Robotic Trailer for Disruptor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems for explosive ordinance disposal face challenges in reliably disabling explosives due to the risk posed to personnel and the inability of existing robotic arms to carry and sustain the weight of disruptors effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of remote-controlled vehicles equipped with remotely controllable arms and various subsystems for securely attaching, positioning, and releasing disruptors or containers near targets, utilizing mechanisms like parallel tracks, clamps, shock absorbers, and release mechanisms to minimize risk and ensure accurate placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If robotic arms are used to place disruptors near explosives, then personnel risk is reduced, but the arms cannot reliably carry and sustain the weight of disruptors
Solution Approach 1:
A trailer assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the robotic arm and the disruptor. The trailer carries the disruptor and interfaces with the robot's arm through a coupling mechanism, allowing the arm to transport the trailer without directly bearing the full weight of the disruptor, thus improving both personnel safety and placement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the robotic arm for positioning, the trailer assembly for carrying the disruptor, and the coupling mechanism for transferring force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the trailer handling the weight-bearing task separately from the arm's positioning capability.
2Reliability
If disruptors are placed close to IEDs for effective disruption, then disruption effectiveness is improved, but personnel safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical manipulation of disruptors by robotic arms with a trailer-based delivery system. The trailer can be positioned by the arm and then released to drop the disruptor close to the target, separating the positioning function from the weight-bearing function and enabling safer close-range disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer assembly is pre-configured with the disruptor and coupled to the robotic arm before approaching the target. This preliminary setup allows the system to deliver the disruptor to the optimal position and then release it, ensuring both personnel safety during transport and effective placement at the target location.
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
Facilitates the safe and reliable disabling of explosives by allowing precise placement of disruptors or containers, reducing the risk to EOD personnel and enhancing the capability of robotic systems to handle the weight and positioning of disruptors effectively.
Implementation Method 1
support means connected to the clamp and including at least one shock absorber
Implementation Method 2
second component including first and second sets of rollers for rolling the second component along the parallel vertical tracks
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are described herein for remotely aligning and placing disruptive devices at or near suspicious targets such as suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In particular, tools connected to remotely controllable robots include disruptor guns for firing disruptive materials at the targets and disruptive devices filled with explosive materials, e.g., water, for controllably detonating or disrupting the detonation of the targets when placed in close proximity thereto.