Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25J—MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
  • B25J9/00—Programme-controlled manipulators
  • B25J9/0006—Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25J—MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
  • B25J17/00—Joints
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25J—MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
  • B25J18/00—Arms
  • B25J18/06—Arms flexible
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
  • Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
  • Y10T74/20207—Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
  • Y10T74/20305—Robotic arm
  • Y10T74/20329—Joint between elements

Definitions

• the invention relates to a spine for a humanoid robot.
• the human spine is the part of the human body that has the largest number of joints. Each of these joints has five to six degrees of freedom. Many attempts have been made in humanoid robots in order to get as close as possible to the human functionalities.
• the invention aims to provide a flexible spine with two degrees of freedom in rotation about two horizontal axes.
• a third rotation about a vertical axis is not implemented by the spine according to the invention.
• This last rotation is advantageously implemented by a neck of the robot, neck assembled at the vertex of the vertebral column.
• This spine only takes the main movements of the human vertebral column in order to simplify its realization.
• the flexibility of the column allows a monotonous curvature, that is to say distributed throughout the column and a low offset when one of the rotations is implemented.
• the subject of the invention is a spinal column for a humanoid robot, the column comprising a lower base intended to be fixed to a basin of the robot and an upper base intended to be fixed to a neck of the robot, the spine allowing two rotations of the upper pedestal with respect to the lower pedestal, a first of the rotations being effected around a sagittal axis and a second of the rotations taking place around a transverse axis of the column, characterized in that it comprises in besides flexible rod and linear actuators, the rod being embedded at a first of its ends at a point in a first of the bases and at least guided at a point in a second of the bases, the actuators being anchored both between the two bases in anchoring points and that for each of the bases, the anchoring points of the two actuators and the mounting point or guide rod are remote.
• FIGS. 1 to 4 schematically show a humanoid robot implementing a spine according to the invention
• Figures 5 to 7 show in more detail an embodiment of a spine according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 diagrammatically represents a humanoid robot 10 seen in profile and FIG. 2 represents this same robot seen from the front.
• the robot 10 comprises a lower base 1 1 intended to be fixed to a basin 12 of the robot 10 and an upper base 13 intended to be fixed to a neck 14 of the robot 10.
• the lower base 1 1 and the basin 12 being integral with the one of the other, they are represented by the same pavement.
• the pelvis 12 is articulated on the legs 15 of the robot 10.
• a spinal column 20 connects the two bases 1 1 and 13.
• the spine 20 allows two rotations of the upper base 13 relative to the lower base 1 January. A first of the rotations takes place around a sagittal axis 21 of the spinal column 20 and a second rotation is performed around a transverse axis 22 of the spine 20.
• FIG. 3 shows in profile the robot 10 in which the upper base 1 1 is rotated about the transverse axis 22 and is inclined forwardly.
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the robot 10 in which the upper base 1 1 is rotated about the sagittal axis 21 and is inclined on one of its sides. The two rotations can of course be combined.
• the spine 20 comprises a flexible rod 25 and two linear actuators 26 and 27.
• the rod 25 forms a beam embedded at a first end 28 at a point 29 of the lower base 1 1 and guided or recessed at a second end 30 at a point 31 of the upper base 13.
• the rod 25 undergoes bending during a rotation of the upper base 13.
• the actuators 26 and 27 are anchored both between the two bases 1 1 and 13 at anchor points remote from the point of insertion of the rod 25.
• the actuator 26 is anchored in the lower base 1 1 at point 32 and in the upper base 13 at point 33.
• the actuator 27 is anchored in the lower base 1 1 at point 34 and in the upper base 13 at point 35.
• the linear actuators 26 and 27 are advantageously double acting linear cylinders.
• the anchoring points 32 to 35 are formed by ball joints.
• the vertebral column 20 advantageously comprises at least two finger ball joints connected in series between the two bases 1 1 and 13.
• the spinal column 20 comprises three finger ball joints 37, 38 and 39.
• a finger ball joint is a connection with two degrees of freedom in rotation.
• the fingers of the connection block the third rotation. Only the rotation about the sagittal axis 21 remains and the rotation about the transverse axis 22. The rotation about a vertical axis 40 of the spine 20 and blocked. By prohibiting the rotation of the ball joints around a vertical axis, the rod 25 does not undergo torsion but only bending.
