Rotatable Robot Arm for Door and Elevator Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of robots in commercial and industrial settings, particularly in environments requiring frequent human interactions, is hindered by the lack of advanced capabilities for navigating and interacting with infrastructure such as doors and elevators, as well as performing security and maintenance tasks efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot equipped with a motorized base, a rotatable ring, and a mechanical arm that can extend, rotate, and grasp objects, allowing it to autonomously open doors, use elevators, and perform security checks by interacting with various environments and systems through sensors and controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a robot is equipped with a mechanical arm that can extend and rotate, then the robot's ability to interact with infrastructure such as doors and elevators is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical arm is divided into multiple segments (first arm portion, second arm portion) that can move independently relative to each other, allowing complex interactions to be achieved through coordinated movement of simpler individual segments
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable ring adds a rotational dimension to the mechanical arm's movement capabilities, transforming a linearly moving arm into one that can also rotate horizontally to access targets at different angular positions around the robot body
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mechanical arm is coupled to a rotatable ring that rotates horizontally, then the degrees of freedom in motion are increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable ring provides dynamic rotational adjustment of the mechanical arm's orientation, allowing the system to adapt its reach direction in real-time based on the position of targets such as door handles or elevator buttons
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable ring serves multiple functions: it positions the mechanical arm for different angular targets, enables ambidextrous operation for left and right-opening doors, and works in conjunction with the mechanical arm's extension to reach various distances and angles
3Productivity
If the robot is equipped with sensors and controllers for autonomous operation, then the robot's ability to perform security and maintenance tasks is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot uses its own sensors to detect targets and its own controllers to plan and execute movements, making the system self-sufficient for navigation and interaction tasks without requiring external control for each action
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors provide real-time feedback about the robot's position, the location of targets such as door handles, and the state of interactions, allowing the controller to adjust motion plans dynamically to achieve task completion
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot is configured for operation in a commercial or industrial setting, such as an office building or retail store. The mobile robot can have a motorized base and a robot body on the motorized base, the robot body including a rotatable ring that rotates horizontally around the robot body. A mechanical arm that can contract and extend relative to the robot body is coupled to the rotatable ring and performs a plurality of actions. A controller of the mobile robot provides instructions to the rotatable ring and the mechanical arm and can cause the mechanical arm to open a door, take an elevator to move to a different floor, and test whether a door is locked properly.