Robotic Feces Collection Assembly with Visual Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual collection of pet feces from yards is inconvenient and requires direct human intervention, lacking an efficient and automated solution.

Innovation Solution

A robotic device equipped with grabbers, a storage chamber, and a guidance unit that travels along the ground to automatically detect and collect pet feces using cameras and control circuits for navigation and operation, eliminating the need for manual handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual collection of pet feces is performed, then direct human intervention is required, but this is inconvenient and requires manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of feces collectionVSAvoidcomplexity of collection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system performs feces collection autonomously without human intervention. The robot navigates independently using guidance unit feedback, detects feces using the detection unit, positions grabbers to collect feces, and stores them in the storage chamber, thereby serving itself and eliminating the need for manual collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical collection with an automated robotic system that uses electronic control circuits, detection units with cameras or sensors, and motorized grabbers. The mechanical action of picking up feces is substituted by a controlled robotic mechanism guided by electronic feedback from detection units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If automated robotic collection is implemented, then human intervention is eliminated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of feces collectionVSAvoidcomplexity of robotic system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system is divided into distinct functional modules: a mobile robot platform, a detection unit with optical sensors or cameras, a control unit with processing circuits, grabbers for collection, and a storage chamber. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently controlled, making the complex system manageable through functional segmentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the detection unit and the grabbers/storage chamber. The detection unit provides feedback signals to the control unit, which processes the information and generates control signals to operate the grabbers and navigation, thereby mediating the automated collection process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10870958B2Robotic feces collection assembly

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 FORNAROTTO DAWN

AI summary

A robotic feces collection assembly for automatically collecting pet feces in a yard includes a robot that travels along ground. The robot has a storage chamber therein and a plurality of grabbers. Each of the grabbers selectively engages animal feces on the ground and positions the animal feces in the storage chamber. A guidance unit is coupled to the robot for visually detecting the animal feces on the ground. The guidance unit is electrically coupled to the robot such that the guidance unit guides the robot to the animal feces for collecting the animal fees.