Mobile Robot End Effector Storage Cover for Hygiene and Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robots used as service robots have exposed tool storage and tools, which can spoil the aesthetic appearance and pose hygiene issues when observed or touched by people.
Innovation Solution
A robot design featuring a self-propelled carriage with robotic arms, a storage for end effectors, and a covering that conceals the storage from view, allowing easy attachment and detachment of end effectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tool storage is exposed and accessible, then the tools can be easily observed and accessed by people, but the mechanical appearance of the tools spoils the fine sight and hygiene problems arise when people touch the tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tool storage function from the visible robot body by mounting it on a separate movable platform or cart that can be detached or moved away. This separates the aesthetic robot body from the functional but visually unappealing tool storage, allowing the robot to maintain its appearance while still providing tool accessibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool storage is designed to be dynamically movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned close to the robot body when tools need to be accessed, and moved away or covered when aesthetic appearance and hygiene are priorities. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between accessibility and appearance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tool storage is covered, then the aesthetic appearance and hygiene are maintained, but the tools become inaccessible to people
Solution Approach 1:
The covering is designed to be movable or removable, allowing it to be in place when aesthetic appearance and hygiene are priorities, and moved away when tool accessibility is needed. This dynamic covering resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between protected and accessible states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary movable platform that serves as both the tool storage and the covering mechanism. This intermediary element can be positioned to provide coverage when needed, while still allowing access to tools when required, mediating between the conflicting requirements of protection and accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the tool storage is mounted on the robot body, then the tools are readily accessible, but the storage and tools are visually observable and accessible by people which spoils aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The tool storage is extracted from the main robot body and mounted on a separate movable platform. This separation allows the robot body to maintain its aesthetic appearance while the tool storage can be positioned independently, reducing visual impact while preserving accessibility functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the tool storage from the same spatial plane as the robot body to a different dimension by using a movable platform that can be positioned at varying distances and heights. This dimensional separation reduces visual prominence while maintaining functional accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a self-propelled carriage, one or more robotic arms that are mounted on the carriage and allow an end effector to be attached thereto and detached therefrom, a storage that is mounted on the carriage and allows, to be stored, the end effector removed from the one or more robotic arms and the end effector to be attached to the one or more robotic arms, and a covering that is mounted on the carriage and covers the storage from above.