Throwable Robot Chassis with Modular Accessory Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Throwable robots used in military and policing operations require enhanced robustness and modularity to withstand rugged conditions, including dirt, water, and large vertical drops, while allowing for secure attachment and interchangeability of accessories to meet mission-specific needs.
Innovation Solution
A throwable two-wheeled robot design with removable accessory packs, featuring a chassis with compressible and resilient wheels and a tail that provides additional protection, allowing for secure attachment of accessories via a matrixical arrangement of threaded holes and a Picatinny rail, enabling flexibility and interchangeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accessories are securely attached to the robot chassis, then reliability and protection from damage during impacts is improved, but device complexity increases due to mounting structures and interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is divided into modular components: a base chassis and separate accessory packs. Each accessory pack is a self-contained module that can be independently attached or removed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability through standardized mounting interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal mounting interface is implemented using a matrixical arrangement of threaded holes and Picatinny rails that can accommodate multiple different accessory types. This standardized interface system allows various accessories to be mounted on the same chassis without requiring custom mounting structures for each accessory type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessory packs are made removable for field swapping, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but ease of operation decreases due to attachment and detachment procedures
Solution Approach 1:
Accessory packs are pre-configured with integrated mounting features including flanges with threaded holes and Picatinny rails that align with corresponding interfaces on the chassis. This preliminary preparation of mounting interfaces enables quick attachment and detachment without requiring complex assembly procedures during field operations.
3Reliability
If the robot chassis is designed with compressible wheels and clearance space, then impact resistance is improved, but volume of the robot increases to accommodate the clearance envelope
Solution Approach 1:
Accessory packs are designed to nest within the clearance envelope created by wheel compression during impacts. The accessory mounting space is positioned within the annular region between the elongate body and the maximum deflection point of the wheels, allowing accessories to be protected by the wheel compression without requiring additional external clearance space.
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
The robot and accessory combination achieves impact resistance and shock absorption, allowing it to continue functioning after significant drops and maintaining robustness, with a 30-foot drop rating and the ability to be reconfigured for various missions without loss of functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the wheels may be compressed due to impacts from throwing or falls a limited amount, the elongate body is sized such maximum deflection or compression of the wheels upon a flat surface does not allow contact of the elongate body with the impact surface
Implementation Method 2
the tail has rigidity that precludes both wheels from simultaneously contacting or fully compressing to the maximum deflection level when the impact is on the tail side of the robot impacting a flat
Data Source
AI summary
A two wheeled robot with a pair of motorized wheels mounted on each end of a body and a rearwardly extending tail. The body comprising a chassis with sides and exterior side surfaces and providing an accessory mounting interface. The interface having a matrixical arrangement of threaded holes and one or more landings, the landings having an outwardly facing planar landing surface with hole openings at the landing surface. An accessory with a robot mounting interface cooperates with the chassis at the accessory mounting interface such that prior to fastening the accessory has a single degree of freedom of movement. Screws extend through portions of the accessory into select ones of the threaded holes of the matrixical arrangement.