A diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.

An example device includes an inner element, an outer surrounding element, and a plurality of connecting flexural elements coupled between the inner element and the outer surrounding element. The inner element has a plurality of reflective surface areas that are configured to reflect light to a sensor. The outer surrounding element surrounds the inner element. The plurality of connecting flexural elements allow the inner element to move relative to the outer surrounding element.

A charge amplifier that converts a charge signal to a voltage signal includes: a first conductive member through which the charge signal propagates; a second conductive member that is provided along at least a portion of the first conductive member; an insulating member provided between the first conductive member and the second conductive member; a potential controlling voltage signal output circuit that is connected to the second conductive member, and is configured to supply a potential controlling voltage signal to the second conductive member; and an integrating circuit that includes an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being connected to the first conductive member, and is configured to output the voltage signal from the output terminal.

A device, system, and method for testing and measuring the grip strength of tongs for a crane system is provided. The device may include a frame body carrying a testing assembly configured to measure the tong grip strength. The system may include the grip strength tester used in conjunction with a crane including an operator tower and a pulley assembly operatively connected to the tongs. The method of use associated with the tong grip strength tester may include the steps of expanding a distance between teeth on the tongs and positioning the teeth adjacent sides of the testing assembly, then closing the tongs thereby clamping teeth to the sides of the testing assembly. Then, the testing assembly measures the compressive force associated with the tongs and registers the compressive force in a computer system to determine whether the grip strength is sufficient to lift a weighted slab of material.

Provided is a load sensor that may precisely detect a load of pressing force to an object. A load sensor to be used for a multiaxial actuator (10) that has a drive rod (12) that linearly moves in an axial direction in a state where the drive rod (12) is contained in a housing (11), and a suction rod (22) that is arranged in parallel with the drive rod (12), linearly moves at the same time as the drive rod (12) in the axial direction, and has a tip end portion (22a) to be pressed, when a chip is to be suctioned, against the chip, includes a coupling member (30) that couples the drive rod (12) and the suction rod (22), in which the coupling member (30) has a first coupling part (31) that couples the drive rod (12), and a second coupling part (32) that couples the suction rod (22) in an integrated state, and the first coupling part (31) has a strain body part (311) that is formed to be thinner than the second coupling part (32) and supports the drive rod (12), and strain gauges (41) to (44) attached to the strain body part (311).

A casing element for a robot, the casing element including: at least one capacitive electrode, termed a measurement electrode, intended to be biased to a first AC electric potential that is different from a ground potential, at a working frequency; at least one electrode, termed a guard electrode, arranged beneath the at least one measurement electrode and intended to be biased to an AC electric potential, termed the guard potential, that is identical or substantially identical to the first potential at the working frequency; and at least one dielectric layer, termed a central dielectric layer, arranged between the at least one measurement electrode and the at least one guard electrode. A robot is also provided with at least such a casing element.

A control device includes: a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control a robot provided with a force sensor, wherein the processor is configured to display a first detection result in which specific position information indicating a specific position of the robot and force information output from a force sensor correspond to each other on a display, in a case where robot inspects an operation component that outputs an electric signal corresponding to an operation.

An axial load management system for a turbomachine including a rotating drivetrain, a thrust bearing assembly, a sensor, and a valve supply line. The rotating drivetrain includes a compressor section and an expander section fluidly coupled together by a closed flowpath. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust runner, a thrust bearing housing, and a gas thrust bearing extending between the thrust runner and the thrust bearing housing. Further, the gas thrust bearing supports the rotating drivetrain. The sensor is attached to at least one of the thrust bearing housing or the gas thrust bearing. The valve supply line is fluidly coupled to the closed flowpath. A valve positioned within the valve supply line selectively allows a working fluid to flow between the closed flowpath and a thrust chamber defined by a rotating surface and a fixed surface to modify an axial load on the rotating drivetrain.

A computer system generates a tactile force model for a tactile force sensor by performing a number of calibration tasks. In various embodiments, the calibration tasks include pressing the tactile force sensor while the tactile force sensor is attached to a pressure gauge, interacting with a ball, and pushing an object along a planar surface. Data collected from these calibration tasks is used to train a neural network. The resulting tactile force model allows the computer system to convert signals received from the tactile force sensor into a force magnitude and direction with greater accuracy than conventional methods. In an embodiment, force on the tactile force sensor is inferred by interacting with an object, determining the motion of the object, and estimating the forces on the object based on a physical model of the object.

A drive unit for providing drive from a robot arm to an instrument comprises a plurality of drive elements for engaging corresponding elements of the instrument, and a load cell structure. Each drive element is movable along a drive axis and the drive axes of each of the drive elements are substantially parallel to each other. The load cell structure includes a plurality of deflectable bodies coupled to the drive elements for sensing load on the drive elements parallel to their drive axes, and a frame. The frame includes an integral member supporting the deflectable bodies in such a way as to isolate each deflectable body from the load applied to the or each other deflectable body.