Overlapping Linear Delta Robotic Systems Achieving Relative Motion

Technology Licensing Opportunity - This is not a procurement. Overlapping Linear Delta Robotic Systems Achieving Relative Motion Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize the Overlapping Linear Delta Robotic Systems technology. Background: Currently, there is a need to apply and/or monitor the displacement, force, and vibration of components in confined environments. Confined environments significantly limit the available deformation and thus the breadth of structural or sensor studies. Such limits disallow a full understanding of a component’s structural performance or a sensor’s abilities/limitations. Typical deflection methods fix one end and deflect the other end and implement mechanisms other than the linear delta platform (typically linear slides in a Cartesian type configuration). The linkage configuration attached to each platform prevents platform rotation and enables pure 3D translations. Description: Researchers at INL have developed a method used to address these issues. This method is the employment of two linear delta deflection systems to control unique relative motion capabilities between the two system platforms. Independently, the two linear delta systems operate in the same manner as conventional linear delta systems where the linear actuator inputs cause the universal end joint enabled linkages to be moved in a fashion that displaces the platform in controlled fashions. By placing the two platforms near each other, it allows the two platforms to move relative to each other, thus generating the target relative motion and all the benefits listed below. Applications: This technology will be of most interest to the robotics, manufacturing, human machine interfaces, additive manufacturing, vibration testing/isolation, and sensor research/employment industries. The relativity concept may also apply to other 1-D to X-D system platforms (e.g. serial arm, gantry, etc.) with the same benefits described below. Advantages: This system embodies the stiffness, speed, and precision benefits of linear delta systems while utilizing the relativity between the platforms and simple system re-configurability to increase the workspace, speed, and force application, while reducing various dynamic effects without increasing the general footprint of a single linear delta device. The relativity between the platforms is also beneficial in mitigating the adverse consequences of vibrations to components while still maintaining their primary functionality (e.g. precision of ball screws which would pit between the ball and screw under vibrational loadings). Impact: Many of the advantages listed above are improved by a factor of 4 rather than just 2 as might be expected when the system is doubled with two linear delta deflection systems. This system can increase the workspace of a single device by a factor of 4+, speed by a factor of 2, force application by 2, and reduce various dynamic effects (e.g. drag) by a factor of 4+ due to the square of the speed term. This factoring could also be used in reverse, allowing a system to reduce its footprint and its component sizes while maintaining the same performance. Despite the number of components being doubled, they can be smaller in size which can result in a reduction in costs. Development: A functioning prototype is in place. IP Status: US Patent Application No. 16/191,093, “Dual Linear Delta Assemblies, Linear Delta Systems, and Related Methods.” INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Kala Majeti at [email protected].