Walking Assistant Robot With Auxiliary Legs For Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional walking assistant devices, both wheeled and foot-type, face safety hazards due to slipping and instability, especially on uneven terrain, which poses a significant risk to elderly and sick users.
Innovation Solution
A foot-type walking assistant robot with an auxiliary leg and auxiliary wheel arrangement that ensures multiple support points are in contact with the ground during walking, providing stability and anti-slipping functionality, allowing for safe and reliable movement across various terrains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wheeled walker is used, then movement is easy, but stability deteriorates on uneven terrain and slipping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The walker is divided into multiple independent support elements (front foot, rear foot, and auxiliary legs) that can independently contact the ground. This segmentation allows each element to adapt to terrain variations, maintaining stability while preserving ease of movement through the coordinated action of these segmented support points.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane wheeled support system to a multi-dimensional support system with feet and auxiliary legs extending in multiple spatial dimensions. This dimensional expansion creates a broader support base, preventing slipping on uneven terrain while maintaining operational ease through the natural walking motion.
2Device complexity
If only one foot supports the ground during walking, then walking motion is simple, but safety deteriorates due to slipping risk
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support function of multiple feet and auxiliary legs into a unified stability system. During the walking cycle, when one foot is in the air, the auxiliary legs provide additional support points on the ground, combining multiple support elements to maintain safety and prevent slipping while preserving the simplicity of the alternating foot motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary legs are positioned in advance to provide support before the user loses balance. When the user's single supporting foot encounters instability, the auxiliary legs are already in place to cushion and prevent slipping, ensuring safety without complicating the basic walking motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If foot-type walking mechanism is used, then adaptability to terrain is improved, but stability deteriorates due to slipping hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The foot-type walking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent support elements (front foot, rear foot, auxiliary legs) that can independently adapt to terrain variations. This segmentation allows each element to optimize its contact with the ground, enhancing both terrain adaptability and stability by distributing the user's weight across multiple stable support points.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary legs act as intermediary support elements between the user and the ground. These intermediate support structures provide additional stability by creating extra contact points with the terrain, mediating between the user's weight and the ground to prevent slipping while maintaining the natural adaptability of foot-type walking.
Data Source
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AI summary
A walking assistant robot, comprising a main frame body (1), a foot walking mechanism for alternating walking, an auxiliary device (2) and a control device; the walking mechanism, the auxiliary device (2) and the control device are all disposed on the main frame body (1); the control device is connected with the walking mechanism; the auxiliary device (2) includes auxiliary feet (201), and the auxiliary feet (201) are disposed in front of and/or behind the walking mechanism along the walking direction. The foot walking mechanism is used to realize the basic function of the robot walking forward; auxiliary feet (201) are disposed in the walking direction such that the walking mechanism still has, at the moment of foot alternation, multiple supporting points in contact with the ground. Therefore, the mechanism is slip-and-fall-resistant, stable and reliable and guarantees the user safety.