Johns Hopkins University

Christopher Y Brown

Michael D Kutzer

Russell H Taylor

Mehran Armand

Ehsan Basafa

Charbel G Rizk

Matthew Moses

Jason E Tiffany

David H Scheidt

A vehicle includes a head section having a selectively actuated first plurality of claws, a tail section having a selectively actuated second plurality of claws, and a linear actuator operably coupling the head section to the tail section. The linear actuator is configured to be selectively extended and retracted. The vehicle is configured to move forward within an enclosed space by extending the linear actuator, while the first plurality of claws is not actuated and the second plurality of claws is actuated, then retracting the linear actuator, while the first plurality of claws is actuated and the second plurality of claws is not actuated.

Vehicle for navigating within an enclosed space

A device includes first and second sheets of first and second elastic materials, respectively, and a control wire. The first sheet has a first thickness and a first length and is shaped to have a first cross-section having a first inner periphery and a first outer periphery. The second sheet has a second thickness and a second length and is shaped to have a second cross-section having a second inner periphery and a second outer periphery. One of the first sheet and the second sheet has a spacing disposed in along one of the first length and the second length, respectively. The first outer periphery is less than or equal to the second inner periphery. The second sheet surrounds the first sheet. The control wire has an end constrained to one of the first sheet the first material and the second sheet. The control wire is disposed within the spacing.

Cable-driven morphable manipulator

Growing community of inventors

Olney, MD, United States of America

Christopher Y Brown