Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215185 | Unmanned ground robotic vehicle having an alternatively extendible and retractable sensing appendage - An unmanned robotic vehicle is capable of sensing an environment at a location remote from the immediate area of the vehicle frame. The unmanned robotic vehicle includes a retractable appendage with a sensing element. The sensing element can include a camera, chemical sensor, optical sensor, force sensor, or the like. | 09-04-2008 |
20080216644 | Antagonistic fluid control system for active and passive actuator operation - An antagonistic fluid control system, wherein the system may comprise multiple antagonistic pressure control valves operable with a single actuator, or multiple pressure control valves operable with respective antagonistic actuators. The pressure control valves are configured to provide functional and efficiency advantages, and operate together to provide several operating or valving states. A first valving state comprises an active valving state configured to actively control the movement of the load. A second valving state comprises an inactive actuation state, wherein either the return and pressure ports of one pressure control valve are closed, or only the return ports of one pressure control valve are opened, to allow the other pressure control valve to operate in an active valving state. A third valving state comprises a passive valving state, wherein the pressure control valves are operated in a slosh mode configured to allow the load to freely move or dangle. In this third passive valving state, or slosh mode, the return ports of the two pressure control valves are opened to allow fluid, and preferably local fluid, to shunt back and forth within the system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080216645 | Fluid control system having selective recruitable actuators - A fluid control or actuation system providing selective recruiting of actuators antagonistic to one another to provide variable output power, such as that used to drive a load. The actuators are intended to comprise different sizes, and to be operable with one or more pressure control valves capable of providing displacement of a non-recruited actuator without requiring active input to cause such displacement. Being able to selectively recruit different sized actuators to drive the load, and being able to displace non-recruited without active input, effectively incorporates a gearing function into the fluid control system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080251050 | Rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system - A rapid-fire external compression engine having an intake device configured to introduce a pre-compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture from an external source into a combustion chamber having a low-inertia rapid response component. The rapid response component is configured to extract a high percentage of the energy derived from the combustion of the pre-compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture and convert it into mechanical work, which may then be transformed via a variety of methods into usable output power to operate a powered device. | 10-16-2008 |
20080281468 | VARIABLE PRIMITIVE MAPPING FOR A ROBOTIC CRAWLER - Varying modes of movement of a robotic crawler are provided by using a variable mapping from high-level (operator input) primitives into low-level primitives. The mapping is a function of environmental data sensed by the robotic crawler enabling the movement mode to be adapted to the environment. | 11-13-2008 |
20090210093 | Contact displacement actuator system - A robot displacement device for use with a robotic frame shaped to approximate and be coupleable to at least a portion of the human body and configured to mimic movement of the human body. The device employs a plurality of force sensors which are attached to the robotic frame which detect a baseline controlling interface force status relationship between the sensors and the extremities of the human operator. Based on the output force signal from the sensors and the force and direction of gravity relative to the robotic frame, the computation system calculates at least a rotational force required to maintain the controlling force status relationship. That system then generates and transmits an actuation signal to a drive system attached to the robotic frame which displaces a portion of the robotic frame in order to maintain the controlling force status relationship. | 08-20-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100314139 | Target-Specific Fire Fighting Device For Launching A Liquid Charge At A Fire - The present invention relates to a single-target-specific fire fighting device for launching a liquid charge towards a localized target portion of a fire. The firefighting device is capable of highly precise target engagement at a single, localized area. In this manner, the fire fighting device can launch a single liquid charge effectively to a target location within a fire, such as the seat of a fire, in order to effectively extinguish the fire. The firefighting device includes at least a liquid charge having a flight integrity component, a barrel, a sighting structure coupled to the barrel, and a launching system for launching the liquid charge down the barrel at a target location. | 12-16-2010 |
20100317244 | Amphibious Robotic Crawler - An amphibious robotic crawler for traversing a body of water having two frame units coupled end-to-end or in tandem by an actuated linkage arm. Each frame unit includes a housing with a drivable continuous track rotatably supported thereon. The frame units are operable with a power supply, a drive mechanism and a control module. Each frame unit further includes a buoyancy control element for suspending the frame unit in the water, and for controlling the depth of the robotic crawler within the water. The control module coordinates the rotation of the continuous tracks, the position of the linkage arm and the buoyancy of the buoyancy control elements to control movement, direction and pose of the robotic crawler through the body of water. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318242 | Method And System For Deploying A Surveillance Network - A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment. | 12-16-2010 |
