IP Library Granted Patent US 8,401,700
Granted Patent B2
US 8,401,700 · App. 12/564,124 · Granted Mar 19, 2013

Actuator and electronics packaging for extrinsic humanoid hand

Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke (Hartland, MI); Lyndon Bridgwater (Houston, TX); Myron A. Diftler (Houston, TX); David M. Reich (Huntsville, AL); Scott R. Askew (Houston, TX)
Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC; The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,401,700
App. No.
12/564,124
Granted
Mar 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot includes an arm support having a first side and a second side, a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to the first side of the arm support, a plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support and a plurality of electronics also located on the first side of the arm support.

Claims (37)

1. A lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot comprising:

an arm support having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to the first side of the arm support;

a plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support;

a plurality of electronics located on the first side of the arm support; and

wherein the plurality of finger actuators includes:

a first plurality of finger actuators assembled within a semi-circular shaped housing and mounted to the second side of the arm support; and

a second plurality of finger actuators arranged in a semi-circular shaped arch and mounted to the second side of the arm support around the first plurality of finger actuators.

2. The lower arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the arm support includes a support rib and wherein one of the plurality of wrist actuators are mounted on each side of the support rib.

3. The lower arm assembly of claim 2 , the plurality of electronics include a ring board, a plurality of motor drivers, a lower arm controller, and a plurality of power regulators.

4. The lower arm assembly of claim 3 , wherein one of the plurality of power regulators are mounted on each side of the support rib between the support rib and the respective wrist actuator.

5. The lower arm assembly of claim 3 , further including, a plurality of motors, wherein each of the plurality of motors are associated with a respective one of the plurality of finger actuators and wrist actuators, and wherein each of the motor drivers is associated with at least three of the plurality of motors.

6. The lower arm assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of finger actuators includes at least sixteen finger actuators.

7. The lower arm assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hand extending from the lower arm, wherein the hand includes a palm side, and wherein the second side of the arm support is associated with a palm side of the hand.

8. A lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot comprising:

an arm support having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to the first side of the arm support;

a first plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support;

a second plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support around the first plurality of finger actuators;

a plurality of electronics located on the first side of the arm support; and

wherein the first side of the arm support includes a support rib and wherein one of the plurality of wrist actuators is mounted on each side of the support rib.

9. The lower arm assembly of claim 8 , the plurality of electronics include a ring board, a plurality of motor drivers, a lower arm controller, and a plurality of power regulators.

10. The lower arm assembly of claim 9 , further including, a plurality of motors, wherein each of the plurality of motors are associated with a respective one of the first plurality of finger actuators, the second plurality of finger actuators and the plurality of wrist actuators, and wherein each of the motor drivers is associated with at least three of the plurality of motors.

11. The lower arm for the humanoid robot of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of finger actuators includes at least six finger actuators and the second plurality of wrist actuators includes at least ten wrist actuators.

12. The lower arm for the humanoid robot of claim 1 , further comprising a hand extending from the lower arm, wherein the hand includes a palm side, and wherein the second side of the arm support is associated with a palm side of the hand.

13. A lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot comprising:

an arm support having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to a first side of the arm support;

a plurality of finger actuators mounted to a second side of the arm support;

a support rib located on the first side of the arm support, wherein one of the plurality of wrist actuators are mounted on each side of the support rib; and

a plurality of electronics located on the first side of the arm support.

14. The lower arm assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of finger actuators includes:

a first plurality of finger actuators assembled within a semi-circular shaped housing and mounted to the second side of the arm support; and

a second plurality of finger actuators arranged in a semi-circular shaped arch and mounted to the second side of the arm support around the first plurality of finger actuators.

15. The lower arm assembly of claim 13 , the plurality of electronics includes a ring board, a plurality of motor drivers, a lower arm controller, and a plurality of power regulators.

16. The lower arm assembly of claim 15 , wherein one of the plurality of power regulators is mounted on each side of the support rib between the support rib and the respective wrist actuator.

17. The lower arm assembly of claim 15 , further including a plurality of motors, wherein each of the plurality of motors are associated with a respective one of the plurality of finger actuators and wrist actuators, and wherein each of the motor drivers is associated with at least three of the plurality of motors.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0234 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2010
From: OCEANEERING SPACE SYSTEMS
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 024528/0988 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2010
From: BRIDGWATER, LYNDON; ASKEW, SCOTT R.; DIFTLER, MYRON A.
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 024065/0412 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2009
From: IHRKE, CHRIS A.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023264/0606 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110071673A1 · Mar 24, 2011