Holonomic platform for a robot
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drive roller assembly for a mobile robot, comprising:
- a drive ball;
a transmission roller that is in continuous contact with said drive ball, said transmission roller can rotate about at least two axes; and
, a drive mechanism coupled to said transmission roller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robot that includes a plurality of roller assemblies. Each roller assembly may include a transmission roller that is spun by a drive mechanism to rotate a drive ball. Rotation of the drive ball propels the robot across a surface. The transmission roller is in continuous contact with the drive ball. Continuous contact between the roller and ball eliminates roller induced wobble in the robot movement, reduces impact forces and resultant stress within the roller assembly and allows for the use of a drive ball that is more complaint than balls in the prior art.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A drive roller assembly for a mobile robot, comprising:
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a drive ball;
a transmission roller that is in continuous contact with said drive ball, said transmission roller can rotate about at least two axes; and
,a drive mechanism coupled to said transmission roller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A drive roller assembly for a mobile robot, comprising:
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a drive ball;
a transmission roller that is in continuous contact with said drive ball, said transmission roller can rotate about at least two axes; and
,drive means for rotating said transmission roller and driving said drive ball. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a roller assembly for a mobile robot, comprising:
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activating a drive mechanism within a mobile robot; and
rotating a transmission roller that can rotate about at least two axes and is in continuous contact with a drive ball to rotate the drive ball and move the mobile robot.
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14. A mobile robot, comprising:
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a first drive roller assembly that includes;
a drive ball;
a transmission roller that is in continuous contact with said drive ball, said transmission roller can rotate about at least two axes;
a drive mechanism coupled to said transmission roller;
a pedestal coupled to said first drive roller assembly;
a camera coupled to said pedestal; and
,a screen coupled to said pedestal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mobile robot, comprising:
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a first drive roller assembly that includes;
a drive ball;
a transmission roller that is in continuous contact with said drive ball, said transmission roller can rotate about at least two axes;
drive means for rotating said transmission roller and driving said drive ball;
a pedestal coupled to said first drive roller assembly;
a camera coupled to said pedestal; and
,a screen coupled to said pedestal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for operating a mobile robot, comprising:
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generating an output signal to move a mobile robot;
activating a drive mechanism within the mobile robot; and
rotating a transmission roller that can rotate about at least two axes and is in continuous contact with a drive ball to rotate the drive ball in response to the output signal to move the mobile robot. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A drive roller assembly for a mobile robot that moves across a surface, comprising:
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a roller that is in continuous contact with the surface, said roller can passively rotate about a first axis;
a bracket coupled to said roller; and
,a drive mechanism coupled to said bracket to rotate said roller about a second axis. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A drive roller assembly for a mobile robot that moves across a surface, comprising:
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a roller that is in continuous contact with the surface, said roller can passively rotate about a first axis;
a bracket coupled to said roller; and
,drive means for rotating said bracket and said roller about a second axis. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for operating a drive roller assembly for a mobile robot that moves across a surface, comprising:
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activating a drive mechanism within a mobile robot; and
,rotating a roller that can rotate about at least two axes and is supported by a bracket, and is in continuous contact with the surface, to move the mobile robot.
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Specification