Article Carrying Robot Center of Gravity Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional article carrying robots face instability due to deviations in the center of gravity caused by the partitioned interior of food carrying instruments, which affects their ability to travel stably, especially when using omni wheels or independent wheel driving for lateral and oblique movements.

Innovation Solution

An article carrying robot design featuring a body with pillar portions that form an opening for article storage, using fixing portions to secure storage auxiliary instruments, wiring for power and signal transmission, and a tag reader for information retrieval, ensuring the articles are aligned with the robot's center of gravity, thus stabilizing travel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cart interior is partitioned into front and rear compartments, then storage flexibility is improved, but center of gravity deviation occurs affecting travel stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidtravel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cart interior is divided into front and rear compartments through a partition wall, allowing independent storage of different article types. This segmentation enables flexible storage configuration while the control system monitors and manages weight distribution to maintain stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts travel parameters based on real-time weight distribution data from sensors. When articles are loaded unevenly, the system modifies driving forces or travel routes to compensate for center of gravity deviation, maintaining stable travel despite asymmetric loading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If articles are stored in a partitioned cart, then storage organization is improved, but center of gravity deviation increases making stable traveling impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage organizationVSAvoidtravel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Weight sensors in the front and rear compartments continuously monitor article weight distribution and feed this information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system determines whether the center of gravity deviation is within acceptable ranges and adjusts travel control accordingly, ensuring reliable stable travel while maintaining organized storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3674163B1Article carrying robot
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3674163B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3674163B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3674163B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Included are a bottom portion (24) having a traveling portion (3), a body portion (2, 2a) having a first pillar portion (21, 25) and a second pillar portion (22, 26) extending in a vertical direction, respectively, from one end and another end in a horizontal direction of the bottom portion (24), and a top portion (23) including one end connected to an end of the first pillar portion opposite to the bottom portion and including another end connected to an end of the second pillar portion opposite to the bottom portion, an article storage portion (11, 11a) that forms an opening with the first pillar portion, the second pillar portion, the top portion, and the bottom portion in such a way that the opening penetrates the body portion, and fixing portions (12) provided in the first and second pillar portions to sandwich the opening and pair up with each other, for fixing an article storage auxiliary instrument (6).