Robotic Arm Guard Assembly with Fluid Bladder Petals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic systems lack effective safety mechanisms to prevent collisions between robotic arms and human operators in industrial environments, as traditional barriers like fences or cages are not always sufficient or practical.
Innovation Solution
A guard assembly comprising flexible guard petals with fluid bladders that expand to wrap around moveable objects, providing collision protection while allowing the robotic arm to operate freely without physical barriers, and can be retracted to enable object handling and placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional physical barriers like fences or cages are used to protect human operators from robotic arms, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the system increases and the robotic arm's operational freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The guard assembly transitions from a static barrier to a dynamic, selectively deployable structure. The guard petals can be extended to provide protection when needed and retracted to allow free robotic arm operation, eliminating the need for permanent physical barriers like fences or cages.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard assembly is divided into multiple independent guard petals that can be individually controlled. Each petal can be extended or retracted independently, allowing selective protection in specific zones while maintaining operational freedom in other areas, thus reducing overall system complexity compared to a single large barrier.
2Reliability
If traditional physical barriers like fences or cages are used to protect human operators from robotic arms, then safety is improved, but the robotic arm's operational speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guard assembly is dynamically deployable and retractable, allowing the robotic arm to operate at full speed when guards are retracted. Protection is only activated when needed, eliminating the continuous restriction imposed by permanent barriers and maintaining high operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard assembly operates periodically rather than continuously - extended during object transport phases and retracted during object handling phases. This periodic deployment minimizes interference with the robotic arm's operational cycle and maintains productivity.
3Reliability
If guard petals are extended to provide continuous protection around the robotic arm, then safety is improved, but the ability to handle and place objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guard petals are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, extending during transport phases and retracting during object handling phases. This dynamic adjustment ensures both safety during movement and ease of operation during loading/unloading, resolving the contradiction between protection and handling capability.
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 guard assembly effectively encapsulates objects during transport, enhancing safety by reducing collision risks and eliminating the need for physical barriers, while allowing for seamless operation of robotic arms in close proximity to humans.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid bladder is selectively filled with a fluid to change the fluid bladder between a relaxed configuration and an expanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system includes a robotic arm assembly and a guard assembly. The robotic arm assembly includes a robotic arm and an end effector that is coupled to the robotic arm and selectively couples to a moveable object. The guard assembly is selectively moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and includes a plurality of guard petals that selectively move between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Each guard petal includes a flexible support structure and a fluid bladder coupled to the flexible support structure. The fluid bladder is selectively filled with a fluid to change the fluid bladder between a relaxed configuration and an expanded configuration. The fluid bladder is configured to wrap the flexible support structure around at least a portion of the moveable object when the guard petal is in the extended configuration and the fluid bladder is in the expanded configuration.