Adherent robot
First Claim
1. A vacuum cup assembly including a vacuum cup comprising a stem member and a flexible, substantially conical body, a port in said body for a vacuum source, at least two annular ridges projecting downwardly from said body for intimately contacting a base surface, and at least one port for introducing lubricant to an interface of at least one of said ridges and the base surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot capable of moving against gravity uses at least one vacuum cup assembly having a port for applying a lubricant on the working surface so the cup may slide on the surface as the robot is maneuvered with the aid of powered wheels. The wheels and vacuum cut assemblies are coordinated to move on varied surfaces. The robot module may be equipped with various task-performing assemblies, and may be employed in caravans, trains, or separately in swarms.
176 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A vacuum cup assembly including a vacuum cup comprising a stem member and a flexible, substantially conical body, a port in said body for a vacuum source, at least two annular ridges projecting downwardly from said body for intimately contacting a base surface, and at least one port for introducing lubricant to an interface of at least one of said ridges and the base surface.
- 7. Method of manipulating a robot on a working surface comprising drawing a vacuum on at least one vacuum cup having a flexible surface for adhering to a working surface, feeding a lubricant to said flexible surface to form a film between said flexible surface and said working surface, and activating a locomotion means to propel said robot in a desired direction.
- 10. A robot comprising at least one robot module comprising (a) a locomotion section comprising locomotion means for moving said module on a work surface, and (b) a slidable adherence section for adhering said module to a work surface while said module is moving thereon and a means for feeding a lubricant to said slidable adherence section to form a film between said slidable adherence section and said work surface.
Specification