An appliance includes: at least one measurement electrode, for detecting at least one object in a detection zone, by detecting a signal with respect to a coupling capacitance between the object and said the at least one measurement electrode; at least one capacitive detection electronics, connected to the at least one measurement electrode, and an electric line, having at least one electric wire, in the detection zone;
the appliance also including a signal conditioner, applying to at least a portion of the electric line, an alternating electrical potential (V.sub.G), called guard potential, identical to the detection potential at the detection frequency. The appliance can be a robot, in particular a robotized arm, equipped with an electric line providing a power supply to a component part of the robot.

An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

A drive system (1) which is designed in particular as a robot (1a) and which has a fluid-operated linear drive (2), on the drive unit (7) of which linear drive, which drive unit can be driven so as to perform a drive movement (8), there is mounted an electrically and fluidically operable working unit (3). The linear drive (2) is equipped with a control valve device (16) which can be actuated by means of an internal electronic control device (32) in order to move the drive unit (7). Two drive pressure sensor devices (113) and a travel measuring device (114) are connected to the internal electronic control device (32), such that a position-controlled operation of the drive unit (8) is possible. The drive system (1) furthermore includes a flexible electrical cable arrangement (97) and a flexible fluid hose arrangement (95), which are fixed to the drive unit (7) and which serve for the supply of electricity and fluid to the working unit (3).

An agricultural robot is disclosed, the agricultural robot comprising a chassis comprising a plurality of ground-engaging mechanisms for propelling the robot in a direction of travel; a supply module mounted on the chassis and comprising a fluid providing unit, a power providing unit, a supply interface operatively connected to the fluid providing unit and to the power providing unit and for providing at least one of fluid and power; and a controller for operating the plurality of ground-engaging mechanisms and the supply interface.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.

A device (10) for monitoring a retraction system (100) includes at least one capacitor (14) connected to at least one spring (12) in such a manner that the connection of the at least one spring (12) and the at least one capacitor (14) forms a tuned circuit (16). A frequency determination component (20) is provided and is designed to determine information regarding a frequency of the tuned circuit (16). An evaluation unit (30) is designed to derive information regarding a length of the at least one spring (12) from the information regarding the frequency of the tuned circuit (16).

A linear motion mechanism has a plurality of linear motion elements assembled telescopically in multiple stages, and a block row connected to the linear motion elements and configured to drive the linear motion elements. A drive mechanism feeds the block row from an accommodating portion to extend the linear motion elements and pulls back the block row to the housing to contract the linear motion elements. The wire body is wired along the block row. A detour member is provided to absorb the excess length of the wire body which varies as the block row is fed and pulled back.

A guide device for guiding a conduit or a medium includes a guide element which delimits a guide channel in which the conduit or the medium is accommodatable and guidable. The guide element has a first layer and a second layer which are disposed one inside the other, are pliable, and delimit a chamber system which is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The chamber system has a plurality of chambers. The first layer and the second layer are impermeable to a fluid. By acting upon the chamber system with the fluid, the guide element, which is intrinsically pliable, is stiffenable and thereby converted into a rigid state.

A robot device includes a first link configured to rotate on a first axis, a second link supported by a tip-end part of the first link so as to be rotatable on a second axis, and a hand part supported by a tip-end part of the second link. When one direction perpendicular to the first axis is a first perpendicular direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the first axis and the first perpendicular direction is a second perpendicular direction, the second axis extends in parallel to the first perpendicular direction and is deviated from the first axis in the second perpendicular direction.