Side-Mounted Serving Robot Display for Narrow-Space Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serving robots face limitations in narrow spaces due to restricted rotational movement, making it difficult to interact with customers at tables with limited space, and require the entire robot to rotate within narrow passages.
Innovation Solution
A serving robot apparatus with a display that moves along the side surface of the main body, allowing interaction without rotating the main body, using a link member and driving devices to pivot the display towards the customer, and a guide rail for stable movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display is fixed to the robot, then the robot structure is simple, but the robot cannot interact with customers in narrow spaces without rotating the entire body
Solution Approach 1:
The display is separated from the main robot body and mounted on an independently movable carriage that travels along a guide rail. This segmentation allows the display to rotate and face customers independently without rotating the entire robot, solving the contradiction between interaction capability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display mounting structure transitions from a fixed state to a dynamic state where the display can rotate along the guide rail. The driving mechanism enables the display to dynamically adjust its orientation to face customers, improving interaction capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If the robot rotates within narrow passages, then the display can face the customer, but the robot may collide with tables or walls
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the display rotation function from the robot's main body movement, the system allows the display to orient toward customers independently. The robot body remains stationary or moves minimally along the aisle, while only the display carriage rotates, dramatically reducing collision risk with tables and walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail acts as an intermediary mechanism between the robot body and the display. It enables the display to rotate and face customers without requiring the robot body to rotate, thus eliminating collision risks in narrow passages while maintaining proper display orientation.
3Ease of operation
If the display moves along the side surface, then interaction is improved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail and carriage mechanism serves multiple functions: it supports the display, enables rotation, guides movement along the side surface, and provides a stable mounting structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex components, balancing interaction improvement with structural simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A serving robot apparatus is disclosed. The serving robot apparatus includes a main body; a shelf horizontally supported by the main body; a first driving device configured to move the main body; a display comprising a front surface to display an image and a rear surface disposed to face a side surface of the main body; a link member comprising one end connected to the main body and other end connected to a rear surface of the display; and a second driving device configured to move the link member so that the display moves along the side surface of the main body.