A platform for a parallel robot, for acting on an object, including: at least two frames comprising at least two pairs of swivels; at least two bridges that are connected to each of the frames respectively by four hinges which are substantially parallel to an axial direction (V); and a base to be connected to an effector, which is suitable for acting on the object. The base is connected to each bridge respectively by at least one hinge which is oriented along a connection axis which is substantially parallel to the axial direction.

A gripping device comprises multiple flexures configured to couple predetermined linkages, a fixed linkage, and an input linkage disposed partially above the fixed linkage. The input linkage comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. Each end portion comprises an output linkage comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, a jaw disposed on the first end portion of the output linkage, and an initial damper linkage disposed below the fixed linkage. The initial damper linkage is coupled with the fixed linkage, the corresponding end portion of the input linkage, and the second end portion of the output linkage. At least one auxiliary damper linkage is disposed below the fixed linkage and adjacent to the initial damper linkage. The at least one auxiliary damper linkage is coupled to the fixed linkage and the second end portion of the output linkage.

A track-wheel based device is disclosed. The track-wheel based device may include a longitudinal member substantially perpendicular to an axis of motion of the track-wheel based device. The track-wheel based device may further include a first lateral member and a second lateral member, each being substantially parallel to the axis of motion of the track-wheel based device. The longitudinal member may be coupled to the first lateral member at a first location of the first lateral member and to the second lateral member at a first location of the second lateral member. The first lateral member and the second lateral member may be configured to undergo a relative angular rotation, in response to a planar misalignment of four or more points of contact between two or more guide tracks for the track-wheel based device and the track-wheel based device.

A MEMS manipulation device has first and second manipulation arms carrying respective mutually facing gripping elements. At least the first manipulation arm is formed by a driving arm and by an articulated arm hinged together through an articulation structure. The first driving arm includes a first beam element and a first piezoelectric region on the first beam element. The first articulation structure includes a first connecting element not deformable in the thickness direction, as well as a first hinge structure interposed between the first driving arm, the first articulated arm, and the first connecting element.

There is provided an assistance apparatus in which when assistance provided to a user in walking is to be stopped, a motor reduces a tension of a first wire and a tension of a second wire, which couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and a back part of a body of the user, to less than a second threshold value during a first stop period in a gait phase of a left leg of the user, the first stop period being a period from a period included in a first period and including a timing at which the left leg shifts from a stance phase to a swing phase to a start period of a second period, and reduces a tension of a third wire and a tension of a fourth wire, which couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, to less than the second threshold value during a second stop period in a gait phase of a right leg of the user, the second stop period being a period from a period included in a third period and including a timing at which the right leg shifts from the stance phase to the swing phase to a start period of a fourth period.

An edible soft robot system may be used to display and/or interact with edible inflatable objects. In an embodiment, the edible inflatable object is configured to receive a fluid in an internal compartment. The edible inflatable object may be reversibly coupled to a container, wherein coupling the edible inflatable object to the container comprises aligning a port of the edible inflatable object to a fluid conduit to fluidically couple the internal compartment to the fluid conduit. A control system of the edible soft robot system is configured to receive instructions to adjust inflation of the internal compartment by activating fluid flow into or out of the internal compartment via the fluid conduit, wherein adjusting inflation of the internal compartment causes the edible inflatable object to actuate on or within the container.

The present disclosure relates to a bionic pneumatic soft gripping device, which comprises a flexible sleeve, a connecting base, a pneumatic artificial muscle, a flexible holder, and a gap tube. The flexible sleeve is an annular jacket-like structure. The flexible holder is a tubular hollow structure having openings at both ends thereof. The pneumatic artificial muscle is wound on the flexible holder. The flexible sleeve is sleeved on the flexible holder connected with the pneumatic artificial muscle through the opening of the flexible sleeve. The pneumatic artificial muscle is connected to the tube joint via a fastening sleeve, and the tube joint is connected to the gap tube. The bionic pneumatic flexible gripping device of the present disclosure has the advantages of large gripping force and compliancy, and can effectively grip objects in various shapes within its gripping size range.

An active clamping device for holding a container in a container treatment device, for example for holding a beverage container by a neck section, includes two clamping arms and a pre-tensioning element. