Patent · US Expired

Robotic arm systems

US4954952A · kind A · utility

171Cited by
12References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 2, 1989
Grant dateSep 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 2, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S706/904
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A multisection flexible multidigit arm contains hands at each end, each of which hands contains a set of fingers, suitably three, which are similarly formed flexible multidigit arms constructed to a smaller scale. Each hand contains connectors for coupling the hand to a mating connector mounted on an associated structure to provide appropriate power and control signals to the arm. One hand may grip the connector and the other hand is free to move to various positions and perform various tasks. In an additional aspect the arm may move to different locations by somersaulting between spaced connectors in the system. In an assembly system the robotic arms are used to construct frames or other assemblies. A completely self contained arm includes a self contained source of power. Radio communication means are provided to allow electronic interaction with the arm from a remote location. In an additional aspect the self contained circuitry includes processor means programmed to control the arm to perform a certain task, relieving the operator at the remote location from specifying the details. Control signals to the sections of the arm in an additional aspect to the disclosed invention are…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.