Mechanisms to realize lightweight rotational joints having passive, high torque braking in one or more degrees of freedom are presented herein. In addition, robotic systems incorporating one or more rotational joints with passive, high torque braking as described herein are also presented. Each degree of freedom includes a spring element to preload the braking assembly to maintain high torque braking. The force generated by the spring is multiplied to a much larger force applied to the braking elements by a lever structure and an eccentric mechanism. A human user manually displaces the spring element and effectively reduces braking torque to a desired amount. In a further aspect, a two degree of freedom mechanical shoulder joint and brake device is disposed in a structural path between the harness assembly of an upper body support system and a surface of a working environment.

A power transmission apparatus includes an input shaft inputting power, an output shaft outputting power, an energy storage portion arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft and configured to store energy sent from the input shaft, and a power transmission portion allowing a difference between a rotation speed of the input shaft and a rotation speed of the output shaft, the power transmission portion including a portion serving as an elastic body that is configured to store torsional deformation, the energy storage portion converting a kinetic energy into a different energy from the kinetic energy and storing the converted energy to achieve power transmission between the input shaft and the output shaft including different rotation speeds from each other.

A mechatronic transmission for transmitting a torque from the drive shaft that can be supported axially on a shaft to an output shaft, the rotational speeds of which can have an arbitrary and variable ratio (stepless transmission). The transmission includes a coupling gear and a torsion spring, with the coupling gear rotatably mounted on the same shaft and connected to the output shaft by the torsion spring, and having a first coupling for producing and cancelling a rotationally fixed, planar, force-fitting first coupling between the drive shaft and the coupling gear. The transmission comprises a supporting device which is rotatable having a fixed transmission ratio of 1:X relative to the output shaft, where X can be any real number between approximately 10 and 1, and a second coupling for producing and cancelling a rotationally fixed, force-fitting second coupling between the supporting device and the coupling gear.

A system and method for using electrical power and mechanical means to store and release potential energy via mechanical means to re-generate electrical power. The system functions by using externally generated electricity to power an electric motor, which by rotation through a transmission of gears, deforms a collection of springs between two plates, thereby storing electricity as potential energy, until the energy is released to a kinetic flywheel which in turn powers an electric power generator.

A system and method for using electrical power and mechanical means to store and release potential energy via mechanical means to re-generate electrical power. The system functions by using externally generated electricity to power an electric motor, which by rotation through a transmission of gears, deforms a collection of springs between two plates, thereby storing electricity as potential energy, until the energy is released to a kinetic flywheel which in turn powers an electric power generator.

A mechatronic transmission for transmitting a torque from the drive shaft that can be supported axially on a shaft to an output shaft, the rotational speeds of which can have an arbitrary and variable ratio (stepless transmission). The transmission includes a coupling gear and a torsion spring, with the coupling gear rotatably mounted on the same shaft and connected to the output shaft by the torsion spring, and having a first coupling for producing and cancelling a rotationally fixed, planar, force-fitting first coupling between the drive shaft and the coupling gear. The transmission comprises a supporting device which is rotatable having a fixed transmission ratio of 1:X relative to the output shaft, where X can be any real number between approximately 10 and 1, and a second coupling for producing and cancelling a rotationally fixed, force-fitting second coupling between the supporting device and the coupling gear.