Legged mobile robot equipped with impact absorber
US5445235A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D57/02
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An impact absorber for a legged mobile robot having a body and two legs each connected to the body for absorbing impact arising when the robot collides with pipes or other objects in its walking environment so as to protect both the robot and the object. In a first embodiment, the impact absorber comprises a balloon disposed around the body and filled with air. When the balloon comes into contact with the object, it is deflated so as to absorb impact arising from the contact. In a second embodiment, the impact absorber comprises a cylinder fixed to the robot leg and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder so as to define a chamber filled with an oil. A flat member is fixed to the rod of the piston and when it comes into contact with the object, the piston is thrust into the cylinder so as to absorb the impact. The impact absorber may be a resilient material coating on the robot to cushion the impact when the robot comes into contact with the object, or it may include air bags.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.