Walking robots having double acting fluid driven twistor pairs as combined joints and motors and method of locomotion

• US 5,040,626 A
• Filed: 06/13/1988
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Juarez
• Original Assignee: Nathaniel A. Hardin
• Inventors: Paynter, Henry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HILL, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US07/206,090
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.1, 180/8.5, 180/8.6, 74/469, 901/1, 901/14, 901/15, 901/17, 901/18, 901/22, 901/28, 901/29, 92/48
• US Class Current: 180/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/34 Relative movement obtained by use of deformable elements, e.g. piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, elastic or thermally-dilatable elements sensitive elements capable of producing movement or displacement for purposes not limited to measurement G12B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0241 One-dimensional joints
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0029 arranged within the different robot elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/142 comprising inflatable bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/032 with alternately or sequentially lifted supporting base and legs; with alternately or sequentially lifted feet or skid B62D57/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/103 using inflatable bodies that contract when fluid pressure is applied, e.g. pneumatic artificial muscles or McKibben-type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20 Control lever and linkage systems

Abstract

A six-legged, insect-like, self-propelled walking robot (hexapodal arthrobot), includes twistor-pairs in the waist, hip and knee of each leg and walks by pr0gramming fluid pressure in these twistor-pairs at the joints of respective legs in a predetermined controlled sequence. As a result of a predetermined sequence of six controlled variable pressures, this six-legged robot firmly plants three of its legs on the ground for providing stable ground support for walking. The three legs on the ground are propelling the robot forward with walking motion, while the other three legs are lifted and swing forward to an advanced position and are then lowered onto the ground for taking over their support and walking role in their turn, while the first three legs are then being lifted and swung forward to an advanced position, and so forth, for providing a stable forward walking motion. By reversing the sequence of six controlled variable pressures, a stable reverse walking motion is produced. Due to the fact that angular deflection of each twistor-pair joint is a predictable and predetermined linear function of the respective two fluid pressures fed into the two respective twistors of such twistor-pair joint, an open loop control method and system can be employed for operating these robots. In other words, closed loop feedback control systems with position sensors and electronic controls are not necessary to be employed for many different applications of the present invention.

Claims

1. A six-legged walking robot comprising:

a left front leg,

a left mid leg,

a left rear leg,

a right front leg,

a right mid leg, and

a right rear leg,

each of said six legs comprising;

a first twistor-pair joint forming a first pivot axis, said first pivot axis being vertical,

a second twistor-pair joint forming a second pivot axis, said second pivot axis being horizontal,

said second twistor-pair joint being connected by a first rigid element to said first twistor-pair joint with said second pivot axis being offset from said first pivot axis for moving said second twistor-pair joint alternately forwardly and rearwardly relative to said vertical first pivot axis,

a third twistor-pair joint forming a third pivot axis, said third pivot axis being horizontal,

said third twistor-pair joint being connected by a second rigid element to said second twistor pair joint with said third pivot axis being offset from said second pivot axis for moving said third twistor-pair joint alternately upwardly and downwardly relative to said second pivot axis, and

a third rigid element being connected to said third twistor-pair joint and extending downwardly to a foot end of said third rigid element for positioning said foot end relative to said third pivot axis.

2. A six-legged walking robot as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

first and second fluid-inflatable twistors in each first twistor-pair joint,

third and fourth fluid-inflatable twistors in each second twistor-pair joint,

fifth and sixth fluid-inflatable twistors in each third twistor-pair joint, and

means for feeding pressurized fluid under first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) into the respective first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth twistors in each leg.

3. The method of providing walking locomotion in a six-legged robot as claimed in claim 2, comprising the steps of:

controllably varying said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) in repeated cycles,

increasing said first controllable pressure (P1) during a first half of such cycle and then decreasing said first controllable pressure during a second half of such cycle,

decreasing said second controllable pressure (P2) during a first half of each cycle and increasing said second controllable pressure during a second half of each cycle,

initially rapidly decreasing said third controllable pressure (P3) to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then rapidly increasing said third controllable pressure to a higher pressure level for remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly decreasing said third controllable pressure toward said lower pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

initially rapidly increasing said fourth controllable pressure (P4) to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then rapidly decreasing said fourth controllable pressure to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly increasing said fourth controllable pressure toward said higher pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

causing said fifth controllable pressure (P5) generally to follow a sine-like pressure curve which is below an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is above said average during a second half of such cycle, and

causing said sixth controllable pressure (P6) generally to follow a sine-like pressure curve which is above an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is below said average during a second half of such cycle.

