SMA Thrust Actuator and Lateral Wobble Mechanism for Autonomous Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sexual stimulation devices lack versatility in movement and require constant human intervention, distracting users from their experience and limiting immersion.
Innovation Solution
A personal therapy device featuring a flexible outer body with a shape memory alloy thrust actuator, skeletal segments, and a lateral movement mechanism, combined with external positioning sensors and a control unit for interactive motion control, allowing for advanced movements and autonomous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a device provides active movements (vibration, thrust, rotation), then user satisfaction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides its movement capabilities into separate functional modules: a linear thrust mechanism for forward/backward motion, a rotational mechanism for orbital movement, and a lateral movement mechanism for side-to-side motion. Each mechanism can operate independently or in combination, allowing versatile movement patterns without requiring a single complex mechanism to handle all motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates multiple movement functions into a unified control architecture that can coordinate the thrust, rotation, and lateral mechanisms together. This allows the device to perform complex movement patterns (such as combined thrusting and rotating) using a single multi-functional control system rather than separate control systems for each function.
2Ease of operation
If a device requires constant user control, then ease of operation is improved, but user immersion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates sensors that detect the user's body position, orientation, and contact points, then automatically adjusts its movement patterns based on this detected information. The device serves itself by making autonomous decisions about its motion based on real-time sensor feedback, eliminating the need for constant manual adjustment while maintaining adaptability to user anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor the device's position and contact with the user's body, and the control system uses this information to automatically adjust movement parameters. This closed-loop feedback enables autonomous operation that adapts to the user's position without requiring manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a device provides multiple movement functions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides its movement capabilities into separate functional modules: a linear thrust mechanism for forward/backward motion, a rotational mechanism for orbital movement, and a lateral movement mechanism for side-to-side motion. Each mechanism can operate independently or in combination, allowing versatile movement patterns without requiring a single complex mechanism to handle all motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic control mechanisms that can adjust the amplitude, frequency, and coordination of different movement modes in real-time. The control system can transition smoothly between different movement patterns (e.g., from thrusting to rotating to lateral motion) and can dynamically coordinate multiple mechanisms to create complex motion trajectories, providing adaptability without requiring separate mechanisms for each fixed pattern.
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 more complex and immersive movements with minimal user intervention, enhancing user experience through advanced motion control and autonomous operation.
Implementation Method 1
The SMA thrust actuator may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The SMA thrust actuator may change its length along the longitudinal direction of the personal therapy device when the SMA wires are deformed by applying electric current through the SMA wires.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal therapy device, directed generally to an elongated sexual stimulation device for female use having advanced shape motion control and shape transformation. In one embodiment, the device has a flexible outer body elongated in a longitudinal direction and a shape memory alloy (SMA) thrust actuator disposed within the flexible outer body. In another embodiment, the device includes one or more skeletal segments which are disposed within the flexible outer body and capable of deformation in various directions. In yet another embodiment, the device includes one or more rotational servo motor pair units, where each rotational servo motor of the rotational servo motor pair has an eccentric weight, and the synchronized rotation of the eccentric weight pair generates a net lateral wobbling motion. In yet another embodiment, the device includes an external positioning sensor unit, an inertial measurement unit, one or more pressure sensors, or a combination thereof.