Service Robot Housing Shielding for Concealed Fasteners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional service robots have exposed fasteners that detract from their aesthetic appearance and integrity due to the installation method where fasteners pass through the robot housing from the outside.

Innovation Solution

A shielding structure is integrated into the robot housing to conceal the fasteners, using snap-fit mechanisms and flexible designs that match the color and shape of the housing to ensure a seamless appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If fasteners are used to fix the robot housing on the robot main body, then the housing is securely fastened, but the fasteners become exposed outside the housing, reducing aesthetic appearance and integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A shielding structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the fastener and the external environment. This shielding structure covers the exposed fastener, preventing it from being visible while maintaining the fastening function. The shielding structure acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between structural integrity and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding structure is designed to provide localized coverage only at the specific area where the fastener is exposed, rather than covering the entire housing. This allows the housing to maintain its overall aesthetic quality while providing targeted protection for the fastener region, balancing appearance and function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If a shielding structure is added to cover the fastener, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is integrated with the robot housing as a unified component rather than being a separate, independent part. This merging approach reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the assembly process, thereby reducing device complexity while still achieving the aesthetic improvement of covering the fastener.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional fastening method is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the exposed fastener reduces overall appearance integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidappearance integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is pre-integrated into the housing design during the manufacturing process. By incorporating the shielding feature into the housing itself rather than adding it as a separate post-manufacturing component, the manufacturing process remains simple while achieving the desired appearance integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3756836B1Service robot
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECH (BEIJIBG) CO LTD
  • EP3756836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3756836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3756836B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a service robot which includes a robot main body, a robot housing and a shielding structure. The robot main body is arranged in the robot housing, and the robot housing is configured to be fixed on the robot main body by means of a fastener. The shielding structure is configured to be fit on the robot housing to block the fastener. The service robot blocks the fastener exposed outside the robot housing by means of the shielding structure, so as to effectively improve the aesthetics and integrity of the overall appearance of the service robot.