20120137667 | Regenerative Hydraulic Pump - A regenerative hydraulic pump that allows for efficient operation of a hydraulic system under high pressure/low flow conditions that comprises a crankshaft providing a rotating inertial mass, and a regenerative hydraulic pump cylinder that comprises a pump cylinder housing, a pump piston mechanically connected to the crankshaft; and a compliant pressure chamber that stores a portion of the energy extracted by the pump piston during a pumping stroke for release back to the pump piston and to the crankshaft during a regenerative back stroke. | 06-07-2012 |
20120138701 | Electrospray Dispensing System - An electrospray dispensing system for delivering a controllable quantity of charged micro-droplets of a conductive fluid, and which includes an elongate fluid supply cylinder having a first end, a second end, a sidewall (e.g., forming a circular or other polygonal cross-section) between the first and second ends, and an interior hollow that is in fluid communication with a source of conductive fluid. The dispensing system also includes an array of selectively-activated capillary tubes having proximal ends that are in fluid communication with the interior hollow and distal ends extending radially outward through the sidewall, and which are configured so that any conductive fluid flowing outwardly through one or more activated capillary tubes is electrically-charged. The dispensing system further includes a grounding electrode that is in electrical communication with a source of ground and located at a predetermined distance from the distal ends of the capillary tubes, so that an electric potential between the charged conductive fluid and the grounding electrode will cause each of the activated capillary tubes to form a cone jet which projects a stream of charged micro-droplets towards the grounding electrode. | 06-07-2012 |
20120138714 | Electrospray Delivery Device - An electro-spray delivery device for delivering a stream of charged micro-droplets of a conductive fluid, and which a capillary tube having a proximal end in fluid communication with a source of conductive fluid and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The device also includes a solid guide wire coaxially disposed at least partially within the capillary tube to form an annular passage therein, and which has a distal tip projecting beyond the distal end of the capillary tube. At least one of the capillary tube and guide wire is conductive and in electrical communication with a high-voltage source to electrically charge the conductive fluid flowing through the annular passage and wetting the distal tip of the guide wire. The electrospray delivery device further includes a grounding electrode that is located a predetermined distance from the distal tip of the guide wire and which is in electrical communication with a source of ground. A voltage differential between the charged fluid and the grounding electrode draws the charged fluid away from the distal end of the capillary tube to form a cone jet about the end face of the distal tip discharging a stream of charged micro-droplets. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139466 | Micro Motor - A thinly configured and brushless miniature DC micro motor that includes at least two substantially-flat motor cells that are aligned axially. Each motor cell comprises a stator coil having an elongate opening and passage for a rotor shaft, and a cross-polarized rotor magnet carried on the rotor shaft and received within the elongate opening. The micro motor also includes a frame substrate that fixably supports the stator coils of the motor cells while providing a bearing means for rotatably supporting the rotor shaft, so that selectively energizing one of the motor cells creates an electric current in the stator coil interacting with a magnetic field of the received rotor magnet to generate a torque between the rotor shaft and the frame substrate. | 06-07-2012 |
20120237319 | Robotic Lift Device with Human Interface Operation - An operator controllable robotic device is disclosed. The robotic device comprises a support member, an upper robotic arm, a lower robotic arm, and a control arm. The upper robotic arm is coupled to the support member and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the support member. The lower robotic arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows an operator to control the robotic device. The control arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows a movement of the operator to control a movement of at least one of the upper robotic arm and the lower robotic arm. | 09-20-2012 |
20120277901 | Platform Perturbation Compensation - A method for compensating for a perturbation external to a platform having a plurality of mechanical arms in accordance with an embodiment of the technology includes detecting a normal positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform using a sensor. A perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform can also be detected using the sensor. The normal positional and/or orientational measurement and the perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement can be compared to determine a positional and/or orientational difference. A position and/or orientation of a mechanical arm can be adjusted to compensate for the perturbation based on the positional and/or orientational difference. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277915 | Multi-Degree of Freedom Torso Support For a Robotic Agile Lift System - A controllable robotic arm system comprises a base unit and a moveable torso coupled to the base unit. The moveable torso is capable of moving in at least one degree of freedom independently of movement of the base unit. At least one robotic slave arm is moveably coupled to the torso. A master control system is operable to control the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. The master control system includes an input interface by which a user can cause control signals to be communicated to the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. | 11-01-2012 |
