Adaptive control man-augmentation system for a suspended work station
OwnerFrancis M. Fultoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adaptive control man-augmentation system controls the movement of a suspended work station. A support structure, usually mounted on a chassis, has with an extendable boom and a work station at the end of the boom. A directing member pivots in accordance with operator movements and the pivotal movement is resolved along two axes, normal to each other and having a fixed relationship within the boom. Resolving of operator movements provides signals for moving the boom so as to move the work station to any desired location, in response to operator movements. The position of the work station is monitored. The signals are continuously monitored and adapted with respect to situation variables to produce immediate and accurate movement response of the workstation to match operator requirements.
Claims17
An adaptive control man-augmentation system for controllably moving a suspended work station comprising:
- a support structure including at least one moveable member supporting a work station;
- means for moving said at least one moveable member to move said work station in horizontal and vertical directions;
- means for continuously monitoring the position of said work station relative to a predetermined support structure coordinate;
- a directing member including means for connection of said directing member to an operator's body part for movement therewith;
- control means for determining movement of said directing member by said operator and resolving said movement relative to two axes normal to each other and in a substantially horizontal plane and having a substantially fixed relationship to said support structure, said control means including;
- means for producing control signals related to the direction of said movement relative to said axes and related to the displacement of said directing member, to move said work station in the direction of said movement at a speed relative to said displacement, and maintaining said work station at a predetermined vertical position;
- and
- micro-processor means adapted to receive signals produced by said operator's body part positioning and to generate said control signals, said micro-processor being programmable so as to transpose said operator's body reflex generated movements into precise work station movements.
An adaptive control man-augmentation system for controllably moving a suspended work station, comprising:
- a support structure including at least one moveable member supporting a work station, said work station including a bucket;
- means for moving said at least one moveable member to move said bucket in horizontal and vertical directions;
- means for continuously monitoring the position of said bucket relative to a predetermined support structure coordinate;
- a directing member mounted in said bucket and including means for connection of said directing member to an operator's upper torso for movement therewith, in accordance with pivotal and axial alignment of said operator's upper torso;
- control means for determining movement of said directing member by said operator and resolving said movement relative to two axes normal to each other and in a substantially horizontal plane and having a substantially fixed relationship to said support structure;
- said control means including means for producing control signals related to the direction of said movement relative to said axes and related to the displacement of said directing member, to move said bucket in the direction off said movement at a speed relative to said displacement, and maintaining said bucket at a predetermined vertical position;
- and
- means in said bucket adapted to determinative positioning of a lower leg of said operator for producing vertical movement of said bucket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.