Omnidirectional Cart with Power-assist System

Shigeki Fujiwara, Hitoshi Kitano, Hideki Yamashita, Hiroshi Maeda and Hideo Fukunaga

Production Engineering Research Laboratory, Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. 1048, Kadoma, Osaka, 571-8686 Japan

Received:

May 15, 2002

Accepted:

May 28, 2002

Published:

August 20, 2002

Keywords:

power-assist system, omnidirectional vehicle, universal wheel, meal delivery cart in hospital

Abstract

We provided a holonomic omnidirectional cart using a universal wheel with the power-assist function and put it into practical use as a meal delivery cart. Even if the cart weighs about 700 kilograms, it is easily operated as a manually operated lightweight cart. This report gives an overview of the new product, measures for enhancing operability, a handle sensing force in 3 directions, measures to reduce vibration during universal wheel driving, and ways to improve universal wheel durability.

Cite this article as:

S. Fujiwara, H. Kitano, H. Yamashita, H. Maeda, and H. Fukunaga, “Omnidirectional Cart with Power-assist System,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.14 No.4, pp. 333-341, 2002.

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