Robots, bodies and housing assemblies therefor

Abstract

This application provides a robot, a body, and a shell assembly thereof. The shell assembly includes a structural frame and decorative elements. The structural frame is formed by splicing together several structural frame plates made of a first material, and an accommodating space is formed inside the structural frame for installing electronic devices. The decorative elements are disposed on the outer surface of the structural frame and are made of a second material. The strength of the first material is greater than the strength of the second material. The shell assembly of the robot body provided in this application, by designing the structural frame and decorative elements to be made of different materials, wherein the material strength of the structural frame is greater than the structural strength of the decorative elements, the structural frame plays a supporting role, which can improve the internal space efficiency of the body and reduce the overall size of the body. Furthermore, the decorative elements can be replaced as needed, allowing the robot body to present different appearances.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of robot body structure, specifically to a robot, its body and its housing assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In conventional technical solutions, the robot's body is generally formed by splicing together plastic parts. Due to the inherent properties of plastic materials, their strength is generally low. Therefore, it is necessary to set up more ribs and threaded connecting columns inside to strengthen the structural strength. This results in less space inside the robot body that can be used to stack electronic components, which does not take advantage of the robot's miniaturization design. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The first aspect of this application provides a shell assembly for a robot body, the shell assembly including a structural frame and a decorative element; the structural frame is formed by splicing together several structural frame plates made of a first material, and an accommodating space is formed inside the structural frame for installing electronic devices; the decorative element is disposed on the outer surface of the structural frame, and the decorative element is made of a second material; wherein the strength of the first material is greater than the strength of the second material.

[0004] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a robot body, the body including electronic devices and a shell assembly as described in any of the above embodiments; the electronic devices are disposed within the structural frame of the shell assembly and are fixedly connected to the structural frame.

[0005] In addition, this application provides another robot, which includes a leg structure and a body as described in any of the above embodiments. The leg structure is connected to the body and is used to drive the body to move.

[0006] The robot body shell assembly provided in this application embodiment is designed with a structural frame and decorative parts made of different materials. The structural frame has a higher material strength than the decorative parts. The structural frame provides support, which can improve the internal space efficiency of the robot body and reduce the overall size of the robot body. In addition, the decorative parts can be replaced as needed to achieve the purpose of the robot body presenting different appearances. Attached Figure Description

[0007] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0008] Figure 1This is a structurally disassembled schematic diagram of one embodiment of the robot body of this application;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a partial structural breakdown diagram of the structural frame in an embodiment of this application;

[0010] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the frame and the electronic components.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a side view schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the robot body of this application;

[0012] Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the structural frame in an embodiment of this application;

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the frame and electronic components in the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the exterior structure of the robot body according to this application;

[0015] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another exterior structure of the robot body in this application;

[0016] Figure 9 This is a split schematic diagram of the first circuit board structure of this application;

[0017] Figure 10 This is a split schematic diagram of the second circuit board structure of this application;

[0018] Figure 11 This is a split schematic diagram of the third circuit board structure of this application;

[0019] Figure 12 This is a partial structural disassembly diagram of the robot body of this application;

[0020] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the robot of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be particularly noted that the following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. Similarly, the following embodiments are only some, not all, embodiments of the present invention, and all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a structurally exploded schematic diagram of one embodiment of the robot body of this application; it should be noted that the robot body in this application can be used in the body structure of any robot, including quadruped robots. The body 10 includes a housing assembly 100 and electronic components 200. It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the embodiments of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or components inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0024] Specifically, the housing assembly 100 includes a structural frame 110 and a decorative element 120. The structural frame 110 is formed by splicing together several structural frame plates made of a first material, and an accommodating space is formed inside the structural frame 110 for installing electronic devices 200. The decorative element 120 is disposed on the outer surface of the structural frame 110 and is formed of a second material. The strength of the first material is greater than the strength of the second material. Optionally, the first material can be a metal or alloy material, such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel. The second material can include any one or a combination of plastics, rubber, leather, and fibers.

[0025] The structural frame 110 provides strength and rigidity to the entire robot body, while the decorative component 120 serves a decorative and aesthetic purpose and is not subject to stress. When a new appearance is required, only the decorative component 120 needs to be replaced, making the appearance easily changeable. Not only is the appearance design and development simple, but it can also be quickly disassembled and replaced on the robot.

[0026] Optionally, please refer to the following as well. Figure 2 , Figure 2This is a partial structural breakdown diagram of the structural frame in an embodiment of this application. The structural frame 110 in this embodiment includes a metal front cover 111, a metal rear cover 112, a metal left front cover 113, a metal left rear cover 114, a metal right cover 115, a metal upper cover 116, a metal lower cover 117, and a metal rear handle 118. These parts are all made of metal (which may be aluminum alloy or other alloy materials) and are fixed together by metal screws. In one embodiment, the metal front cover 111 is locked to the metal upper cover 116, the metal lower cover 117, the metal right cover 115, and the metal left front cover 114 with multiple screws.

