Multifunction automated crawling system
First Claim
1. An automated crawling robot system for traversing about an object with a range of motion of 360 degrees, comprising:
- a platform;
a first leg assembly slidably coupled to the platform and rotatably coupled to the platform and having an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the first leg assembly to the object and a first ball screw and receiver system;
a second leg assembly slidably coupled to the platform and having an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the second leg assembly to the object and a second ball screw and receiver system;
a motor for driving the first and second ball screw and receiver systems;
wherein said first ball screw is located opposite the second ball screw, has an opposite pitch from the second ball screw, and is attached to the second ball screw so that the motor can drive both ball screws; and
a rotary motor for rotatably traversing the second leg assembly relative to the platform.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an automated crawling robot system including a platform, a first leg assembly, a second leg assembly, first and second rails attached to the platform, and an onboard electronic computer controller. The first leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device and the second leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the respective first and second leg assemblies to a particular object. The first and second leg assemblies are slidably coupled to the rail assembly and are slidably driven by motors to thereby allow linear movement. In addition, the first leg assembly is rotary driven by a rotary motor to thereby provide rotary motion relative to the platform. To effectuate motion, the intermittent coupling devices of the first and second leg assemblies alternately couple the respective first and second leg assemblies to an object. This motion is done while simultaneously moving one of the leg assemblies linearly in the desired direction and preparing the next step. This arrangement allows the crawler of the present invention to traverse an object in a range of motion covering 360 degrees.
47 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An automated crawling robot system for traversing about an object with a range of motion of 360 degrees, comprising:
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a platform; a first leg assembly slidably coupled to the platform and rotatably coupled to the platform and having an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the first leg assembly to the object and a first ball screw and receiver system; a second leg assembly slidably coupled to the platform and having an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the second leg assembly to the object and a second ball screw and receiver system; a motor for driving the first and second ball screw and receiver systems; wherein said first ball screw is located opposite the second ball screw, has an opposite pitch from the second ball screw, and is attached to the second ball screw so that the motor can drive both ball screws; and a rotary motor for rotatably traversing the second leg assembly relative to the platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification