Single-motor robot leg for dynamic quadruped locomotion
This patent covers a robot leg design that mimics how four-legged animals move, using a clever mechanical linkage system that needs only one motor to produce a natural, efficient stepping motion. The leg forms two closed loops of connected links — similar to how bones and tendons form loops in animal limbs — which constrains the foot to follow a trajectory ideal for fast gaits like trotting and galloping. A spring at the foot absorbs impact forces during each stride. The single-actuator approach significantly reduces weight, cost, and control complexity compared to multi-motor robot legs.
What you could build
A leg module for quadruped robots used in inspection, logistics, or defense applications — sold to robotics OEMs or defense contractors building autonomous ground vehicles that must traverse unstructured terrain. It could also serve as a research platform for university and government robotics labs.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense primes and government contractors in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads corridor (Leidos, Booz Allen, SAIC) evaluating autonomous ground robots for military logistics or reconnaissance would be natural evaluators.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, Vinaykarthik Kamidi
- Granted
- August 16, 2022
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11413745
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.