Patent abstracts

Citation

(2007), "Patent abstracts", Industrial Robot, Vol. 34 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2007.04934bad.004

Patent abstracts

Title: Environment and surroundings modelling for autonomous mobile systems including industrial robots involves computer classifying objects and surrounding spaces in accordance with given criteriaApplicant: DAIMLER CHRYSLER AG (DE)Patent number: DE102004047130Publication date: 13 April 2006

Objects surrounding the robot may be classified as “movable” and “immovable”. The system may be used for an automatically guided vehicle. A driver may drive the vehicle over its intended route to teach the control system which can the follow the route automatically. A stored digital model of the surroundings is built up with horizontal dimensions being recorded more accurately than less critical vertical dimensions. Data are compressed wherever possible.

Title: Position sensing device for mobile robots and robot cleaner equipped with the sameApplicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC (KR)Patent number: US2006237634Publication date: 26 October 2006

A position sensing device for mobile robots comprises a light-receiving element configured such that light is focused on different positions of the light-receiving element according to the distance from an obstruction, a light- emitting element to emit the light, which is reflected by the obstruction and is incident on the light-receiving element, in a straight line, the light-emitting element serving to emit the light at a predetermined angle to the external jamming light such that an imaginary obstruction formed by an external jamming light incident on the light- receiving element is positioned out of an effective sensing range, a signal processing unit to calculate the distance from the obstruction based on the position where the light incident on the light-receiving element is focused, and an incorrect signal processing unit to determine whether the obstruction is present within the distance considering the change of the distance sensed by the position sensing device while the mobile robot is driven. Consequently, the mobile robot is properly operated although the external jamming light is present, and incorrect recognition of the distance from the obstruction due to reflection of the light, which is emitted while being inclined, not by the obstruction but by a floor of a moving space is prevented.

Title: Non-contact magnetically adsorbed wall climbing robotApplicant: UNIV TSINGHUA (CN)Patent number: CN1739925Publication date: 01 March 2006

The present invention is non-contact magnetically adsorbed wall climbing robot, belongs to the field of robot design technology, and aims at providing robot with both high moving flexibility and great loading capacity. The non-contact magnetically adsorbed wall climbing robot includes wheeled moving mechanism and permanent adsorption mechanism. The wheeled moving mechanism includes chassis, driving mechanism and wheels, which are laid symmetrically, driven in differential mode, and turns on wall by means of the speed difference of the wheels. The permanent adsorption mechanism has no contact with the magnetically conducting wall surface, high magnetic energy utilization, and high adsorption capacity. The wall climbing robot has high loading capacity, high motion flexibility, especially high turning flexibility, and excellent application foreground.

Title: Steps climbing robotApplicant: DALIAN UNIVERSITY (CN)Patent number: CN1603198Publication date: 06 April 2005

The invention discloses a climbing steps robot. It includes robot trunk, upper arm, down arm, driving motor, limit switch, photoelectric sensor, intelligence interface plate, and general computer. Its features are that the robot also includes a leading screw driving mechanism, upper arm mechanism, and down arm mechanism. The leading screw driving mechanism is set driving block. It is fixedly connected to the down arm mechanism. The upper arm mechanism is connected to the trunk to a unit. The driving motor, limit switch, and photoelectric sensor are connected to the general computer by the intelligence interface plate. The robot is control the program of the leading screw, upper arm, and down arm driving motor to form robot climbing steps action simulated the man's, make it be used as the carrying platform used in danger location or scene of fire. Many modularized devices are set to complete the urgent, difficult and dangerous, important mission, especially suited to the high-rise fire fighting rescue, power-transmission equipment maintenance, high-rise cleaning and city public order; fighting.

Title: Leg type mobile robotApplicant: HONDA MOTOR CO LTDPatent number: US2006249314Publication date: 09 November 2006

A leg type mobile robot including an body, legs each connected to the body via a first joint, and foots each connected to an end part of the leg part via a second joint, the foot including a foot portion having a lower end part having a ground area grounded on a floor surface, the foot portion including a plate spring part supporting empty weight while bending at the time of being grounded.

Title: Rugged terrain robotApplicant: POULTER ANDREW R (US)Patent number: US7011171Publication date: 14/03/2006

A rugged terrain robot (RTR) apparatus can function as a reconnaissance robot to optimize safety of search or rescue personnel. Remote control places the RTR in either a rolling mode or in a stair-climbing mode. Remote feedback is provided by an on-board RTR camera and microphone. The RTR consists of two clamshell sections and a tail boom section. The RTR uses polymorphic locomotion of the clamshells for efficient manoeuvrability in traversing rugged terrain when in a “rolling” mode and is switched remotely into a stair-climbing mode (or extreme terrain) using end-over-end clamshell motion with a tail boom assist to climb stairways. The RTR can carry various communication devices, sensors and payloads for use by police, firemen, soldiers, rescue or other applications to optimize safety when direct entry by a human may not desirable until an area is reconnoitred. The RTR is remote controllable and easily transported to a reconnaissance area.

Jessica Mytum-Smithson