An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a body with a processor, a camera and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor.

A surgical system includes a disposable force sensor pod that includes a load cell and a mounting feature. The surgical system also includes a computing system configured to be placed in electronic communication with the disposable force sensor pod and receive a force measurement from the disposable force sensor pod. The disposable force sensor pod is configured to be removeably coupled to a distraction device using the mounting feature.

A robot includes a movable section, a first member disposed in the movable section, a second member configured to form a space between the second member and the first member, a third member located between the first member and the second member and configured to restrain displacement of the second member in a direction separating from the first member, and a pressure detecting section configured to detect pressure in the space.

An actuator according to an embodiment includes a first rotating body that is rotatable around an input axis and includes a first groove part extending in a first direction, a second rotating body that is rotatable around an output axis and includes a second protruding part extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a strain body that includes a first protruding part capable of being engaged with a first groove part through a gap whose direction is vertical to that of the input axis and a second groove part capable of being engaged with a second protruding part through a gap whose direction is vertical to that of the output axis and transmits a rotational torque of the input axis to the output axis, and a detection element that is attached to the strain body.

An isolated force/torque sensor assembly for a force controlled robot includes an end effector for operatively attaching to an arm of the force controlled robot, the end effector having a gripping portion adapted to be gripped by a hand of a user, and a force/torque sensor adapted to be disposed between the gripping portion and the arm of the robot, the force/torque sensor having a high force end effector interface adapted to be attached to the arm of the robot, a low force end effector interface operatively attached to the gripping portion, and a transducer disposed between the high force end effector interface and the low force end effector interface for reacting to loads applied to the low force end effector interface for user controlled positioning of a surgical tool and for generating corresponding output signals, and wherein the transducer is bypassed for high loads.

A capacitive sensor for characterizing force or torque includes a first plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a first plurality of patterned conductive regions, and a second plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a second plurality of patterned conductive regions. The first and second pluralities of non-patterned conductive regions are facing and the first and second pluralities of patterned conductive regions are facing.

A flexible sensor that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a capacitive structure on the PCB, and mechanical coupling sites. The PCB includes a slot extending from an outer edge of the PCB to an inner portion of the PCB, and the slot defines a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge. The first and second edges are separated by a gap when the PCB is in an unflexed state. The slot is configured to permit the PCB to flex so as to vary a relative position of the first edge with respect to the second edge. The capacitive structure on the PCB includes a first edge electrode on a portion of the first edge of the PCB, and a second edge electrode on a portion of a second edge of PCB. The second edge electrode is aligned with the first edge electrode across the slot.

A force sensor comprising a force sensitive resistor having a common electrode and an electrode array separated by a force sensitive resistor material. The sensor includes a preload structure, where the preload structure imparts a force on the force sensitive resistor material. The sensor may also include a signal conditioning board to read a signal from the electrode array and convert it to a digital output.

An axial force sensor assembly for detecting an axial force is provided, which includes a mounting bracket and a first sensor assembled on the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes an inner mounting portion, an outer mounting portion and a multi-layer connecting member connected between the inner mounting portion and the outer mounting portion. The multi-layer connecting structure is more compliant in a direction of the axial force to be detected than in other loading directions. The first sensor is configured to detect a relative displacement between the inner mounting portion and the outer mounting portion in the direction of the axial force to be detected.

Tactile sensing using both coarse and fine tactile sensors. A coarse tactile sensor having a first sensitive area at least partially encompasses or overlies a plurality of fine tactile sensors, each having a respective sensitive area smaller than the first sensitive area. The coarse tactile sensor(s) and fine tactile sensors may be carried on a same circuit board or separate circuit boards. Processor(s) circuits are communicatively coupled to the coarse and/or fine tactile sensors. Information indicative of at least a presence or absence of force or pressure at a given location monitored by the respective tactile sensor, and/or a measure of the force or pressure or strain is collected. Such may be mounted to a backing, and optionally covered or encased in an artificial skin. Collecting sensor readings employs both coarse and fine tactile sensors, sampling corresponding fine tactile sensors in response to detection by a coarse tactile sensor.