Abstract: An assist device 11 is equipped with a spring means 21 (gas spring), and a piston 24 in a cylinder 23 moves upward or downward according to a relative displacement motion (flexing or stretching motion) of a thigh 4 and a crus 5 at a knee joint 8 of a leg 3 of a robot. Air chambers 25 and 26 above and below the piston 24 are filled with gases. If a flexing degree at the knee joint 8 is a predetermined value or less, then the air chambers 25 and 26 are brought into communication through a groove 28 in the cylinder 23, and the spring means 21 does not generate an elastic force, but if the flexing degree exceeds the predetermined value, then the air chambers 25 and 26 are hermetically sealed from each other and the spring means 21 produces an elastic force, the elastic force acting on the knee joint 8 as assisting driving force. A burden on a joint actuator of a leg can be reduced, while reducing energy consumption of the robot by using a small and simple construction.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (variable capacity element) is provided at a bottom face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber. The air in atmosphere may flow into and out of the bag-like member 19 by inflow/outflow means 20 equipped with a solenoid valve 27, and the like. In a lifting state of the foot mechanism 6, inflow of the air into the bag-like member 19 is controlled, thereby controlling the final height of the bag-like member 19 in an inflated state to the height in response to a gait type of the robot. While properly reducing an impact load during a landing motion of the leg of a legged mobile robot depending on the gait type of the robot, stability of a posture of the robot may easily be secured, resulting in allowing a configuration to be lighter in weight.

Abstract: In a legged mobile robot, a pivoting motion of a foot (22) relative to a leg is controlled such that, from an intermediate time point in a period of departure of a leg from a floor to a starting time point of a period of landing of the leg on the floor, an angle (?) of inclination of the foot (22) of the leg relative to the floor surface gradually approaches zero. This eases impact to the foot of the leg at the time of landing on the floor and prevents a slip or spin of the sole, thereby enabling stable walking or running.

Abstract: In a state wherein a solenoid switching valve in a gas passage in communication with air chambers is closed, an assist device produces an assisting driving force by compression or expansion of a gas as a knee joint (specific joint) of a leg bends or stretches, and applies the produced assisting driving force to the knee joint. In a valve-open state of the solenoid switching valve, no assisting driving force is produced. The solenoid switching valve is constructed of a solenoid switching valve having a self-holding feature, and installed in the gas passage such that a pressure difference between air chambers acts in a valve closing direction of a valve element in a predetermined period during which the solenoid switching valve is closed. This arrangement effectively reduces the power consumption of the solenoid switching valve by a simple construction.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (a variable capacity element) is provided at a ground-contacting face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber and has a restoring force. An interior portion of the bag-like member 19 is communicated with the atmosphere side through a flow passage 20. During a landing motion of the leg, the bag-like member 19 makes contact with the ground to be compressed, and the air in the interior portion thereof flows out into the atmosphere through the flow passage 20, so that its outflow resistance is generated. Accordingly, a landing shock is reduced. In a lifting state of the leg, the restoring force of the bag-like member 19 allows the bag-like member 19 to be inflated while the air flows into the interior portion thereof.

Abstract: A control device of a legged mobile robot, wherein a state amount error (for example, an error of a vertical position of a body 3), which is a difference between an actual state amount and a state amount of a desired gait related to a translational motion in a predetermined direction (for example, a translational motion in a vertical direction) of a legged mobile robot 1, is determined, and then a desired motion of the desired gait is determined such that the state amount error approaches zero. The desired motion is determined using a dynamic model by additionally inputting a virtual external force determined on the basis of the state amount error to the dynamic model for generating desired gaits. At the same time, a desired floor reaction force of the robot 1 is corrected on the basis of a state amount error of zero, and compliance control is carried out to make the motion and the floor reaction force of the robot 1 follow the desired motion and the desired floor reaction force of the desired gait.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 provided in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot comprises an inflatable and compressible bag-like member 19 (a variable capacity element) on a bottom face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber. Air in the atmosphere can flow into and out of the bag-like member 19 by inflow/outflow means 20 provided with a solenoid valve 27 and the like. In a landing state of the foot mechanism 6 and in a state immediately after the foot mechanism shifts from the landing state to a lifting state, the solenoid valve 27 is closed to maintain the bag-like member 19 in a compressed state.

Abstract: An assist device that applies an auxiliary driving force to a joint in parallel with a driving force of a joint actuator between a thigh portion and a crus portion, which are a pair of link members of a leg. The assist device generates the auxiliary driving force by use of spring device, such as a solid spring or an air spring. A member supporting a rod member connected to the spring device is provided with a device for transmitting a bending and stretching motion of the leg at the joint (a relative displacement motion between the thigh portion and the crus portion) to the spring device to generate an elastic force of the spring device, and for discontinuing the transmission of the bending and stretching motion to the spring device. This transmitting device is controlled in accordance with a gait of a robot. Thus, a burden on the joint actuator is reduced where necessary and favorable utilization efficiency of energy can be stably ensured.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (variable capacity element) is provided at a bottom face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber. The air in atmosphere may flow into and out of the bag-like member 19 by inflow/outflow means 20 equipped with a solenoid valve 27, and the like. In a lifting state of the foot mechanism 6, inflow of the air into the bag-like member 19 is controlled, thereby controlling the final height of the bag-like member 19 in an inflated state to the height in response to a gait type of the robot. While properly reducing an impact load during a landing motion of the leg of a legged mobile robot depending on the gait type of the robot, stability of a posture of the robot may easily be secured, resulting in allowing a configuration to be lighter in weight.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 provided in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot comprises an inflatable and compressible bag-like member 19 (a variable capacity element) on a bottom face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber. Air in the atmosphere can flow into and out of the bag-like member 19 by inflow/outflow means 20 provided with a solenoid valve 27 and the like. In a landing state of the foot mechanism 6 and in a state immediately after the foot mechanism shifts from the landing state to a lifting state, the solenoid valve 27 is closed to maintain the bag-like member 19 in a compressed state.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (a variable capacity element) is provided at a ground-contacting face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber and has a restoring force. An interior portion of the bag-like member 19 is communicated with the atmosphere side through a flow passage 20. During a landing motion of the leg, the bag-like member 19 makes contact with the ground to be compressed, and the air in the interior portion thereof flows out into the atmosphere through the flow passage 20, so that its outflow resistance is generated. Accordingly, a landing shock is reduced. In a lifting state of the leg, the restoring force of the bag-like member 19 allows the bag-like member 19 to be inflated while the air flows into the interior portion thereof.

Abstract: An assist device that applies an auxiliary driving force to a joint in parallel with a driving force of a joint actuator between a thigh portion and a crus portion, which are a pair of link members of a leg. The assist device generates the auxiliary driving force by use of spring device, such as a solid spring or an air spring. A member supporting a rod member connected to the spring device is provided with a device for transmitting a bending and stretching motion of the leg at the joint (a relative displacement motion between the thigh portion and the crus portion) to the spring device to generate an elastic force of the spring device, and for discontinuing the transmission of the bending and stretching motion to the spring device. This transmitting device is controlled in accordance with a gait of a robot. Thus, a burden on the joint actuator is reduced where necessary and favorable utilization efficiency of energy can be stably ensured.