Walk-about exoskeleton

A walk-about platform operable to support a wearable exoskeleton, the walk about platform comprising:

• a mast, a torso member supported by the mast, and an operator interface supported by the torso member;
• a robotic exoskeleton interface supported by the torso member, the robotic exoskeleton interface being operable to receive and support an upper-body robotic exoskeleton comprising at least one upper-body robotic limb that interacts with an arm of an operator and that facilitates augmented upper-body movements of the operator, the at least one upper-body robotic limb comprising at least one powered joint actuatable in at least one degree of freedom;
• a conveyance system comprising a ground-contacting element, the conveyance system being operable to facilitate actuated movement of the walk-about platform about a ground surface;
• a bi-pedal locomotion zone defined, at least in part, by the walk-about platform that provides clearance for bi-pedal locomotion of an operator, the lower-body of the operator being decoupled from the walk-about platform.

A walk-about exoskeleton system, comprising

• an upper-body robotic exoskeleton comprising one or more upper-body robotic limbs that each interact with a respective arm of an operator and that each facilitate augmented upper-body movements of the operator, each robotic limb comprising one or more powered joints actuatable in at least one degree of freedom;
• a walk-about platform in support of the exoskeleton, the walk-about platform being maneuverable about a ground surface, and comprising:
• a conveyance system comprising a ground-contacting element, the conveyance system being operable with the walk-about platform, the conveyance system being operably integrated with a remote navigation system via an interface that connects the walk-about exoskeleton to the remote navigation system, the remote navigation system configured to facilitate movement of the walk-about platform about the ground surface in an autonomous mode;
• and
• a bi-pedal locomotion zone defined, at least in part, by the walk-about platform that provides clearance for bi-pedal locomotion of an operator donning the exoskeleton about a ground surface.

A ground maneuvering robotic system, comprising:

• an upper-body robotic device comprising at least one upper-body robotic limb that interacts with an arm of an operator and that facilitates augmented upper-body movements of the operator, the at least one upper-body robotic limb comprising one or more powered joints that are each actuatable in at least one degree of freedom;
• a robotic platform in support of the robotic device, the robotic platform being maneuverable about a ground surface, and comprising:
• a conveyance system comprising a ground-contacting element, the conveyance system being operable with the robotic platform, and to facilitate movement of the robotic platform about the ground surface;
• a base comprising first and second lateral members and a support bridge supported in an elevated position above the first and second lateral members to define an opening between the support bridge and the ground surface;
• and
• a bi-pedal locomotion zone defined, at least in part, by the robotic platform that is configured to provide clearance for bi-pedal locomotion of an operator;
• a mast extending up from the base;
• a mast interface member moveably coupled to the mast;
• and
• a torso member supported by the mast interface member, and in support of the robotic device, the torso member being operable to rotate relative to the mast interface member about an axis of rotation at a torso-forebend joint.

A walk-about exoskeleton system, comprising:

• an exoskeleton;
• a walk-about platform in support of the exoskeleton, the walk-about platform being maneuverable about a ground surface, and comprising:
• a conveyance system comprising a plurality of ground-contacting elements in the form of ground-contacting rollers, the conveyance system being operable with the walk-about platform, and to facilitate movement of the walk-about platform about the ground surface;
• a walk-about base comprising first and second lateral members and a support bridge supported in an elevated position above the first and second lateral members to define an opening between the support bridge and the ground surface, the first and second lateral members each comprise a retractable extension operable to selectively extend and retract from the first and second lateral members, respectively;
• and
• a bi-pedal locomotion zone defined, at least in part, by the walk-about base that provides clearance for bi-pedal locomotion of an operator donning the exoskeleton, the bi-pedal locomotion zone comprising an area defined, at least in part, by the plurality of ground-contacting rollers of the conveyance system, and wherein a center of gravity of the walk-about exoskeleton system is maintained within the area to avoid tipping during use;
• a mast extending up from the walk-about base;
• a mast interface member moveably coupled to the mast;
• and
• a torso member supported by the mast interface member, and in support of the exoskeleton;
• and
• an operator interface supported by the torso member, the torso member and the operator interface being operable to rotate relative to the mast interface member about an axis of rotation at a torso-forebend joint,
• wherein the bi-pedal locomotion zone extends through the opening, such that the clearance provided for the operator extends at least below the support bridge.