Retractable Robot Mast With Coiled Conduit for Tangle-Free Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots face challenges in efficiently managing their mast systems for vertical image capture, particularly in terms of compact storage, tangle prevention, and privacy modes, as existing systems often result in bulky designs and complex cable management.
Innovation Solution
A retractable and extendable mast system featuring a flexible member that coils within the robot, with a spool assembly and drive roller mechanism to control the cable and image capture device height, utilizing a fastener system for conduit formation around the interface cable, allowing for compact storage and controlled extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the image capture device is mounted on an extendable mast to enable vertical movement for obstacle avoidance and elevated viewing, then the robot can capture images from different heights and navigate over obstacles, but the mast system occupies significant space and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mast system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can extend and retract. The flexible member allows the image capture device to move vertically along the longitudinal axis, enabling the robot to adjust its viewing height and navigate over obstacles dynamically rather than requiring a permanently extended mast structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible member is stored in a coiled or folded state within the robot body when not in use, similar to nested dolls. This nesting principle allows the mast system to be compact during storage while providing full extension capability when needed, significantly reducing the space occupied by the mast system in its retracted state.
2Reliability
If the interface cable is made rigid to ensure stable electrical connection between the image capture device and controller, then connection reliability is improved, but the cable cannot accommodate the vertical movement of the image capture device
Solution Approach 1:
The interface cable is designed with flexible characteristics, allowing it to bend and extend as the image capture device moves vertically along the mast. This flexibility enables the cable to accommodate the dynamic movement while maintaining continuous electrical connection between the image capture device and the robot controller throughout the extension and retraction cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's physical state changes from a coiled/stored configuration to an extended linear configuration as the image capture device moves. This parameter change in the cable's shape and length accommodates the vertical movement while maintaining electrical connectivity, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for stability and flexibility for movement accommodation.
3Ease of operation
If the flexible member is kept loose to allow free movement of the image capture device, then ease of operation is improved, but cable tangling and disorganization occur during extension and retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization of the interface cable and flexible member during the extension process. As the flexible member uncoils and extends, the interface cable is simultaneously guided and arranged in an orderly fashion, preventing tangles and disorganization before they can occur. This preliminary action ensures both movement freedom and cable organization are maintained throughout operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A protractible and retractable mast system for an autonomous mobile robot includes an elongate flexible member including a first lateral end and a second lateral end, and a fastener having a first portion extending along a length of the first lateral end and a second portion extending along a length of the second lateral end. The flexible member is configured to be at least partially coiled within a body of the robot, and a portion of the flexible member is vertically movable away from the body when the flexible member is being uncoiled. The fastener is configured to connect the first lateral end to the second lateral end when the flexible member is being uncoiled, and disconnect the first lateral end from the second lateral end when the flexible member is being coiled.