Flexure elements for series elastic actuators and related methods

1. An actuator in a robotic system comprising:

a motor for driving a load;

an arcuate metal element; and

a gear train for transmitting a force from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate metal element,

wherein the arcuate metal element detects the force and undergoes a deformation in response thereto, and

wherein (i) the arcuate metal element is a single planar arcuate segment terminating in first and second ends and defining an open ring, and configured for substantially in-plane displacement, within a plane of flexure, in response to an in-plane rotary force applied against at least one of the ends, and (ii) the arcuate metal element has a width, within the plane of flexure, that is greater than a cross-sectional thickness of the arcuate metal element perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising components defining a joint, wherein the joint is a bend joint or a twist joint.

3. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a second arcuate metal element for detecting the force and undergoing a deformation in response thereto, wherein the elements are stacked and the force is transmitted from the motor to the load via the arcuate metal element and the second arcuate metal element.

4. The actuator of claim 3 , wherein the second element has a varying cross-sectional dimension along a length thereof and also undergoes a uniform deformation in response to the force, the cross-sectional dimension being selected from the group consisting of a width within the plane of flexure and a thickness perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate metal element comprises a C-shaped open ring subtending an angle larger than 180°.

6. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the arcuate metal element in response to the force is uniform along an entire length thereof.

7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate metal element comprises a cross-sectional dimension that varies along a length of the arcuate metal element, the cross-sectional dimension being selected from the group consisting of a width within the plane of flexure and a thickness perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

8. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate element terminates in first and second ends, each of the ends comprising means for facilitating clamping of the element.

9. The actuator of claim 8 , wherein the arcuate element is configured such that an entire length of the arcuate element between the first and second ends is suspended free from contact with any other component.

10. An actuator in a robotic system comprising:

a motor for driving a load;

an arcuate metal element; and

a gear train for transmitting a force from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate metal element,

wherein the arcuate metal element detects the force and undergoes a deformation in response thereto, and

wherein the arcuate metal element comprises a C-shaped open ring subtending an angle larger than 180°.

11. An actuator in a robotic system comprising:

a motor for driving a load;

an arcuate metal element; and

a gear train for transmitting a force from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate metal element,

wherein the arcuate metal element detects the force and undergoes a deformation in response thereto, and

wherein the deformation of the arcuate metal element in response to the force is uniform along an entire length thereof.

12. An actuator in a robotic system comprising:

a motor for driving a load;

an arcuate metal element; and

a gear train for transmitting a force from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate metal element,

wherein the arcuate metal element detects the force and undergoes a deformation in response thereto within a plane of flexure, and

wherein the arcuate metal element comprises a cross-sectional dimension that varies along a length of the arcuate metal element, the cross-sectional dimension being selected from the group consisting of a width within the plane of flexure and a thickness perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

13. An actuator in a robotic system comprising:

a motor for driving a load;

an arcuate metal element; and

a gear train for transmitting a force from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate metal element,

wherein the arcuate metal element detects the force and undergoes a deformation in response thereto, and

wherein the arcuate element terminates in first and second ends, each of the ends comprising means for facilitating clamping of the element.

14. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein the arcuate element is configured such that an entire length of the arcuate element between the first and second ends is suspended free from contact with any other component.

15. A method of detecting a force transmitted from a motor to a load in a robotic system, the method comprising:

generating, in response to the force, a deformation on an arcuate element, wherein the force is transmitted from the motor to the load solely via the arcuate element;

computing the force based at least in part on the deformation; and

feedback-controlling the motor based at least in part on the computed force,

wherein (i) the arcuate element is a single planar arcuate segment terminating in first and second ends and defining an open ring, and configured for substantially in-plane displacement, within a plane of flexure, in response to an in-plane rotary force applied against at least one of the ends, and (ii) the arcuate element has a width, within the plane of flexure, that is greater than a cross-sectional thickness of the arcuate element perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the deformation of the arcuate element is uniform along an entire length thereof.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the arcuate element has length and a cross-sectional dimension that is non-uniform over the length, whereby stress concentrations are eliminated during displacement due to the force, wherein the cross-sectional dimension is selected from the group consisting of the width within the plane of flexure and the cross-sectional thickness perpendicular to the plane of flexure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cross-sectional dimension monotonically decreases from the first and second ends of the arcuate element to a middle therebetween.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the monotonic decrease is 60%.