[0027] Using a metal structural frame eliminates the need for central screw posts for assembly due to metal's superior strength and rigidity compared to plastic. It also eliminates the need for high ribs to prevent metal deformation, allowing the entire area to be used for internal component placement. This significantly improves space utilization. (See also...) Figure 3 , Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the frame and the electronic components.

[0028] Optionally, the decorative component 120 in this embodiment (described using plastic material as an example) includes a plastic upper shell 121, a handle 122, a plastic left rear shell 123, a plastic left front shell 124, a plastic head assembly 125, and a plastic right shell 126.

[0029] Optionally, in this embodiment, the metal left front cover 113, metal left rear cover 114, metal right cover 115, and metal top cover 116 can be partially hollowed out according to structural stress and internal component assembly requirements. This reduces the weight of the parts themselves, thereby reducing the overall weight of the robot. Simultaneously, the internal circuit board interface can be aligned with the hollowed-out areas of the metal parts, allowing for direct external wiring, facilitating robot debugging and secondary development. In one embodiment, the robot can consist only of metal parts, with the plastic top shell 121, plastic right shell 126, plastic left front cover 124, and plastic left rear cover 123 not installed initially. This facilitates observation of the robot's internal assembly and allows for easy wiring of the internal circuit board for program upgrades. After debugging, the aforementioned plastic parts can be reinstalled on the robot. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a side view schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the robot body of this application. In the figure, 201 indicates the interface of the electronic device 200. The structural frame may have hollow areas on both the side and bottom surfaces. The decorative component 120 has a clearance area in the hollow areas to facilitate the use of the interface of the electronic device 200.

[0030] Optionally, please refer to the following as well. Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the structural frame in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the frame and electronic components in this embodiment. The electronic components 200 in this embodiment include a battery assembly 210, a circuit board assembly 220, and a cooling fan 230. The battery assembly 210 is fixedly connected to the frame 110.

[0031] Alternatively, please continue reading Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment, the metal right cover 115 and metal lower cover 117 of the structural frame 110 can respectively have an air inlet 1151 and an air outlet 1171. A cooling fan 230 is provided corresponding to the air inlet 1151, and the cooling fan 230 is used to bring external air into the body. The airflow flows through the circuit board assembly 220 and the battery assembly 210.

[0032] Optionally, the circuit board assembly 220 is further equipped with a miniature cooling fan 2200. The miniature cooling fan 2200 is used to carry the heated air out of the body through the air outlet 1171, thereby achieving internal heat dissipation and cooling. External air enters through the air inlet 1151 and exits through the air outlet 1171, so that the airflow can pass through all electronic components 200. It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0033] Optionally, the metal top cover 116, the front metal left cover 113, the rear metal left cover 114, and the right metal cover 115 in this embodiment may be provided with screw posts for mounting the plastic top shell 121, the front plastic left shell 124, the rear plastic left shell 123, and the right plastic shell 126. Since the metal frame provides sufficient strength and rigidity, the installed plastic parts are not subjected to stress and only serve a decorative purpose, allowing the plastic parts to be made thinner and smaller. This also significantly reduces the mold opening and production costs of the plastic mold. The plastic top shell 121 and the metal top cover 116 can be fixed with only four screws, making assembly simple and replacement easy. Several different appearances of the plastic top shell 121 can be made and directly applied. No internal modifications are required. Please refer to the following: Figure 7 and Figure 8 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the robot body according to this application. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another possible appearance structure of the robot body in this application. Similarly, the head area can also be modified by replacing the plastic parts to change the appearance.

[0034] Optionally, please refer to the following as well. Figures 9 to 11 , Figure 9This is an exploded view of the first circuit board structure of this application. Figure 10 This is a split schematic diagram of the second circuit board structure of this application; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the exploded view of the third circuit board structure of this application. The circuit board assembly 220 in this embodiment includes a first main circuit board 221, a first auxiliary circuit board 222, a second main circuit board 223, a second auxiliary circuit board 224, a third main circuit board 225, and a third auxiliary circuit board 226. In this embodiment, the first auxiliary circuit board 222 and the first main circuit board 221 are simultaneously mounted on the first bracket 241; the second auxiliary circuit board 224 and the second main circuit board 223 are simultaneously mounted on the second bracket 242; and the third auxiliary circuit board 226 and the third main circuit board 225 are simultaneously mounted on the third bracket 243. The circuit boards and auxiliary circuit boards are locked onto the same bracket, facilitating interconnection and minimizing wiring length, thus reducing costs. Each bracket holds two circuit boards, saving materials and assembly time. Depending on the circuit board design, the mounting method can be direct screw fixing to the corresponding bracket, double-through hexagonal stud adapter, or single-through hexagonal stud adapter. It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and "third" in the embodiments of this application are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first," "second," or "third" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0035] Optionally, the underside of each circuit board's bracket can be secured to the metal lower cover 117 by two screws passing through the bracket. After assembling other necessary components, the metal upper cover 116 is closed, and then two screws are passed through the metal upper cover 116 and secured to the bracket. That is, each bracket is fixed by the upper and lower covers, with a large span between the screws, resulting in good fixation. Furthermore, the installation process does not require repeatedly flipping the robot's body; it can be installed normally from bottom to top, improving production efficiency.

