A robot according to an embodiment includes a flange, a wrist arm, a forearm, a feeder, and a power cable. The flange configured so that a welding torch is attached thereto and configured to rotate about a T axis. The wrist arm configured to rotate about a B axis substantially perpendicular to the T axis and configured to support the flange. The forearm configured to support the wrist arm. The feeder attached to a position between a base end and a tip end of the forearm and configured to feed a welding wire. The power cable is a supply route of electricity to the welding torch and is provided separately from a feeding route of the welding wire.

A quick change end effector system for use with a robot includes: a quick change end effector configured for application to a task to be completed by a robot, the quick change end effector further comprising an end effector magnet; and a robotic manipulator configured to lock to the end effector, the robotic manipulator further configured to use the end effector to complete the task, the robotic manipulator comprising a manipulator magnet, the manipulator magnet being configured to magnetically attract the end effector magnet, thereby locking the manipulator in a mechanically strong connection to the quick change end effector, wherein upon disengagement of the magnetic attraction locking the manipulator to the quick change end effector, the quick change end effector can be quickly removed from the manipulator.

A robotic controller for autonomous calibration and inspection of two or more solar surfaces wherein the robotic controller includes a drive system to position itself near a solar surface such that onboard sensors may be utilized to gather information about the solar surface. An onboard communication unit relays information to a central processing network, this processor combines new information with stored historical data to calibrate a solar surface and/or to determine its instantaneous health.

A fabrication apparatus and system for facilitating three dimensional motion of an object within the system. The apparatus and system utilizing a delta style manipulation system having a plurality of guide rails and corresponding gliders. The guide rails having an extended axial body having rigid side wall with a hollow interior cavity. The guide rail further including a key or slot extending through the side wall, the key or slot being parallel to a main central axis of each guide rail. A corresponding glider is provided for each guide rail, each glider having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion substantially encompasses the guide rail about an outer surface, and the interior portion being coupled to a driving mechanism which facilitates axial motion of the glider about the guide rail.

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.

An industrial robot may include a robot main body; and an elevating mechanism to raise and lower the robot main body. The robot main body may include a hand, an arm to which the hand is joined, a main body portion to which the arm is joined, and an arm-elevating mechanism. The center of rotation on the base end side of the arm may be located farther toward the third direction side than the center of the main body unit when viewed in the up-down direction. In the standby state, part of the arm may be positioned farther toward the fourth direction side than the main body unit. The main body unit may be secured to the elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism may be arranged on one or both sides of the main body unit in the first direction and/or on the fourth direction side.

An industrial robot includes a robot main body and an elevating mechanism to raise and lower the robot main body. The robot main body may include a hand, an arm to which the hand is joined, a main body portion to which the arm is joined, and an arm-elevating mechanism. The center of rotation on the base end side of the arm may be located farther toward the third direction side than the center of the main body unit when viewed in the up-down direction. In the standby state, part of the arm may be positioned farther toward the fourth direction side than the main body unit. The main body unit may be secured to the elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism may be arranged on one or both sides of the main body unit in the first direction and/or on the fourth direction side.

An apparatus including at least one drive; a first robot arm having a first upper arm, a first forearm and a first end effector. The first upper arm is connected to the at least one drive at a first axis of rotation. A second robot arm has a second upper arm, a second forearm and a second end effector. The second upper arm is connected to the at least one drive at a second axis of rotation which is spaced from the first axis of rotation. The first and second robot arms are configured to locate the end effectors in first retracted positions for stacking substrates located on the end effectors at least partially one above the another. The first and second robot arms are configured to extend the end effectors from the first retracted positions in a first direction along parallel first paths located at least partially directly one above the other. The first and second robot arms are configured to extend the end effectors in at least one second direction along second paths spaced from one another which are not located above one another. The first upper arm and the first forearm have different effective lengths. The second upper arm and the second forearm have different effective lengths.

A solar panel dispensing device comprising a hopper and a robotic arm. The hopper includes a base and a frame defining an interior volume and being configured to contain solar panels therein supported in an upright position. The robotic arm is moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom. The robotic arm includes a solar panel end effector operable to acquire a lead solar panel oriented in the upright orientation. The solar panel end effector includes an interfacing orientation and a release orientation; The robotic arm further includes an arm actuator operable to move the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation. The interfacing orientation and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector correspond respectively to the solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

An apparatus including a drive, a first robot arm, a mechanical drive transmission, and a second robot arm. The first robot arm includes a first upper arm, a first forearm and a first end effector, where the first upper arm is connected to the drive at a first axis of rotation, and where the first end effector comprises two laterally spaced substrate holding areas. The mechanical drive transmission connects the drive to the first forearm at a first joint between the first upper arm and the first forearm for the drive to rotate the first forearm, where the mechanical drive transmission includes at least one non-circular pulley and a first band. The second robot arm includes a second upper arm, a second forearm and a second end effector, where the second upper arm is connected to the drive at the first axis of rotation.