(The) prototyping framework for the robot platform styling and mechanical design

Abstract

The needs for the commercialization of robots are increasing with the robot market growing rapidly. Considering the properties of robot goods, visual perception is a very important design factor like any other general products. But, it is hard to apply the traditional styling method in a robot design, because the kinematic engineering requirements for robot performance have to be satisfied as well. Also, appearance design for robots should correspond to customer’s variable tastes and their needs. So, the common stable robot base platform for satisfying engineering and styling requirements is needed. Through the prior styling work, favorable design conditions for form application and expansion in this platform are constructed. For an effective robot development, product design should take place in the early stage of process. But, till now, robot styling works were presented in the final stages of hardware platform construction process, resulting in less effectiveness. The reason being the friction caused between the mechanical engineering factors related to physical form and the additional styling factors. Trade-offs, which is the traditional problem solving method between an engineer and a designer, produces mutual contradiction making the application of designer``s early styling concept difficult and at the same time worsening engineering conditions like the increase of weight and interference. Concurrent work for styling and mechanic design is necessary to overcome this contradiction for design guidelines are needed not just for assembling and manufacturing but also for styling. In this thesis, the framework that is to be applied in styling in a real robot platform construction and the guidelines for form design are suggested. Prototyping tool is a suitable media for the integration of heterogeneous two departments like engineering design and styling. But, prototyping for morphological development like sketching, computer modeling, foam modeling and me...