Cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot

Abstract

A torso part (2) and a backpack part (6) of a humanoid robot are commonly formed by a shell that defines an inner space that accommodates a heat generating component such as a control computer (31) and a power module (32, 33). The shell comprises an air vent hole (45, 46) provided on one lateral side of the shell, an air inlet hole (47, 48) provided on the other lateral side of the shell and a powered fan (49) provided immediately inside the air vent hole. Because the cooling air can flow laterally across the inner space, the entire part of the heat generating component can contact the air flow, and a uniform cooling effect can be achieved with a minimum power consumption and a minimum noise generation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot having heat generating components such as a control computer and a power module inside a shell that forms at least a torso part of the robot, and in particular to a cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot that can improve the cooling efficiency. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Various forms of humanoid robots have been developed. Unlike stationary industrial robots that are employed in painting, welding, assembling and other manufacturing work, a humanoid robot is required to be more compact because of the need to move about in a limited space with a limited power resource. A typical humanoid robot includes a battery, a control computer and a power module for the purpose actuating various drive motors for moving the arms and legs thereof in a highly coordinated fashion, and such components are typically accommodated in the torso part of the robot as there is no other available spac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot that can improve the cooling efficiency.

[0007] A second object of the present invention is to provide a cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot that can save power consumption and reduce noises.

[0009] Because the cooling air can flow laterally across the inner space, the entire part of the heat generating component, such as a control computer, a power module and a gyro, can contact the air flow, and a uniform cooling effect can be achieved with a minimum power consumption and a minimum noise generation.

[0011] For an improved cooling effect, the shell may further comprise a torso air outlet provided on at least one of the lateral sides of the torso part of the shell, a torso air inlet hole provided in a downward facing part of the shell and a powered fan provided immediately inside of at least one of the torso air vent hole and the torso air inlet hole. Because the cooling air is allowed to flow upward centrally from a lower part of the torso part, the entire torso part can be effectively and uniformly cooled. Also, because the air inlet hole faces downward, it is possible to prevent any foreign matter from dropping or otherwise being introduced into the air inlet hole.

[0012] If the robot further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the inner space and controlling the fan according to the detected temperature, the consumption of power and emission of noises can be minimized because the fan may be activated only when needed.

Problems solved by technology

The inner space accommodating such components are typically so packed and enclosed that natural ventilation would not be adequate to control the inner temperature of the robot.

The air drawn from the lower part of the backpack portion tends to flow along the lateral sides of the inner components than along the back side thereof, and the central back part of the inner components is less effectively cooled.

Also, the air flows along a somewhat tortuous path, and a pressure drop of the air flow is significant.

This is not desirable because of a large power consumption and a high noise level.

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