Shuttle Docking Position Detection System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing medical systems for particle therapy face challenges in safely and comfortably docking positioning devices onto shuttles, requiring manual intervention and risking accidental movement of the shuttle or its components, which can lead to patient safety issues and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A medical system equipped with a position detection system that automatically controls the positioning device for precise docking, using markers and sensors to determine the shuttle's position and operational state, allowing for flexible and secure operation even when the shuttle is not perfectly aligned, and enabling the use of robotic arms for precise handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual positioning and securing of the shuttle or mounting device is used, then flexibility and ease of operation are maintained, but safety is compromised due to risk of accidental movement and patient displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automatic recognition and positioning where the positioning device autonomously identifies the shuttle's position via markers and sensors, and self-adjusts to compensate for misalignment, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated optical/electronic system using markers, sensors, and control algorithms to detect position and guide the positioning device, substituting human operation with automated measurement and control
2Productivity
If the shuttle is moved quickly between rooms, then productivity is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates making docking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Markers are pre-positioned on the shuttle and in the room, and the position detection system is pre-calibrated, allowing the system to quickly determine position and compensate for movement without requiring slow, precise manual alignment during docking
Solution Approach 2:
The position detection system continuously monitors the shuttle's position using markers and sensors, providing real-time feedback that enables the positioning device to adjust and dock accurately even when the shuttle arrives with positioning errors from rapid movement
3Extent of automation
If visual docking systems are used to determine shuttle position, then automation is improved, but reliability is reduced due to inability to account for shuttle movement during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically tracks the shuttle's position during the docking process using continuously monitored markers and sensors, allowing real-time adjustment to account for movement, rather than relying on static pre-docking position measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The position detection system provides continuous feedback during the entire docking process, enabling the control unit to monitor and adjust for shuttle movement in real-time, ensuring accurate docking even as the shuttle moves during the automated process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The system has a shuttle (35) provided with a holding device (39) and a carrying device (37). A positioning device (33) i.e. buckling arm robot, is arranged in treatment area (19) for docking at the shuttle, such that the holding device is detachable from the carrying device and/or is loaded on the carrying device. Position determination systems (41, 43) determine a spatial position of the shuttle in the area. A control unit (34) is designed such that the positioning device is controlled with the help of determined position, during docking at the shuttle. An independent claim is also included for a method for docking of a positioning device at a shuttle.