Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited

General Electric Company

Tim Henri Ann Francois

Andrew Crispin Graham

Hendrik Pieter Jacobus De Bock

Michael Robert Millhaem

Jason Ralph Gordon Curle

Wayne Ray Grady

Julian Matthew Foxall

Trevor Owen Hawke

Joanna Mechelle Jayawickrema

Christopher David Boyce

Peter John Nisbet

Joseph Nelson

Rory Bateman

A snake-arm robot assembly may include a first link and a second link with a joint formed therebetween including first and second contact portions in rolling contact with one another to allow the first and second links to pivot with respect to one another. The first and second contact portions are configured to contact one another at first and second contact points corresponding to a first orientation and third and fourth contact points corresponding to a second orientation. The joint may be configured such that a line of action of a net force acting on the joint is incident with a first reference line extending between the first and second contact points with the links in the first orientation, and the line of action is incident with a second reference line extending between the third and fourth contact points when the links are in the second orientation.

Snake-arm robot and joint therefor

An insertion tool with a flexible spine and a method for forming thereof are provided. A method includes placing a plurality of links, a flexible spine, and a line assembly into a channel of a fixturing assembly, pulling, via the line assembly, the plurality of links into a tensioned state in the channel, and affixing the flexible spine to each of the plurality of links while in the tensioned state. An insertion tool comprising a plurality of links arranged in a sequence, a flexible spine affixed to three or more links of the plurality of links, and a line assembly inserted through line guides in each of the plurality of links, the line assembly being configured to actuate the plurality of links from a free state to a tensioned state.

Insertion tool with flexible spine

An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another.

Extension tool having a plurality of links

A selectively flexible extension tool includes: a line assembly comprising a first line and a second line; and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links together comprising a first line guide and a second line guide, the first line of the line assembly extending through the first line guide and the second line of the line assembly extending through the second line guide; wherein the first line defines a first displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, wherein the second line defines a second displacement when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are moved from the slacked position to the tensioned position, and wherein the first displacement is substantially equal to the second displacement.

Selectively flexible extension tool

An extension tool has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another and a support member defining the distal end and including a first wheel disposed at the distal end and a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel. Additionally, or alternatively, an extension tool may comprise a plurality of windows defined in the plurality of sequentially arranged links. The windows are defined periodically along the plurality of sequentially arranged links such that a periodicity of the widows corresponds to a periodicity of a plurality of features of the component.

Extension tool

A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condition.

Robotic systems and methods for vehicle fueling and charging

An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable relative to one another. The plurality of sequentially arranged links include a first link. The extension tool further includes a line assembly having a line, the line including a first portion extending through the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the first link and a transition portion extending from the first portion through the first link. The extension tool further includes an attachment feature coupled to or formed integrally with the line of the line assembly at the transition portion of the line to support the line in the event of a failure of the line.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Tim Henri Ann Francois