There is set forth herein an articulated arm, the articulated arm comprising a first rigid link assembly and a second rigid link assembly. The articulated arm can be configured so that the second rigid link assembly rotates in relation to the first link assembly about a rotary axis. The articulated arm can include an actuator for causing rotary movement of the second rigid link assembly in relation to the first rigid link assembly about the rotary axis. The actuator can include a first fluid chamber, and a second fluid chamber. The articulated arm can include a fluid supply assembly for moving fluid into and out of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.

A solar actuator comprises a top coupler, a bottom coupler, and a plurality of fluidic bellows actuators, wherein a fluidic bellows actuator of the plurality of fluidic bellows actuators moves the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler.

A solar actuator comprises a top coupler, a bottom coupler, and a plurality of fluidic bellows actuators, wherein a fluidic bellows actuator of the plurality of fluidic bellows actuators moves the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler.

A fruit decapping apparatus and method, particularly suited for strawberries. The fruits items (100) are placed by a robotic arm (200) in a lateral aperture (310) of a plate (300), leaving the calyx (120) and the main body (130) below the plate (300). When the robotic arm (200) pulls from the peduncle (110), the plate (300) also pulls from an elastic connection (500). This movement is detected by a sensor (600) which activates a pair of blades (800) solidarily disposed under the lateral aperture (310) of the plate (300).

An intercepting device to inspect a driver including a chassis, an arm mounted on the chassis and articulable between a contracted position and a deployed position, a head assembly mounted on the arm assembly with a camera, a microphone, and a scanner that provides output image, sound, and scan signals commensurate with images, sounds, and documents of the driver, and an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the arm assembly, and the head assembly, and configured to send to the arm actuation signals to articulate the arm from the contracted position to the deployed position, and receive and transmit the output image, sound, and scan signals to a law enforcement electronic device.

Systems and methods for providing flexible robotic actuators are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include a soft robot capable of providing a radial deflection motions; a soft tentacle actuator capable of providing a variety of motions and providing transportation means for various types of materials; and a hybrid robotic system that retains desirable characteristics of both soft robots and hard robots. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter also include methods for operating the disclosed robotic systems.

A soft robot having an integrated electrical component includes an expandable or collapsible body, the body comprising an inlet that is configured to communicate with a fluid source and a flexible strain limited layer secured to a portion of the expandable or collapsible body, wherein the strain limited layer includes at least one electrical component.

A manufacturing assembly has at least a sterilizable chamber containing at least one of a three-dimensional printing device (additive manufacturing), a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) finishing head (subtractive manufacturing), a vacuum-forming unit, an injection-molding unit, a laser-cutting unit, a ultrasonic-welding unit, a robotic arman analysis device, a sampling device or a combination thereof. A plurality of individual sterilizable chambers may be aseptically connected into a network of sterilizable chambers that provides additional functionality for the manufacturing assembly. A sterilizable printer assembly may include at least one printing head, a printing platform, and a driving mechanism adapted to perform a movement of the at least one printing head relative to the printing platform along three degrees of freedom; a printer housing enclosing the printer assembly in a sterile manner, at least one aseptic connector fluidly connected to a corresponding one of the at least one printing head.

A robotic system includes a body including at least one attachment mechanism configured to removably couple a modular component to the body. The modular component includes at least one movable part operable to move relative to the body when the modular component is attached to the body. The system includes a communication interface coupled to the body and configured to be communicatively coupled to the modular component to receive information relating to the modular component and operation of the at least one movable part. The system includes a control system coupled to the body and the communication interface. The control system is configured to: in response to the modular component being attached to the body, receive the information from the modular component by way of the communication interface, and operate the at least one movable part of the modular component according to the information.

An example method includes identifying an operating state at which a velocity of a hydraulic actuator configured to operate a movable member of a robot is less than a threshold velocity and an actuator force is less than a threshold force, determining a valve command that corresponds to the operating state, such that the valve command is provided to a valve configured to control flow to and from the hydraulic actuator, and the valve includes a spool movable within a body of the valve, and the valve command causes the spool to move within the body of the valve to a position that induces the operating state, and determining a null bias signal based on the valve command.