FOOT FORCE ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND QUADRUPED ROBOT USING THE SAME

Abstract

A foot force acquisition apparatus includes a first connecting rod, a pressure signal acquisition board, a second connecting rod rotatably connected with the first connecting rod, and an air tube provided in the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod. An end portion of the second connecting rod is fixedly provided with an elastic foot pad. An air chamber is provided in the elastic foot pad. One end of the air tube is connected with the air chamber. The other end is connected with the pressure signal acquisition board. By providing the pressure signal acquisition board and providing the air chamber in the foot, the air tube spans a joint formed by the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to acquire the internal pressure value of the air chamber, thus achieving the advantages of simple structure, low cost and high reliability.

Claims

1. A novel foot force acquisition apparatus, wherein the novel foot force acquisition apparatus comprises a first connecting rod, a pressure signal acquisition board, a second connecting rod rotatably connected with the first connecting rod, and an air tube; an end portion of the second connecting rod is fixedly provided with an elastic foot pad, the elastic foot pad is provided with an air chamber, one end of the air tube is communicated with the air chamber, and the other end is connected to the pressure signal acquisition board; the elastic foot pad contacts the ground to deform and squeeze the air chamber, and the pressure signal acquisition board measures the change of the internal pressure value of the air chamber through the air tube, so as to realize the signal acquisition of the force on the elastic foot pad.

2. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the second connecting rod is provided with a foot pad mounting base and the elastic foot pad is fixedly provided on the foot pad mounting base.

3. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air tube is provided along the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, and the air tube spans a rotating joint formed by the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod; the pressure signal acquisition board is provided on the first connecting rod or other components connected with the first connecting rod.

4. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the air tube and the air chamber are in an integrated or split structure; the air tube and the air chamber are capable of being filled with gas or liquid.

5. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a tube groove for placing the air tube is provided in the foot pad mounting base.

6. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting rod or the second connecting rod is provided with a mounting groove or a mounting cavity for placing the air tube.

7. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an elastic member capable of pulling the air tube is provided in the first connecting rod or the second connecting rod, one end of the elastic member is fixedly connected with the first connecting rod or the second connecting rod, and the other end is fixedly connected with the air tube, so that a portion of the air tube located at the rotating joint is always kept in a tensioned state during the rotation of the second connecting rod relative to the first connecting rod.

8. The novel foot force acquisition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the elastic member is a tension spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, elastic silica gel or elastic plastic.

9. (canceled)

10. A novel foot force acquisition apparatus, wherein the novel foot force acquisition apparatus comprises a second connecting rod and an air tube, an end portion of the second connecting rod is fixedly provided with an elastic foot pad, the elastic foot pad is provided with an air chamber, and one end of the air tube is communicated with the air chamber; the elastic foot pad contacts the ground to deform and squeeze the air chamber, so as to realize the signal acquisition of the force on the elastic foot pad.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Description of the Drawings

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an overall structure according to the present application.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view according to the present application.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an A-A sectional view according to the present application.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a B-B sectional view according to the present application.

[0027] In the drawings, 1—first connecting rod; 2—second connecting rod; 4—air tube; 5—elastic foot pad; 6—air chamber; 7—foot pad mounting base; 8—tube groove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Description of the Embodiments of the Application

[0028] The present application will be further described below in combination with the specific embodiments with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that on the premise of no conflict, the embodiments or technical features described below may be combined freely to form new embodiments.

[0029] It should be noted that when two components are “fixedly connected”, the two components may be directly connected or there may be an intermediate component. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the technical field of the present application. The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a novel foot force acquisition apparatus includes a first connecting rod 1, a pressure signal acquisition board provided on the first connecting rod 1, a second connecting rod 2 rotatably connected with the first connecting rod 1, and an air tube 4 provided in the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2. The air tube 4 is an elastic hose. An end portion of the second connecting rod 2 is fixedly provided with an elastic foot pad 5. An air chamber 6 is provided in the elastic foot pad 5. One end of the air tube 4 is communicated with the air chamber 6, and the other end bypasses a rotating connection between the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2 and is connected with the pressure signal acquisition board. When the elastic foot pad 5 contacts the ground to deform and squeeze the air chamber 6, the pressure signal acquisition board measures the change of the internal pressure value of the air chamber 6 through the air tube 4 to realize the signal acquisition of the force on the elastic foot pad 5, and then the force on the elastic foot pad 5 may be obtained according to the change of the air pressure value. The pressure signal acquisition board may also be provided on other parts fixedly connected with the first connecting rod 1.

