A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condition.

A device sized and shaped for insertion into a body comprising: at least one mechanical limb comprising: a support segment; a first flexible section extending from the support segment and terminating in a coupling section; and a second flexible section extending from the coupling section and terminating in a tool or a connector for a tool; wherein a long axis of one or more of the flexible sections is bendable in a single bending plane; wherein a long axis length of the first flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the first flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis; wherein a long axis length of the second flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the second flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis.

A method for operating a joint and a joint for connecting a first joint element to a further joint element are provided. The joint includes the two joint elements, a head element, a socket element, and at least two drive devices. The head element is connected to or formed by the first joint element and the socket element is connected to or formed by the further joint element. The head element and the socket element are mounted movably on one another, and the drive devices are connected via at least one flexible connecting element to the head element or the first joint element, or to the socket element or the further joint element. The at least one connecting element is guided at least section-wise along the head element.

A method for operating a joint and a joint for connecting a first joint element to a further joint element are provided. The joint includes the two joint elements, a head element, a socket element, and at least two drive devices. The head element is connected to or formed by the first joint element and the socket element is connected to or formed by the further joint element. The head element and the socket element are mounted movably on one another, and the drive devices are connected via at least one flexible connecting element to the head element or the first joint element, or to the socket element or the further joint element. The at least one connecting element is guided at least section-wise along the head element.

An unmanned aerial vehicle having a dynamic balance system that comprises a moveable battery support to secure a vehicle battery to the vehicle, the moveable battery support being attached to an actuator that will shift the moveable battery support relative to the vehicle body under the control of an electronic controller during vehicle operations to help maintain the balance and orientation of the vehicle.

An unmanned aerial vehicle having a dynamic balance system that comprises a moveable battery support to secure a vehicle battery to the vehicle, the moveable battery support being attached to an actuator that will shift the moveable battery support relative to the vehicle body under the control of an electronic controller during vehicle operations to help maintain the balance and orientation of the vehicle.

A first drive unit includes a motor having a rotation shaft in which a through hole is provided, a drive section rotating the rotation shaft, and a first case covering at least a part of the drive section. Further, the unit includes a reducer having an input portion engaging with one end portion of the rotation shaft, an attachment portion attached to the motor, and an output portion reducing and outputting rotation of the rotation shaft. Furthermore, the unit includes a first connector fixed to a third case of the motor and coupled to first wiring coupled to outside and a second connector fixed to the attachment portion of the reducer and coupled to second wiring coupled to the outside. In addition, the first drive unit includes internal wiring passing through the through hole and coupled to the first connector and the second connector.

A first drive unit includes a motor having a rotation shaft in which a through hole is provided, a drive section rotating the rotation shaft, and a first case covering at least a part of the drive section. Further, the unit includes a reducer having an input portion engaging with one end portion of the rotation shaft, an attachment portion attached to the motor, and an output portion reducing and outputting rotation of the rotation shaft. Furthermore, the unit includes a first connector fixed to a third case of the motor and coupled to first wiring coupled to outside and a second connector fixed to the attachment portion of the reducer and coupled to second wiring coupled to the outside. In addition, the first drive unit includes internal wiring passing through the through hole and coupled to the first connector and the second connector.

A deflection amount estimating device is provided for estimating an amount of deflection of a four-bar linkage structure part of a robotic arm. The four-bar linkage structure part swings in a given angle range. The deflection amount estimating device comprises processing circuitry configured to calculate a swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part; calculate a load received by the four-bar linkage structure part, determine a stiffness value, corresponding to the swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part, based on a stiffness-value determining function indicating a correlation between the stiffness value and the swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part, the stiffness value indicating a value of each element in a stiffness matrix associating the load with the amount of deflection of the four-bar linkage structure part; and calculate the amount of deflection of the four-bar linkage structure part based on the load and the stiffness matrix.

A deflection amount estimating device is provided for estimating an amount of deflection of a four-bar linkage structure part of a robotic arm. The four-bar linkage structure part swings in a given angle range. The deflection amount estimating device comprises processing circuitry configured to calculate a swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part; calculate a load received by the four-bar linkage structure part, determine a stiffness value, corresponding to the swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part, based on a stiffness-value determining function indicating a correlation between the stiffness value and the swing angle of the four-bar linkage structure part, the stiffness value indicating a value of each element in a stiffness matrix associating the load with the amount of deflection of the four-bar linkage structure part; and calculate the amount of deflection of the four-bar linkage structure part based on the load and the stiffness matrix.