Cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot

Abstract

A torso part ( 2 ) and a backpack part ( 6 ) of a humanoid robot are commonly formed by a shell that defines an inner space that accommodates a heat generating component such as a control computer ( 31 ) and a power module ( 32, 33 ). The shell comprises an air vent hole ( 45, 46 ) provided on one lateral side of the shell, an air inlet hole ( 47, 48 ) provided on the other lateral side of the shell and a powered fan ( 49 ) provided immediately inside the air vent hole. Because the cooling air can flow laterally across the inner space, the entire part of the heat generating component can contact the air flow, and a uniform cooling effect can be achieved with a minimum power consumption and a minimum noise generation.

1 . A cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot including a shell having a pair of lateral sides, a front side and a rear side so as to form at least a torso part of the robot, the shell defining an inner space that accommodates a heat generating component, wherein: 
 the shell comprises an air vent hole provided on one of the lateral sides of the shell, an air inlet hole provided on the other lateral side of the shell and a powered fan provided immediately inside of at least one of the air vent hole and the air inlet hole.    
   
   
       2 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 1 , wherein the shell further comprises a backpack portion that defines the inner space jointly with the torso portion, and the air inlet hole and air vent hole are formed on the lateral sides of the backpack portion.  
   
   
       3 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 2 , wherein the air vent hole is provided with a member for directing air flow in a direction more rearward than a lateral direction.  
   
   
       4 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 2 , wherein the shell further comprises a torso air outlet provided on at least one of the lateral sides of the torso part of the shell, a torso air inlet hole provided in a downward facing part of the shell and a powered fan provided immediately inside of at least one of the torso air vent hole and the torso air inlet hole.  
   
   
       5 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 4 , wherein the torso air vent hole is provided with a member for directing air flow in a direction more rearward than a lateral direction.  
   
   
       6 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 4 , wherein the torso air inlet hole is provided centrally adjacent to a lower part of the front side of the shell.  
   
   
       7 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the inner space and controlling the fan according to the detected temperature.  
   
   
       8 . The cooling arrangement for a humanoid robot according to  claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the inner space and controlling the fan according to the detected temperature.