How Humanoid Robot Actuators Connect with a Smart Wire Assembly
This patent describes a specific way to connect two moving parts (actuators) in a humanoid robot using a wire bundle that routes through openings and connects to circuit boards with different numbers of pins.
Original patent title: “Humanoid robot with advanced wiring assembly”
This patent describes a specific way to connect two moving parts (actuators) in a humanoid robot using a wire bundle that routes through openings and connects to circuit boards with different numbers of pins. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details an advanced wiring assembly for humanoid robots, specifically connecting a first actuator to a second actuator. The first actuator includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a set of pins and an opening for the wire bundle. The second actuator also has a PCB with its own set of pins. A key feature is that the first PCB's pins are greater in number than the second PCB's pins. The wire bundle has connectors at each end that plug into these PCBs, and the wires are carefully routed through an opening in the first actuator and another opening in its cover. For example, this system could connect a robot's shoulder joint actuator to its elbow joint actuator, ensuring reliable power and data transfer while managing the wiring neatly within the robot's structure.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover wiring assemblies that connect more than two actuators together.
- Does not cover wiring where the second actuator's PCB has an equal or greater number of pins than the first actuator's PCB.
- Does not cover wire bundles that are routed externally or through openings not specifically part of the first actuator's body or cover.
- Does not cover general electrical connections within a robot that do not specifically interconnect two actuators via a dedicated wire bundle and PCB terminals.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific configuration of the wire bundle, the differing pin counts between the two connected actuators' circuit boards, and the precise routing through internal openings. This design likely aims to create a more compact, robust, or efficient connection, potentially simplifying assembly or improving longevity in moving robot parts.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot
Agility Robotics' Digit robot
Sanctuary AI's Phoenix robot
Tesla Bot (Optimus)
Most modern humanoid robot prototypes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Reliable and compact wiring is crucial for humanoid robots to move smoothly and perform complex tasks without wires snagging or breaking. This type of advanced wiring assembly aims to improve the durability and functionality of robot joints. By carefully designing how wires are routed and connected, it helps reduce wear and tear, making robots more robust for real-world applications.
Filed
August 8, 2025
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Sanctuary AI are actively developing humanoid robots that require sophisticated internal wiring for their numerous actuators. Major tech companies such as Google, Amazon, and Tesla are also investing heavily in robotics, which necessitates robust and integrated wiring solutions for their advanced prototypes and future products.
Market impact
Improved wiring assemblies like this contribute to the overall robustness and reliability of humanoid robots, which is critical for their wider adoption. As these robots become more capable, better internal component integration can lead to more durable and commercially viable products, potentially enabling new applications in logistics, elder care, and hazardous environments.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details an advanced wiring assembly for humanoid robots, specifically connecting a first actuator to a second actuator. The first actuator includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a set of pins and an opening for the wire bundle. The second actuator also has a PCB with its own set of pins. A key feature is that the first PCB's pins are greater in number than the second PCB's pins. The wire bundle has connectors at each end that plug into these PCBs, and the wires are carefully routed through an opening in the first actuator and another opening in its cover. For example, this system could connect a robot's shoulder joint actuator to its elbow joint actuator, ensuring reliable power and data transfer while managing the wiring neatly within the robot's structure.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific configuration of the wire bundle, the differing pin counts between the two connected actuators' circuit boards, and the precise routing through internal openings. This design likely aims to create a more compact, robust, or efficient connection, potentially simplifying assembly or improving longevity in moving robot parts.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover wiring assemblies that connect more than two actuators together.
- Does not cover wiring where the second actuator's PCB has an equal or greater number of pins than the first actuator's PCB.
- Does not cover wire bundles that are routed externally or through openings not specifically part of the first actuator's body or cover.
- Does not cover general electrical connections within a robot that do not specifically interconnect two actuators via a dedicated wire bundle and PCB terminals.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$11K – $35K
Midpoint $22K · 18.8 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Humanoid Robot Actuators Connect with a Smart Wire Assembly (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,717). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734717/humanoid-robot-with-advanced-wiring-assembly
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Humanoid Robot Actuators Connect with a Smart Wire Assembly cover?
This patent describes a specific way to connect two moving parts (actuators) in a humanoid robot using a wire bundle that routes through openings and connects to circuit boards with different numbers of pins.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Reliable and compact wiring is crucial for humanoid robots to move smoothly and perform complex tasks without wires snagging or breaking. This type of advanced wiring assembly aims to improve the durability and functionality of robot joints. By carefully designing how wires are routed and connected, it helps reduce wear and tear, making robots more robust for real-world applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover wiring assemblies that connect more than two actuators together.
Patent monitoring