Soft body robot for physical interaction with humans
US9802314B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/40253
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A robot designed for reducing collision impacts during human interaction. The robot includes a robot controller including a joint control module. The robot includes a link including a rigid support element and a soft body segment coupled to the rigid support element, and the body segment includes a deformable outer sidewall enclosing an interior space. The robot includes a pressure sensor sensing pressure in the interior space of the link. A joint is coupled to the rigid support element to rotate or position the link. During operations, the robot controller operates the joint based on the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor. The robot controller modifies operation of the joint from a first operating state with a servo moving or positioning the joint to a second operating state with the servo operating to allow the joint to be moved or positioned in response to outside forces applied to the link.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.