Movable Hardstop for a Robotic Component
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsEric Vance, Steven C. Blum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A robotic system includes a robotic arm and a movable hardstop disposed proximate to the robotic arm. The movable hardstop is separated from the robotic arm by at least one clearance in a first operating condition. The movable hardstop physically contacts the robotic arm in a second operating condition. The robotic system also includes one or more controllers configured to control movement of the robotic arm and movement of the movable hardstop such that the first operating condition is maintained or such that, if the second operating condition occurs, the hardtop blocks movement of the robotic arm.
Claims20
A robotic system, comprising:
- a robotic arm;
- a movable hardstop disposed proximate to the robotic arm, wherein the movable hardstop is separated from the robotic arm by at least one clearance in a first operating condition, and wherein the movable hardstop physically contacts the robotic arm in a second operating condition;
- and
- one or more controllers configured to control movement of the robotic arm and movement of the movable hardstop such that the first operating condition is maintained or such that, if the second operating condition occurs, the movable hardstop blocks movement of the robotic arm.
A control system for a robotic system, comprising:
- a controller having a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to perform acts, the acts comprising:
- mapping a first path of movement for a robotic arm of the robotic system;
- mapping a second path of movement for a movable hardstop of the robotic system;
- and
- executing the first path of movement and the second path of movement such that, during a first operating condition, a clearance is maintained between a bumper of the robotic arm and a contact point of the movable hardstop and, during a second operating condition, the clearance is not maintained between the bumper of the robotic arm and the contact point of the movable hardstop, whereby the bumper and the contact point physically contact each other during the second operating condition.
A robotic system, comprising:
- a robotic member comprising an arm extension member centered on a central point of the robotic system, wherein the arm extension member comprises a first bumper disposed on a first side of a lip of the arm extension member and a second bumper disposed on a second side of the lip of the arm extension member, and wherein the lip extends from a central portion of the arm extension member;
- and
- a movable hardstop having a rack centered on, and extending in an annular direction about, the central point of the robotic system, disposed about the central portion of the arm extension member, and separated in the annular direction from the first bumper of the lip of the arm extension member by a first clearance and from the second bumper of the lip of the arm extension member by a second clearance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.