A rigid link for a flexible robot, the rigid link including a rigid link body having a hollow core, the rigid link with at least two arms having proximal and distal ends, the arms are connected to the rigid link body, and wherein the arms being deployable between a closed configuration in which the proximal and distal ends of the arms are positioned proximate to the rigid link body and open configuration in which the arms are moved so that the distal ends of the arms are positioned away from the body of the rigid link.

A rigid link for a flexible robot, the rigid link including a rigid link body having a hollow core, the rigid link with at least two arms having proximal and distal ends, the arms are connected to the rigid link body, and wherein the arms being deployable between a closed configuration in which the proximal and distal ends of the arms are positioned proximate to the rigid link body and open configuration in which the arms are moved so that the distal ends of the arms are positioned away from the body of the rigid link.

An industrial robot having parallel kinematics, comprising a robot base, a carrier element for accommodating a gripper or a tool, several movable, elongated actuating units, which are connected at one end thereof to drive units arranged on the robot base, and the other end of which is movably connected to the carrier element; an elongated hollow body, which has a continuous cavity and which is flexibly connected to the robot base; a joint, which has a continuous cavity and several degrees of freedom, by means of which joint the elongated hollow body is movably connected to the carrier element; and at least one supply line for a gripper arranged on the carrier element or a tool arranged on the carrier element, the supply line being guided through the cavity of the elongated hollow body and the cavity of the hollow joint from the robot base to the carrier element.

A manipulator includes: an operating unit, and a bending assembly that is bent by operation of the operating unit, wherein: the bending assembly includes: a first link member having a first arc portion, a second link member having a second arc portion, an intermediate link member that includes a first intermediate arc portion and a second intermediate arc portion in opposition to the first intermediate arc portion, and is mounted between the first link member and the second link member.

A manipulator includes: an operating unit, and a bending assembly that is bent by operation of the operating unit, wherein: the bending assembly includes: a first link member having a first arc portion, a second link member having a second arc portion, an intermediate link member that includes a first intermediate arc portion and a second intermediate arc portion in opposition to the first intermediate arc portion, and is mounted between the first link member and the second link member.

A mobile robotic device includes a mobile base and a mast fixed relative to the mobile base. The mast includes a carved-out portion. The mobile robotic device further includes a three-dimensional (3D) lidar sensor mounted in the carved-out portion of the mast and fixed relative to the mast such that a vertical field of view of the 3D lidar sensor is angled downward toward an area in front of the mobile robotic device.

A mobile robotic device includes a mobile base and a mast fixed relative to the mobile base. The mast includes a carved-out portion. The mobile robotic device further includes a three-dimensional (3D) lidar sensor mounted in the carved-out portion of the mast and fixed relative to the mast such that a vertical field of view of the 3D lidar sensor is angled downward toward an area in front of the mobile robotic device.

A multi-joint arm mechanism includes an arm supporting member a first, second and third joints. The third joint has a linear extension and retraction axis. The third joint includes flat-shaped first structures bendably coupled to one another, second structures having a C-shaped section and bendably coupled to one another, a supporting member supporting the stiffened first and second structures, and a drive member sending and drawing the stiffened first and second structures. The first and the second structures are linearly stiffened by being in contact with each other and return to a bent state by being separated from each other. The second structures are bent toward the bottom parts and conveyed into the arm supporting member. The first structures are bent in a same direction as the second structures and conveyed into the arm supporting member. The first structures are stored in the arm supporting member along the second structures.

A multi-joint arm mechanism includes an arm supporting member a first, second and third joints. The third joint has a linear extension and retraction axis. The third joint includes flat-shaped first structures bendably coupled to one another, second structures having a C-shaped section and bendably coupled to one another, a supporting member supporting the stiffened first and second structures, and a drive member sending and drawing the stiffened first and second structures. The first and the second structures are linearly stiffened by being in contact with each other and return to a bent state by being separated from each other. The second structures are bent toward the bottom parts and conveyed into the arm supporting member. The first structures are bent in a same direction as the second structures and conveyed into the arm supporting member. The first structures are stored in the arm supporting member along the second structures.

Embodiments of a coupling system include a brace member, a plurality of coupling members, and a plurality of magnetic bodies that permit an individual to be attached or detached from a robotic device. The coupling system may serve as a detachable interface between an individual engaged to the robotic device.