20120328395 | Teleoperated Robotic System - A teleoperated robotic system that includes master control arms, slave arms, and a mobile platform. In use, a user manipulates the master control arms to control movement of the slave arms. The teleoperated robotic system can include two master control arms and two slave arms. The master control arms and the slave arms can be mounted on the platform. The platform can provide support for the master control arms and for a teleoperator, or user, of the robotic system. Thus, a mobile platform can allow the robotic system to be moved from place to place to locate the slave arms in a position for use. Additionally, the user can be positioned on the platform, such that the user can see and hear, directly, the slave arms and the workspace in which the slave arms operate. | 12-27-2012 |
20130011220 | System and Method For Controlling A Teleoperated Robotic Agile Lift System - A method for controlling a tele-operated robot agile lift system is disclosed. The method comprises manipulating a human-machine interface of a master robot located on a mobile platform. The human machine interface is kinematically equivalent to a user's arm with a plurality of support members. A position value and a torque value is measured for each support member. The position value and torque value are communicated to support members of a kinematically equivalent slave arm to position the support members to correspond with a position of the human-machine interface. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013108 | Robotic Agile Lift System With Extremity Control - A mobile robotic lift assistance system that can accommodate and provide for operator manipulation and control of a robotic arm and associated end effector locally from and via the robotic arm itself, and within a zone of operation. The mobile robotic lift assistance system can include one or more robotic arms having an associated extremity control system operable therefrom, wherein the operator enters the zone of operation and engages a control interface device to manipulate and control the robotic arm, any end effector associated therewith, and optionally the mobile platform unit. The control interface system facilitates extremity control by the operator of the mobile robotic lift assistance system. | 01-10-2013 |
20130280683 | Equestrian Performance Sensing System - Systems, devices, and methods for gathering data from a horse and rider and providing training to the rider are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method of training an equestrian rider can include performing a ride by an equestrian rider on a horse, and obtaining ride data from the ride, the ride data including video, inertial measurements, rider joint, head, torso, and/or limb information, horse joint, head, torso, and/or limb information, and at least one force measurement between the horse and the rider during the rider. The ride data can then be analyzed and at least one riding improvement to be made by the rider can be identified, and the at least one riding improvement to be made to the rider can be relayed to the rider to provide training for a subsequent ride. | 10-24-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090025988 | Serpentine Robotic Crawler Having A Continuous Track - A serpentine robotic crawler includes an articulated body having at least two body segments serially connected and a continuous track operably supported along a perimeter of the articulated body. The serpentine robotic crawler is capable of a variety of movement modes and poses. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030562 | Modular Robotic Crawler - A modular robotic crawler can be formed by intercoupling a selected plurality of segment modules from a preexisting collection of differing compatible segment modules. The segment modules can have at least one intercoupleable interface. The selection can be based on a planned operational scenario of functions to be performed. | 01-29-2009 |
20100174422 | Point And Go Navigation System And Method - A remote operator console provides point and go navigation of a robotic vehicle. The remote operator console provides a display for visual representation of the environment in which the robotic vehicle is operating based on sensor information received from the robotic vehicle. An operator may designate a target point on the display. The robotic vehicle is automatically navigated toward a location in the environment corresponding to the designated target point. | 07-08-2010 |
20110213599 | Method of Sizing Actuators for a Biomimetic Mechanical Joint - A method of configuring a biomimetic mechanical joint for the efficient movement of a support member about a pivot device. The method includes providing a first fractional actuator and a second fractional actuator being operable with the support member and the pivot device, sizing the first fractional actuator for rated operation at a first boundary condition, and sizing the second fractional actuator so that the first and second fractional actuators, when recruited in combination, are rated for operation at a second boundary condition. | 09-01-2011 |
20110295164 | Control Logic for Biomimetic Joint Actuators - A method of operating a biomimetic mechanical joint having a plurality of fractional actuators configured for rotating a support member about a pivot device. The fractional actuators can be selectively recruited during operation, either individually or together, to efficiently rotate the support member about the mechanical joint throughout a range of movements and under a variety of load conditions. Each fractional actuator can be continuously throttled to reduce the speed or torque at which the actuator operates. The capability of selectively recruiting and throttling each fractional actuator results in an actuator system having two degrees of freedom, in which a single operating state of the mechanical joint may be reached with one or more of actuator arrangements and throttling settings. The method of the present invention allows for selection from the available actuator arrangements and throttle settings according to predetermined operating modes such as high-efficiency, high-acceleration or general-purpose, etc. | 12-01-2011 |