A robotic arm that extends in a longitudinal direction includes a pivot assembly that pivots a gripping portion around an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the robotic arm, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the robotic arm, and between at least a maximum-left position, a maximum-right position, and a centered position. The pivot assembly includes a first actuator that extends and retracts a first cable coupled to a left side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion. The pivot assembly further includes a second actuator that extends and retracts a second cable coupled to a right side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion.

A component is conveyed in a conveyor direction through a painting installation by conveyor. The component surface of the component to be painted is subdivided into surface painting modules which lie one behind the other in the conveyor direction. The individual painting modules of the component surface are painted one after the other using a multi-axis painting robot that has an atomizer. The painting robot guides the atomizer, within each one painting module, along a painting path and across the component surface of the painting module. The painting path has at least one path section running transverse to the component edge. Within the painting module, the painting path can comprise at least one path section that runs substantially parallel to the component edge.

A robot system includes a robot including a robot arm, and a first hand and a second hand which are connected to the robot arm and which are provided to independently rotate about an axis on the robot arm; and a controller configured to control an operation of the robot. When the robot arm and the first hand are operated so that the first hand reaches a predetermined target position, teaching values for the first hand in the target position is generated. When the first hand and the second hand are rotated based on the teaching values for the first hand, a relative error in rotation amount around the axis between the first hand and the second hand is acquired and stored in a memory. Teaching values for the second hand is generated from the teaching values for the first hand based on the acquired relative error.

Systems and methods for robotic positioning of multiple tools. The system may include one or more robotic devices, multiple tools, and one or more controllers. The one or more robotic devices are each configured to connect to the tools, move the tools to a desired work position, and release the tools at the work position. The tools are able to operate mechanically independently from the robotic devices to perform an operation at the position to which they are delivered. After releasing the tools, the robotic devices are able to perform other operations including moving additional tools to different work positions. The one or more controllers oversee the operation of the one or more robotic devices and tools and control the overall operation on a work piece.

An arm assembly and hand assembly for supporting metrology equipment is provided. The hand assembly includes a boom arm having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the arm assembly and a distal end coupled to a carriage assembly of the hand assembly. The carriage assembly is configured to support the metrology equipment in such a way so as to align the center of gravity of the metrology equipment substantially at the center of rotation of the hand assembly. The arm assembly includes an upper arm that is supported by way of a first counterbalance mechanism and/or a first brake mechanism and a forearm extending from a distal end of the upper arm, the forearm being supported by a second counterbalance mechanism and/or a second brake mechanism by way of a drive assembly. A hub assembly associated with a counterbalance mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism.

A robot includes a supporting unit that rotatably supports a first passive shaft part, and a first arm fixed to the first passive shaft part, wherein the first arm has an internal space overlapping with the first passive shaft part in a direction orthogonal to a center shaft of the first passive shaft part.

A method of towing or pushing an object using a micro-robot is provided that includes attaching a micro-robot, using a first dry adhesive, to a surface, where the dry adhesive includes micro wedges, where the micro wedges are attached to the surface when the micro wedges are in a deformed state, applying a load to the attached micro-robot, advancing the micro-robot, using a lifting element, where the lifting element includes a uni-directional footing, where the lifting element is disposed to detach the first dry adhesive and advance the micro-robot across the surface while the uni-directional footing is attached to the surface, where the detached first dry adhesive includes micro wedges in an free-standing state, where the load is advanced across the surface.

An industrial robot and control system including a high degree of cooperation between a human operator and the robot for increased safety. In an automatic operation mode, at least a first detection device detects the presence of a foreign body in the robot working area and the control system places the robot in a safe automatic operating mode. A second and third detection devices may be employed to detect possible impacts with the robot.

A robotic attacher includes a main arm that is suspended vertically from a rail, and a supplemental arm that is coupled to and extends horizontally from the main arm along a longitudinal axis. The supplemental arm includes a pivot assembly that pivots a gripping portion around a vertical axis that is substantially parallel to the main arm of the robotic attacher, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the supplemental arm, and between at least a maximum-left position, a maximum-right position, and a centered position. The pivot assembly includes a first actuator that extends and retracts a first cable coupled to a left side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion. The pivot assembly further includes a second actuator that extends and retracts a second cable coupled to a right side of the gripping portion in order to pivot the gripping portion.

A robotic surgery system comprises a mounting base, a plurality of surgical instruments, and an articulate support assembly. Each instrument is insertable into a patient through an associated minimally invasive aperture to a desired internal surgical site. The articulate support assembly movably supports the instruments relative to the base. The support generally comprises an orienting platform, a platform linkage movably supporting the orienting platform relative to the base, and a plurality of manipulators mounted to the orienting platform, wherein each manipulator movably supports an associated instrument.