Robots and sensor systems having compliant members
AssigneesToyota Research Institute, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsAlexander Alspach, Andrew M. Beaulieu, Aimee S. Goncalves
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Robots and sensor systems having a compliant member for maintaining the position of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rigid surface, one or more compliant members attached to the rigid surface, and a sensor device. The sensor device includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed around the one or more compliant members, the inflatable diaphragm having a port, and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm. The one or more compliant members prevent lateral movement and rotational movement of the sensor device.
Claims20
A robot comprising:
- a rigid surface;
- one or more compliant members attached to the rigid surface;
- and
- a sensor device comprising:
- an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed around the one or more compliant members, the inflatable diaphragm comprising a port;
- and
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm,
- wherein the one or more compliant members abut the sensor device to prevent lateral movement and rotational movement of the sensor device.
A sensor system comprising:
- one or more compliant members operably to be attached to a rigid surface;
- and
- a sensor device comprising:
- an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed around the one or more compliant members, the inflatable diaphragm comprising a port;
- and
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm,
- wherein the one or more compliant members abut the sensor device to prevent lateral movement and rotational movement of the sensor device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.