4. A six-legged walking robot as claimed in claim 2, in which:

said means for feeding pressurized fluid comprise;

control means for moving the legs of said robot in repeated cycle for causing walking motion,

said control means producing each of said repeated cycles by providing pressurized fluid under said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) varying during each such cycle in accord with the sequence comprising;

said first controllable pressure (P1) increasing during a first half of such cycle and then decreasing during a second half of such cycle,

said second controllable pressure (P2) decreasing during a first half of each cycle and increasing during a second half of each cycle,

said third controllable pressure (P3) initially rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then during a mid portion of such cycle rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly decreasing toward said lower pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

said fourth controllable pressure (P4) initially rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then during a mid-portion of such cycle rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly increasing toward said higher pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

said fifth controllable pressure (P5) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is below an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is above said average during a second half of such cycle, and

said sixth controllable pressure (P6) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is above an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is below said average during a second half of such cycle.

5. A six-legged walking robot as claimed in claim 1, in which:

each of said legs has a foot,

the respective feet of the left front leg, right mid leg and left rear leg are each raised and moving forward and the respective feet of the right front leg, left mid leg and right rear leg are each depressed and moving backward, during an initial half of a cyclic motion of said legs for forward walking motion of said robot,

the respective feet of the right front leg, left mid leg and right rear leg are each raised and moving forward and the respective feet of the left front leg, the right mid leg and the left rear leg are each depressed and moving backward during a second half of the cyclic motion of said legs for forward walking motion of said robot, and

said initial half and second half of said cyclic motion of said legs are cyclically repeated during said forward walking motion of said robot.

6. A six-legged walking robot as claimed in claim 1, in which:

the legs of said robot are moved in repeated cycles for producing forward walking motion, each of such repeated cycles comprising;

raising and moving forwardly the left front leg (L1), the left rear leg (L3) and the right mid leg (R2) while depressing and moving backwardly the left mid leg (L2), the right front leg (R1) and the right rear leg (R3), and

thereafter raising and moving forwardly the left mid leg (L2), the right front leg (R1) and the right rear leg (R3) while depressing and moving backwardly the left front leg (L1), the left rear leg (L3) and the right mid leg (R2).

7. A six-legged walking robot as claimed in claim 1, in which:

said first twistor-pair joint is a flexural support for said second twistor-pair joint and is also a double-acting turning motor for moving said second pivot axis relative to said first pivot axis,

said second twistor-pair joint is a flexural support for said third twistor-pair joint and is also a double-acting turning motor for moving said third pivot axis relative to said second pivot axis, and

said third twistor-pair joint is a flexural support for said third rigid element and is also a double-acting turning motor for moving said foot end of said third rigid element relative to said third pivot axis,

thereby eliminating need for friction-causing bearings at said first, second and third pivot axes, and

thereby enabling open loop control of the motions of each of said six legs.

8. A six-legged walking robot, as claimed in claim 1, in which:

the legs of said robot are moved in cycles for producing walking motion, each cycle comprising;

raising and moving to changed positions the left front leg, the left rear leg and the right mid leg while depressing and moving to changed positions the left mid leg, the right front leg and the right rear leg, and

thereafter raising and moving to changed positions the left mid leg, the right front leg and the right rear leg while depressing and moving to changed positions the left front leg, the left rear leg and the right mid leg.

9. A six-legged walking robot, in which:

there are three left legs and three right legs,

said three left legs comprising a front left leg (L1), a mid-left leg (L2) and a hind left leg (L3),

said three right legs comprising a front right leg (R1), a mid-right leg (R2) and a hind right leg (R3), and in which;

each of said legs comprises;

a first twistor-pair joint having a vertical axis,

a second twistor-pair joint having a first horizontal axis offset from said vertical axis, and

a third twistor-pair joint having a second horizontal axis offset from and parallel to said first horizontal axis, and

said robot further comprising;

a controllable source of pressurized fluid connected to said first twistor-pair joint, to said second twistor-pair joint and to said third twistor-pair joint,

said controllable source of pressurized fluid providing first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) each varying in a predetermined manner during a cycle which repeats for producing walking motion,

said first and second (P1 and P2), said third and fourth (P3 and P4), said fifth and sixth (P5 and P6) cyclically varying pressures being supplied to the respective first, second and third twistor-pair joints of two respective leg groups comprising;

a left front leg, a right mid leg, and a left hind leg (L1, R2 and L3), and

a right front leg, a left mid leg, and a right hind leg (R1, L2 and R3).

