is configured to hold different kinds of road maintenance materials. The multi-axis robot is configured to convey the road maintenance material from either the maintenance module to the road, the road to the maintenance module, or both. The optical system and the location translator are configured to be controlled by the control system and operate in conjunction to instruct the multi-axis robot where to pick up and/or place the road maintenance material. The multi-axis robot is configured to be selectively coupled to a distal arm tool.