Sony patents robot foot with split soles to sense ground pressure
Sony has filed a patent for a robot foot design that splits the sole into two separate sections at the front and back. Each section contains a sensor that measures the force from the ground, allowing the robot to detect how it is stepping.
In the filing’s own words
A foot structure and a robot including the foot structure are disclosed. An example foot structure includes constraints and simply detects reaction force from a walking surface, as well as an example robot equipped therewith. A foot part of a robot includes a first sole member arranged at a back of the foot part, a second sole member arranged at a front of the first sole member, a joint mechanism that includes a movable member fitted with the second sole member and configured to move relative to the first sole member, a first sensor arranged on the first sole member to detect reaction force from a walking surface, and a second sensor arranged on the second sole member to detect reaction force from the walking surface.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A foot structure provided on a bottom end of a robot leg part, the foot structure comprising: a first sole member arranged at a back of the foot structure and configured to contact a walking surface; a second sole member arranged at a front of the first sole member and configured to contact the walking surface; a joint mechanism that includes a movable member fitted with the second sole member and configured to move relative to the first sole member; a first sensor arranged on the first sole member and configured to detect reaction force from the walking surface with respect to the first sole member; and a second sensor arranged on the second sole member and configured to detect reaction force from the walking surface with respect to the second sole member.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.)
- Official title
- ROBOT FOOT STRUCTURE AND ROBOT
- Publication number
- US20260316291A1
- Application number
- 19684490
- Filed
- May 21, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
B25J 13/085 Operations & transportB25J 11/00 Operations & transportB62D 57/032 Operations & transportG01L 5/0061 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Robots & automation
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.