10. A twistor waling robot having at least three left jointed legs and at least three right jointed legs, each of said jointed legs comprising:

a first twistor-pair joint forming a first pivot motor in said robot and having a first axis extending in an up and down orientation,

a second twistor-pair joint forming a second pivot motor connected to said first pivot motor by a first shank extending generally horizontally for causing said second twistor-pair joint to move forwardly and backwardly relative to said robot by twisting motion of said first twistor-pair joint,

said second twistor-pair joint having a second axis extending generally horizontally,

said second axis being offset horizontally from said first axis,

a third twistor-pair joint forming a third pivot motor connected to said second twistor-pair joint by a second shank extending downwardly from said third twistor-pair joint to said second twistor-pair joint,

said downwardly extending second shank also being inclined inwardly toward said robot, and

a foot connected to said third twistor pair joint by a third shank extending upwardly from said foot to said third twistor-pair joint.

11. A twistor walking robot as claimed in claim 10, including:

a controllable source of pressurized fluid for providing first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth cyclically varying pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6), and wherein;

the first and second pressures (P1 and P2) are applied to two respective twistors of the first twistor-pair joint of a respective First Leg Group comprising;

a left front leg, a right mid leg and a left rear leg,

the first and second pressures (P1 and P2) are applied in a reversed relation to two respective twistors of the first twistor-pair joint of a respective second Leg Group comprising;

a right front leg, a left mid leg and a right rear leg,

the third and fourth pressures (P3 and P4) are applied to two respective twistors of the second twistor-pair joint of the First Leg Group,

the third and fourth pressures (P3 and P4) are applied in reversed relation to two respective twistors of the second twistor-pair joint of the Second Leg Group,

the fifth and sixth pressures (P5 and P6) are applied to two respective twistors of the third twistor-pair joint of the First Leg Group, and

the fifth and sixth pressures (P5 and P6) are applied in reversed relation to two respective twistors of the third twistor-pair joint of the Second Leg Group.

12. A twistor walking robot as claimed in claim 10, in which:

said three left jointed legs comprise;

a front left jointed leg (L1), a mid-left jointed leg (L2) and a hind left jointed leg (L3),

said three right jointed legs comprise;

a front right jointed leg (R1), a mid-right jointed leg (R2) and a high right jointed leg (R3), and in which;

said legs move in a sequence of cycles for forward walking motion, each cycle comprising;

raising and moving forwardly the front left leg (L1), the hind left leg (L3) and the mid-right leg (R2) while depressing and moving backwardly the mid-left leg (L2), the front right leg (R1) and the hind right leg (R3), and

thereafter raising and moving forwardly the mid-left leg (L2), the front right leg (R1) and the hind right leg (R3) while depressing and moving backwardly the front left leg (L1), the hind left leg (L3) and the mid-right leg (R2).

13. A twistor walking robot as claimed in claim 10, including:

a controllable source of pressurized fluid connected to said first twistor-pair joint, to said second twistor-pair joint and to said third twistor-pair joint of each of said jointed legs,

said controllable source of pressurized fluid providing first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth cyclically varying pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6),

said cyclically carrying pressures having a predetermined cycle which repeats,

said first controllable pressure (P1) increasing during a first half of such cycle and then decreasing during a second half of such cycle,

said second controllable pressure (P2) decreasing during a first half of each cycle and increasing during a second half of each cycle,

said third controllable pressure (P3) initially rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then during a mid-portion of such cycle rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly decreasing toward said lower pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

said fourth controllable pressure (P4) initially rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a first half of such cycle and then during a mid-portion of such cycle rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a second half of such cycle and then rapidly increasing toward said higher pressure level at a conclusion of such cycle,

said fifth controllable pressure (P5) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is below an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is above said average during a second half of such cycle,

said sixth controllable pressure (P6) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is above an average of said pressure curve during a first half of such cycle and is below said average during a second half of such cycle,

said first and second controllable pressure (P1 and P2) being provided for two twistors of said first twistor-pair joint,

said third and fourth controllable pressures (P3 and P4) being provided for two twistors of said second twistor-pair joint,

said fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P5 and P6) being provided for two twistors of said third twistor-pair joint,

said controllable pressures occurring during the first half of each such cycle being provided for twistors of said twistor-pair joints in a left front, a mid-right and a left rear jointed leg while said controllable pressures occurring during the second half of each such cycle are being provided for twistors of said twistor-pair joints in a right front, a mid-left and a right rear leg, and

said controllable pressures occurring during the second half of each such cycle being provided for said twistors of said joints in said left front, said mid-right and said left rear jointed leg while said controllable pressures occurring during the first half of each such cycle are being provided for said twistors of said joints in said right front, said mid-left and said right rear leg.

