Tracked Stair Climber Stabilization for Safe Incline Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized stair climbers face challenges in ensuring safety, stability, and compactness while navigating stairs and inclined paths, with a need for improved automation, ease of use, and reduced operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled stair climber with motorized tracks, a tilting loading surface, and a stabilization arm equipped with proximity sensors and an electronic control unit for automatic stabilization, allowing for intelligent and safe navigation of stairs and inclined paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stair climber is equipped with stabilization members and sensors for automatic stabilization, then safety and stability during ascent and descent are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization arm is extracted in advance before the stair climber begins its ascent or descent operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that the stabilization member is ready to engage with the ground or pavement immediately when needed, providing proactive stability rather than reactive correction. The control unit pre-positions the stabilization arm based on detected inclination or operational phase, preventing instability before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensor continuously monitors the position and contact status of the stabilization arm with the ground or pavement. This real-time feedback is transmitted to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the stabilization arm's position or the stair climber's movement to maintain optimal stability. The feedback loop enables automatic stabilization without manual intervention, improving safety while managing complexity through intelligent control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the overall dimensions of the stair climber are made compact with a low center of gravity, then stability is improved, but ease of transport and maneuverability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization arm is designed as a movable component that can dynamically adjust its position between an extracted stabilization position and a retracted compact position. During operation on stairs or inclined paths, the arm extends to provide stability. During transport or on flat surfaces, the arm retracts to minimize the overall footprint and center of gravity height, thereby maintaining ease of transport while preserving stability when needed.
3Ease of operation
If automatic stabilization control with sensors is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stair climber is equipped with a self-service automatic stabilization system where the proximity sensor and control unit autonomously manage the stabilization arm's positioning without requiring operator intervention. The system self-adjusts based on real-time sensor data, eliminating the need for manual stabilization operations and reducing the skill level required for safe operation, thereby improving ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical stabilization approach is replaced with an automated electromechanical system comprising a proximity sensor, control unit, and actuated stabilization arm. This substitution eliminates the need for manual judgment and physical adjustment by the operator, providing consistent and reliable automatic stabilization. The electronic control system replaces complex manual mechanical linkages with simpler, more precise sensor-actuator pairs, potentially reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the addition of electronic components.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled goods stair climber includes: first and second motorized tracks and an elongated configuration parallel to a straight forward travel direction; a loading surface implemented to tilt with respect to the tracks around a first transverse axis perpendicular to the tracks; an actuated stabilization member movable between an extracted position so that the weight of the stair climber is carried at least in part by the stabilization member and a retracted position in which the stabilization member is not loaded; a proximity or support sensor carried by the stabilization member to send a signal of approach or contact with a floor; an electronic control unit programmed to activate the first and second tracks on the basis of said signal when the stabilization member is extracted; and check an inclination of the loading surface to be maintained in a predefined angular range with respect to a horizontal direction.