Robotic Vehicle Apparatus and Method
First Claim
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1. A method for forming a robotic vehicle, comprising:
- forming a body;
arranging a plurality of movable legs to project from the body for propelling the body over a surface; and
using an actuator carried by the body to selectively engage and disengage different ones of the movable legs to cause a motion of the body over the surface, such that the robotic vehicle generally travels over the surface.
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Abstract
A method for forming a robotic vehicle. The method may involve forming a body and arranging a plurality of movable legs to project from the body for propelling the body over a surface. An actuator may be carried by the body to selectively engage and disengage different ones of the movable legs to cause a motion of the body, and thus the robotic vehicle, to travel over the surface.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for forming a robotic vehicle, comprising:
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forming a body; arranging a plurality of movable legs to project from the body for propelling the body over a surface; and using an actuator carried by the body to selectively engage and disengage different ones of the movable legs to cause a motion of the body over the surface, such that the robotic vehicle generally travels over the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for forming a robotic vehicle, comprising:
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forming a body having a polyhedron shape that defines an interior volume, with the actuator disposed within the interior volume; arranging a plurality of extendable legs on the body; and using an actuator moveable in a plurality of non-parallel planes to selectively extend each of the legs to cause a motion of the body over a surface.
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12. A method of causing motion of a robotic vehicle, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of movable legs on a body such that the legs are arranged non-parallel to one another; using an actuator carried by the body to control movement of the legs; and controlling the actuator such that specific, desired ones of the legs are moved in a sequence that causes the legs to propel the body over a surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of causing motion of a robotic vehicle, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of extendable and retractable legs on a body such that the legs extend in non-parallel directions; using a single actuator carried within an interior volume of the body to control extending and retracting movement of the legs; using a controller to control a pair of servo motors to cause selective positioning of the actuator; and using the controller to control the actuator to cause selective extending and retracting movement of selected ones of the legs to cause the body to travel over a surface. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A control system for actuating a plurality of legs arranged around a body of a robotic vehicle, the control system comprising:
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an actuator; a support platform for supporting the actuator; a gimbal for supporting the support platform and enabling movement of the support platform in a plurality of non-parallel planes into alignment with different ones of the legs; and a controller for controlling movement of the gimbal to align the actuator with selected ones of the legs, and to cause movement of the selected ones of the legs when the actuator is aligned therewith, to thus enable the selected ones of the legs to cause a motion of the body over a surface.
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Specification