Wire-traversing robot and method of operation
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsGennaro Notomista, Magnus B. Egerstedt, Yousef A. Emam
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Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a robot comprising a body, a processor, and a memory. The memory further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the body to engage a first wire to support the robot from the first wire, traverse the first wire, engage a second wire simultaneously while engaging the first wire, the second wire branching from the first wire, then after engaging the second wire, disengage the first wire and traverse the second wire.
Claims20
A robot comprising:
- a body;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the body to:
- engage a first wire to support the robot from the first wire;
- traverse the first wire;
- engage a second wire simultaneously while engaging the first wire, the second wire branching from the first wire;
- after engaging the second wire, disengage the first wire;
- and
- traverse the second wire.
A method of operating a robot to traverse a system of wires, the method comprising:
- engaging, with a body of the robot, a first wire;
- traversing, with the body of the robot, the first wire;
- engaging, with the body of the robot, a second wire simultaneously while engaging, with the body of the robot, the first wire, the second wire branching from the first wire;
- after engaging, with the body of the robot, the second wire, disengaging, with the body of the robot, the first wire;
- and
- traversing, with the body of the robot, the second wire.
A robot comprising:
- a body comprising one or more body segments, each of the one or more body segments comprising a wire-switching system, the wire-switching system comprising:
- a first gear comprising:
- an outer perimeter having a circumferential gap;
- an interior cavity configured to receive a first wire and a second wire;
- and
- a channel connecting the circumferential gap to the interior cavity, the channel configured to allow the first and second wires to exit the interior cavity;
- a second gear comprising:
- an outer perimeter configured to mesh with the outer perimeter of the first gear;
- and
- a gear motor configured to actuate the second gear;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the body to:
- engage the first wire to support the robot from the first wire;
- traverse the first wire;
- engage the second wire simultaneously while engaging the first wire, the second wire branching from the first wire;
- after engaging the second wire, disengage the first wire;
- and
- traverse the second wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.