Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. A manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.

A life prediction apparatus is configured to accurately predict a life of a cable wired at a joint part of a robot. The life prediction apparatus includes a fatigue-level estimation unit for estimating a fatigue level of the cable based on encoder information of an actuator which moves the joint part of the robot, and a life prediction unit for predicting the life of the cable based on a fatigue level of the cable estimated by the fatigue-level estimation unit and an allowable value of the cable.

The present invention enables to easily and accurately measure a joint of a robot apparatus, in particular, a lost motion of a driving system of the joint, and, to easily and accurately perform a diagnosis of a lifetime or a life expectancy of a joint mechanism of the robot apparatus based on a measured result.

A method verifies functional/structural integrity of a hand-held unconstrained master device to control a robotic system for medical or surgical teleoperation. The master device includes a body having two rigid parts constrained to relatively rotate or translate on a common axis. Position vectors of two-plus points are measured and/or detected, each belonging to a respective one of the two rigid parts, and measuring and/or detecting evolution of the position vectors. An orientation of each of the points, and the evolution of the orientations are measured and/or detected. Constraints from constructional/structural features of the master device are defined, deriving from degrees of freedom. Mathematical relations associated with each of the defined constraints are calculated based on detected and/or measured position vectors, orientations and evolutions. A state of functional/structural integrity or non-integrity of the master device is determined, based on verification of the mathematical relations and degrees of freedom.

Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. In an example, a manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.

In an approach to non-functional requirement testing of a robot, a computer determines one or more kinematic actions included in a received command. The computer determines at least one component of the robot included in an operation of the one or more kinematic actions. The computer determines at least one agent associated with the at least one component of the robot included in the one or more kinematic actions. The computer sends the one or more kinematic actions to the robot. In response to the robot performing the one or more kinematic actions, the computer receives, from the at least one agent, at least one characteristic of the performed one or more kinematic actions associated with the at least one component of the robot included in the one or more kinematic actions. The computer, based on the received at least one characteristic, generates one or more test results.

A method of performing a fit test on an actuator unit coupled to a user. The method includes determining a first configuration of the actuator unit while the actuator unit is in an un-actuating state and while the user is in a fit test position; actuating the actuator unit; determining a second configuration of the actuator unit generated in response to the actuating the leg actuator unit; determining a change in configuration of the actuator unit based at least in part on the difference between the first and second configuration; and determining that the change in configuration corresponds to an improper fit of the actuator unit to the user.

A diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.

An apparatus and a method for detecting damage to a linear guide on which a robot is mounted, by using a simple configuration. The apparatus has: a length measuring sensor configured to measure a position of a predetermined portion of the robot at predetermined time intervals; a current detecting section configured to detect a current value of a drive motor for driving a slide; and a judging section such as a processor, configured to, when the measured distance between the predetermined portion of the robot and the length measuring sensor is out of a range defined by a predetermined first threshold, and when the current value of the drive motor is equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold, judge that the linear guide has been damaged.

The present disclosure aims to provide an evaluation apparatus and an evaluation method capable of evaluating a walking assistance apparatus by simulating an actual person's walking motion. An evaluation apparatus 1 includes a placement part 5 on which a sole part of a walking assistance apparatus 4 to be evaluated is placed; an actuator 3 configured to apply a load to the walking assistance apparatus 4 in a direction of the placement part 5 in a state in which the sole part faces the placement part 5; and an actuator 6 configured to change a relative positional relation between the placement part 5 and the sole part.