Suspended Crawler Vehicle With Adaptive Coupling for Ceiling Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles struggle to provide reliable and accurate traveling and positioning on structures, particularly ceilings, with varying geometries, while maintaining secure suspension and flexibility in motion, especially in rough terrains or unpredictable reaction forces.
Innovation Solution
A crawler type vehicle equipped with suspension elements and drive units that allow for circumferential motion along tracks with varying shapes, enabling secure coupling and decoupling to structures, facilitating two-dimensional motion and flexible positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle uses predefined interaction with a predefined structure for traveling, then reliable contact is achieved, but adaptability to varied structure geometries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle employs dynamically adjustable suspension elements that can change their configuration and interaction mode with the structure. The suspension elements include adjustable arms and coupling mechanisms that adapt to different structure geometries while maintaining reliable contact through active control and positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle changes operational parameters such as suspension element positions, coupling angles, and contact forces to adapt to different structure geometries. By adjusting these parameters, the vehicle maintains reliable interaction across varied structures including ceilings, walls, and irregular surfaces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a ceiling vehicle uses secure suspension mechanism, then stability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is divided into multiple independent suspension elements, each capable of functioning autonomously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stability through distributed support points while reducing overall complexity by using standardized, modular suspension components that can be independently controlled and replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension elements are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as support structures and as positioning mechanisms. The same suspension components enable both stable attachment to the structure and controlled movement along the structure, eliminating the need for separate stabilization and propulsion systems.
3Reliability
If a vehicle uses magnetic adhesion for contact with structure, then contact reliability is improved, but adaptability to different structure constitutions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle uses suspension elements with form-fit coupling mechanisms that act as intermediaries between the vehicle and the structure. These coupling mechanisms include shaped arms and engagement features that can interface with various structure constitutions through geometric compatibility rather than relying on magnetic properties, enabling broad adaptability while maintaining reliable contact.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides for a crawler type vehicle (10) configured for traveling in a suspended manner especially headlong at a structure, wherein the vehicle (10) exhibits a plurality of suspension elements configured for suspending the vehicle (10) and configured for coupling the vehicle (10) to the structure, and at least one drive unit (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) configured for circumferential driving motion and accommodating a first circumferential track and a second circumferential track having a different circumferential shape/contour than the first circumferential track. The present invention provides for a method of driving a crawler type vehicle (10) for traveling in a suspended manner especially headlong at a structure.