Robotic and other skins with a subsurface reinforcement layer at a selectable depth

摘要

A method for fabricating an artificial skin such as for use with a robotic assembly. The method includes providing a mold assembly with an exterior mold and an interior core. A cavity is defined between inner surfaces of the exterior mold and exterior surfaces of the interior core, thereby defining a shape and thickness of a skin. A surface of the interior core includes offsets or standoffs extending outward from the interior core surface. The method further includes positioning a sheet of reinforcement material over the surface such that the sheet contacts the offsets. The method includes pouring material for the skin system into the mold to occupy the cavity between the exterior mold and the interior core. The method includes disassembling the mold assembly and removing the skin with the sheet of reinforcement material embedded within the skin at an offset distance from a surface of the skin.

主权项

1. A method for fabricating an artificial skin, comprising:
providing a mold assembly with an exterior mold and an interior core, a cavity between inner surfaces of the exterior mold and exterior surfaces of the interior core defining a shape of a skin, wherein a surface of the interior core facing the cavity includes a plurality of offsets extending outward a distance from the interior core surface; positioning a sheet of reinforcement material over the interior core surface, wherein the sheet is in abutting contact with at least a portion of the offsets; pouring material for the skin into the mold assembly to occupy the cavity between the exterior mold and the interior core; and after the material has hardened to form the skin, disassembling the mold assembly and removing the skin with the sheet of reinforcement material embedded within the skin at an offset distance from a surface of the skin, wherein the reinforcement material comprises a mesh fabric of an elastic material and wherein the positioning of the sheet of the reinforcement material over the interior core surface comprises first stretching the mesh fabric of the elastic material over the interior core surface such that the at least a portion of the offsets each extends a distance through a hole in the mesh fabric of the elastic material and second releasing the mesh fabric of the elastic material to be retained in place in the cavity by the abutting contact with the at least a portion of the offsets.