Robot

• US 9,358,475 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beatbots, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beatbots, LLC
• Inventors: Michalowski, Marek P., Katz, Gregory R., Hersan, Thiago G., Teeters, Alea C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US14/568,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 446273-275, 446/279, 446/280, 446286-288, 446324-326, 446/330, 446/351, 446/353, 446/379, 446/431, 446/457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/00 Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 15/06 Self-righting toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/40 movable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/46 Sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/48 Counterbalance

Abstract

A robot is disclosed. The robot can comprise a body comprising a curved base and a multi-directional center of mass shifter assembly positioned within the body. The multi-directional center of mass shifter assembly can comprise a weight, a first actuator drivingly coupled to the weight, and a second actuator drivingly coupled to the first actuator. Actuation of the first actuator can be configured to rotate the weight relative to a first axis, and actuation of the second actuator can be configured to rotate the weight relative to a second axis, which is transverse to the first axis. The robot can comprise an inertial measurement unit, a controller, and/or an eye movable relative to the body. The position of the eye can be adjusted by an eye actuation assembly.

Claims

1. A robotic toy, comprising:

a body, comprising;

a housing;

a cavity defined within the housing; and

a contoured base;

a driven pendulum assembly positioned within the cavity, wherein the driven pendulum assembly comprises;

a first actuator comprising a first output drive;

a second actuator coupled to the first output drive, wherein the second actuator comprises a second output drive positioned transverse relative to the first output drive; and

a weight coupled to the second output drive;

a controller in communication with the first actuator and the second actuator;

a movable eye; and

an eye actuation system coupled to the movable eye, wherein the eye actuation system comprises;

a first eye actuator comprising a first eye output drive;

a second eye actuator coupled to the first eye output drive, wherein the second eye actuator comprises a second eye output drive, and wherein the second eye output drive is transverse to the first eye output drive.

2. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the controller is in communication with the first eye actuator and the second eye actuator.

3. The robotic toy of claim 2, further comprising an inertial measurement unit in communication with the controller, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to detect movement of the body in a first direction, and wherein the controller is configured to control the first eye actuator and the second eye actuator to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

4. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the first eye actuator comprises a first position-controllable motor, and wherein the second eye actuator comprises a second position-controllable motor.

5. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the movable eye further comprises:

a ring;

a plurality of blades, wherein each blade is mounted around the perimeter of the ring, and wherein an adjustable aperture is defined by the plurality of blades; and

a motor coupled to the ring, wherein actuation of the motor is configured to pivot the ring.

6. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is configured to rotate the second actuator about a first axis, and wherein the second actuator is configured to rotate the weight about a second axis.

7. The robotic toy of claim 6, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

8. The robotic toy of claim 6, wherein the weight is coupled to the second output drive by a u-shaped bracket.

9. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the driven pendulum assembly is suspended within the cavity.

10. The robotic toy of claim 1, wherein the first actuator comprises a first position-controllable motor, and wherein the second actuator comprises a second position-controllable motor.

11. A robot, comprising:

a body comprising an inertial measurement unit, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to detect a direction of movement of the body;

an eye movable relative to the body, wherein the eye comprises an actuation assembly comprising;

a first actuator comprising a first output drive;

a second actuator coupled to the first output drive, wherein the second actuator comprises a second output drive, and wherein the second output drive is transverse to the first output drive; and

a controller in communication with the inertial measurement unit and the actuation assembly, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuation assembly to move the eye in the opposite direction of the direction of movement of the body detected by the inertial measurement unit.

12. The robot of claim 11, wherein actuation of the first actuator is configured to rotate the second actuator about a first axis, and wherein actuation of the second actuator is configured to rotate the weight about a second axis.

13. The robot of claim 12, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

14. The robot of claim 11, wherein the first actuator comprises a first servo motor, and wherein the second actuator comprises a second servo motor.