Rotatable Platform With Flexible Cable Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Omni-directional camera systems face issues with twisted cables generating resistance forces and potential damage due to frequent rotation, requiring increased motor force and posing reliability concerns.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable platform design featuring a flexible transmitting device, such as a flexible cable or printed circuit board, that winds around axes as the platform units rotate, reducing mechanical stress and damage, combined with piezoelectric motors with frictional nubs for efficient rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed cable is used to transmit power and data to a rotating platform, then the cable remains stable and undamaged, but the cable generates resistance force and cannot accommodate rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is transformed from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic flexible connection that can wind and unwind as the platform rotates. The cable is arranged to wind about the rotation axis, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the rotating motion while maintaining electrical connection, thus resolving the contradiction between cable stability and platform rotation capability
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible cable or flexible printed circuit board is used instead of a rigid cable. This flexible transmitting device can bend and wind around the rotation axis, accommodating the rotational movement of the platform while maintaining electrical connectivity, thereby enabling rotation without cable damage
2Use of energy by moving object
If a cable is used to transmit power and data to a rotating platform, then power and data transmission is achieved, but the cable becomes twisted and generates resistance force requiring greater motor force
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is arranged to wind about the rotation axis in a controlled manner rather than becoming twisted randomly. This dynamic winding arrangement allows the cable to follow the rotation smoothly, minimizing friction and resistance forces that would otherwise require additional motor force to overcome
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation axis serves as an intermediary structure around which the cable winds. This intermediary arrangement provides a guided path for the cable during rotation, preventing twisting and reducing the resistance force generated between the cable and the rotating platform
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 solution minimizes resistance forces and cable damage, allowing for smoother and more reliable operation of omni-directional camera systems by using flexible transmission and piezoelectric motor mechanisms, enhancing the platform's ability to orient cameras over a wide range of directions without excessive motor effort.
Implementation Method 1
The first platform unit is rotatable by a piezoelectric motor which is attached to one of the first platform unit and the base
Implementation Method 2
the motor having a frictional nub to contact the other one of the first platform unit and the base
Data Source
AI summary
A platform comprising: a base; a first platform unit rotatably mounted to the base and being rotatable about a first axis relative to the base; a second platform unit rotatably mounted to the first platform unit and be rotatable about a second axis relative to the first platform unit; and a flexible transmitting device connected between the base and the first platform unit and/or the first platform unit and the second platform unit for transmitting power and/or data. The flexible transmitting device is arranged to wind about the first axis when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis and/or wind about the second axis when the second platform unit is rotated about the second axis.