Robot apparatus and method for controlling jumping of robot device

• US 6,484,068 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc. (SoftBank Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc. (SoftBank Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Raibert, Marc, de Lasa, Martin, Playter, Robert, Jewell, Darrin, Talebinejad, Shervin, Yamamoto, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US09/960,658
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 700/31, 700/245, 700/248, 700/258, 700/259, 318/568.1, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.2, 318/569, 318/16, 318/565, 901/1, 901/15, 901/47, 704/209, 704/207, 704/270, 348/121, 701/23, 198/380, 198/394
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0016 using springs
• 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: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour

Abstract

A robot apparatus that is able to perform jumping. In a leg structure 110 of the robot apparatus, connecting bars 113, 114 and pivots 112a to 112d constitute a four-point link mechanism. A rod 117 is inserted into an opening formed in the distal end of a leg part 116. A coil spring 118 as an elastic member is provided between one end of the rod 117 and the distal end of the leg part 116. A bar member 120 is connected and secured to a preset point of a connecting member 115 as a knee joint. The coil spring 118 is extended/contracted by the stretching/contraction of the connecting member 115. By the operation of the four-point link mechanism, the trajectory of the distal end of the leg part is linear. The coil spring 118 is mounted at a position such that the distance between a driving shaft 101 and the distal end of the bar member 120 has a substantially linear relationship with respect to the force virtually operating between a driving shaft 101 and the distal end of the bar member 120.

Claims

1. A robot apparatus in which a leg part including a link mechanism connected to an elastic member is rotationally mounted to a trunk part through driving means, wherein

said elastic member is mounted so that a substantially linear relation holds between the distance between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part and a force virtually operating between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part.

2. The robot apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said link mechanism includes a first connecting bar having its one end rotationally connected to a rotational member rotated by said driving means and another end rotationally connected to a connecting member and a second connecting bar having one end rotationally connected to said rotational member and another end rotationally connected to said connecting member, to form a four-point link mechanism;

said four-point link mechanism being formed to provide for a linear trajectory of the distal end of said leg part.

3. The robot apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said elastic member is connected to said second connecting bar to apply an elastic force to a preset point of said connecting member.

4. The robot apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said second connecting bar has an arm and wherein

said elastic member is connected to the distal end of said arm and to one end of said second connecting bar.

5. The robot apparatus according to claim 4 wherein

a line segment interconnecting a pivot interconnecting said connecting member and said second connecting bar and the point of application of the elastic force by said elastic member is substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation/contraction of said elastic member.

6. The robot apparatus according to claim 1 having the appearance of a quadruped, wherein

said leg part is front and back legs.

7. A robot apparatus having at least one pair of leg parts provided protruding from a main body portion;

at least one pair of the leg parts transfer from a stance state with the distal ends of the leg parts touching the ground to a flight state with said distal ends floating in air after lapse of a preset time, by way of performing jumping.

8. The robot apparatus according to claim 7 comprising:

a pair of front leg parts and a air of back leg parts;

wherein

at least one of said front and back leg parts transfer from a stance state with the distal ends of the leg parts touching the ground to a flight state with said distal ends floating in air after lapse of a preset time.

9. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 comprising:

a contact sensor for contact detection, said contact sensor being provided at the distal ends of said front and back leg parts.

10. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 wherein

the jumping can be switched by changing the touchdown angle and the delay time of said at least one leg part.

11. The robot apparatus according to claim 10 wherein

said jumping mode at least includes a pronking of jumping with both said front and back legs touching the ground and jumping substantially simultaneously and a bounding mode of jumping with said front and back leg parts alternately touching the ground.

12. The robot apparatus according to claim 7 wherein

said leg part includes a link mechanism connected to an elastic member and is rotationally connected to a trunk part through driving means, wherein

said elastic member is mounted so that a substantially linear relation holds between the distance between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part and a force virtually operating between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part.

13. The robot apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said link mechanism includes a first connecting bar having one end rotationally connected to a rotational member rotated by said driving means, said first connecting bar having another end rotationally connected to a connecting member, said link mechanism also including a second connecting bar having one end rotationally connected to said rotational member and another end rotationally connected to said connecting member, to form a four-point link mechanism;

said four-point link mechanism being formed to provide for a linear trajectory of the distal end of said leg part.

14. Apparatus for controlling the jumping of a robot apparatus in which a leg part is coupled to a trunk part, comprising a link mechanism connected to an elastic member and rotationally mounted to said trunk part through driving means,

said elastic member being mounted so that a substantially linear relation holds between the distance between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part and a force virtually operating between said driving means and the distal end of the leg part.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said link mechanism includes a first connecting bar having its one end rotationally connected to a rotational member rotated by said driving means and another other end rotationally connected to a connecting member and a second connecting bar having one end rotationally connected to said rotational member and another end rotationally connected to said connecting member, to form a four-point link mechanism;

said four-point link mechanism being formed to provide for a linear trajectory of the distal end of said leg part.

16. A method for controlling the jumping of a robot apparatus having at least one pair of leg parts protruding from a main body portion, comprising:

a delaying step for providing a delay of a preset time from a stance state with said at least one pair of leg parts touching the ground; and

a step of transferring to a flight state with said at least one pair of legs floating in air after lapse of said delay;

transferring being made sequentially from said stance state through said delaying step to said flight state to perform jumping.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein

the robot apparatus includes a pair of front leg parts and a pair of back leg parts.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of changing a touchdown angle and the delay time of said at least one leg part to switch the jumping of said robot apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein

said jumping mode at least includes a pronking mode of jumping with both said front and back legs touching the ground and jumping substantially simultaneously and a bounding mode of jumping with said front and back leg parts alternately touching the ground.