The present disclosure relates to force sensors and force sensor substrates for use with surgical devices.

A method and system for characterizing performance of a mover operating in a linear drive system is disclosed, where the linear drive system includes multiple track segments and where each track segment includes a segment controller. Each segment controller is configured to obtain an in-system frequency response for a mover present along the track segment. An injection sequence is generated within the segment controller, where the injection sequence includes harmonic content across a range of frequencies to be evaluated. The injection sequence is added to a control module within the segment controller, and the segment controller samples and records motion of the mover in response to the injection sequence. A frequency response corresponding to the recorded motion of the mover resulting from the injection sequence is obtained, and may be utilized to identify a resonant operating point or an undesirable level of the harmonic content present in the sampled data.

Sensor devices including force sensors and robots incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor device includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed on a member, and an array of force sensors disposed about the inflatable diaphragm, wherein the array of force sensors provides one or more signals indicative of a location of contact between an object and the inflatable diaphragm.

Sensors having a deformable layer and an outer cover layer and robots incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed on a member, wherein the inflatable diaphragm includes a port. The sensor further includes an outer cover layer disposed around the inflatable diaphragm, wherein the outer cover layer is fabricated from a material having a strength of greater than or equal to 35 cN/dtex, and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm.

Apparatuses and associated techniques for fall detection and prevention via wearable devices are provided. In one aspect, a wearable device is provided including one or more pressure sensors arranged on a bottom portion of the wearable device to collect pressure data from a bottom of a foot of a user, a wireless transmitter communicatively coupled with the one or more pressure sensors, and a power source coupled with the wireless transmitter.

A smart roller comprises: an exterior annular cylinder portion comprising an elastomeric material and having an exterior cylindrical surface; a sensor array imbedded in a volume of the exterior annular cylinder portion, the sensor array extending in an axial direction and in a circumferential direction of the exterior annular cylinder portion, the array comprising a plurality of independently sampleable sensor elements, each sensor element located for measurement at a corresponding axial and circumferential sensor location; a rigid interior portion, at least a portion of the rigid interior section disposed in a bore of the exterior annular cylinder portion, the rigid interior portion connected to the exterior annular cylinder portion for unitary rotational movement therewith; and readout electronics operably connected to the sensor array and configurable to independently sample sensor output from each of the sensor elements.

The present invention relates to a force testing machine (FTM) validation apparatus (1) for validating a test process involving a force testing machine to measure forces involved in operation of a syringe arrangement (7), particularly a syringe arrangement (7) comprising a staked-in needle prefilled syringe (8) and a needle safety device (9, 9′, 9″) cooperating with the staked-in needle prefilled syringe (8). The FTM validation apparatus (1) comprises a syringe arrangement surrogate (2) and a holder (3) arranged to support the syringe arrangement surrogate (2) in a predefined position and orientation in the force testing machine. The syringe arrangement surrogate (2) comprises a break loose part (4) arranged to mimic a break loose force of the syringe arrangement (7) and an injection force part (5) arranged to mimic an injection force of the syringe arrangement. The present invention also relates to a method of validating a test process involving a force testing machine to measure forces involved in operation of a syringe arrangement (7), by the above FTM validation apparatus (1); as well as to a method for measuring forces involved in operation of the syringe arrangement (7) comprising a test process validated according to the mentioned validation method.

A cargo handling system is disclosed. A method for storing and restraining cargo is disclosed. The method includes positioning a unit load device at a parked location on a conveyance surface and in contact with a drive roller, deploying a restraint to engage the unit load device, and verifying engagement of the restraint with the unit load device by activating the drive roller and detecting movement of the unit load device with respect to the conveyance surface.

Embodiments of the present invention provide robust capacitive grip sensors that may be used in a variety of applications, including single-handed and double-handed grips, such as but not limited to barbells. Apparatus as disclosed herein and efficiently measure the presence of a human grip without requiring deformation of a gripped surface area.

A tactile sensor includes a support member with a curved surface, a sensor body disposed on the support member, and a buffer member with which the sensor body is coated, the buffer member being configured to, in response to contacting an object, transfer a force applied from the object to the sensor body. The sensor body includes an insulating layer, multiple first resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction is directed to a first direction of each and that are juxtaposed on one side of the insulating layer, multiple second resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a second direction intersecting with the first direction and that are juxtaposed on another side of the insulating layer, and a pair of electrodes provided at both end portions of each of the first resistive portions and the second resistive portions. The press force applied from the object is transferred to the sensor body, and at least one given resistive portion among the first resistive portions and the second resistive portions is pressed, so that a resistance value between a given pair of electrodes associated with the pressed at least one given resistive portion among the first resistive portions and the second resistive portions constantly varies in accordance with a magnitude of the press force.