A robot includes: an n-th arm (where n is at least one integer equal to or greater than 1) that includes a first portion and a second portion having a portion extending in a different direction from the first portion and is rotatable around an n-th rotation axis; and an (n+1)-th arm that is installed in the n-th arm to be rotatable around an (n+1)-th rotation axis as a different axis direction from a axis direction of the n-th rotation axis. The second portion is located closer to the (n+1)-th arm than the first portion. The n-th arm and the (n+1)-th arm are overlapable when viewed in the axis direction of the (n+1)-th rotation axis. The n-th rotation axis and the (n+1)-th rotation axis are separate from each other. A length of the (n+1)-th arm is equal to or less than 80% of a length of the second portion.

A robotic arm comprising an operation end, a base, a sensor unit and a control unit is provided. The operation end is connected to the base, and the operation end is configured to reach an operational area. The sensor unit provides a sensor signal according to the force applied by or the motion of an operator. When the operation end reaches the operational area, the control unit sets a fixed position on the robotic arm between the base and the operation end. When the sensor signal from the operator fulfills a default condition, the control unit moves the robotic arm away from the operator, without moving the fixed position on the robotic arm.

A manipulator, including: a drive unit for generating a driving force, and a treatment tool that is driven by the drive unit and attachable to and detachable from the drive unit, wherein the treatment tool includes: a distal end having at least one joint driven by the drive unit, a lock unit that is actuated to lock at least one of joints at the distal end, a lock-operating unit for operating the lock unit, and a control unit that is operated such that the lock unit is operated by the lock-operating unit and such that when the drive unit is driven, the drive unit is deactivated, and even with the treatment tool detached from the drive unit, the lock unit keeps on with locking.

A manipulator with two degrees of freedom and a surgical robot pivot a lower arm support under the driving of a second transmission structure so that a telescopic motion will be achieved with respect to a remote-center-of-motion (RCM); pivot a middle arm support under the driving of a first transmission structure and pivot an instrument assembly in the same way under the action of a first flexible member so that a pivoting motion will be achieved around the RCM. Therefore, the manipulator with two degrees of freedom is achieved.

Provided is a fixed point mechanism. In the fixed point mechanism, when a drive torque acts on a first connecting rod member (100) or a slide block device (110), the fixed point mechanism can realize a rotation movement around a fixed point; when a drive torque acts on a fourth connecting rod member (103) or a sixth connecting rod member (105), the fixed point mechanism can realize a telescopic movement relative to the fixed point; and when a drive torque acts on the first connecting rod member (100) or the slide block device (110), and another drive torque acts on the fourth connecting rod member (103) or the sixth connecting rod member (105), the fixed point mechanism can realize a rotation movement around the fixed point and a telescopic movement relative to the fixed point. That is, the fixed point mechanism has two degrees of freedom of the rotation movement around the fixed point and the telescopic movement relative to the fixed point.

Devices, systems, and methods for providing commanded movement of an end effector of a manipulator concurrent with a desired movement of one or more joints of the manipulator according to one or more consolidated null-space objectives. The null-space objectives may include a joint state combination, relative joint states, range of joint states, joint state profile, kinetic energy, clutching movements, collision avoidance movements, singularity avoidance movements, pose or pitch preference, desired manipulator configurations, commanded reconfiguration of the manipulator, and anisotropic emphasis of the joints. Methods include calculating multiple null-space movements according to different null-space objectives, determining an attribute for each and consolidating the null-space movements with a null-space manager using various approaches. The approaches may include applying weighting, scaling, saturation levels, priority, master velocity limiting, saturated limited integration and various combinations thereof.

A mechanism is constructed by twelve-axis geometry and controlled by spherical coordinate, so that all torques in twelve axes can be parallelly integrated. Timing belts, pulleys, hollow shafts, and spur gears onto four arc-link sets are included. Via these transmission components, base arc-links can be indirectly but synchronously rotated by base driving modules and terminal arc-links can be indirectly but synchronously rotated by terminal driving modules. The final output torque can be integrated via serial linking and parallel cooperating by the twelve rotating modules. Therefore, four arc-link sets work cooperatively and effectively in group but bear no burden each other. The mechanism can be applied to a multi-axis composite machining center machine or a multi-time element detection measuring bed and shoulder joints or hip joints corresponding to robots.

Techniques facilitating increased operational reliability for jib cranes are provided. In one example, a jib crane can comprise a mast, a shaft mechanism, and a rod. The mast can extend vertically from a base structure. The shaft mechanism can be disposed within the mast. The rod can be coupled to a boom arm and can be disposed within the shaft mechanism. Rotation of the rod can facilitate continuous rotation of the boom arm about a longitudinal axis of the rod with respect to the base structure.

A fun and affordable animated toy robot operates with varying degrees of autonomy and anthropomorphism. The robot may include a customized chipboard controller or computer, a power source, and may be constructed with specialized connectors, magnets, servo motors, generally less-sturdy (or pliable) thin materials, such as chipboard, card stock, cardboard, or the like, used for the body and limbs of the robot, and LEDs. The specialized connectors may be used to attach the servos to these materials. An application and the controller may be used to control the motion of the robot. Young children may be able to make the attachments to build the robot with little or without the help of adults or older children. Building and operating the robot may be fun activities for children and families, and may provide enjoyable learning activities about robotics.

A robotic surgical system includes a surgical tool including a drive housing having first and second ends, a carriage movably mounted to the drive housing, and an elongate shaft extending from the carriage and penetrating the first end, the shaft having an end effector arranged at a distal end. An instrument driver is arranged at an end of a robotic arm and includes a body having proximal and distal ends and defining a central aperture extending between the proximal and distal ends, the shaft and the end effector penetrate the instrument driver by extending through the central aperture, an outer housing extending between the proximal and distal ends, a tool drive assembly provided at the proximal end and extending into the outer housing, and a drive motor operatively coupled to the tool drive assembly and operable to cause the tool drive assembly to rotate relative to the outer housing.