Engineering topics

Ruoff, C. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Ruoff, C. F..

9 records

NASA NTRS1985

Memory metal actuator

A mechanical actuator can be constructed by employing a plurality of memory metal actuator elements in parallel to control the amount of actuating force. In order to facilitate direct control by digital control signals provided by a computer or the like, the actuating elements may vary in stiffness according to a binary relationship. The cooling or reset time of the actuator elements can be reduced by employing Peltier junction cooling assemblies in the actuator.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Low-Friction Joint for Robot Fingers

Mechanical linkage allows adjacent parts to move relative to each other with low friction and with no chatter, slipping, or backlash. Low-friction joint of two surfaces in rolling contact, held in alinement by taut flexible bands. No sliding friction or "stick-slip" motion: Only rolling-contact and bending friction within bands. Proposed linkage intended for finger joints in mechanical hands for robots and manipulators.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Rolling-Contact Rheostat

Contact noise in rheostats and potentiometers reduced by rolling contact design. Smooth rolling action eliminates sporadic variations in resistance caused by bouncing and stick/slip motion of conventional sliding contacts.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Eye-Movement Tracker Would Reduce Video Bandwidth

Bandwidth required to transmit closed circuit television image reduced by transmitting small portion at high resolution and remainder at low resolution. High-resolution portion centered in viewer's gaze so entire image seems to be of high resolution.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Faster Response for Memory-Metal Actuators

Cooling accelerated by attaching Peltier junction. Electric current carries heat to or from junction between two dissimilar metals, direction of heat flow depending on direction of current and particular metals used. Direction of current is opposite to that of same two metals operating as thermocouple.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Memory-Metal Electromechanical Actuators

Electrically controlled actuator produces predetermined force, torque, or displacement without motors, solenoids, or gears. Using memory-metal elements, actuator responds to digital input without electronic digitalto-analog conversion. To prevent overheating and consequent loss of hotformed shape, each element protected by thermostat turns off current when predetermined temperature is exceeded. Memory metals used to generate fast mechanical response to electric signals.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Three-Fingered Robot Hand

Mechanical joints and tendons resemble human hand. Robot hand has three "human-like" fingers. "Thumb" at top. Rounded tips of fingers covered with resilient material provides high friction for griping. Hand potential as prosthesis for humans.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The spatial and logical organization of devices in an advanced industrial robot system

This paper describes the geometrical and device organization of a robot system which is based in part upon transformations of Cartesian frames and exchangeable device tree structures. It discusses coordinate frame transformations, geometrical device representation and solution degeneracy along with the data structures which support the exchangeable logical-physical device assignments. The system, which has been implemented in a minicomputer, supports vision, force, and other sensors. It allows tasks to be instantiated with logically equivalent devices and it allows tasks to be defined relative to appropriate frames. Since these frames are, in turn, defined relative other frames this organization provides a significant simplification in task specification and a high degree of system modularity.

Ruoff, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1979

TEACH - A concurrent robot control language

This paper describes the TEACH robot control language and its supporting operating system. It addresses concurrency, device independence, and other issues related to manipulator control, task specification, and system operation.

Ruoff, C. F.↗