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.

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 control system may receive sensor data indicative of respective fluid levels of two or more hydraulic accumulators configured to operate at respective target fluid levels within a hydraulic system. The control system may determine respective errors of the hydraulic accumulators based on the respective fluid levels and respective target fluid levels of the hydraulic accumulators. The respective errors may correspond to pressure errors, fluid volume errors, or other types of errors of the hydraulic accumulators. Responsive to determining the respective errors, the control system may determine that the error of a given hydraulic accumulator is greater than errors of the other hydraulic accumulators and provide instructions to control a hydraulic valve to supply fluid from a single pump of the hydraulic system to the given hydraulic accumulator

Example embodiments may relate to a robotic system that includes a hydraulic actuator and an electric actuator both coupled to a joint of the robotic system. Operation of the actuators may be based on various factors such as based on desired joint parameters. For instance, such desired joint parameters may include a desired output torque/force of the joint, a desired output velocity of the joint, a desired acceleration of the joint, and/or a desired joint angle, among other possibilities. Given a model of power consumption as well as a model of the actuators, the robotic system may determine operating parameters such as hydraulic and electric operating parameters as well as power system parameters, among others. The robotic system may then control operation of the actuators, using the determined operating parameters, to obtain the desired joint parameters such that power dissipation in the system is minimized (i.e., maximizing actuation efficiency).

A robotic actuator comprises a mass manufactured bellows, wherein the mass manufactured bellows allows a volume change by localized bending, and wherein the mass manufactured bellows is formed from a material that has a higher strength in at least two axes relative to at most one other axis, and an end effector, wherein the end effector is coupled to the manufactured bellows.

A control system may receive sensor data indicative of respective fluid levels of two or more hydraulic accumulators configured to operate at respective target fluid levels within a hydraulic system. The control system may determine respective errors of the hydraulic accumulators based on the respective fluid levels and respective target fluid levels of the hydraulic accumulators. The respective errors may correspond to pressure errors, fluid volume errors, or other types of errors of the hydraulic accumulators. Responsive to determining the respective errors, the control system may determine that the error of a given hydraulic accumulator is greater than errors of the other hydraulic accumulators and provide instructions to control a hydraulic valve to supply fluid from a single pump of the hydraulic system to the given hydraulic accumulator.

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 robotic actuator comprises a mass manufactured bellows, wherein the mass manufactured bellows allows a volume change by localized bending, and wherein the mass manufactured bellows is formed from a material that has a higher strength in at least two axes relative to at most one other axis, and an end effector, wherein the end effector is coupled to the manufactured bellows.

A robot hand capable of reducing the load moment applied on the wrist of the robot hand in lifting an article includes a base, a first hand arm, and a second hand arm. The first hand arm is mounted on the base, includes a holding part configured to hold the article, and is configured such that the holding part is movable between a first distal position away from the base in a first direction, and a first proximal position close to the base more than the first distal position. The second hand arm is mounted on the base, includes a counter balancer weight, and is configured such that the counter balancer weight is movable between a second distal position away from the base in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a second proximal position close to the base more than the second distal position.

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.