Patent ID: 9229451
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: B62D,B64G,G05D,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. An amorphous robot for use on a surface, the amorphous robot comprising: a plurality of elements each having a variable property; a flexible outer layer that encapsulates the plurality of elements; a control unit in electrical communication with each of the plurality of elements; wherein the control unit selectively energizes a designated one of the elements to change the variable property of the designated element, thereby moving the designated element in a direction of movement with respect to the remaining elements such that the amorphous robot moves with respect to the surface in the direction of movement of the designated element; and wherein each of the elements is a shape memory polymer (SMP) cell, and wherein the variable property is at least one of a variable shape and a variable size of the SMP cell; wherein the control unit selectively transmits an electrical current into the designated element to change one of the variable shape and the variable size of the SMP cell; and a sensor pack that is encapsulated within each of the SMP cells in communication with the control unit, wherein each of the sensor packs transmits a position, signal to the control unit.