Robotics platforms incorporating manipulators having common joint designs
First Claim
1. A manipulator, comprising:
- an azimuth actuator;
a plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints, each rigid L shaped elbow joint includes a first L shaped elbow joint actuator and a second L shaped elbow joint actuator, where the axis of rotation of the first L shaped elbow joint actuator is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second L shaped elbow joint actuator to allow greater than 360 degree rotation;
a first rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the azimuth actuator and a first rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints;
a second rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the first rigid L shaped elbow joint and a second rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints;
a third rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the second rigid L shaped elbow joint to a third rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; and
an end-effector interface connected to the third rigid L shaped elbow joint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Manipulators in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be utilized to implement statically stable robots capable of both dexterous manipulation and versatile mobility. Manipulators in accordance with one embodiment of the invention include: an azimuth actuator; three elbow joints that each include two actuators that are offset to allow greater than 360 degree rotation of each joint; a first connecting structure that connects the azimuth actuator and a first of the three elbow joints; a second connecting structure that connects the first elbow joint and a second of the three elbow joints; a third connecting structure that connects the second elbow joint to a third of the three elbow joints; and an end-effector interface connected to the third of the three elbow joints.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A manipulator, comprising:
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an azimuth actuator; a plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints, each rigid L shaped elbow joint includes a first L shaped elbow joint actuator and a second L shaped elbow joint actuator, where the axis of rotation of the first L shaped elbow joint actuator is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second L shaped elbow joint actuator to allow greater than 360 degree rotation; a first rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the azimuth actuator and a first rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; a second rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the first rigid L shaped elbow joint and a second rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; a third rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the second rigid L shaped elbow joint to a third rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; and an end-effector interface connected to the third rigid L shaped elbow joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A manipulator, comprising:
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an azimuth actuator; a plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints where each rigid L shaped elbow joint includes a first L shaped elbow joint actuator and a second L shaped elbow joint actuator, where the axis of rotation of the first L shaped elbow joint actuator is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second L shaped elbow joint actuator to allow greater than 360 degree rotation; a first rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the azimuth actuator and a first rigid L shaped elbow joint of the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; a second rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the first rigid L shaped elbow joint and a second rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; a third rigid L shaped connecting structure that connects the second rigid L shaped elbow joint to a third rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints; an end-effector interface connected to the third rigid L shaped elbow joint in the plurality of joints; and a cam hand assembly connected to the end-effector interface, where the cam hand assembly comprises two pairs of opposing curved fingers, the first pair of opposing curved fingers comprising a first curved finger and a second curved finger configured to continuously rotate around a common cam hand axis perpendicular to the first curved finger and the second curved finger, the second pair of opposing curved fingers comprising a third curved finger and a fourth curved finger configured to continuously rotate around the common cam hand axis perpendicular to the third curved finger and the fourth curved finger; wherein the plurality of rigid L shaped elbow joints have the same dimensions and construction; wherein the same type of actuator is utilized to implement the first rigid L shaped elbow joint actuator and the second rigid L shaped elbow joint actuator for the first rigid L shaped elbow joint, the second rigid L shaped elbow joint, and the third rigid L shaped elbow joint, and the actuator comprises a motor including a power-on-to-disengage safety brake; and wherein the cam hand assembly is utilized to control poses for the plurality of fingers. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification