Humanoid Robot Textile Covering for Motion and Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humanoid robots face limitations in range of motion and fine motor skills, particularly in the upper body, and traditional rigid exterior coverings can impede movement and pose safety risks during human interactions.
Innovation Solution
A flexible exterior covering system for humanoid robots that includes a textile cover assembly with energy attenuation members, designed to cover specific regions without restricting motion, and a coupling mechanism that securely fits to the robot's structure, incorporating materials that absorb impact forces and maintain durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional rigid exterior coverings are used, then protection of internal components is improved, but range of motion and safety during human interactions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible textile cover assemblies instead of rigid exterior coverings. The textile material provides protection for internal components while inherently allowing range of motion and flexibility during human interactions, directly resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to the robot's movements. The flexible textile material can deform and move with the robot's joints, maintaining protection during static positions while enabling full range of motion during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid exterior coverings are used, then structural integrity is improved, but safety during human interactions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible textile cover assembly replaces rigid structures, maintaining structural integrity through the textile's inherent strength while eliminating safety hazards to humans. The flexible material can deform during interactions, preventing injury while maintaining the cover's structural coherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly likely uses composite textile materials that combine strength with flexibility. These composite materials provide the necessary structural integrity for protection while simultaneously ensuring safety during human interactions by being compliant rather than rigid.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible cover assembly is used, then range of motion is improved, but protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible textile cover assembly inherently provides both range of motion and protection capability. The textile material's flexibility enables full range of motion while its strength and durability provide protection for internal components, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly is designed to conform to the robot's articulated joints and curved surfaces. This curved, form-fitting design allows the flexible material to maintain protection capability while accommodating the full range of motion required for human-like manipulation and movement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If regions with different patterns are used over and away from joints, then adaptability to motion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly uses different textile patterns in different regions: a first pattern over joints that allows greater flexibility and motion, and a second pattern in non-joint regions that provides different properties. This local differentiation improves adaptability to motion while the textile's inherent flexibility keeps the overall structure relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the robot's range of motion and safety by protecting internal components while allowing seamless interaction with humans, maintaining performance and safety in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
an energy attenuation member positioned adjacent to an extent of said shoulder
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a humanoid robot comprising a torso portion, an arm assembly extending from the torso portion, a leg assembly extending from the torso portion, and an exterior covering system. The exterior covering system is configured to cover at least a portion of the torso portion, the arm assembly, and the leg assembly. The exterior covering system includes an energy attenuation assembly positioned adjacent to at least one of the torso portion, arm assembly, or leg assembly. The exterior covering system further includes a cover assembly positioned over the energy attenuation assembly, and a coupling means for securing the cover assembly to the humanoid robot.