[0031] The arrangement of the air tube 4 in the present application is as follows:

[0032] In the above embodiment, the air tube 4 is provided along the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2. The air tube 4 spans a rotating joint formed by the first connecting rod 1 and the second connecting rod 2. The pressure signal acquisition board is provided on the first connecting rod 1 or other components connected with the first connecting rod 1. The air tube 4 is used to directly span the rotating joint (knee joint), thus preventing the electrical cable that is more prone to fatigue damage from spanning the rotating joint, and improving the reliability. The air tube 4 and the air chamber 6 are in an integrated or split structure. The air tube 4 and the air chamber 6 are capable of being filled with gas or liquid. The filler in the air tube 4 and the air chamber 6 may be selected according to the actual working temperature, the detected force and the like.

[0033] An end portion of the second connecting rod 2 is provided with a foot pad mounting base 7. The elastic foot pad 5 is fixedly provided on the foot pad mounting base 7. The elastic foot pad 5 and the foot pad mounting base 7 are directly and fixedly connected or integrally formed. The elastic foot pad and the foot pad mounting base may be assembled together in advance to form a foot assembly, which is then fixedly connected to the second connecting rod to facilitate mounting and replacement. A tube groove 8 for placing the air tube 4 is provided in the foot pad mounting base 7. The tube groove 8 is provided in the foot pad mounting base 7, thus facilitating the communication between the air tube 4 and the air chamber 6. In addition, the tube channel 8 is symmetrically provided in the foot pad mounting base 7, and the tube channel 8 may be selected according to the mounting needs.

[0034] The second connecting rod 2 and the first connecting rod 1 are provided with a mounting groove or a mounting cavity for placing the air tube 4. The air tube 4 is easy to swing with the rotation of the second connecting rod 2 relative to the first connecting rod 1. After multiple reciprocating swings, the air tube 4 is easy to move. Therefore, a mounting groove is provided to fix the air tube 4.

[0035] Embodiment of elastic member additionally provided in the present application:

[0036] An elastic member capable of pulling the air tube 4 is arranged in the first connecting rod 1 or the second connecting rod 2. One end of the elastic member is fixedly connected with the first connecting rod 1 or the second connecting rod 2, and the other end is fixedly connected with the air tube 4, so that a portion of the air tube 4 located at the rotating joint is always kept in a tensioned state during the rotation of the second connecting rod 2 relative to the first connecting rod 1. The elastic member is provided, so that the air tube 4 is always kept in a regular tensioned state during the rotation of the second connecting rod 2 relative to the first connecting rod 1, rather than randomly twists or shakes, the structure is simple and reliable, and the fatigue life of the air tube 4 spanning the rotating joint is further improved. The elastic member is a tension spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, elastic silica gel or elastic plastic.

[0037] Embodiment of compact structure in the present application:

[0038] A novel foot force acquisition apparatus includes a second connecting rod 2 and an air tube 4. An end portion of the second connecting rod 2 is fixedly provided with an elastic foot pad 5. The elastic foot pad 5 is provided with an air chamber 6. One end of the air tube 4 is communicated with the air chamber 6. The elastic foot pad 5 contacts the ground to deform and squeeze the air chamber 6, so as to realize the signal acquisition of the force on the elastic foot pad 5.

[0039] In the present application, since the air chamber is provided in the foot and the internal pressure value of the air chamber is acquired through the air tube, there is no need to provide a sensor in the foot, thus reducing the probability of sensor failure. Since the air tube is used for pressure signal acquisition and transmission, the foot and the second connecting rod do not need any electronic circuit at all, thus avoiding cable wear that influences the acquisition and transmission of pressure signals. Relatively, the signal acquisition in the present application is more reliable and stable.

[0040] Further provided is an embodiment of a quadruped robot, which includes the novel foot force acquisition apparatus.

[0041] The above embodiments are only the preferred embodiments of the present application and should not be intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any non-substantive changes and replacements made by those skilled in the art on the basis of the present application still fall within the scope of protection of the present application.