IP Library Granted Patent US 8,534,983
Granted Patent B2
US 8,534,983 · App. 12/406,100 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Door breaching robotic manipulator

Inventors: Erik Emerson Reid Schoenfeld (Malden, MA); Lawrence Parrington (Rexford, NY); Stephan Von Muehlen (Brooklyn, NY); Seth Frader-Thompson (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignees: iRobot Corporation; Honeybee Robotics Ltd.
E02F3/4135
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,534,983
App. No.
12/406,100
Granted
Sep 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door breaching robotic manipulator comprises: two fingers, each finger comprising a gripper surface at a distal end thereof, the gripper surfaces being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance; a cable configured to be actuated to drive the gripper surfaces toward each other; and a selectively compliant wrist comprising a U-joint and a magnetic coupling having a predetermined magnetic force strength. The magnetic coupling comprises a metal member and a magnetic element attracted thereto. When a force overcomes the predetermined magnetic force strength of the selectively compliant wrist, the wrist becomes compliant.

Claims (15)

1. A door breaching robotic manipulator configured to be attached to a manipulator arm of a robot, the door breaching robotic manipulator comprising:

two fingers, each finger comprising a gripper surface at a distal end thereof, the gripper surfaces being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance and comprising rubber blocks;

a selectively compliant wrist comprising a magnetic coupling having a predetermined magnetic force, and an adjacent stepped member having a first end to which the magnetic coupling is attracted; and

a restoring spring in contact with the magnetic coupling and configured to bias the magnetic coupling toward the stepped member,

wherein, when a force acting on the compliant wrist does not over the predetermined magnetic force strength of the magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling does not separate from the stepped member and no compliance is created in the wrist,

wherein, when the force acting on the compliant wrist overcomes the predetermined magnetic force strength of the magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling separates from the stepped member, creating compliance in the wrist, and

wherein, when the force acting on the compliant wrist no longer overcomes the predetermined magnetic force strength of the magnetic coupling, the restoring spring biases the magnetic coupling toward the stepped member to remove compliance created in the wrist by separation of the magnetic coupling from the stepped member.

2. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the two fingers rest and move in the same plane.

3. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the gripper surfaces comprises four blocks.

4. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 3 , wherein the blocks are separated by perpendicular recesses.

5. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance between the gripper surfaces is greater than a diameter of a knob to be gripped by the door breaching robotic manipulator.

6. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the stepped member comprises a metal member to which the magnetic coupling is attracted.

7. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 6 , wherein the stepped member is configured to mate at a second end with the manipulator arm of the robot.

8. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 7 , wherein the second end of the stepped member is opposite the first end.

9. The door breaching robotic manipulator of claim 6 , wherein the stepped member is configured to mate with the manipulator arm of the robot.

Assignments (10)
NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: TCG SENIOR FUNDING L.L.C., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SANTRUM HONG KONG CO., LIMITED, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073707/0516 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: IROBOT CORPORATION
To: TCG SENIOR FUNDING L.L.C., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064532/0856 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064430/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2022
From: IROBOT CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061878/0097 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2022
From: HONEYBEE ROBOTICS, LTD.; APIARY HOLDINGS, LLC
To: APIARY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060357/0077 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2022
From: APIARY HOLDINGS, LLC; HONEYBEE ROBOTICS, LLC
To: HONEYBEE ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060542/0028 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: HONEYBEE ROBOTICS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058992/0669 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2021
From: ENSIGN-BICKFORD INDUSTRIES, INC.; APPLIED FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC.; ENSIGN-BICKFORD AEROSPACE & DEFENSE COMPANY; EB ANALYTICS, INC.; ENVIROLOGIX INC.; HONEYBEE ROBOTICS, LTD.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055223/0048 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2013
From: PARRINGTON, LAWRENCE; MUEHLEN, STEPHAN VON; FRADER-THOMPSON, SETH
To: HONEYBEE ROBOTICS LTD.
Reel/Frame 031034/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2010
From: SCHOENFELD, ERIK EMERSON REID
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024086/0077 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61036989 · Mar 17, 2008
Related Publication 20090317223A1 · Dec 24, 2009