An example device includes an inner element, an outer surrounding element, and a plurality of connecting flexural elements coupled between the inner element and the outer surrounding element. The inner element has a plurality of reflective surface areas that are configured to reflect light to a sensor. The outer surrounding element surrounds the inner element. The plurality of connecting flexural elements allow the inner element to move relative to the outer surrounding element.

The robotic gripping assist (RGA) provides a user with additional grip strength by supporting and forcefully pushing a user's fingers and hand to a gripping position. Motors are supported on a user's forearm and act as a source for the forced movement. A flexible member is worn on the back of a user's hand. The motors individually draw in or let out wires that cause the flexible member to move from a gripping to non-gripping position, and may pivot the flexible member laterally to provide for ulnar and radial wrist flexion. By bending the flexible member downward, through reeling in wires below the member, the attached fingers of the user are forced into a gripping position. Lateral movement is provided by reeling in the wires on the side of the intended bending direction.

An autonomous mobile robot includes a flexible member including a polymer layer extending along an entire length of the flexible member, and an end portion vertically movable away from a body of the robot. A first portion of a fastening mechanism extends along a first lateral edge of the polymer layer and a second portion of the fastening mechanism extends along a second lateral edge of the polymer layer. The first portion of the fastening mechanism is attached to the second portion of the fastening mechanism and forms a conduit to support the image capture device. The conduit includes an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface of the conduit is at least partially defined by the polymer layer. An image capture device is mounted to an end portion of the flexible member.

There is provided a robotic end effector assembly having a base configured to be connected to a robot. The base includes a robot adapter coupled to a base plate. The robotic end effector assembly further has a spindle support plate positioned substantially parallel with and coupled to the base plate, via two flexure members. The robotic end effector assembly further has a spindle disposed on the spindle support plate. The robotic end effector assembly further has an actuator coupled between the base plate and the spindle support plate. The actuator is configured to engage an actuator mount attached to the spindle support plate, to displace the spindle support plate. The flexure members inhibit an off-axis drilling motion, as the spindle support plate is displaced.

Underactuated robotic manipulators may include a plurality of links rotatably or rigidly coupled to one another at a plurality of joints. The links may include driven links that are driven to grasp an object to be held, driving links that are actuated by an actuator to drive movement of the driven links, and a plurality of connecting links that couple the driving links to the driven links. Such manipulators may include a plurality of driven links and associated touch points, and a plurality of independent degrees of freedom, and be driven by a single actuator, making them underactuated.

The device includes at least: a bar longitudinally mobile along an axis of symmetry provided at one end with a plate; a first rigid connection and a second rigid connection which are symmetrical about the axis, each ending in a jaw, the two jaws forming a gripper clamp able to pick up an object; two pairs of flexible beams which are symmetrical about the axis, the beams each being connected by one end to one of the rigid connections, the other end being fixed, and guiding the movements of the rigid connections perpendicular to the axis, the ends of a pair of beams forming a parallelogram; two pairs of flexible beams which are symmetrical about the axis, the beams each being connected by one end to one of the rigid connections, the other end being connected to the bar, and guiding the movements of the bar parallel to the axis, the ends of a pair of beams forming a parallelogram.

A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position, wherein the position informed inspection data comprises absolute position data.

An inspection robot may include an inspection chassis and a drive module with magnetic wheels coupled to the inspection chassis. The drive module may further include a motor and a gear box located between the motor and a magnetic wheels. The gear box may include a flex spline cup which interacts with the ring gear. The inspection robot may further include a magnetic shielding assembly to shield the motor and an associated electromagnetic sensor from electromagnetic interference generated by the magnetic wheels.

Systems and methods for supporting an arm of a user that include a harness configured to be worn by the user, an arm support coupled to the harness to support and follow movement of an arm of the user as the arm is raised and lowered; and compensation elements coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to the arm support to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the arm is raised and lowered, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm support. The compensation elements may include a spring and a pivoting pulley coupled to the spring by a band, the pulley shaped to modify the offset force as the arm bracket is raised and lowered and the band causes the pulley to rotate.

A device for a microactuator comprises a body (110), two terminal members (20, 22) articulated (136, 138) on the body (110), which are situated on one side of the latter, and two deformable bowl-shaped walls (120, 122) which face one another. The walls are configured to house an actuator, with two respective first edges (1202, 1222) of these walls (120, 122) situated on one side being fixed (1264) to the body (110), whereas two respective second edges (1204, 1224) of these walls (120, 122) situated on another side move consecutively to a deformation of the walls (120, 122) under the effect of the actuator. This movement is transmitted by two arms (132, 134) which terminate at the two respective terminal members (20, 22).