Articulated Snake Robot for In-Wall Drilling and Conduit Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing electrical and plumbing systems in buildings require cutting holes in walls, making it difficult to access and modify these systems after drywall or plaster is installed, which complicates the process of running conduits and drilling through structural members without invasive techniques.
Innovation Solution
A snake-like robot with linked segments that can rotate and translate to elongate, pivot, and drill through solid materials while allowing flexible conduits to pass through, enabling access and installation without cutting holes in walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional methods are used to install electrical and plumbing systems, then access to walls is straightforward, but cutting holes in walls becomes necessary and invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is divided into multiple articulated segments or links that can move relative to each other, allowing the robot to navigate through narrow passages and around obstacles within walls without requiring large access holes
Solution Approach 2:
The robot employs dynamic motion capabilities including serpentine movement, expansion/contraction of segments, and rotation of links to adapt its shape and position as it moves through confined spaces, enabling minimally invasive access
2Stability of the object's composition
If drywall or plaster is installed, then wall structure is complete, but modifying systems becomes exponentially more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by navigating to target locations within walls and creating small access points or boreholes before installing or modifying electrical and plumbing components, avoiding the need for extensive wall openings
Solution Approach 2:
The robot acts as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between the completed wall structure and the need for modifications, providing a minimally invasive method to access and work on systems within walls
3Ease of operation
If access holes are cut in wall face, then routes can be planned, but the number of access holes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot transitions from requiring access in the two-dimensional wall plane to moving in three-dimensional space within wall cavities, allowing routes to be planned and executed through the depth of walls rather than requiring multiple surface openings
Solution Approach 2:
The robot creates small boreholes or access points that replicate the function of larger traditional access holes, providing sufficient entry for conduit installation while minimizing the visible impact on wall surfaces
4Adaptability or versatility
If a robot device moves in narrow passages, then specified work can be performed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs a telescoping or nested segment structure where smaller components are housed within larger ones, allowing compact storage and transport while enabling expansion to full operational size within narrow passages
Solution Approach 2:
The robot utilizes flexible connections between segments and thin-walled structural components that can bend and conform to narrow passages while maintaining structural integrity and protecting internal mechanisms
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A snake-like robot includes a first link having a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the first distal end and the first proximal end. A second link has a second proximal end, a second distal end operatively coupled to the first proximal end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end. Rotation of the first link relative to the second link alternatively performs the following effects: elongation of the robot; pivoting of the first longitudinal axis relative to the second longitudinal axis; and rotation of the first longitudinal axis relative to the second longitudinal axis.