Method and Device for Manipulating an Object
First Claim
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1. A method for manipulating an object with a remote vehicle having a manipulator attached to a manipulator arm, the manipulator comprising a jamming or other phase change material in a housing, the method comprising:
- pressing the manipulator housing to the object;
activating the jamming or other phase change material to cause the manipulator to grasp the object; and
moving one or more of the manipulator arm and the remote vehicle to manipulate the object.
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Abstract
A method for manipulating an object with a remote vehicle having a manipulator attached to a manipulator arm. The manipulator comprises a jamming or other phase change material in a housing. The method comprises pressing the manipulator housing to the object, activating the jamming or other phase change material to cause the manipulator to grasp the object, and moving one or more of the manipulator arm and the remote vehicle to manipulate the object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for manipulating an object with a remote vehicle having a manipulator attached to a manipulator arm, the manipulator comprising a jamming or other phase change material in a housing, the method comprising:
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pressing the manipulator housing to the object; activating the jamming or other phase change material to cause the manipulator to grasp the object; and moving one or more of the manipulator arm and the remote vehicle to manipulate the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for use with a remote vehicle and allowing the remote vehicle to manipulate an object, the system comprising:
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a manipulator arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and being attached to the remote vehicle at the proximal end; a manipulator located at the distal end of the manipulator arm and comprising a housing and a jamming material within the housing; and a device for activating the jamming material, wherein the object is manipulated by moving the manipulator arm to press the manipulator housing to the object, activating the jamming material to cause the manipulator to grasp the object, and moving one or more of the manipulator arm and the remote vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for using a remote vehicle having a manipulator attached to a manipulator arm to open a door having a knob, the manipulator comprising a jamming material in a housing, the method comprising:
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actuating the manipulator arm to press the manipulator to the knob; activating the jamming material to cause the manipulator to grasp the knob; rotating the manipulator arm and thus the knob to unlatch the door; and moving one or more of the manipulator arm and the remote vehicle to pull or push the door. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A manipulator to be used on a manipulator arm of a remote vehicle, the manipulator comprising a housing filled with a jamming or other phase change material,
wherein the manipulator is pressed to an object to be manipulated and grasps the object when a rigidity of the manipulator is increased to effect a change in a state of the jamming or other phase change material.
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20. A manipulator to be used on a manipulator arm of a remote vehicle, the manipulator comprising a housing filled with an electrorheological material,
wherein the manipulator is pressed to an object and grasps the object when a rigidity of the manipulator is increased by applying an electric field to the electrorheological material.
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21. A manipulator to be used on a manipulator arm of a remote vehicle, the manipulator comprising a housing filled with a magnetorheological material,
wherein the manipulator is pressed to an object and grasps the object when a rigidity of the manipulator is increased by applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological material.
Specification