14. A twistor walking robot as claimed in claim 10, in which:

said three left legs comprise;

a left front leg (L1), a left mid-leg (L2) and a left hind leg (L3), each of said left legs having a foot,

said three right legs comprise;

a right front leg (R1), a right mid-leg R2 and a right hind leg (R3), each of said right legs having a foot, in which;

the respective feet of said left front, right mid and left hind legs (L1, R2 and L3) are each elevated and moving forward and the respective feet of said right front, left mid and right hind legs (R1, L2 and R3) are each depressed and moving backward, during an initial half of the cyclic motion of said legs for forward walking motion of said robot,

the respective feet of said right front, leg mid and right hind legs (R1, L2 and R3) are each elevated and moving forward and the respective feet of said left front, right mid and left hind legs (L1, R2 and L3) are each depressed and moving backward during a second half of the cyclic motion of said legs for forward walking motion of said robot, and

said initial half and second half of said cyclic motion of said legs are cyclically repeated during said forward walking motion of said robot.

15. A six-legged walking robot comprising:

front, mid and rear left jointed legs,

front, mid and rear right jointed legs,

each of said six jointed legs comprising;

a first twistor-pair joint having a first pivot axis extending in an up and down orientation,

a second twistor-pair joint connected to said first twistor-pair joint and having a second pivot axis extending generally horizontally,

said second pivot axis being spaced horizontally from said first pivot axis,

a third joint connected to said second twistor-pair joint by a shank,

said third joint being a flexural joint and having a third pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being spaced from said second pivot axis,

a foot connected to said third joint by another shank extending upwardly from said foot to said third joint,

said first twistor-pair joint being a flexural support for said second twistor-pair joint and also being a double-acting turning motor for moving said second pivot axis relative to said first pivot axis,

said second twistor-pair joint being a flexural support for said third joint and also being a double-acting turning motor for moving said third pivot axis relative to said second pivot axis.

16. A six-legged walking robot, as claimed in claim 15, in which:

said third joint is a third twistor-pair joint, and

said third twistor-pair joint is a flexural support for said foot and also is a double-acting turning motor for moving said foot relative to said third axis.

17. A six-legged walking robot, as claimed in claim 16, comprising:

first and second fluid-inflatable twistors in each first twistor-pair joint,

third and fourth fluid-inflatable twistors in each second twistor-pair joint,

fifth and sixth fluid-inflatable twistors in each third twistor-pair joint, and

control means feeding pressurized fluid under first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) into the respective first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth twistors in each leg in cycles for causing walking motion,

said control means producing the cycle by providing pressurized fluid under said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable pressures (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) varying during the cycle in accord with a sequence comprising;

said first controllable pressure (P1) increasing during a first half of the cycle and then decreasing during a second half of the cycle,

said second controllable pressure (P2) decreasing during a first half of the cycle and increasing during a second half of the cycle,

said third controllable pressure (P3) initially rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level and remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a first half of the cycle and then during a mid portion of the cycle rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a second half of the cycle and then rapidly decreasing toward said lower pressure level at a conclusion of the cycle,

said fourth controllable pressure (P4) initially rapidly increasing to a higher pressure level and remaining substantially at said higher pressure level during a major portion of a first half of the cycle and then during a mid portion of the cycle rapidly decreasing to a lower pressure level for remaining substantially at said lower pressure level during a major portion of a second half of the cycle and then rapidly increasing toward said higher pressure level at a conclusion of the cycle,

said fifth controllable pressure (P5) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is below an average of said pressure curve during a first half of the cycle and is above said average during a second half of the cycle,

said sixth controllable pressure (P6) generally following a sine-like pressure curve which is above an average of said pressure curve during a first half of the cycle and is below said average during a second half of the cycle, and

thereby said control means produces open loop control of the motions of each of said six jointed legs.