Robots including a lift actuator and body structure for lifting objects
AssigneesToyota Research Institute, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsAlexander Alspach, Andrew M. Beaulieu, Aimee S. Goncalves
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Abstract
Robots including a lifting actuator for lifting object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rail system extending in a system direction, a body structure coupled to the rail system, the body structure comprising an array of flexible tactile sensors, wherein each flexible tactile sensor of the array of flexible tactile sensors is operable to produce a signal determinative of a magnitude and a direction of a force applied to the flexible tactile sensor, and a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system.
Claims20
A robot comprising:
- a rail system extending in a system direction;
- a body structure coupled to the rail system, the body structure comprising an array of flexible tactile sensors, wherein each flexible tactile sensor of the array of flexible tactile sensors is operable to produce a signal determinative of a magnitude and a direction of a force applied to the flexible tactile sensor, wherein the body structure defines a chest of the robot;
- and
- a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system.
A robot comprising:
- a rail system extending in a system direction;
- a body structure coupled to the rail system, the body structure comprising an array of flexible tactile sensors, wherein the body structure defines a chest of the robot, and wherein each flexible tactile sensor of the array of flexible tactile sensors comprises:
- a conductive target positioned in a first plane;
- at least three coils forming an array within a second plane, the second plane spaced apart from the first plane;
- a pliable material disposed between the conductive target and the at least three coils;
- and
- an electronic device electrically coupled to each of the at least three coils, the electronic device configured to induce an AC signal within each of the at least three coils and measure a change in inductance in the at least three coils in response to movement of the conductive target;
- a first arm coupled to a first side of the body structure;
- a second arm coupled to a second side of the body structure;
- and
- a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.