An electronic movement-controlled apparatus that includes a camera and a movable arm is disclosed. The movable arm has both a stationary end and a movable end with the camera being attached to the movable end so as to be movable therewith. The stationary end is configured to be coupled to a rigid support structure. The movable arm includes a plurality of arm segments connected in series to form the movable arm. The arm segments are configured to have cooperating segment regions in terms of each of the arm segments being compressible and expandable in unison to move the movable end and effect a pan and tilt movement of the camera.

A patient-positioning device includes a first link designed as a base frame for fastening the patient-positioning device on a support surface, a second link mounted on the first link for rotation about a first axis of rotation by a first joint, and a third link mounted on the second link for rotation about a second axis of rotation by a second joint. The third link is arranged on the second link by the second joint in such a way that, with a floor mounting of the first link, the third link is arranged below the second link by the second joint in order to suspend the third link on the second link in an overhead arrangement by means of the second joint. The third link is mounted so as to be rotatable under the second link by the second joint.

A curved scissor linkage mechanism (1) includes at least four linkage elements (2) each having a first end (3) and a second end (4). The linkage elements are arranged to form sides of one or more rhombi or parallelograms. Each linkage element is rotationally connected to another linkage elements via a revolute joint (5) at the first end and is rotationally connected to another one of the other linkage elements via another revolute joint at the second end. The linkage elements are configured so that the axes of each joint coincide at one common remote centre of motion. The mechanism is connectable to a first external member (7) at a proximal end and is rotationally connectable to a second external member (9) at an opposite distal end to obtain three DOFs. The scissor linkage mechanism may further include a motion controlling mechanism.

A concentric tube steerable device includes a plurality of tubes having a nested, concentric configuration. The tubes include an outer tube and an inner tube that extends coaxially within the outer tube. The inner tube terminates at a tip, and a pose of the tip is effectuated through individual or collective rotation or translation of the tubes about a tube axis. The concentric tube steerable device includes an actuator for rotating at least one tube about a respective tube axis, and a translator for translating at least one tube along a respective tube axis. Each tube includes a precurved portion and a corresponding axis of precurvature. For at least one tube, a flexural rigidity of the tube along its axis of precurvature is less than a flexural rigidity of the tube along a second axis that is perpendicular to the axis of precurvature, thereby improving stability of the tube.

An arm-shaped structure includes a pipe-shaped main body and an attachment interface joined to at least one end of the main body and securable to another component. At least a portion of the main body and the attachment interface is formed by resin containing a continuous reinforcement fiber. The main body and the attachment interface are joined to each other in a state where relative movement along a longitudinal axis of the main body and around the longitudinal axis is prevented in accordance with engagement between a recess provided in one of the main body and the attachment interface and a protrusion provided in the other one of the main body and the attachment interface.

An industrial robot includes a lower arm portion including: a pair of proximal-end-side support parts; a pair of distal-end-side support parts; and a housing which integrally supports the proximal-end-side support parts and the distal-end-side support parts. The housing houses a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a first power transmission mechanism, a second power transmission mechanism, and a cable bundle. In the housing, the first power transmission mechanism and the second power transmission mechanism are disposed on an axial end side of either a first joint shaft or a second joint shaft, and the cable bundle is disposed on an axial end side of the other joint shaft.

A method for producing an arm structure in which the arm structure is produced by: forming an arm precursor member having an external shape of the arm structure by, in a state in which a die is closed with a metal pipe member being disposed in a cavity thereof, pressurizing the pipe member with liquid supplied to an inside thereof to cause an external surface of the thus expanded pipe member to be pressed against an inner surface of the cavity; and forming a flange portion to be attached to a driven body by machining at least an end of the formed arm precursor member.

A linkage mechanism includes a chest assembly of a robot; a servo arranged within the chest assembly and comprising an output shaft; a first linkage member including a first end and a second opposite end, the first end being connected to the output shaft; a forearm assembly rotatably connected to the second end of the first linkage member, and a second linkage member. Opposite ends of the second linkage member are rotatably connected to the chest assembly and the forearm assembly.

A robot is obtained by a multiple of arm units being continuously connected. Interlocked arm units have mutually coaxial and perfectly circular end faces in a connection portion thereof. One arm unit drives another arm unit so as to rotate centered on an axial line of the connection portion. The robot may include a unit having a curved external form as the arm unit.

A robot includes a robot main body including a base and a robot arm, a drive unit that drives the robot arm, and a wiring electrically connected to the drive unit, in which the robot arm includes a casing including a main body and a cover detachably connected to the main body, the drive unit includes a first pulley, a second pulley having a hollow hole, a belt connecting the first pulley and the second pulley, and a motor that generates a driving force for driving the robot arm and rotates the first pulley or the second pulley by the driving force, the wiring includes an insertion area inserted through the hollow hole of the second pulley and an intersection area intersecting with the belt as seen in a direction along a rotation axis of the second pulley.