Robot having offset rotary joints

• US 6,922,610 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Original Assignee: National Aerospace Laboratory Of Japan
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Isao, Wakabayashi, Sachiko, Sasa, Shuichi, Matsumoto, Kotaro, Kamimura, Heihachiro, Suzuki, Seizo, Okamoto, Osamu, Nakaya, Teruomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US10/424,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/246, 700/247, 700/260, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 318/568.2, 318/568.22, 901/9, 901/22, 901/25, 219/121.74, 219/121.84, 701/23
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/025 mounted in series
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/06 characterised by multi-articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/028 having wheels and mechanical legs B62D57/024 takes precedence; ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part B60S9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/16 Extraterrestrial cars
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/62 Systems for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere; Retarding or landing devices

Abstract

A robot is obtained having various functions that are demanded for planetary landing vehicles, extreme operations robots or the like, in particular to provide a leg structure for a robot that is capable of getting up itself when overturned, facilitating take-off and landing on uneven ground, and that has a walking function and that has a hand function capable of three-dimensional operation. A robot comprises a main robot body and at least three legs mounted on this main body for enabling three-dimensional movement of the main robot body such as a self-erecting action or walking action; each leg is constituted by a multi-joint arm having a plurality of said offset rotary joints linked together and has a ground-engaging member mounted at the leading end of the arm, so that each leg is capable of independently controlled three-dimensional movement and drive.

Claims

1. A robot having offset rotary joints comprising a main robot body and at least three legs mounted on this main body, wherein each of the legs is constituted by a multi-joint arm having a plurality of offset rotary joints linked together and has a ground-engaging member mounted at the leading end thereof, and each leg is capable of independently controlled three-dimensional movement and drive, so that the robot body is capable of three-dimensional movement.

2. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, comprising at least two legs having a hand function, each of which is constituted by a multi-joint arm having a plurality of offset rotary joints linked together and has a finger member having a gripping function attached to the leading end thereof, so that the robot is capable of performing tasks.

3. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 2, wherein a rotary drive source is arranged on the outer arm of each leg, and a wheel is mounted by means of bearings and a rotary shaft at the leading end of the outer arm, so that said rotary shaft is held in a transverse condition by an offset joint and the wheel is rotated by said drive source to confer a running function on the robot.

4. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 2, wherein said tasks include gripping, raising and moving objects.

5. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, wherein a rotary drive source is arranged on the outer arm of each leg, and a wheel is mounted by means of bearings and a rotary shaft at the leading end of the outer arm, so that said rotary shaft is held in a transverse condition by an offset joint and the wheel is rotated by said drive source to confer a running function on the robot.

6. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 5, in which a video camera and/or distance sensor are mounted on the robot and information obtained therefrom is utilized for control of a multi-joint arm having a plurality of offset rotary joints linked together.

7. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 5, in which the wheels or ground-engaging members at the leading ends of the legs are made of a shock-absorbing construction in order to protect the robot from impact when landing.

8. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 5, wherein each of the offset rotary joints is constituted by an offset rotary joint unit consisting of a first arm, a rotation correction arm that is driven in rotation about the axis of this first arm and a second arm that is driven in rotation about an axis obliquely intersecting this rotation correction arm, said first arm and said rotation correction arm are linked by means of a rotation correction joint mechanism section, and said rotation correction arm and said second arm are linked by means of an offset rotary joint mechanism.

9. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, wherein a video camera and/or distance sensor are mounted on the robot and information obtained therefrom is utilized for control of a multi-joint arm having a plurality of offset rotary joints linked together.

10. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 9, in which a video camera and/or distance sensor are mounted on the robot and information obtained therefrom is utilized for control of a multi-joint arm having a plurality of offset rotary joints linked together.

11. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 9, in which the wheels or ground-engaging members at the leading ends of the legs are made of a shock-absorbing construction in order to protect the robot from impact when landing.

12. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 9, wherein each of the offset rotary joints is constituted by an offset rotary joint unit consisting of a first arm, a rotation correction arm that is driven in rotation about the axis of this first arm and a second arm that is driven in rotation about an axis obliquely intersecting this rotation correction arm, said first arm and said rotation correction arm are linked by means of a rotation correction joint mechanism section, and said rotation correction arm and said second arm are linked by means of an offset rotary joint mechanism.

13. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, wherein the wheels or ground-engaging members at the leading ends of the legs are made of a shock-absorbing construction in order to protect the robot from impact when landing.

14. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 13, in which the wheels or ground-engaging members at the leading ends of the legs are made of a shock-absorbing construction in order to protect the robot from impact when landing.

15. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 13, wherein each of the offset rotary joints is constituted by an offset rotary joint unit consisting of a first arm, a rotation correction arm that is driven in rotation about the axis of this first arm and a second arm that is driven in rotation about an axis obliquely intersecting this rotation correction arm, said first arm and said rotation correction arm are linked by means of a rotation correction joint mechanism section, and said rotation correction arm and said second arm are linked by means of an offset rotary joint mechanism.

16. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, wherein each of the offset rotary joints is constituted by an offset rotary joint unit consisting of a first arm, a rotation correction arm that is driven in rotation about the axis of this first arm and a second arm that is driven in rotation about an axis obliquely intersecting this rotation correction arm, said first arm and said rotation correction arm are linked by means of a rotation correction joint mechanism section, and said rotation correction arm and said second arm are linked by means of an offset rotary joint mechanism.

17. The robot having offset rotary joints according to claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional movement includes a self-erecting action or walking action by combined movement of the legs.