Pneumatic insect robots
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsYanina SHEVCHENKO, George M. WHITESIDES, Adam STOKES, Gabrielle COMPTON
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Abstract
A modular pneumatic robotic actuator, including a first elongated hollow structure and a second elongated hollow structure connected to each other at a moveable joint; an inflatable bladder comprised of an elastomeric material disposed at the said joint and immobilized between the first and second hollow structures, wherein the said inflatable bladder inflates preferentially away from the joint; and a restraining membrane comprised of an elastomeric material disposed over the bladder and connecting the first and second hollow structures, wherein the said restraining membrane is relaxed when the bladder is deflated.
Claims17
A modular pneumatic robotic actuator, comprising:
- a first elongated rigid structure and a second elongated rigid structure connected to each other at a moveable joint,
- wherein the movable joint is disposed at a first angle when the moveable joint is unactuated and a second angle when the moveable joint is actuated;
- and
- a restraining membrane comprised of an elastomeric material connecting the first and second rigid structures, wherein the restraining membrane is in a relaxed position in the unactuated state and an extended position in the actuated state, and wherein the restraining membrane in the extended position provides a restoring force to the actuator to return the movable joint to the first angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.