• the names of the various axes 21, 22 and 40 are as well for the spine 20 as for the robot 10, when the latter is in a vertical station. In practice, especially when the robot 10 moves the axes 21, 22 and 40 are likely to see their orientation evolve. For convenience, it is possible to define the orientation of these axes relative to the lower base 11.
• the finger joints being connected in series with each other, we can define for each of its axes of rotation. By convention the axes of the three ball joints will be parallel when the spine 20 is vertical, in other words, when the rod 25 does not undergo bending.
• FIG. 5 represents an exemplary embodiment of the spinal column 20 seen from the back of the robot 10.
• FIG. 6 represents in section the spinal column of FIG. 5 by a sagittal plane AA forming a plane of symmetry of the spinal column 20.
• Figure 7 shows the spine 20 in plan view.
• the finger ball 37 comprises a dome 42 and a cavity 43 both of spherical and complementary shape.
• the dome 42 is integral with the lower base 1 1 and the cavity 43 is formed in the lower part of a vertebra 44.
• the dome 42 and the cavity 43 have the same nominal diameter so as to slide against each other to allow rotations of the patella 37. Fingers belonging to the vertebra 44 can slide in grooves of the dome 42 to prevent the rotation of the vertebra 44 about a vertical axis 45.
• the ball 38 comprises a spherical dome 46, a spherical cavity 47 cooperating to perform the function of the ball joint as well as fingers which can circulate in grooves to block the rotation around the vertical axis 45.
• the dome 46 is formed at the vertex 44 and the cavity 47 in part 48.
• the ball 39 comprises a spherical dome 49, a spherical cavity 50 cooperating to perform the function of the ball joint as well as fingers that can circulate in grooves to block the rotation about the axis ve 45.
• the dome 49 is made at the vertex 48 and the cavity 47 in the upper base 13 or in an integral piece of the upper base 13.
• the vertical axis of the ball joints 38 and 39 is understood when the spine 20 is vertical. In practice the so-called "vertical" axis of a ball tilts depending on the rotation of the ball or joints that connects to the lower base.
• the angular displacement of the rotations of each of the ball joints 37, 38 and 39 is not very important, typically of the order of ten degrees. It is possible to hollow out the vertebrae 44 and 48 to allow the rod 25 to pass through the center of each of the vertebrae 44 and 48.
• the vertebrae 44 and 48 are pierced vertically from one end to the other, thereby guiding the ring 25 over its entire length. height.
• the ring 25 advantageously has a circular section in order to have an identical behavior in bending for any rotation of the spinal column 20.
• the ring 25 comprises several strands extending substantially parallel to each other. In Figure 6, three strands 55, 56 and 57 are visible. The strands are embedded in the lower base 1 1 and guided by each vertebra 44 and 48. The fact of making the rod 25 into several strands reduces the tensile stresses in each of the strands during the flexion of the rod 25.
• the rod 25 may be recessed in the upper base 13.
• the ball joints set the distance separating the two bases 1 1 and 13 by being placed one on top of the other.
• the rod 25 or the strands that compose it can slide vertically relative to the upper base 13.
• the guide of the rod 25 at one of its ends also has the advantage of avoiding a string of dimensions with too close tolerances between the two bases 1 1 and 13.
• the ring 25 is subjected to pure bending. It is of course possible to reverse the embedding and guiding of the rod 25.
• the rod 25 may be embedded in the upper base 13 and guided in the lower base 1 January.
• each of the finger joints 37 to 39 advantageously comprises a grid substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the rod 25.
• the main direction of the rod 25 is the vertical axis 45.
• the ball 37 comprises a grid 60 forming an apex of the cavity 43
• the ball 38 comprises a grid 61 forming an apex of the cavity 47
• the patella 39 comprises a grid 62 forming an apex of the cavity 50.
• Each of the grids 60, 61 and 62 is pierced with several holes 65 distributed on the grid.
• the guide of each of the strands of the rod 25 is formed by one of the holes 65 of each of the grids. These holes 65 are clearly visible in plan view in FIG.
• the holes 65 and the strands may be cylindrical.
