ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20110240383A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guoxinruibo Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: RoboteX, Inc.
• Inventors: GETTINGS, Nathan D., GETTINGS, Adam M., STEVENS, Andrew G., PENN, Taylor J., SILER, Edward J. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/06 with tracks without ground wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/0885 Self-cleaning sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Claims

1. A robotic vehicle system comprising:

a chassis;

a mobility assistance component configured to propel the robotic vehicle system; and

a release coupling attaching the chassis to the mobility assistance component;

wherein the mobility assistance component is contractable with respect to the chassis when the release coupling is activated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the release coupling is configured to be activated by at least about a 45 Nm torque applied to the mobility assistance device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the release coupling is configured to be activated by at least about a 100 Nm torque applied to the mobility assistance device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobility assistance component is rotatably contractable and rotatably expandable with respect to the chassis when the release coupling is activated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a motor and a track on the mobility assistance component, and wherein the motor is configured to drive the track around the mobility assistance component.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising delivering the force from the second receiver to a third receiver, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second receiver is no more than about 1000% more and no less than about 90% less than the modulus of elasticity of the third receiver.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third receiver comprises a radially outer wheel of a pulley, and further comprising driving a track with the pulley.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the third receiver comprises track on a radial outer surface of a pulley, and further comprising driving the track with the pulley.

6. A method for using a robotic vehicle system comprising a chassis, a mobility assistance component, and a release coupling attaching the chassis to the mobility assistance component, the method comprising:

activating the release coupling; and

contracting the mobility assistance component toward the chassis after activating the release coupling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the release coupling comprises applying at least about a 45 Nm torque to the mobility assistance device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the release coupling comprises applying at least about a 100 Nm torque to the mobility assistance device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the contracting of the mobility assistance component comprises rotating the mobility assistance component with respect to the chassis.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising expanding the mobility assistance component away from the chassis.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein expanding the mobility assistance component comprises rotating the mobility assistance component with respect to the chassis.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising driving a track on the mobility assistance device.

13. A method of using a robotic vehicle system comprising:

delivering a force through a robotic vehicle system powertrain in the robotic vehicle system, wherein the delivering of the force comprises;

generating a force with a force generation component in the robotic vehicle system;

delivering the force through a first shaft to a first receiver, wherein the first shaft interfaces with the first receiver, and wherein the modulus of elasticity of the first shaft is no more than about 1000% more and no less than about 90% less than the modulus of elasticity of the first receiver; and

delivering the force from the first receiver to a second receiver, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the first receiver is no more than about 1000% more and no less than about 90% less than the modulus of elasticity of the second receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first receiver comprises a radially inner hub of a pulley, and further comprising driving a track with the pulley.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the force generation component comprises an electric motor.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first receiver is concentric about the first shaft, and wherein the second receiver is concentric about the first receiver.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the surface area of contact between the first receiver and the second receiver is greater than the surface area of contact between the shaft and the first receiver.