A conceptual universal robot
An omnidirectional wheelbase allows flexible movement on flat
floors. Elevators, ramps, hoists, or special carrier carts would be
used to change floors, climb stairs, or traverse very rough ground.
The central post, on a swivel mount, is a ``bus'' that provides
mechanical support, power, and control for a changeable suite of
manipulators, sensors, and other accessories that rotate and ride up
and down its length. One such accessory, an array of miniature
cameras, gives the robot 360 degrees of stereoscopic vision, primarily
for navigation. Manipulator-mounted cameras provide precise views of
work objects. To reach greater heights, the robot itself can extend
its post by attaching new segments. Batteries and computers in the
base supply power, control, and stability. Major structural members,
like the arms, are made of strong, light, composite materials.
Lightweight, high-torque electric motors drive the large motions, like
the wheels and arms. Even lighter, though less efficient, actuators
like shape-memory metals drive the many motions of the fingers. These
innovations combine to give the robot roughly the size, weight,
strength, and endurance of a human in a spindly structure that
resembles the cartoon broomsticks in Disney's ``The Sorcerer's
Apprentice.''
This 3D image was generated by Jesse Easudes using the
ProEngineer program.