Disclosed is a biped robot and multi-configuration robot capable of being spliced autonomously, and a control method of the multi-configuration robot. The biped robot comprises a torso, arms, legs, a tolerance docking sleeve, and a torso docking device. The arms are correspondingly arranged at the left and right sides of the torso, and two legs are arranged at the lower side of the torso. The tolerance docking sleeve is movably arranged at the rear side of the torso through a base, and the torso docking device is fixed to the front side of the torso. Single biped robots in the present disclosure can form a multi-configuration legged combined body in a self-organization and reconstruction mode so as to achieve bipedal, quadrupedal, hexapodal and other multi-legged configurations. The motion stability and the load capacity of the legged robot are improved through the splicing combination of the modular legged robots.

A rotary axis module includes an actuator that includes a first member and a second member, the actuator relatively driving the second member so as to rotate about a predetermined axis with respect to the first member, a DC power source, and a switch. The actuator includes a brake that is releasable by supplying a DC voltage. A first brake circuit that is connected to a control device that controls the actuator, and a second brake circuit that is provided in parallel with the first brake circuit and connected to the DC power source via the switch, are connected to the brake.

A robotic assembly comprises a first joint comprising first and second support members rotatably coupled together, and a joint position restoration assembly coupled to at least one of the first or second support members. The joint position restoration assembly can comprise a first spring and a mechanical linkage, wherein the joint position restoration assembly is operable to apply a restoring torque to the first joint. The joint position restoration assembly can be configured to provide a restoring torque versus joint position profile relative to the first joint that corresponds to known mass properties of at least a portion of the robotic assembly acting on or otherwise associated with the first joint, such that, when the first joint is not undergoing powered actuation, the joint position restoration assembly operates to apply, based on the profile, the restoring torque to position and to support the first joint in a stable support position.

A robotic assembly comprises a first joint comprising first and second support members rotatably coupled together, and a joint position restoration assembly coupled to at least one of the first or second support members. The joint position restoration assembly can comprise a first spring and a mechanical linkage, wherein the joint position restoration assembly is operable to apply a restoring torque to the first joint. The joint position restoration assembly can be configured to provide a restoring torque versus joint position profile relative to the first joint that corresponds to known mass properties of at least a portion of the robotic assembly acting on or otherwise associated with the first joint, such that, when the first joint is not undergoing powered actuation, the joint position restoration assembly operates to apply, based on the profile, the restoring torque to position and to support the first joint in a stable support position.

A robotic arm comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, the second arm portion moveable between a first axial position, in which the first arm portion and the second arm portion are mutually spaced from each other along said axis, and a second axial position, in which a first end of first arm portion and a second end of the second arm portion are in contact to define a housing, a head rotatable with respect to the first arm portion and around said axis; and a robotic joint. The joint is configured for adopting an operative condition, to make the second arm portion integral with the head. The robotic arm is configured so that said operative condition corresponds to said second axial position and said second angular position and the robotic arm is configured so that, in said operative condition, the joint is located within said housing.

A robotic arm comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, the second arm portion moveable between a first axial position, in which the first arm portion and the second arm portion are mutually spaced from each other along said axis, and a second axial position, in which a first end of first arm portion and a second end of the second arm portion are in contact to define a housing, a head rotatable with respect to the first arm portion and around said axis; and a robotic joint. The joint is configured for adopting an operative condition, to make the second arm portion integral with the head. The robotic arm is configured so that said operative condition corresponds to said second axial position and said second angular position and the robotic arm is configured so that, in said operative condition, the joint is located within said housing.

Systems and methods are provided for supporting one or both legs of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and a leg support coupled to the harness configured to support a leg of the user, the leg support configured to accommodate movement of the leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the leg support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the leg as the user moves and the leg support follows the movement of the user's leg, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the leg support.

Systems and methods are provided for supporting one or both legs of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and a leg support coupled to the harness configured to support a leg of the user, the leg support configured to accommodate movement of the leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the leg support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the leg as the user moves and the leg support follows the movement of the user's leg, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the leg support.

An actuated or mobile device such as a mobile robot or robotic muscle is provided, wherein mobility may be enabled by means of novel models of inchworm actuator positioned to tighten, loosen, move, or pull on one or more strings or tendons to directly or indirectly effect motion. The clamp elements of the inchworm actuator may include the novel optimization of being H-shaped and/or including a ‘beak’ element. Inchworm actuators tightening and/or loosening strings or tendons may cause ‘foot’ elements to rotatably extend from or tuck into a surface of the device, enabling the device to pull itself along. The device may include one or more moveable joints implemented as a bow joint. One or a grouped set of inchworm actuators pulling tendons may be used to rotate an axle, particularly for implementing a robotic joint around the axle.

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 are in front of the mobile robotic device.