Segmented Rescue Robot with Extendable Supply Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots, including snake-type robots, face difficulties in entering small buried spaces and providing survivors with water and nutrients during rescue operations, especially in environments where human access is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A robot design featuring a body with unit joints, a head part with a gripper and sensors, and an extendable part equipped with a supply line for water and nutrients, allowing it to navigate small spaces and provide essential resources to survivors, while also including sensors for fire detection and communication modules for accurate rescue coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If snake-type robots are used for life detection, then detection capability is improved, but ability to enter small buried spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robot body is divided into multiple unit joints that can flex and articulate independently, allowing the robot to navigate through narrow and complex buried spaces while maintaining detection capabilities. The segmentation enables the robot to bend and conform to tight spaces that rigid snake-type robots cannot access.
2Volume of moving object
If robot body is made compact for small space entry, then ability to enter small spaces is improved, but capacity to supply water and nutrients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supply lines for water and nutrients are nested within the robot's body structure and extension part, allowing the robot to maintain a compact form factor for entering small spaces while still carrying sufficient supply capacity. The extension part can be inserted into the robot body to store additional supplies when not in use.
3Length of moving object
If extension part is added to enter small spaces, then ability to enter small spaces is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The extension part serves multiple functions: it extends the robot's reach to enter small spaces, contains the supply lines for water and nutrients, and provides structural support for delivering supplies to survivors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity despite the added functionality.
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
Enables the robot to effectively enter small spaces, supply water and nutrients to survivors, and enhance rescue accuracy through quick information exchange, ensuring timely and effective rescue operations in difficult environments.
Implementation Method 1
A heat source sensor for sensing a heat source may be provided in one of the plurality of tongs parts
Implementation Method 2
A smoke sensor for sensing smoke may be provided in one of the plurality of tongs parts
Implementation Method 3
A sonic sensor may be provided in one of the tongs parts to transmit a signal detected from the sonic sensor to rescuers or a rescue center and detect a rescue signal of the survivor
Data Source
AI summary
A robot for detecting and saving a life, includes: a body part including a plurality of unit joints; a head part which is provided at the front of the body part in the direction in which the body part moves forward, and which has a gripper capable of picking up an object by a plurality of tongs parts that are folded and unfolded; and an extension part capable of extending forward from the head part so as to enter a small space that is difficult for the body part to enter.