Soft actuators with tapered or skewed structures

US11247348B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SOFT ROBOTICS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Joshua Aaron Lessing · Cambridge, US
• Ryan Knopf · Morehead, US
• Daniel Vincent Harburg · Brookline, US
• Kevin Alcedo · Coral Springs, US
• Grant Sellers · Cambridge, US
• Mark Chiappetta · Chelmsford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 1, 2018
• Grant date: Feb 15, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S901/39
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in robotic systems to reduce biological or chemical harborage points on the systems. For example, in exemplary embodiments, robotic actuators, hubs, or entire robotic systems may be configured to allow crevices along joints or near fasteners to be reduced or eliminated, hard corners to be replaced with rounded edges, certain components or harborage points to be eliminated, shapes to be reconfigured to be smoother or flat, and/or or surfaces to be reconfigurable for simpler cleaning.