• the difference in diameter between the strand and the hole 65 must allow a sliding of the strand over the entire height of the corresponding grid.
• a local offset must be allowed at the level of the grid between the axis of the strand and the axis of the hole 65. This requires increasing the diameter of the hole, which is to the detriment of the guidance of the strand in its hole 65.
• each of the holes may have a curved shape at mid height of the grid to which the hole 65 belongs, height measured in the main direction 45, each hole 65 flaring towards its ends on either side of the arched form.
• a hyperboloid shape of revolution about an axis parallel to the axis 45. More simply, a double-cone shape already makes it possible to improve the guidance of the strands.
• the spine 20 may comprise a spring 68 disposed between the two bases 1 1 and 13 so as to exert on the upper base 13 a force tending to bring it back to the rear of the robot 10.
• the spring 68 is clearly visible in FIGS. 1 and 3.
• Another alternative for dispensing with the spring consists in prestressing the rod 25 in flexion in a sagittal plane so as to exert on the upper base a force tending to bring it back towards the rear of the robot 10 when the vertebral column is vertical.
• this preload can be obtained using the grids 60, 61 and 62.
• the grids 60, 61 and 62 are identical.
• Each grid comprises more holes 65 than strands, and the rod 25 is prestressed by passing the strands in holes of each grid.
• For at least one strand guide holes of this strand in each of the grids are not facing ensuring for this strand a curved direction when the spine 20 is vertical and therefore prestressing.
• the lateral angular deflection of the spine 20 is symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane AA and advantageously, when the spine 20 is vertical, the anchoring points 32 to 35 of the actuators 26 and 27 are located on the bases 1 1 and 13 symmetrically with respect to the sagittal plane AA passing through the rod 25.
• the embedding point 29 is defined as the center of an area where the strands are embedded in the lower base 1 January. It is the same for the point of embedding 31 or guide point of the rod 25 in the upper base 13.
• a top line 70 connecting the points 31 and 33 and a straight line 71 connecting the points 31 and 35 is distinguished for the upper base 13.
• the straight lines 70 and 71 make an angle of 60 °.
• the anchoring points 32 and 34 on the lower base 1 1 of the two actuators 26 and 27 are located higher than the point of insertion or guiding of the rod 25 in the lower base 1 1. It has been seen previously, that the actuators 26 and 27 are anchored in the lower base by means of a ball joint.
• the anchoring points 32 and 34 are defined at the center of rotation of the ball joint considered.
• the anchor points 32 and 34 are vertically offset a height h, visible in Figure 6, relative to point 29. As above the vertical shift direction is defined for a robot 10 vertical station. This height offset reduces the size of the spine 20 in its sagittal plane AA, congestion related to the inclination of the actuators 26 and 27.
• the ring 25 can be defined to keep constant between its two ends 28 and 30 its moment of inertia around its longitudinal axis. This axis is the vertical axis 45 when the spine 20 is vertical. This moment of inertia can be defined when the rod 25 is monoblock or when it is formed of several strands. In the case of a multi-strand embodiment, the overall moment of inertia of the rod 25 is the accumulation of the moments of inertia of the various associated strands as a function of the distance separating the strands.
• the ring 25 is for example formed of a one-piece mechanical part such as a bar of constant section extending between the two ends 28 and 30.
• each is for example formed of a piece monobloc mechanism also formed by a bar of constant section extending between the two ends 28 and 30.
• the one-piece piece may be made of a homogeneous material, for example metal, or composite comprising for example fibers embedded in the resin. The fibers extend over the entire length of the rod 25 between its two ends 28 and 30.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Robotics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (4)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-01 FR FR1255078A patent/FR2991221B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-05-13 US US14/404,908 patent/US20150122073A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-05-31 EP EP13726214.3A patent/EP2855104B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
  • 2013-05-31 DK DK13726214.3T patent/DK2855104T3/en active
  • 2013-05-31 ES ES13726214.3T patent/ES2641838T3/es active Active
  • 2013-05-31 CN CN201380038654.7A patent/CN104470684B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-05-31 BR BR112014030051A patent/BR112014030051A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-05-31 WO PCT/EP2013/061224 patent/WO2013178772A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2013-05-31 JP JP2015514518A patent/JP6272837B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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