Legged mobile robot equipped with impact absorber
First Claim
1. A mobile robot comprising:
- a body;
legs attached to the body; and
an impact absorber on the robot having a member displaceable from an initial position when a force other than a ground reaction force acts on the robot, to absorb impact.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An impact absorber for a legged mobile robot having a body and two legs each connected to the body for absorbing impact arising when the robot collides with pipes or other objects in its walking environment so as to protect both the robot and the object. In a first embodiment, the impact absorber comprises a balloon disposed around the body and filled with air. When the balloon comes into contact with the object, it is deflated so as to absorb impact arising from the contact. In a second embodiment, the impact absorber comprises a cylinder fixed to the robot leg and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder so as to define a chamber filled with an oil. A flat member is fixed to the rod of the piston and when it comes into contact with the object, the piston is thrust into the cylinder so as to absorb the impact. The impact absorber may be a resilient material coating on the robot to cushion the impact when the robot comes into contact with the object, or it may include air bags.
43 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A mobile robot comprising:
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a body; legs attached to the body; and an impact absorber on the robot having a member displaceable from an initial position when a force other than a ground reaction force acts on the robot, to absorb impact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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8. A mobile robot comprising:
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a body; at least two legs attached to the body; and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder the piston and cylinder forming a first chamber at a first end of the cylinder a fluid filled in the chamber; and a cover attached to the piston. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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18. A mobile robot comprising:
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a body; legs attached to the body; an impact absorber including at least one air bag on the robot; first means for detecting an unstable condition of the robot; and second means for inflating the at least one air bag when the unstable condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A legged mobile robot having an impact absorber, comprising:
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an inflatable member on the robot filled with a fluid; and means for deflating the inflatable member when it comes into contact with an object, to absorb impact arising from the contact.
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24. A mobile robot, comprising:
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a body; a plurality of legs attached to the body; an air bag on the body; detecting means for detecting an unstable condition of the robot; and inflating means for inflating the air bag when an unstable condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification