Linear Differential Mechanism

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Linear Differential Mechanism A new motion platform technology that provides more precise motion while saving time and money. 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 Linear Differential Mechanism. Overview: The Linear Differential Mechanism is new motion platform technology developed at INL that can be used for compact rotation and translation. Current motion platforms are restricted by having to use overly strong and expensive motors and/or slower motion abilities. The current parallel robotic platforms that solve this issue (e.g., Delta and Stewart Platforms) are severely limited in possible motions. This device provides more precise rotation and translation and can also provide cost and time savings by using smaller motors and less robust, and therefore less expensive, components. Description: Researchers at INL have developed the Linear Differential Mechanism that overcomes the limitations listed above for applications requiring one translational DOF and one rotational DOF. This mechanism produces this combination of translation and rotation at an end effector or platform via two fixed motors. Pure translation can be achieved by rotating the motors in the same direction or opposite directions. Other rotational combinations cause a combination of translation and rotation. This configuration allows such motion without either motor being part of the payload, thus increasing speed and reducing motor demands. Benefits: This technology provides several key benefits, including: Allows translation and rotation motion combinations while increasing speed and reducing motor demands. Provides more precise motion while using smaller motors and less robust components, thereby saving time and money. Motions can be accomplished in a smaller overall volume and can locate the motors near, further, or a combination thereof from the end effector. Compared to other solutions, this technology’s open, yet compact, architecture allows direct access to the end effector in an elegant way, which allows for each of the drive motors and their entire drive mechanisms to be maintained and replaced without disturbing the end effector or vice versa. Applications: The system has vast applicability that includes: Handheld Drills Orthoscopic Surgery Drill Press Drilling Rigs Robotic Systems Development: A prototype has been built and tested for the larger system. A prototype for the smaller system is in progress. IP Status: Patent Application No. 16/892,081, “Linear Differential,” BEA Docket No. BA-1131 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] or (248) 877-8866.