[0036] Optionally, in this embodiment, the first bracket 241, the second bracket 242, and the third bracket 243 are all made of plastic. Disassembling or assembling the plastic material will not cause the risk of metal filings falling or short circuits in the circuit board.

[0037] Optionally, please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 12This is a partial structural disassembly diagram of the robot body of this application; the electronic device 200 in this embodiment also includes a wireless communication unit 250, which is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly 220. Optionally, the wireless communication unit 250 can be a WIFI module or a Bluetooth module, etc. To address the issue that the metal frame 110 easily blocks signals, a recessed platform and a hollow area can be formed on the metal right cover 115, with the wireless communication unit 250 positioned corresponding to the hollow area of ​​the frame, and then the plastic right shell 126 is placed on top. The plastic parts will not interfere with the signal.

[0038] The shell assembly of the robot body provided in this embodiment is designed with a structural frame and decorative parts made of different materials. The structural frame has a higher material strength than the decorative parts. The structural frame plays a supporting role, which can improve the internal space efficiency of the robot body and reduce the overall size of the robot body. In addition, the decorative parts can be replaced as needed to achieve the purpose of the robot body presenting different appearances.

[0039] The robot body in this embodiment effectively reduces the overall size of the robot body, increases the efficiency of internal space utilization, and improves the flexibility of robot movement. Metal components provide strength and rigidity, while plastic components serve a decorative purpose; each plays its specific role, effectively reducing the overall size of the robot body and allowing for simple and quick replacement of the exterior. Because metal components have better strength and rigidity than plastic components, their thickness can be made thinner, further reducing the overall size of the robot body. Since plastic components only serve a decorative purpose and do not bear stress, they can also be made very thin, facilitating replacement. The metal components (structural frame) are hollowed out, allowing visibility of the internal structure and wiring upgrade procedures during debugging, facilitating development. The circuit board is first fixed to the bracket, and then the bracket is fixed to the robot body, enabling quick assembly. To address the signal shielding issue of the metal components, the wireless communication unit is located within the hollowed-out area of ​​the metal component and within the plastic component. While ensuring signal transmission, the plastic component also protects the wireless communication unit, thus mitigating risks.

[0040] In addition, this application also provides a robot. This robot, under the control of a control system, is a machine capable of performing functions such as walking, running, and jumping. A typical robot structure is a robot dog, which is a robot structure including a body and four legs. Of course, the robot in this embodiment can also have two, three, or more legs, or even just one leg; no specific limitation is made here. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 13 , Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the robot of this application. The robot in this embodiment includes a body 10 and multiple leg structures 20 connected to the body 10 (the diagram in this embodiment uses a quadruped robot dog as an example for illustration). The leg structures 20 are connected to the body 10 and are used to drive the body 10 to move. For detailed structure of the body 10, please refer to the relevant description of the foregoing embodiment. The detailed features of the robot's leg structures are within the understanding of those skilled in the art and will not be repeated here.

[0041] The robot provided in this application embodiment has a shell assembly whose body is made of different materials through the design of the structural frame and decorative parts. The structural frame has a higher material strength than the decorative parts. The structural frame plays a supporting role, which can improve the internal space efficiency of the robot body and reduce the overall size of the robot body. In addition, the decorative parts can be replaced as needed to achieve the purpose of the robot body presenting different appearances.

[0042] The above description is only a part of the embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent device or equivalent process transformation made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct or indirect application in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The body of a robot, characterized in that, The fuselage includes electronic components and a housing assembly; The housing assembly includes a structural frame and decorative elements; the structural frame is formed by splicing together several structural frame plates made of a first material, and an accommodating space is formed inside the structural frame for installing electronic devices; the decorative elements are detachably connected to the structural frame, and are disposed on the outer surface of the structural frame, and are made of a second material; wherein, the strength of the first material is greater than the strength of the second material, the first material is a metal or alloy material, the structural frame plates have hollow areas, and the decorative elements have avoidance areas in the hollow areas; The electronic device includes a battery assembly, a circuit board assembly, and a wireless communication unit. The battery assembly is fixedly connected to the structural frame. The circuit board assembly is fixedly connected to the structural frame via a connecting bracket made of plastic. The interface of the circuit board assembly is directly opposite the cutout area. The wireless communication unit is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly and is positioned corresponding to the cutout area of ​​the structural frame.

2. The fuselage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second material includes any one or a combination of plastics, rubber, leather, and fibers.

3. The fuselage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The structural frame plates are connected by screws.

4. A robot, characterized in that, The robot includes a leg structure and a body as described in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the leg structure is connected to the body and is used to drive the body to move.

Images