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 impede movement and pose safety risks during interactions with humans.
Innovation Solution
A flexible exterior covering system for humanoid robots that includes a textile cover assembly with energy attenuation members, strategically positioned to allow full range of motion and enhance safety, featuring regions with different patterns and thicknesses to accommodate joints and impact absorption.
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 are worsened
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, 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 structure can deform and move with the robot's joints, maintaining protection during operation without restricting range of motion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid exterior coverings are used, then structural integrity is improved, but safety during human interaction is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible textile cover assembly replaces rigid structures, maintaining structural integrity through the textile's inherent strength while eliminating safety risks by providing a compliant, non-hazardous surface during human interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid to flexible textile, fundamentally altering the interaction characteristics with humans while preserving necessary structural integrity for component protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness cover assembly is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but joint mobility and impact absorption are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly incorporates regions of different thicknesses: thinner regions over joints to allow mobility and thicker regions in other areas for impact absorption. This local variation in thickness resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and joint mobility while maintaining protective functionality.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform pattern cover assembly is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but functional adaptability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly features different patterns in different regions: regions with first patterns over joints to accommodate movement and regions with second patterns in other areas for enhanced protection or functionality. This local differentiation provides functional adaptability while remaining manufacturable.
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 enables humanoid robots to maintain a full range of motion while protecting internal components, enhancing performance and safety by absorbing impacts and ensuring seamless interaction with the environment.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible cover assembly that does not overlie every degree of freedom contained in the at least 45 degrees of freedom, but includes: (i) a first region that overlies an extent of a joint associated with a degree of freedom
Implementation Method 2
enhancing performance and safety by absorbing impacts
Implementation Method 3
A flexible exterior covering system for humanoid robots that includes a textile cover assembly with energy attenuation members, strategically positioned to allow full range of motion
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a humanoid robot comprising a torso, at least one limb operably coupled to the torso, an energy attenuation assembly comprising a torso energy attenuation member disposed about at least a portion of the torso and including a plurality of lattice cells, and a cover assembly that includes a torso cover positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the torso energy attenuation member. The plurality of lattice cells may include at least one strut-based lattice cell. The torso cover is configured to stretch, deform, or articulate with movement of the humanoid robot. The cover assembly includes a textile material designed to provide the humanoid robot with an approachable appearance. The humanoid robot may further comprise a plurality of actuators providing greater than 30 degrees of freedom, wherein a majority are coupled to tendons.