A constant velocity joint having driving and driven pivot arm segments coupled together with a pivotal bearing element provides high power density transmission through a large dynamic angle. The constant velocity joint may be configured for axial movement, such as a plunge capability, or may be a fixed center joint.

Surgical tools having a two degree-of-freedom wrist, wrist articulation by linked tension members, mechanisms for transmitting torque through an angle, and minimally invasive surgical tools incorporating these features are disclosed. An elongate intermediate wrist member is pivotally coupled with a distal end of an instrument shaft so as to rotate about a first axis transverse to the shaft, and an end effector body is pivotally coupled with the intermediate member so as to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. Linked tension members interact with attachment features to articulate the wrist. A torque-transmitting mechanism includes a coupling member, coupling pins, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the driven shaft so as to control the relative orientations of the drive shaft, the coupling member, and the driven shaft.

Electronic device processing systems may include a mainframe housing having a transfer chamber, a first carousel assembly, a second carousel assembly, a first load lock, a second load lock, and a robot adapted to operate in the transfer chamber to exchange substrates between the first and second carousels and the first and second load locks. The robot may include first and second end effectors operable to extend and/or retract simultaneously or sequentially along substantially co-parallel lines of action. Methods and multi-axis robots for transporting substrates are described, as are numerous other aspects.

A robot includes a robot controller that is designed and configured to execute a robot program, and a robot arm having at least three joints connected by links and a number of drives corresponding to the at least three joints. Each drive is designed to adjust one of the at least three joints allocated to the drive. The joints can be actuated in an automated manner in accordance with the robot program or in a manual drive mode by the robot controller to automatically adjust the associated joint, wherein at least one of the links includes a force measuring device designed to measure a force on the link in a predetermined direction.

A collaborative robot motion gauge determines a motion of a collaborative robot and includes: a bar; a dextral metrology member disposed on the bar; a dextral motion coupler moveably disposed on the bar; a dextral displacement sensor disposed on the dextral metrology member in communication with the dextral motion coupler; a dextral arm coupler disposed on the dextral motion coupler and that: couples to a dextral arm of the collaborative robot to the dextral motion coupler; communicates motion of the dextral arm to the dextral displacement sensor; and moves the dextral motion coupler in response to motion of the dextral arm; a sinistral metrology member disposed on the bar at a sinistral position; a sinistral motion coupler; a sinistral displacement sensor in communication with the sinistral motion coupler; and a sinistral arm coupler that couples a sinistral arm to the sinistral motion coupler.

A combination component handling and connecting device connectable to a multi-axis robot for use in moving and connecting components and subassemblies includes a housing and an actuator fixedly connected to the housing. The actuator includes an actuating link movable from a first position to a second position. Connected to the actuating link is an end effector for concurrent movement with the actuating link. The component handling and connecting device includes a clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is connected to the actuating link for selectively moving the second jaw toward the first jaw operative to engage a component.

Joint coupling links of robot arm to each other includes: plurality of plate-shaped segments lined up in plate thickness direction; and operating wires extending through plurality of segments in plate thickness direction. Groove extending in second direction and having partially circular cross section is provided at first-direction middle portion of main surface out of two main surfaces of adjacent segments, two main surfaces facing each other in plate thickness direction. Projection extending in second direction and having partially circular cross section is provided at first-direction middle portion of main surface. Curvature of projection is larger than curvature of groove. Projection is fitted in groove, and bottom portion of groove and top portion of projection contact each other. Dimension of projection in plate thickness direction is larger than dimension of groove in plate thickness direction and smaller than length of line connecting bottom portion of groove and edge portion of groove.

A planar flexure member for resisting rotation about a central axis thereof includes, in various embodiments, a central portion comprising a plurality of attachment points; and at least one serpentine flexure arm extending from the central portion in a plane. The arm(s) terminate in an arcuate mounting rail that includes a series of attachment points. The rails are positioned in opposition to each other to partially define and occupy a planar circular envelope radially displaced from but surrounding the central portion of the flexure member. A portion of the serpentine arms may extend to (or substantially to) the envelope between the mounting rails.

A joint for constructions includes a first element having a first coupling interface, a second element having a second coupling interface, and an interface element configured for coupling to the first coupling interface and the second coupling interface to impose a desired relative angular position on the first element and the second element of the joint. The interface element includes a first positioning structure configured for engaging with the first coupling interface, and includes a second positioning structure configured for engaging with the second coupling interface. The first positioning structure and the second positioning structure of the interface element are angularly staggered with respect to one another.

Surgical tools having a two degree-of-freedom wrist, wrist articulation by linked tension members, mechanisms for transmitting torque through an angle, and minimally invasive surgical tools incorporating these features are disclosed. An elongate intermediate wrist member is pivotally coupled with a distal end of an instrument shaft so as to rotate about a first axis transverse to the shaft, and an end effector body is pivotally coupled with the intermediate member so as to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. Linked tension members interact with attachment features to articulate the wrist. A torque-transmitting mechanism includes a coupling member, coupling pins, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the driven shaft so as to control the relative orientations of the drive shaft, the coupling member, and the driven shaft.