Wheeled hopping robot
| DWPI Title: Robot e.g. ground traversing meso-scale robotic vehicle having wheeled and hopping mobilities, has combustion powered linear actuator to impart acceleration to robot, and return energy source to move power piston to retracted position |
| Abstract: The present invention provides robotic vehicles having wheeled and hopping mobilities that are capable of traversing (e.g. by hopping over) obstacles that are large in size relative to the robot and, are capable of operation in unpredictable terrain over long range. The present invention further provides combustion powered linear actuators, which can include latching mechanisms to facilitate pressurized fueling of the actuators, as can be used to provide wheeled vehicles with a hopping mobility. |
| Use: Robot e.g. ground traversing meso-scale robotic vehicle having wheeled and hopping mobilities. |
| Advantage: A wheeled hopping robot achieves an enhanced obstacle negotiation capability through the use of a linear actuator to provide hopping mobility in concern with motor driven wheeled mobility. A linear actuator attached to a robotic vehicle and in contact with a surface supporting the vehicle can provide hopping mobility to the vehicle by the rapid extension of the actuator, thereby imparting an upward and/or forward acceleration of the vehicle. The steering system can be used to orient the vehicle in a desired direction prior to initiating a hop. The combustion powered linear actuators are compact and are capable of multiple hop operations, while providing a long external stroke. The meso-scale robotic vehicles having wheeled and hopping mobilities can travel distances on the order of a few kilometers and can traverse obstacles many times the size of the vehicle. |
| Novelty: The robot (200) has one or more wheels (206) mounted to a frame (202) to which a combustion powered linear actuator (204) is attached to impart acceleration to the robot. A power piston is movably mounted within a chamber, and a combustion chamber is arranged to combust a mixture of fuel and oxidizer. A latch is operatively arranged to releasably restrain the power piston in a retracted position. A return energy source is connected to the housing and power piston to move the power piston towards the retracted position. |
| Filed: 8/31/2006 |
| Application Number: US2006513717A |
| Tech ID: SD 7739.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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