Spotlight Technologies

S06-324
Spring-Based Force Vectoring Robotics System

Abstract:

Researchers in Dr. Ken Salisbury's laboratory have developed actuator technology enabling the exertion of a directed force, at the output of a serial linkage, controllable in both direction and magnitude, therefore termed a force vectoring system. The technology is novel in that the linkage exhibits a completely passive, backdrivable force (no sensors or processing is required).

Applications

• Many applications where sustained forces must be exerted can benefit from this invention. It is a method for using passive kinematic elements to create an adjustable static (or slowly varying) force without significant steady-state expenditure of power.
• Any situation where a load must be lifted and perhaps held in place against gravity (the system can be implemented to passively cancel the gravity force on a linkage) can benefit from this invention. Likewise, situations where a static (or slowly varying) force must be applied, such as holding a wall board in alignment with wall studs, or when a robot must apply steady fixturing or assembly forces.
  
  

Advantages

• No safe, capable, robust, or affordable platform exists for the development of Personal Robotics applications. The existence of such a platform could provide for the robotics industry the equivalent of what the PC provided to the computer industry.
• Traditional actuation systems (think motors) have a trade off between strength and safety.
• The Spring Based Actuation System enables the construction of arms that are both capable and safe which is a big break through in the field.
  

Quicktime Movie

• Robot Demonstration
• You can download the free QuickTime player from:
  Free QuickTime Player

Inventors:

• Eric Berger   
• Kenneth Salisbury   
• Keenan Wyrobek   

Licensing Contact:

Luis Mejia, Senior Licensing Associate

Stanford University Office of Technology Licensing
E-Mail: luis.mejia@stanford.edu
Phone: (650) 723-0651

© 2007 Stanford University