GB2527138A

GB2527138A - A wireless modular motor/generator block for invention, learning and play

Info

Publication number: GB2527138A
Application number: GB1410657.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Spence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-15
Filing date: 2014-06-15
Publication date: 2015-12-16
Also published as: GB201410657D0

Abstract

A system intended for teaching engineering skills comprises at least one block comprising a housing 4, an electric motor 7 supported within the housing, a shaft 2 driven by the motor and extending from the housing, and a wireless communication circuit and microprocessor 5 configured to control the motor. The housing includes an arrangement 1for securing the housing to another object. The motors can be wirelessly controlled, e.g. using a mobile device (12, fig. 5), and can be operated individually or as a part of a group. The block may include a visual display in the form of an LED ring 3. A wheel (11, fig. 4) may be mounted on the shaft so that the block can be used to drive a vehicle.

Description

Title: A wireless modular motor/generator block for invention, learning and play.

Description:

This invention relates to a device to enable people to build functional inventions/objects from everyday material that they can interact and control wirelessly with a smart device i.e. smart phone, tablet or similar smart portable device.

In the UK there is a severe lack of engineers. It is predicted that in 2 years' time there will be 200,000 engineering vacancies. Only 8% of the UKs engineering workforce is female) this is the lowest proportion in Europe. An innovative and inspirational approach is required to encourage more people to pursue a career in engineering and invention.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a motor/generator building block with a rotating shaft to attach modular motion actuators, the shaft being powered by an electric motor and battery which are controlled wirelessly from a smart device interface. When rotational force is externally applied to the shaft the motor and battery also act as a generator producing electricity which is stored in the battery. Motion actuators being mechanisms to translate the shaft rotational motion into further functions, for example a motion actuator could be a wheel or pulley.

The motor/generator block has the functionality to wirelessly communicate with other motor/generator blocks through a wireless network as well as communicating wirelessly to a smart device. This allows the motor/generator blocks to work together to provide novel functionality.

The motor/generator block has the power, torque and structural capability to allow ride-on inventions to be constructed. A ride-on invention being an object that can support and move human weight.

The motor/generator block has a modular attachment/fixture mechanism to allow it to be attached to any material. This attachment/fixture mechanism includes fixture brackets and integrated industry standard nuts and bolts. Multiple equal sized attachment points allow the motor/generator block to be attached to material in many different orientations.

The motor/generator block housing is constructed from a high impact clear material. This allows users to visibly observe the working block mechanisms to understand and learn how it works.

A circular Light Emitting Diode (LED) array provides an intuitive display to communicate visually to the user the status and current speed of the motor/generator block. The block status includes states of on/off, syncing, battery life, motor speed, accelerating, braking, connecting and disconnecting.

The motor/generator block is controlled and operated via smart device application interface.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Fiqure 1: shows the motor/generator block according to the invention.

Figure 2: shows the 3D view motor/generator block according to the invention.

Figure 3: shows internal components of the motor/generator block.

Figure 4: shows examples of motor/generator block being using as motor and generator with different motion actuators.

Figure 5: shows functionality of a network of motor/generator blocks and smart device working together.

Figure 1 shows block attachment points 1, on three faces of the form. This allows the block to be mounted in a number of orientations. 2 Highlights the rotating shaft component. The shaft 2 is the point of attachment for the motion actuators. Shaft 2 connects to the internal gearbox unit, motor and battery to enable motor and generator functionality. 3 shows LED ring for visual communication with user.

Figure 2 shows 3D view of motor/generator unit. 4 highlights block housing which is constructed of a clear material for understanding and learning aesthetic.

Figure 3 shows the motor/generator block with housing omitted for clarity. 2 is the rotating shaft which is connected to high torque planetary gearbox and bearing unit 8. Electric motor 7 is attached to housing via motor mount 6. 9 is high power density battery which connects to motor 7 via printed circuit board (PCB) 5. The PCB includes wireless communication antenna, power management and hardware programming. PCB 5 connects to both motor 7 and LED ring 3 to provide power and control. 10 is removable battery cover to allow batteries to be replaced at end of life.

Figure 4 shows example motion actuators 11 in this case illustrated as a wheel and propeller. These motion actuators can be anything which attaches to rotation shaft 2. A universal adapter motion actuator enables people to attach anything to the motor/generator block.

Figure 5 shows wireless connectivity between motor/generator block units and smart device 12.

Smart device 12 has application interface to control block units. Features include touch throttle sliders to control the motor/generator block shaft rotation velocity. Numerous motor/generator blocks can be controlled simultaneously through the application. Touch brake buttons in the application actively brake or stop the shaft from rotating. Utilising smart device accelerometer sensors a tilt action with the smart device also controls multiple motor/generator blocks shaft speed output.

Wireless communication between the motor/generator units and smart device enable novel functionality controlled by smart device 12. By varying the velocity of the rotation shaft between different block units differential steering can be achieved when using motor/generator block with wheels. Complex patterns of movement can be achieved with multiple units varying velocity simultaneously. For example using a motion actuator such as a wheel you can get the motor/generator blocks and your material to follow a predefined path that you have specified on the smart device.

The motor/generator blocks have a wireless range of SOm, thus can also be remotely controlled within this range.

Claims

Claims: 1. A system for teaching engineering skills, which system comprises at least one block comprising a housing, an electric motor supported within the housing, a shaft driven by the motor and extending from the housing, a wireless communication circuit and a microprocessor configured to receive signals from the communication circuit and to control the motor in accordance with the signals, wherein the housing includes an arrangement for securing the housing to another object.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each block includes a gear arrangement located between the motor and the shaft.
3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, which includes one or more blocks, whereby the blocks can be attached by the securing arrangement to a single object to form a vehicle.
4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, which includes a controller, e.g. a mobile device, that can transmit control signals to the wireless communication circuit of the or each block.
5. A system as claimed in claim 3 and claim 4, wherein the controller is capable of transmitting control signals to the one or more blocks simultaneously, enabling the vehicle to turn around corners or on the spot.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the blocks are controlled simultaneously by a single action of the controller, e.g. tilting the controller in the manner of a steering wheel.
7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each block includes a battery.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the battery is rechargeable and is connected to the motor in such a way that power can be delivered from the battery to the motor to drive the motor and to receive power from the motor, acting as a dynamo, to charge the battery.
9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each block includes a brake, which brake can be formed by the motor acting as a dynamo.
10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, which includes at least one motion actuator, e.g. a wheel or a propeller, that each can be connected to the shaft to propel the block or blocks.
11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each block includes an array of lights showing the speed of the motor.