Robotic Transformable Living Space Design for Micro-Unit Versatility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban housing is becoming increasingly expensive, and micro-units often fail to accommodate diverse and personalized needs due to limited space, making it difficult to efficiently use living spaces for various functions such as sleeping, storage, and entertainment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mechanical structures integrated with active electronic systems and controls to create transformable living spaces, allowing for the reconfiguration of furniture and appliances through a robotic control system, drivetrain assembly, and user interfaces, enabling efficient use of space for different purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If micro-units are used to reduce housing costs, then housing expense is reduced, but the ability to accommodate diverse and personalized needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically reconfigurable furniture and living space elements that can change configuration based on user needs. The robotic control system enables furniture pieces to transform between different states (e.g., bed to sitting position, adjustable shelving), allowing a compact micro-unit to adapt to diverse activities such as sleeping, working, and entertainment within limited space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional furniture and space elements that serve multiple purposes. A single furniture piece can function as both storage and seating, or transform into different configurations for various activities. This universal design allows micro-units to accommodate diverse and personalized needs without requiring separate dedicated spaces for each function.
2Device complexity
If fixed living spaces are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the efficiency of space usage for different purposes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic, reconfigurable elements within an otherwise simple fixed structure. The robotic control system enables furniture and partitions to move and transform, allowing the living space to be efficiently reconfigured for different purposes while maintaining the structural simplicity of the building itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transformable living spaces with robotic control systems are implemented, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic control system enables furniture and living space elements to transform automatically based on user input or predefined scenarios. The system self-manages the complex coordination of multiple actuators and sensors, reducing the burden on users and masking the underlying complexity while delivering smooth, intuitive transformation capabilities.
4Ease of operation
If mechanical structures with actuators are used for furniture reconfiguration, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic control system with actuators enables furniture to reconfigure automatically with minimal user input. A simple user interface command triggers the automated sequence of mechanical movements, making operation easy while the complex mechanical coordination is handled autonomously by the control system.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides apparatuses, methods and systems operable to provide transformable living spaces. The system includes a chassis and a configurable unit movably coupled to the chassis for at least one of translation and rotation with respect to the chassis. The system also includes at least one drivetrain assembly movably coupling the configurable unit to the chassis. The system includes at least one actuator coupled to the configurable unit by the at least one drivetrain assembly. The system also includes at least one robotic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator.