Sandia Corporation

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Optomec Design Company

Kevin J Dullea

Curt Michael Salisbury

David Michael Keicher

Stephen Buerger

James W Love

James L Bullen

Mark E Smith

Pierrette H Gorman

Barry Louis Spletzer

Clinton G Hobart

Anirban Mazumdar

Lisa C Marron

Steven James Spencer

Jonathan R Salton

Michael A Kuehl

David K Novick

Noah R Jackson

Various embodiments include an actuated projectile launcher, including: a base structure; a projectile support, and a holding area from which a projectile launches; propulsion wheels selectively driven to rotate; and support arms, each supporting at a first end thereof a separate one of the propulsion wheels and being supported at an opposed second end thereof by the base structure. The support arms are configured to move the propulsion wheels between an expanded position and a contracted position, in which the propulsion wheels are closer to one another in the contracted position as compared to the expanded position. The movement of the propulsion wheels toward the contracted position brings the propulsion wheels into engagement with the projectile and drives the projectile from the holding area.

Actuated flywheel projectile launcher

A locomotion subassembly for a biped robot is disclosed. The locomotion subassembly includes several unique energy transfer mechanisms and arrangements for efficiently powering the motion of the robot.

Energy efficient robot

Technologies pertaining to a robotic hand are described herein. The robotic hand includes one or more fingers releasably attached to a robotic hand frame. The fingers can abduct and adduct as well as flex and tense. The fingers are releasably attached to the frame by magnets that allow for the fingers to detach from the frame when excess force is applied to the fingers.

Robotic hand and fingers

A tilt and lock apparatus that includes a tilt servomechanism, a spiral torsion spring, a lock wheel, and a lock hook is described herein. The spiral torsion spring is mechanically coupled to the tilt servomechanism and the lock wheel (which includes an opening). When a shaft is positioned through the opening, rotation of the lock wheel is in unison with rotation of the shaft. An external surface of the lock wheel includes one or more grooves. The lock hook includes a head that engages and disengages the grooves. The lock wheel is stationary when the head engages one of the grooves and is rotatable when the head disengages the grooves. The head and the grooves are geometrically aligned when engaged to prevent creation of a force that acts to disengage the head responsive to an applied force acting on the shaft.

Robust tilt and lock mechanism for hopping actuator

Technologies pertaining to a robotic hand are described herein. A protection apparatus is positioned in a joint of the robotic hand, where movement of a link about the joint is driven by a motor. The protection apparatus absorbs torque about the joint caused by an external force. At least a portion of the robotic hand can be covered by an anthropomorphic skin. An apparatus suitable for controlling operation of the robotic hand is also described herein.

Mechanisms for employment with robotic extensions

A method and apparatus for embedding features and controlling material composition in a three-dimensional structure ( ) is disclosed. The invention enables the control of material characteristics, within a structure ( ) made from a plurality of materials, directly from computer rendering of solid models of the components. The method uses stereolithography and solid model computer file formats to control a multi-axis head ( ) in a directed material deposition process ( ). Material feedstock ( ) is deposited onto a pre-heated substrate ( ). Depositions ( ) in a layer-by-layer pattern, defined by solid models ( ), create a three-dimensional article having complex geometric details. Thermal management of finished solid articles ( ), not available through conventional processing techniques, is enabled by embedded voids ( ) and/or composite materials ( ), which include dissimilar metals ( ). Finished articles control pressure drop and produce uniform coolant flow and pressure characteristics. High-efficiency heat transfer is engineered within a solid structure by incorporating other solid materials with diverse indexes. Embedding multi-material structures ( ) within a normally solid component ( ) produces articles with diverse mechanical properties. Laser and powder delivery systems ( ) are integrated in a multi-axis deposition head ( ) having a focused particle beam ( ) to reduce material waste.

Forming structures from CAD solid models

A method and apparatus for embedding features and controlling material composition in a three-dimensional structure ( ) is disclosed. The invention enables the control of material characteristics, within a structure ( ) made from a plurality of materials, directly from computer renderings of solid models of the components. The method uses stereolithography and solid model computer file formats to control a multi-axis head ( ) in a directed material deposition process ( ). Material feedstock ( ) is deposited onto a pre-heated substrate ( ). Depositions ( ) in a layer-by-layer pattern, defined by solid models ( ), create a three-dimensional article having complex geometric details. Thermal management of finished solid articles ( ), not available through conventional processing techniques, is enabled by embedded voids ( ) and/or composite materials ( ), which include dissimilar metals ( ). Finished articles control pressure drop and produce uniform coolant flow and pressure characteristics. High-efficiency heat transfer is engineered within a solid structure by incorporating other solid materials with diverse indexes. Embedding multi-material structures ( ) within a normally solid component ( ) produces articles with diverse mechanical properties. Laser and powder delivery systems ( ) are integrated in a multi-axis deposition head ( ) having a focused particle beam ( ) to reduce material waste.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Kevin J Dullea