Birfield flexible variable-stiffness continuum robot unit and continuum robot
US12420404B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25J19/023
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a birfield flexible variable-stiffness continuum robot unit and a continuum robot. In the birfield flexible variable-stiffness continuum robot unit, main structural units are interconnected to constitute a continuum manipulator; joint connecting structures connect the two adjacent main structural units; a front-end unit is arranged at a foremost end of the manipulator; and a rear-end unit is arranged at a rearmost end of the manipulator. When in use, birfield joint design is adopted, a single joint has two degrees of freedom, is more flexible and variable, and the adjacent structural units rotate around a center of a sphere, so that modeling is simpler and more convenient; connection design of flexible springs is further adopted, certain stiffness is provided for the manipulator, and thus the manipulator has a variable-stiffness characteristic; and meanwhile, a roll ball structure makes the manipulator have high torsional resistance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.