Fabrication of Nonassembly Robotic Systems with Embedded Components Using a Rapid Prototyping System

摘要

he application of rapid prototyping (RP) in fabricating nonassembly robotic systems with inserts is presented in this article. The development of robotic systems that have all necessary components inserted, with no assembly required, and ready to function when the manufacturing process is complete is quite attractive. Rapid prototyping can provide a means to do this. This process is accomplished by first developing mobile non-assembly mechanisms, followed by embedding component parts; both of which are essential steps toward the future goal of automated (robotized) robot design and manufacturing, which is briefly described here. Specifically, the current research topic explored methods of insertion of component parts, such as sensors, motors, bearings, and gears to render the robotic system a mobile functioning unit during the RP process. This article presents these techniques for part insertion, along with some examples to illustrate the findings, specifically the rapidly prototyped mobile observation vehicle (RP MOVe). The Need for Fabrication Speed It is well known that current techniques for robot design and manufacturing are extremely time-consuming procedures. It can take well over a year to design, prototype, test, and deploy a robotic system. In many cases, such as field missions, flexible manufacturing, space, military, and medical industries, these time frames are not acceptable since immediate action needs to be taken to perform a specific task. Possessing a software and hardware system that will be able to rapidly and automatically design and fabricate robotic devices and other complex machines reduces the time from months and years to just a few hours and days from the moment of conception to the moment of deployment. Robots and complex machines produced in this way will be designed specifically for a task, thus optimizing the cost, size, and performance. This would tremendously benefit the economy and remote intervention capabilities. With the use of current software and hardware technology, it is possible to develop such machine and robot reproductive hardware and software systems. The broader goal of this project is to bring together these technologies and establish design and prototyping foundations and paradigms for machine and robot reproduction systems and their “children”; i.e., the rapidly developed robots and machines.