Robotic movement
US-2026042499-A1 · Feb 12, 2026 · US
Robotic mobility and construction by growth
US10954789B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10954789-B2 |
| Application number | US-201815943329-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2018 |
| Priority date | Apr 3, 2017 |
| Publication date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2021 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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- First independent claim
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A robot for navigating an environment through growth is provided. The growing robot has a thin-walled, hollow, pressurized, compliant body that elongates the body by everting from its tip new wall material that is stored inside the body. The robot controls the shape of the body by actively controlling the relative lengths of the wall material along opposing sides of the body allowing steering.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A robot navigating an environment through elongation, comprising: a thin-walled, hollow, compliant body that elongates the body by everting from its tip body material that is stored inside the body, wherein distributed over the length of the body, the body material comprises active mechanisms that evert from the tip along with the body material while elongating, wherein the active mechanisms that change length hence causing length changes of the body material of the body to thereby control directional changes at different aspect of the length of the body while the body is elongating or growing. 2. The robot as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the active mechanisms are contracting artificial muscles mounted along the length of the body material. 3. The robot as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the active mechanisms are actively releasing pinches in the body material. 4. The robot as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the active mechanisms are actively restraining or relaxing mechanisms of the body material. 5. The robot as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thin-walled, hollow, compliant body is pressurized.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
- B62D57/021Primary
the ground engaging means being sequentially inflatable bags for peristaltic movement (B62D57/024 takes precedence) · CPC title
- F01B19/04Primary
with tubular flexible members · CPC title
using inflatable bodies that contract when fluid pressure is applied, e.g. pneumatic artificial muscles or McKibben-type actuators · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US10954789B2 cover?
- A robot for navigating an environment through growth is provided. The growing robot has a thin-walled, hollow, pressurized, compliant body that elongates the body by everting from its tip new wall material that is stored inside the body. The robot controls the shape of the body by actively controlling the relative lengths of the wall material along opposing sides of the body allowing steering.
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Univ Leland Stanford Junior
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B62D57/021. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Mar 23 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 5 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).