The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2015
The United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
William R. Doggett, Poquoson, VA (US);
John T. Dorsey, Hampton, VA (US);
George G. Ganoe, Yorktown, VA (US);
Bruce D. King, Yorktown, VA (US);
Thomas C. Jones, Newport News, VA (US);
Charles D. Mercer, Chesapeake, VA (US);
Cole K. Corbin, Williamsburg, VA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A tension stiffened and tendon actuated manipulator is provided performing robotic-like movements when acquiring a payload. The manipulator design can be adapted for use in-space, lunar or other planetary installations as it is readily configurable for acquiring and precisely manipulating a payload in both a zero-g environment and in an environment with a gravity field. The manipulator includes a plurality of link arms, a hinge connecting adjacent link arms together to allow the adjacent link arms to rotate relative to each other and a cable actuation and tensioning system provided between adjacent link arms. The cable actuation and tensioning system includes a spreader arm and a plurality of driven and non-driven elements attached to the link arms and the spreader arm. At least one cable is routed around the driven and non-driven elements for actuating the hinge.