A gripping apparatus includes a palm member; a plurality of finger members configured to couple to the palm member, each of the plurality of finger members comprising a plurality of phalange members arranged in series along a longitudinal axis of the finger member, each phalange member being formed of an elastomer; a multilayer finger membrane configured to encapsulate the plurality of phalange members, the multilayer finger membrane being formed of multiple material layers, including a strain limiting layer configured to limit the multilayer finger membrane from stretching; and a coupling end portion configured to couple to the palm member and includes an opening configured for fluid communication with a vacuum system, wherein each of the plurality of finger members is configured to bend based on vacuum pressure actuation generated by the vacuum system via the opening of the coupling end portion of the finger member.

A method for controlling an ambulatory exoskeleton (1) linked to a user (100), comprising the following steps: —measuring only the vertical component (Z.sub.Ng, Z.sub.Nd) of the pressure (R.sub.d, R.sub.g) under each foot (123, 133) of the user (1); —controlling actuators (40, 41, 42, 43) such that the vertical component (Z.sub.Ed, Z.sub.Eg) of the resultant of the balancing forces (R.sub.Eg, R.sub.Ed) applied to the exoskeleton (1) and exerted by each foot (23, 33) of the exoskeleton (1) on the ground is a function of the vertical component (Z.sub.Ng, Z.sub.Nd) of the pressure (R.sub.d, R.sub.g) measured under the corresponding foot (123, 133) of the user (100).

An example robotic arm includes a base linkage and a first end effector connected to a second end of the base linkage through a first rotational joint. The robotic arm additionally includes a control arm. The control arm includes a first linkage and a second linkage, each having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first linkage is connected to the second end of the base linkage through a second rotational joint. The first end of the second linkage is connected to the second end of the first linkage through a third rotational joint. The control arm also includes a second end effector connected to the second end of the second linkage through a fourth rotational joint. The first, second, third, and fourth rotational joints are configured to rotate in or parallel to a first plane.

An end of arm tool subassembly includes three identical linear drive mechanisms connected directly together to provide three directions of movement. Each linear drive mechanism includes a base defined by a longitudinal axis and a slide movably coupled to the base. The base has at least one mounting surface disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis and an end mounting surface disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The slide traverses in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and has a slide mounting surface thereon. One of the identical linear drive mechanisms is directly attached to the end mounting surface of the base of another linear drive mechanism to provide two of the three directions of movement.

A method for assembling a humanoid type robot comprises two elements and an articulation with freedom in rotation linking the two elements about an axis, the articulation mounted and dismantled to join and separate the two elements. The robot comprises: a box with circular section fixed to a first element and extending along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the articulation, a cable having two ends, a first is connected to the first element and a second is connected to the second element. The cable is partly wound in the box about the axis of the box and extends out of the box to its second end. Between a separated and joined configuration of the two elements, an elasticity of the cable allows it to be wound in the box. The robot is assembled by connecting the cable at its two ends then mechanically mounting the articulation.

A soft joint gripper based on 4D printing comprises a palm body and five soft finger units connected with the palm body; each soft finger unit is provided with two soft finger joints and two finger bones; the finger bones are made of 3D printing resin; the soft finger joints are two symmetrical double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuators; the double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuator is made of a 4D printing liquid crystal elastomer and a polyimide electrothermal film, and the bending angle of each double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuator is changed by energization or heating stimulation; and the double-layer film soft finger joint actuator is used to control the soft finger unit to perform reversible bending motion. Accurate control of the soft joint gripper can be realized.

A method of producing a product includes a preparation step of preparing a member that constitutes a part of the product, a fixing step of positioning and fixing the member on a plate, a mounting step of positioning and mounting the plate on which the member has been fixed on an additive manufacturing apparatus, a shaping step of forming a shaped portion adhering to the upper surface of the member, a dismounting step of dismounting the plate on which the member bearing the shaped portion formed thereon is fixed from the additive manufacturing apparatus, and a separation step of separating the member bearing the shaped portion formed thereon from the plate.

A gripping tool, usable on a manipulator device for picking up and handling items includes a support frame extending along a first axis, provided with an attachment element for connecting to the manipulator device; and a plurality of gripping devices distributed in assemblies. Each assembly is carried by a respective auxiliary frame connected to the support frame by means of respective connecting members configured to be able to adjust the auxiliary frames and the gripping devices in position with respect to the support frame.

The invention relates to a modular exoskeleton structure that provides force assistance to a user, comprising a base module (1) comprising a lumbar belt (11) capable of surrounding the lower trunk of the user, two hip modules capable of being attached to two respective thighs of the user, and a backpack support module (14) for an exoskeleton structure, comprising: a hoop (141) designed to be anchored to the hip modules, at the hips of a user, a support rod (142) designed to extend along the back of the user and capable of being engaged in a pouch of a backpack to suspend the backpack to the backpack support module (14), wherein the rod (142) comprises a first rod element (1421) connected to the hoop (141), a second rod element (1422) capable of sliding with respect to the first rod element (1421) so as to vary a length of the rod (142), and a damper for cushioning the movement of the second rod element (1421) with respect to the first rod element (1422) caused by the walking of the user.

A method configures a workpiece-related workpiece holding device for press automation. At least one workpiece-specific holding element of the workpiece holding device is configurably secured to a support of the workpiece holding device in at least one degree of configuration freedom. The method has the steps of (a) imaging a real image of the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on a display device and (b) outputting configuration information relating to the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on the display device, the configuration information including at least one piece of reference information relating to a relative reference orientation and/or a relative reference position of at least one region of a workpiece-specific holding element relative to the support.