Spherical robot using thrust

Spherical robot driven by fan thrust and a curved frame structure

This technology is a spherical mobile robot mechanism that uses the thrust of a ducted fan installed inside a spherical frame for propulsion, changes direction by controlling the center of gravity through the rotation of a weight, and brakes by controlling the extension of a brake arm.

Spherical robots using internal pendulum drive systems face limitations in motor output and pendulum weight during high-speed operation, leading to increased size and weight, which makes high-speed travel impossible.

This technology secures high-speed propulsion using a ducted fan, changes the direction of the fan with a first drive unit, shifts the center of gravity to change direction by rotating a weight with a second drive unit, and brakes by extending a brake arm beyond the robot's outer perimeter via a third drive unit and power transmission unit.

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Key Features:

• A thrust generation unit that produces wind-based thrust through the operation of an internally placed fan
• A circular frame formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction to surround the outside of the thrust generation unit
• A plurality of curved frames arranged along the circumferential direction of the circular frame, orthogonal to the circular frame, to form a spherical exterior
• A direction-changing unit hinge-connected to the bottom of the thrust generation unit that shifts the center of gravity to change the driving direction of the spherical robot

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