Delivery Robot Tray Suspension for Liquid Spill Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delivery robots face challenges in preventing liquid spills, particularly when transporting foods like soup or coffee, due to vibrations and inertia during acceleration/deceleration, which can lead to overflow, and this issue persists even at higher speeds.
Innovation Solution
A delivery robot with a soup-spill prevention module featuring a tray structure comprising a lower and upper plate, coupled by a damper spring with a control plate, where the upper plate moves independently to adjust its inclination based on the traveling environment, using a controller to stabilize the liquid through centrifugal force and damping control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the delivery robot travels at higher speeds, then productivity is improved, but liquid spills increase due to vibrations and inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The upper plate is designed to move independently relative to the lower plate through a damper spring mechanism. This dynamic structure allows the upper plate to adjust its position and inclination angle in response to vibrations and inertia forces during acceleration/deceleration, preventing liquid spills while maintaining high traveling speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the upper plate is dynamically adjusted based on the robot's motion state. The control plate with inclined surface changes the damping characteristics of the damper spring, allowing the system to adapt to different traveling conditions and prevent spills at various speeds
2Adaptability or versatility
If the delivery robot passes over obstacles, then adaptability is improved, but soup overflow increases due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The independent movement of the upper plate through the damper spring mechanism allows the system to dynamically respond to vibrations caused by obstacle navigation. The upper plate can tilt and adjust its position to counteract the effects of passing over obstacles, preventing soup overflow while maintaining navigation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The damper spring provides cushioning effects before vibrations can cause significant liquid displacement. By absorbing and damping vibrations in advance, the system prevents soup overflow when navigating obstacles
3Productivity
If the delivery robot accelerates or decelerates, then productivity is improved, but liquid spill increases due to inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The upper plate's independent movement capability allows it to respond to inertial forces during acceleration and deceleration. The damper spring mechanism enables the upper plate to tilt in the opposite direction of the inertial force, counteracting liquid displacement and preventing spills during speed changes
Solution Approach 2:
The damper spring and control plate mechanism generates a counteracting force against inertial effects before they can cause significant liquid spill. The inclined surface of the control plate converts the inertial movement into a controlled tilting motion that prevents overflow
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The module effectively prevents liquid spills by stabilizing the contents during travel, allowing the robot to maintain speed and navigate obstacles without spilling, even at higher speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a damper spring fixed to the lower plate, and a control plate coupled to an end of the damper spring to control damping of the damper spring
Implementation Method 2
The control plate may be provided with an inclined surface such that a distance between a center of the damper spring and the control plate may differ between a center point and an end point of the control plate
Implementation Method 3
The second insertion portion may be coupled to the second coupling through side ball bearings in one side region and an opposite side region thereof
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~3A
AI summary
This delivery robot may comprise: a lower plate configured to be fixed to the delivery robot; an upper plate configured to support items placed thereon; a damper spring fixed to the lower plate; and an adjusting plate coupled to an end of the damper spring and configured to adjust the damping of the damper spring. The adjusting plate is formed as an inclined surface, and thus the distance between the center of the damper spring and the adjusting plate can be made different at a center point and an end point. The upper plate can move at a different inclination angle relative to the lower plate according to the distance between the center of the damper spring and the adjusting plate.