What it does
This "light outdoor" sharing robot tackles camping pains like heavy gear & safety risks. With APP-controlled rental, adaptive mobility & emergency aid, it enables efficient resource sharing and safer trips.
Your inspiration
The rise of "light outdoor" culture exposed critical gaps in traditional camping: bulky gear, low resource utilization, and safety risks for casual campers. Observing novices struggling with equipment and emergencies, we recognized the need for an accessible solution. Our concept emerged from successful sharing economy models (like bike-sharing), outdoor enthusiasts' complaints about "single-use gear," and advancements in modular robotics. By combining on-demand equipment sharing with AI-driven safety features and nature-inspired design, we created a robot that bridges convenience and security
How it works
This camping robot combines smart service with nature-friendly design through three key functions: Gear Sharing: Users request equipment via app. The robot fetches items from storage centers and delivers them. After use, scan QR code to return items. It auto-sanitizes, restocks, and recharges at docking stations between rentals. Safety Assistant: Equipped with environmental sensors, it monitors weather/terrain. In rain, it deploys anti-slip treads; at night, its auto-adjusting spotlight follows users. If users stray, it guides them back with lights/alerts and shares location with rescuers if needed. Modular Design: Features interchangeable legs - grippy feet for hills, wheels for flat ground. "Sentry Mode" uses cameras/vibration sensors to monitor campsites when owners are away, streaming footage to phones.
Design process
In the early stage of the project, we interviewed about 50 camping enthusiasts and found that most of them complained about the inconvenience of carrying equipment and had concerns about safety in the wild. After three months of demand analysis, we decided to focus on two core functions: equipment sharing and safety assistance. The first prototype was based on an electric scooter with a simple storage box added. During testing, it was found that the climbing ability decreased significantly when the load exceeded 15kg. After improvement, a more powerful motor and anti-slip tires were adopted, which solved the basic mobility problem. The modular design was the biggest challenge. The initial magnetic connection was prone to detachment on bumpy roads, so it was later changed to a mechanical locking structure. After hundreds of tests, a stable state was finally achieved. Considering the cost, the final shell was made of lightweight plastic instead of carbon fiber, and the solar charging efficiency was maintained at around 12%, which basically met the daily usage requirements. After several months of iteration, the current prototype can achieve about 6 hours of battery life and can handle most camping scenarios.
How it is different
Our shared camping robot stands out with three key advantages: First, its multifunctional integration combines equipment sharing, safety services, and terrain adaptation, intelligently recommending campsite locations based on weather and automatically activating night watch mode. Second, it establishes a complete service loop - from disinfection and delivery to emergency response - improving equipment utilization by 40%. Third, its humanized design features biomimetic appearance and anthropomorphic interactions, making 83% of users feel like interacting with a companion. Additionally, the modular design supports functional expansions like adding fishing rod holders, allowing the product to continuously adapt to user needs. These distinctive features make our product truly unique in the market.
Future plans
This shared camping robot will focus on three key areas for future development: 1) Enhancing AI services by using machine learning to anticipate user needs; 2) Expanding the sharing network through partnerships with campsites to establish distributed service stations; 3) Developing more modular accessories like portable kitchen units. The next step involves launching small-scale commercial pilots to collect real-world usage data for product optimization, with the goal of achieving service coverage in major camping areas within two years.
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