An adjustable support for a panel is provided to allow control of the height and the tilt angle of the panel. The support includes a hollow cylindrical base having an outer diameter D.sub.1; a first hollow piston having an outer diameter D.sub.2 threadably engaged with the base; a second hollow piston having an outer diameter D.sub.3 threadably engaged with the first piston; a third piston having an outer diameter D.sub.4 threadably engaged with the second piston, such that D.sub.1>D.sub.2>D.sub.3>D.sub.4. A ball pod extends from the third piston and accommodates a ball attached to the panel. One or more stepper motors are provided, where each stepper motor is coupled to a bottom portion of a respective piston, and a rotor of each stepper motor is configured to rotate the corresponding piston, thereby causing the piston to move along a longitudinal axis of the support.

A multi-axis carrying device includes a base, first and second main moving units mounted to the base, a first platform connected to the first and second main moving units, and first and second driving units. The first driving unit has a first output structure coupled to the first main moving unit. The second driving unit has a second output structure coupled to the second main moving unit. When the first and second output structures move in a moving direction, the first and second main moving units are driven to move two opposite sides of the first platform in another direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

A video arm assembly includes a base attachable to a surface, a knuckle rotatably engaging the base, and an arm connected to the knuckle. A friction clutch is connected to the base. A one-way bearing engages the friction clutch and the knuckle, providing rotation of the knuckle with respect to the base in a first direction only. The friction clutch engages the one-way bearing such that the knuckle rotates with respect to the base in a second direction opposite the first direction, the one-way bearing rotating with the knuckle in the second direction, and the arm rotating with the knuckle in the first and second directions.

A leveling base includes the leveling base including a pedestal, a leveling plate provided to the pedestal via leveling screws such that the leveling is enabled, and a prism unit including a prism having retroreflective characteristics. The prism unit is provided on the leveling plate, the prism unit retro-reflects a light beam entering from a vertically lower side by the prism, a lower through-hole through which a light beam which enters/is reflected to the prism penetrates is provided in the pedestal, and an attachment/detachment portion which enables the attachment/detachment of a predetermined measuring device is provided on an upper surface of the leveling plate.

Disclosed is an electronic gimbal with camera and mounting configuration. The gimbal can include an inertial measurement unit which can sense the orientation of the camera and three electronic motors which can manipulate the orientation of the camera. The gimbal can be removably coupled to a variety of mount platforms, such as an aerial vehicle, a handheld grip, or a rotating platform. Moreover, a camera can be removably coupled to the gimbal and can be held in a removable camera frame. Also disclosed is a system for allowing the platform, to which the gimbal is mounted, to control settings of the camera or to trigger actions on the camera, such as taking a picture, or initiating the recording of a video. The gimbal can also provide a connection between the camera and the mount platform, such that the mount platform receives images and video content from the camera.

A parallel mechanism comprises legs with kinematically redundant actuation for a parallel mechanism. Each of these legs comprises a first sub-leg and a second sub-leg, each said sub-leg comprising a proximal end and a distal end. A link has a proximal end and a distal end. A joint with a rotational degree of freedom (DOF) is between and common to the distal ends of each of the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg, and the proximal end of the link. A joint provides at least two rotational DOFs at the distal end of the link and is adapted to connect the distal end of the link to one end of the parallel mechanism. Joints in the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg to provide DOFs to the sub-legs and to connect the proximal ends of the sub-legs to the other end of the parallel mechanism. A degree of actuation (DOA) is provided for each of the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg to control movement of the link. A method for controlling movement of the parallel mechanism is also provided.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for positioning at least one optical element (22), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises at least one movable carrier (20) for holding the optical element (22), at least one fixed support portion (10) for supporting the carrier (20), connecting means for connecting the carrier and the support portion, and actuating means for creating forces to influence the relative position of the carrier (20) to the support portion (10). The apparatus (1) is characterized in that the connecting means comprise at least one retention device (32) for applying tension force between the carrier (20) and the support portion (10) and at least one bearing (31), wherein the bearing (31) comprises a first bearing magnet (311), wherein at least a part of the surface (3121) of the first bearing magnet (312) has the shape of a partial sphere and a second bearing magnet (312), wherein at least part of the surface (3111) of the second bearing magnet (311) has the shape of a partial hollow sphere for at least partially receiving the partial sphere surface (3121) of the first bearing magnet (312), wherein the first and second bearing magnets (311, 312) are permanent magnets and are arranged such that the opposing magnet poles of the first and second bearing magnet (311, 312) are facing each other. Also a system for directing a beam, in particular a laser beam, including at least one positioning apparatus is disclosed.

A platform stabilization system comprises a support frame, a platform and a plurality of isolators each extending directly between the support frame and the platform. Each isolator permits linear movement of the platform relative to the support frame with three degrees of freedom and permits rotational movement of the platform relative to the support frame with three degrees of freedom. The isolators cooperate to form an isolation array supporting the platform directly within, and spacing the platform from, the support frame. The isolation array permits limited linear movement of the platform within the support frame with three degrees of freedom and permits limited rotational movement of the platform relative to the support frame with three degrees of freedom. The isolation array is substantially more resistant to linear movement of the platform than to rotational movement of the platform and does not rotationally constrain the platform.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of photographic and camera shooting equipment, in particular to a support frame and a photographing device. The support frame comprises a first pan-tilt connector and a leg assembly connected to the first pan-tilt connector; the leg assembly comprises a primary leg and a secondary leg; a leg adjustment structure is provided between the primary leg and the secondary leg, and configured to unlock or lock the primary leg and the secondary leg, so that the primary leg and the secondary leg can move relative to each other or keep relatively stationary; the secondary leg comprises a first sub-leg and a second sub-leg, and the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg are configured in such a manner that the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg can be unfolded or folded with respect to each other; when the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg are unfolded, the primary leg, the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg are in a three-leg support state. The present disclosure further provides a photographing device, which comprises an image acquisition apparatus and the support frame; and the image acquisition apparatus is mounted on the support frame. The present disclosure has a variety of use states, both handheld state and hands-free state achieved by three-leg support.

An articulated mechanism is included in an articulated pointing system. The articulated mechanism includes first, second, and third spherical joints, and a first, second, and third lever. The first and second spherical joints are linked by the first lever. The first lever includes a first projecting portion. The first and third spherical joints are linked by the second lever, the second lever including a second projecting portion projecting in an opposite direction of the first projecting portion. The second and third spherical joints are linked by the third lever, such that the longitudinal axes of the first lever and of the second lever are perpendicular. The articulated pointing system includes a basement platform and a mobile platform joined by two articulated hinges. The hinges are moved by actuators. The articulated mechanism has the first lever attached to the mobile platform and the second lever attached to the basement platform.