Universal Gripper
AssigneeVoyager Space Holdings, Inc.
InventorsKeith Drake, Calvin Murphy, Young Tai Choi, Norman M. Wereley, Thomas Leps, Christine Hartzell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods herein provide for grasping an object. In one embodiment, a gripping system includes a magnet module (204), an elastic bladder (208) affixed to the magnet module (204), and a magnetorheological (MR) fluid contained within the elastic bladder. The system also includes a controller operable to vary a magnetic field of the magnet module (204). The magnet module (204) directs the magnetic field to the MR fluid in the elastic bladder (208) to rigidize the elastic bladder (208) about the object to grip the object with the elastic bladder (208).
Claims20
A gripping system, comprising:
- a magnet module;
- an elastic bladder affixed to the magnet module;
- a magnetorheological (MR) fluid contained within the elastic bladder;
- and
- a controller operable to vary a magnetic field of the magnet module, whereby the magnet module directs the magnetic field to the MR fluid in the elastic bladder to rigidize the elastic bladder about an object to grip the object with the elastic bladder.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a gripping system proximate to a target graspable feature of an object, the gripping system comprising a magnet module, an elastic bladder affixed to the magnet module, and a magnetorheological (MR) fluid contained within the elastic bladder;
- and
- via a controller, varying a magnetic field of the magnet module, whereby the magnet module directs the magnetic field to the MR fluid in the elastic bladder to rigidize the elastic bladder about the target graspable feature of the object to grip the object with the elastic bladder.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, direct the controller to:
- position a gripping system proximate to a target graspable feature of an object, the gripping system comprising a magnet module, an elastic bladder affixed to the magnet module, and a magnetorheological (MR) fluid contained within the elastic bladder;
- and
- vary a magnetic field of the magnet module, whereby the magnet module directs the magnetic field to the MR fluid in the elastic bladder to rigidize the elastic bladder about the target graspable feature of the object to grip the object with the elastic bladder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.