Mobile robot

• US 8,186,469 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Convex Co., Ltd. (Gi-Ho Park)
• Original Assignee: Convex Co., Ltd. (Gi-Ho Park)
• Inventors: Yim, Choong-hyuk, Kim, Dong-hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner, Tony H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHARICH, MARC A
• Application Number:
  US12/680,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.28, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/8.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 180/218, 280/5.2, 280/5.3, 280/5.32, 901/1
• US Class Current: 180/218
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile robot having jump function. An exemplary mobile robot according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a robot body, a pair of wheels, a driving motor, a leaf spring, and a leaf spring control unit. The pair of wheels are rotatably connected to the robot body. The driving motor drives the pair of wheels so as to move the robot body. The leaf spring has a fixed end fixedly connected to the robot body and a free end disposed to face the fixed end in a state of being apart from the robot body. The leaf spring control unit applies force for bending the leaf spring such that the free end of the leaf spring is pulled toward the robot body and then removes the force applied to the leaf spring such that the leaf spring returns to an original state.

Claims

1. A mobile robot, comprising:

a robot body;

a pair of wheels connected to the robot body;

a driving motor driving the pair of wheels so as to move the robot body;

a leaf spring having a fixed end connected to the robot body and a free end disposed to face the fixed end in a state of being apart from the robot body; and

a leaf spring control unit applying force to bend the leaf spring such that the free end of the leaf spring is pulled toward the robot body and then removing the force applied to the leaf spring such that the leaf spring returns to an original state, the leaf spring control unit comprising;

a first motor mounted to the robot body;

a first gear connected to the first motor so as to be rotated by the first motor;

a rotating shaft rotatably mounted to the robot body;

a second gear disposed to be apart from the first gear and fixed to the rotating shaft so as to rotate together with the rotating shaft;

a supporting member having a vertically-elongating slot;

a third gear movably inserted into the slot of the supporting member so as to move along the slot depending on a rotation position of the robot body, thereby selectively engaging the first gear and the second gear;

a wire, an end of which is fixed to the rotating shaft and the other end of which is fixed to the leaf spring at a portion near the free end; and

a clutch mechanism connected to the rotating shaft so as to allow the rotating shaft to rotate in a direction of bending the leaf spring and so as to selectively allow the rotating shaft to rotate in a direction of unbending the leaf spring.

2. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises:

a ratchet fixed to the rotating shaft so as to rotate together with the rotating shaft;

a stopper connected to the ratchet so as to selectively allow the rotating shaft to rotate in the direction of unbending the leaf spring; and

a servomotor driving the stopper such that the stopper allows the rotating shaft to rotate in the direction of unbending the leaf spring.

3. The mobile robot of claim 1, further comprising a rotation position control unit for controlling a rotation position of the robot body in a state that the pair of wheels are stopped.

4. A mobile robot, comprising:

a robot body;

a pair of wheels connected to the robot body;

a driving motor driving the pair of wheels so as to move the robot body;

a leaf spring having a fixed end connected to the robot body and a free end disposed to face the fixed end in a state of being apart from the robot body;

a leaf spring control unit applying force to bend the leaf spring such that the free end of the leaf spring is pulled toward the robot body and then removing the force applied to the leaf spring such that the leaf spring returns to an original state; and

a rotation position control unit for controlling a rotation position of the robot body in a state that the pair of wheels are stopped, the rotation position control unit comprising;

a servomotor mounted to the robot body; and

an arm, an end of which is fixed to the servomotor and the other end of which is formed to be rotated by operation of the servomotor so as to be protruded from the robot body.

5. The mobile robot of claim 4, wherein a slot is formed in the leaf spring and the arm of the rotation position control unit is inserted into the slot.