X Development LLC

Redwood Robotics Inc.

Philip Mullins

Aaron Ladd Edsinger

Lee Harris Magnusson

Jeff Anthony Weber

Justine Rembisz

Vincent Yves Michel Nabat

Matthew David Day

Matt Carney

Jeff Vora Weber

Mobile base for a robot

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus that includes a motorized base configured to move the apparatus; an upper portion coupled to the motorized base; one or more load-sensing devices located between the motorized base and the upper portion, the one or more load-sensing devices being configured to (i) detect forces between the upper portion and the motorized base, and (ii) provide force information based on the detected forces between different portions of the upper portion and the motorized base; and one or more processors performs operations of: obtaining the force information provided by the one or more load-sensing devices; determining a difference between the forces indicated by the force information from the one or more load-sensing devices; determining, based the difference in the forces, a movement to be performed by the apparatus; and providing control information to cause the motorized base to perform the determined movement.

Mobile robot

An example robot actuator utilizing a differential pulley transmission is provided. As an example, a differential pulley actuator includes input drive gears for coupling to a motor and timing pulleys coupled together through the input drive gears. Rotation of the input drive gears causes rotation of a first timing pulley in a first direction and rotation of a second timing pulley in a second direction opposite the first direction. The actuator also includes multiple idler pulleys suspended between the timing pulleys and the output pulley, and the multiple idler pulleys are held in tension between the timing pulleys via a first tension-bearing element and the output pulley via a second tension-bearing element. The first tension-bearing element loops around the timing pulleys and the multiple idler pulleys. The output pulley couple to a load, and is configured to apply motion of the multiple idler pulleys to the load.

Robot actuator utilizing a differential pulley transmission

An example torque controlled actuator includes a frame, and one or more timing belt stages coupled in serial on the frame. The timing belt stages include an input stage for coupling to a motor and an output stage for coupling to a load, and the timing belt stages couple rotation of the motor to rotation of an output of the output stage. The torque controlled actuator also includes one or more belt idlers coupled to the frame that contact a timing belt of the output stage, and a strain gauge coupled to the frame to determine a tension of the timing belt of the output stage based on force applied by the timing belt of the output stage to the one or more belt idlers.

Robot manipulator with modular torque controlled link

A block-and-tackle transmission includes a timing belt input pinion, a timing belt, two or more shuttles, an output cable, and an output hub. The timing belt input pinion is for receiving input power. The timing belt is driven by the input pinion. The timing belt causes two shuttles of the two or more shuttles to move in opposing directions. Opposing ends of the output cable are pulled by two of the two or more shuttles. The output cable causes the output hub to transmit output power.

Low cost block and tackle robot transmission

A twisted string transmission system comprises a twisted string actuator, a force sensor, and a controller. The twisted string actuator is for converting a rotational motion into a linear force. The force sensor is for sensing the linear force. The controller is for receiving sensor information regarding the linear force from the force sensor and for providing control information to control the rotational motion based at least in part on the sensor information.

Twisted string transmission

As an example, a differential pulley actuator includes input drive gears for coupling to a motor and timing pulleys coupled together through the input drive gears. Rotation of the input drive gears causes rotation of a first timing pulley in a first direction and rotation of a second timing pulley in a second direction opposite the first direction. The actuator also includes multiple idler pulleys suspended between the timing pulleys and the output pulley, and the multiple idler pulleys are held in tension between the timing pulleys via a first tension-bearing element and the output pulley via a second tension-bearing element. The first tension-bearing element loops around the timing pulleys and the multiple idler pulleys. The output pulley couple to a load, and is configured to apply motion of the multiple idler pulleys to the load.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Philip Mullins