High mobility robot with articulated chassis
AssigneesEagle Technology, LLC, The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsPaul Bosscher, Jonathan Clark, Christian Hubicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile platform (MP) and method for operating same. The MP comprising: a chassis which extends in a longitudinal direction from a back end to a front end and extends in lateral directions from a platform centerline to two opposing lateral sides (wherein the chassis comprises body parts configured to rotate relative to each other); limbs coupled to the chassis; and wheels connected to the limbs. Each limb is movable in a first direction towards the platform centerline and a second direction away from the platform centerline such that a stance of a front or rear pair of limbs can be selectively narrowed and widened.
Claims20
A mobile platform, comprising:
- a chassis which extends in a longitudinal direction from a back end to a front end and extends in lateral directions from a platform centerline to two opposing lateral sides, the chassis comprising a plurality of body parts configured to rotate relative to each other;
- a plurality of limbs coupled to the chassis;
- and
- a plurality of wheels respectively connected to the plurality of limbs;
- wherein each limb of the plurality of limbs is movable in a first direction towards the platform centerline and an opposing second direction away from the platform centerline such that a stance of a front or rear pair of limbs can be selectively narrowed and widened.
A method for controlling a mobile platform, comprising:
- causing, by a circuit, the mobile platform to traverse terrain;
- rotating a plurality of body parts of a chassis relative to each other as the mobile platform traverses the terrain, the chassis extending in a longitudinal direction from a back end of the mobile platform to a front end of the mobile platform and extending in lateral directions from a platform centerline to two opposing lateral sides of the mobile platform;
- and
- narrowing or widening a stance between first and second limbs of the mobile platform by actuating at least a first mechanical joint provided at a first point of articulation between the chassis and the first limb that is coupled to the chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.