Tree Climbing Robot With Elastic Track Carriers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual labor required for tasks like pollination, sacking, harvesting, and cleaning of date palm trees is hazardous and inefficient due to the need for climbers to ascend tall trees, with existing assistive devices only minimally reducing risk and labor.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous tree climbing robot with a central body, track carriers, wheels, continuous tracks, motors, and cables for securement and stability, along with a robotic arm for performing agricultural tasks, allowing vertical climbing and secure attachment to the tree trunk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual labor is used for tree climbing and agricultural tasks, then tasks can be performed on trees, but the labor is hazardous and requires significant physical effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical climbing system with an automated robotic system. The robot uses cable-driven track carriers with elastic biasing and motorized cable winding mechanisms to automatically ascend and descend trees, eliminating the need for human laborers to physically climb. This substitution resolves the contradiction by removing human exposure to hazard while maintaining task performance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is equipped with self-contained propulsion and positioning systems including motorized track carriers, cable winding motors, and elastic biasing mechanisms. These systems enable the robot to autonomously climb, position itself, and perform agricultural tasks without human intervention, thereby eliminating the hazards associated with manual tree climbing while improving productivity.
2Ease of operation
If laborers climb trees to perform tasks, then agricultural work can be done, but the act of climbing is extremely difficult and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the dangerous manual climbing mechanism with an automated robotic climbing system. The robot uses motorized track carriers with cable-driven propulsion and elastic biasing for secure attachment, completely eliminating the need for human laborers to climb trees. This resolves the contradiction by making task performance easy through automation while removing all climbing-related dangers.
3Device complexity
If hoists and cable arrangements are used to assist climbing, then some support is provided, but the risk and labor required are only minimally reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely replaces partial mechanical assistance systems with a fully automated robotic climbing mechanism. The robot incorporates integrated motorized track carriers, cable winding systems, and elastic biasing that work together to autonomously perform all climbing functions. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating residual risks through full automation while managing device complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is self-sufficient with onboard motors, cable winding mechanisms, and elastic biasing elements that enable autonomous climbing without external assistance. This self-service capability completely eliminates the need for human laborers to use climbing equipment, resolving the contradiction by removing all climbing-related risks while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated self-contained mechanisms.
4Productivity
If laborers climb tall trees without low branches, then tasks can be performed at height, but maintaining grip on the trunk is difficult and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual grip-maintaining mechanisms with automated robotic positioning systems. The robot uses motorized track carriers with cable-driven propulsion and elastic biasing that automatically maintain secure attachment to the tree trunk at any height. This resolves the contradiction by enabling task performance at height through automation while eliminating the difficulty of manual position maintenance.
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 enables safe and efficient performance of agricultural tasks by securely climbing the tree and providing a stable platform for a robotic arm to perform tasks like pollination, sacking, and harvesting, reducing labor and risk significantly.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the track carriers is elastically biased with respect to the central body, such that the trunk of the tree can be clamped between the pair of tracks
Implementation Method 2
A set of wheels is rotatably attached to each of the track carriers, and a continuous track is mounted on, and is driven to rotate by, each set of wheels
Data Source
AI summary
The tree climbing robot includes a central body and a pair of track carriers respectively pivotally attached to opposed sides of the central body. A set of wheels is rotatably attached to each of the track carriers, and a continuous track is mounted on, and is driven to rotate by, each set of wheels. At least one motor is mounted on each of the track carriers, such that each motor drives a corresponding one of the sets of wheels and a corresponding one of the continuous tracks to rotate. At least one cable is secured to the central body and is adapted for wrapping around a trunk of a tree. Each of the track carriers is elastically biased with respect to the central body such that the trunk of the tree is clamped between the pair of tracks, with the cable adding securement, stability, and aiding vertical movement.