摘要:
A ratcheting apparatus includes a plurality of modular joints, a plurality of links connected to the modular joints, and ratcheting means. A control system directs movement of the modular joints and links.
摘要:
An actuator driving device includes: an actuator made of a shape metal alloy having a property that a predetermined shape is memorized in advance, and that the predetermined memorized shape is recovered when the actuator is heated to a predetermined temperature; an applier for applying, to the actuator, a pulse current or a pulse voltage at least having a predetermined current value or a predetermined voltage, and a predetermined duty ratio to heat the actuator; and a determiner for determining the current value or the voltage value, and the duty ratio of the pulse current or the pulse voltage to be applied to the actuator by the applier, wherein the determiner is operative to determine the pulse current or the pulse voltage having: the current value larger than a current value of a constant current required for displacing the actuator by a predetermined targeted displacement amount, or the voltage value corresponding thereto; and the duty ratio of making an applied current amount smaller than an applied current amount corresponding to an integrated value of the constant current in applying the constant current to the actuator.
摘要:
A controller in which an actuator has a shape memory alloy (SMA), for controlling a position of a member driven by the actuator. The controller includes the SMA, a spring coil connected to the SMA, an operation device for calculating a voltage to be supplied to the SMA on the basis of information upon a target position and an actual position of the member, a voltage supplying device for supplying the voltage to the shape memory alloy on a basis of a result of operation performed by the operation device, only when the member is moved in a direction in which the SMA returns to a predetermined length that is memorized by itself.
摘要:
A multisection flexible multidigit arm contains hands at each end, each of which hands contains a set of fingers, suitably three, which are similarly formed flexible multidigit arms constructed to a smaller scale. Each hand contains connectors for coupling the hand to a mating connector mounted on an associated structure to provide appropriate power and control signals to the arm. One hand may grip the connector and the other hand is free to move to various positions and perform various tasks. In an additional aspect the arm may move to different locations by somersaulting between spaced connectors in the system. In an assembly system the robotic arms are used to construct frames or other assemblies.A completely self contained arm includes a self contained source of power. Radio communication means are provided to allow electronic interaction with the arm from a remote location. In an additional aspect the self contained circuitry includes processor means programmed to control the arm to perform a certain task, relieving the operator at the remote location from specifying the details.Control signals to the sections of the arm in an additional aspect to the disclosed invention are provided by an electrical system that uses only a few wires by multiplexing the signals and the actuators, effectively "time sharing" the electrical leads between the large number of actuators.
摘要:
An actuator driving device includes: an actuator made of a shape metal alloy having a property that a predetermined shape is memorized in advance, and that the predetermined memorized shape is recovered when the actuator is heated to a predetermined temperature; an applier for applying, to the actuator, a pulse current or a pulse voltage at least having a predetermined current value or a predetermined voltage, and a predetermined duty ratio to heat the actuator; and a determiner for determining the current value or the voltage value, and the duty ratio of the pulse current or the pulse voltage to be applied to the actuator by the applier, wherein the determiner is operative to determine the pulse current or the pulse voltage having: the current value larger than a current value of a constant current required for displacing the actuator by a predetermined targeted displacement amount, or the voltage value corresponding thereto; and the duty ratio of making an applied current amount smaller than an applied current amount corresponding to an integrated value of the constant current in applying the constant current to the actuator.
摘要:
A controller in which an actuator has a shape memory alloy (SMA), for controlling a position of a member driven by the actuator. The controller includes the SMA, a spring coil connected to the SMA, an operation device for calculating a voltage to be supplied to the SMA on the basis of information upon a target position and an actual position of the member, a voltage supplying device for supplying the voltage to the shape memory alloy on a basis of a result of operation performed by the operation device, only when the member is moved in a direction in which the SMA returns to a predetermined length that is memorized by itself.
摘要:
A multisection flexible multidigit arm contains hands at each end, each of which hands contains a set of fingers, suitably three, which are similarly formed flexible multidigit arms constructed to a smaller scale. Each hand contains connectors for coupling the hand to a mating connector mounted on an associated structure to provide appropriate power and control signals to the arm. One hand may grip the connector and the other hand is free to move to various positions and perform various tasks. In an additional aspect the arm may move to different locations by somersaulting between spaced connectors in the system. In an assembly system the robotic arms are used to construct frames or other assemblies.A completely self contained arm includes a self contained source of power. Radio communication means are provided to allow electronic interaction with the arm from a remote location. In an additional aspect the self contained circuitry includes processor means programmed to control the arm to perform a certain task, relieving the operator at the remote location from specifying the details.Control signals to the sections of the arm in an additional aspect to the disclosed invention are provided by an electrical system that uses only a few wires by multiplexing the signals and the actuators, effectively "time sharing" the electrical leads between the large number of actuators.
摘要:
An actuator driving device includes: an actuator made of a shape metal alloy having a property that a predetermined shape is memorized in advance, and that the predetermined memorized shape is recovered when the actuator is heated to a predetermined temperature; an applier for applying, to the actuator, a pulse current or a pulse voltage at least having a predetermined current value or a predetermined voltage, and a predetermined duty ratio to heat the actuator; and a determiner for determining the current value or the voltage value, and the duty ratio of the pulse current or the pulse voltage to be applied to the actuator by the applier, wherein the determiner is operative to determine the pulse current or the pulse voltage having: the current value larger than a current value of a constant current required for displacing the actuator by a predetermined targeted displacement amount, or the voltage value corresponding thereto; and the duty ratio of making an applied current amount smaller than an applied current amount corresponding to an integrated value of the constant current in applying the constant current to the actuator.
摘要:
A controllable ratcheting apparatus having robotic modules rigidly attached for operation near a mechanical singularity includes a plurality of modular joints and ratcheting means. Each one of the modular joints is capable of locking and unlocking to effect performance of a ratcheting motion as the ratcheting apparatus approaches a mechanical singularity. A plurality of links is connected to the modular joints in such a way as to permit movement of the links while under large external forces as the joint approaches a point of mechanical singularity. A control system directs movement of the modular joints and links.
摘要:
A horn type microwave antenna includes a main reflector and sub-reflector that are supported in proper spaced relationship by flexidigit robotic manipulators, multisection arms that are capable of positional changes, whereby the supports may be changed in position responsive to the application of control voltages. At least a portion of the manipulators include piezo electric actuators, permitting rapid adjustment of the reflectors' position.