Here is a quick sequence of how I think the drawer system should work. There will be a row of 6 drawers (i figured one can be a medical supply drawer). Each drawer will have an option to have several different size boxes. There is a cut out in the 2 middle panels so the drawers can pop up through them and then a mechanism will pop the box up and then something will push the box off the drawer and down toward the table that is extended.

Also is there a way to attach just a file on here?

New table

Rough Idea for NightStand

I was thinking that the table can be hidden inside the nighstand and that it can be deployed out.
I have some questions / comments about the size of the nightstand.
1) What is the height we are looking for?
2) The boxes are 6" x 6" x 3" (h x w x d). There are 24 of these boxes.
3)Are we looking for the table to deploy directly over the person (this means the table has to be really high) or are we wanting the table to be able to bend up and over them?
4) What is the spacing requirement for all of the motors and processors?

Table Pneumatics

It seems as though the pneumatic muscles that are necessary to make the table move can either be purchased or made. Shadow Robot Company produces pneumatic muscles: http://www.shadowrobot.com/shop.shtml. These websites gives some instructions on how these muscles can be made: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-air-muscles!/ and http://www.instructables.com/id/Pneumatic-Muscles/. The first site gives links to where the materials can be purchased.

The pneumatic muscles will be controlled with a compressed air supplier that is connected to a three way solenoid valve/pressure regulator. A good overview of how the system should be developed is given at: http://www.shadowrobot.com/airmuscles/usage.shtml.

Arduino can be utilized to send a signal to the valves to dictate when and how much air will be pumped into the muscle; the third site listed above shows how this can be done. Nivedhitha has been working on sending the signals received from the table proximity sensors to the pressure regulator.

How Shadow Muscles Can Be Used in a System

http://www.shadowrobot.com/airmuscles/usage.shtml

shadow robotics

look at the 3:12 mark at the fish.  Not only neat-o but provides an idea for the table.

10_18 video

Idea for a Latching Mechanism

1) Is the it possible to inflate the table to lock it into place? See below (or my new blog post) for a drawing. I was thinking of also make it a square not rounded, so it doesn't rotate or will there be enough friction to stop it from rotation?
2) Is there going to be any hinges for the table? Or will it be able to expand and roll up by itself?
3) Will the table be made up of several individual pieces or one long one?
4) I was thinking that the boxes for the drawers can come up underneath the top of the nightstand and then be conveyed to the table. You still will be able to access the drawers from the front. I have posted a section of the nightstand for reference.

Continuum Table Development

new idea

unrolling bridge

explanation for the white board drawings

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AYr1yNO-8seWZHpyNncyel8wZnR6bjl2ZHI&hl=en&authkey=CP2uocEDex

Side Table Idea

Here is an idea for a table that could roll around and the outer skin could peel off and become a gripper or a table. The inner shell would be a storage compartment and can detach from the outer skin and can roll around independently.

An idea for the table connection

Here is an idea for the table connection to the Rail. What i was thinking was that this piece could hidden below mattress level and telescope up when needed. The table can move back and forth on the rail and can also rotate around if needed.

Different Table Ideas

Here is a couple different ideas for the table.

Implementation without the column - an idea

Research Links for Continuum Surface

http://www.instructables.com/id/Pneumatic-Muscles/

http://www.practicalarduino.com/news/id/431

http://www.robotshop.ca/dynalloy-flexinol-air-valve.html

http://www.gemssensors.com/Search.aspx?q=general-purpose-valves

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5030129_pneumatic-solenoid-valve-work.html

http://www.ehow.com/way_5657028_pneumatic-solenoid-valve-tutorial.html

arch robo particulate idea

particulate arch robo spring 2009

solenoid valves + arduino

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1217238977
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Learning/SolenoidTutorial

http://www.mcmaster.com/#air-solenoid-valves/=9550fr
http://www.google.com/products?q=where+to+buy+air+solenoid+valve&aq=f

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8889486602303878852#
http://vimeo.com/4620716

surface movements

iRobot

Ver. 2 of Side Table Design

Ver. 2 of Full Design