The present invention relates to robotic vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a serpentine robotic crawler having a continuous track.
Robotics is an active area of research, and many different types of robotic vehicles have been developed for various tasks. For example, unmanned aerial vehicles have been quite successful in military aerial reconnaissance. Less success has been achieved with unmanned ground vehicles, however, in part because the ground environment is significantly more difficult to traverse than the airborne environment.
Unmanned ground vehicles face many challenges when attempting mobility. Terrain can vary widely, including for example, loose and shifting materials, obstacles, vegetation, limited width or height openings, steps, and the like. A vehicle optimized for operation in one environment may perform poorly in other environments.
There are also tradeoffs associated with the size of vehicle. Large vehicles can handle some obstacles better, including for example steps, drops, gaps, and the like. On the other hand, large vehicles cannot easily negotiate narrow passages or crawl inside pipes, and are more easily deterred by vegetation. Large vehicles also tend to be more readily spotted, and thus are less desirable for discrete surveillance applications. In contrast, while small vehicles are more discrete, surmounting obstacles becomes a greater navigational challenge.
A variety of mobility configurations has been adapted to traverse difficult terrain. These options include legs, wheels, and tracks. Legged robots can be agile, but use complex control mechanisms to move and achieve stability. Wheeled vehicles can provide high mobility, but provide limited traction and require width in order to achieve stability.
Tracked vehicles are known and have traditionally been configured in a tank-like configuration. While tracked vehicles can provide a high degree of stability in some environments, tracked vehicles typically provide limited maneuverability with very small vehicles. Furthermore, known tracked vehicles are unable to accommodate a wide variety of obstacles, particularly when the terrain is narrow and the paths are tortuous and winding.
The present invention includes a serpentine robotic crawler which helps to overcome problems and deficiencies inherent in the prior art. In one embodiment, the serpentine robotic crawler includes at least two body segments serially connected by at least one joint to enable the crawler body to articulate and adapt to travel through an operating environment. A continuous track is supported along a perimeter of the crawler body to encompass the crawler body while the serpentine robotic crawler is operated. The continuous track provides propulsion to the serpentine robotic crawler via a surface interface with the operating environment.
The present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings merely depict exemplary embodiments of the present invention they are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. It will be readily appreciated that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, can be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Nonetheless, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that various changes to the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation to describe the features and characteristics of the present invention, to set forth the best mode of operation of the invention, and to sufficiently enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims.
The following detailed description and exemplary embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the elements and features of the invention are designated by numerals throughout.
With reference to
A continuous track 18 is disposed and operably supported along a perimeter 20 of the crawler body to encompass the crawler body. In other words, the continuous track conforms to and circumnavigates the crawler body. The continuous track is configured to conform to the perimeter of the crawler body as the serpentine robotic crawler is operated. The continuous track can provide propulsion to the serpentine robotic crawler via a surface interface 22 with the operating environment. For example, one or more portions of the continuous track may be in contact with a supporting surface in the operating environment and thereby provide a frictional interface to the supporting surface that can be used for propulsion. The crawler can be moved by rotating the continuous track around the crawler body. Movement can be in a generally forward or reverse direction, depending on the direction of rotation of the continuous track.
Steering of the serpentine robotic crawler 10 can be provided by articulating the body 12 while moving. For example, bending of the joints 16 between the body segments can cause the crawler to bend or flex in a snake-like manner. The continuous track 18 continues to conform to the body as it is bent or flexed. Accordingly, the robotic crawler can be made to move within an environment in a variety of modes as will be detailed further below.
Various configurations of the continuous track can be used. In one embodiment, illustrated in
Means for wrapping and unwrapping the tendons 32 to maintain constant tension within the continuous track 18′ can be disposed within the track pads 30. For example, the means for wrapping and unwrapping can include spools 34. For example, bending of the track between two track pads can be performed by reducing the length of one tendon while increasing the length of the other tendon. In other words, the track pads need not remain parallel, as the lengths of the tendons are adjusted between the track pads. This can provide for bending of the track to maintain the track conformed to the body.
Bending is also possible in other directions, due to the flexibility of the tendons. For example, bending of the continuous track 18′ in three degrees of freedom are possible: lateral bending about an axis oriented perpendicular to the paper in
The tendons 32 may be a high strength flexible fiber material, including for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (e.g., Spectra® fiber) and para-aramid type fibers (e.g. Kevlar® fiber).
In another embodiment, the continuous track can include a plurality of pivoting joints. The joints can include at least two degrees of freedom. For example, joints within the continuous track can provide similar bending capability as the joints between the body segments. In another embodiment, the continuous track can be a continuous flexible belt. For example, a flexible belt can be made of a polymer or rubber material.
The continuous track conforms to the perimeter of the crawler body. The perimeter can be the top, bottom, and two end surfaces of the crawler body. Various ways of maintaining the continuous track along the perimeter of the crawler body can be used. For example, as illustrated in
Various movement modes are possible for the serpentine robotic crawler 10 as will now be described. For example, as illustrated in side view in
High traction forces can be provided by the continuous track even when the serpentine robotic crawler is articulated around or through obstacles. For example, as shown in top view in
Another mode of operation includes lifting a leading portion of the body above a supporting surface. For example, as shown in
In addition to traveling on a relatively horizontal surface as described above, the serpentine robotic crawler is also capable of climbing various structures. For example, as illustrated in
As another example, as illustrated in
Other movement modes are also possible which do not involve the use of the continuous track to provide propulsion. For example, the joints can be articulated to provide serpentine movement, such as slithering in a snake-like manner and sidewinding by dual orthogonal translating sinusoidal segment actuation. Concertina movement can be achieved by lateral bending, folding, and then extension like an earthworm. Caterpillar-like movement can be achieved by axial rippling, rolling, etc. Various other movement modes are possible as well.
A method of moving a serpentine robotic crawler along a supporting surface will be described in conjunction with
Another embodiment of a serpentine robotic crawler can include multiple crawlers as described above, the crawlers being connected together by articulated links. For example,
Summarizing and reiterating to some extent, a serpentine robotic crawler in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be deployed in a variety of applications and environments. For example, and not by way of limitation, applications can include search and rescue, military operations, and industrial operations. The serpentine robotic crawler can help to avoid the need to expose humans to hazardous environments. The flexibility of the serpentine robotic crawler can allow the device to navigate environments that would normally be difficult to insert a robotic vehicle into. The varied movement modes allow adaptation to a variety of environments. For example, the serpentine robotic crawler can move across surfaces, enter small openings, span gaps, and climb inside or outside various structures.
The foregoing detailed description describes the invention with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative, rather than as restrictive, and all such modifications or changes, if any, are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as described and set forth herein.
More specifically, while illustrative exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but includes any and all embodiments having modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the foregoing detailed description. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the foregoing detailed description or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive where it is intended to mean “preferably, but not limited to.” Any steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited in that limitation; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited in that limitation; and c) structure, material or acts that support that function are described within the specification. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given above.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/959,089, filed Jul. 10, 2007, and entitled, “Serpentine Robotic Crawler Having A Continuous Track,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60959089 | Jul 2007 | US |