Structural frame for covered/animated segments of robotic figure (animatronics).
A robot with an animated segment including a generally cylindrical structural frame. The frame includes a plurality of spaced apart plastic ribs that each have a curved or arcuate body that is arranged to be convex relative to a central axis of the structural frame. A first end of each rib is pivotally coupled with a lower ring, and a second end of each rib is pivotally coupled with an upper ring. A flexible outer covering is positioned over the structural frame and is attached to one or more of the ribs. This provides a robotic segment that is animated with an organic feel and natural movement by providing an actuator in the robot segment that is operated by a controller to move one or both of the rings such as linearly along a central axis of the structural frame (e.g., toward and away from the other ring).
BACKGROUND(1) 1. Field of the Description(2) The present description relates, in general, to design of structural support elements or frames for robots or robotic figures, and, more particularly, to a structural frame (and robots or robotic figures including such a structural frame) for use in sections or segments (or subassemblies) of robots or robotic figures that have an outer covering and that are animated or have motion during operations of the robot or robotic figure. For example, the robot section or segment may be covered with skin, a layer of fur, a feathered layer, and so on that moves with changes in the shape of the underlying structural frame.(3) 2. Relevant Background(4) There is an increasing use of robots (or robotic figures) in a wide variety of applications in which it is desirable for the robotic figures to have a natural look and to also move in a natural and expected manner. To this end, robotic figures often are designed to include an outer covering such as a layer of skin when the robotic figure is human or human-like or a layer of fur or coat of feathers when the robotic figure is an animal or a bird. These outer coverings generally will be formed of materials that are flexible so that they can move with the underlying robotic components such as a structural support element or frame for the outer covering.(5) A design challenge for such robotic figures is how to move the underlying robotic components or mechanisms while also providing movement of the o
1. A robotic apparatus, comprising: a first support member; a second support member space apart from the first support member; a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending between the first and second support members, wherein each of the ribs has a flexible elongate body that is coupled at a first end to the first support member and at a second end to the second support member; and an actuator applying an actuating force upon at least one of the first and second support members to move the at least one of the first and second support members between first and second positions causing each of the ribs to be elastically deformed, wherein the first end of each of the ribs is attached to an outer edge of the first support member, wherein the second end of each of the ribs is attached to an outer edge of the second support member, wherein the first end of each of the ribs is pivotally coupled to the outer edge of the first support member, wherein the second end of each of the ribs is pivotally coupled to the outer edge of the second support member, wherein the first support member comprises a ring, wherein the first end of each of the ribs comprises a head with a conduit for receiving the ring of the first support member, wherein the second support member comprises a ring, and wherein the second end of each of the ribs comprises a head with a conduit for receiving the ring of the second support member.
9. A robotic apparatus, comprising: a first support member; a second support member space apart from the first support member; a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending between the first and second support members, wherein each of the ribs has a flexible elongate body that is coupled at a first end to the first support member so that the first end is rotatable about an axis extending therethrough and at a second end to the second support member so that the second end is rotatable about an axis extending therethrough and wherein the flexible elongate body of each of the ribs has a curved shape; and a flexible outer covering extending over the ribs, wherein the flexible outer covering is coupled to the ribs to move with the ribs, wherein, during operations of the robotic apparatus, at least one of the first and second support members is linearly moved between first and second positions causing each of the ribs to be elastically deformed and animating the flexible outer covering and at least one of the first and second support members is rotated about an axis extending through the first and second support members.
17. A robotic apparatus, comprising: a first support member; a second support member space apart from the first support member; a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending between the first and second support members, wherein each of the ribs has a unitary, flexible, and elongate body that is coupled at a first end to the first support member and at a second end to the second support member, wherein the body of each of the ribs has a curved shape and is oriented to be convex relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second support members; an actuator repeatedly moving at least one of the first and second support members between first and second positions causing each of the ribs to be elastically deformed free of an outside force acting upon the first and second support members; and an outer covering extending over the ribs that moves with the ribs, wherein the first end of each of the ribs is attached to an outer edge of the first support member and wherein the second end of each of the ribs is attached to an outer edge of the second support member; and the first and second ends of each of the ribs is coupled so that the first end rotates when the actuator repeatedly moves at least one of the first and second support members between the first and second positions.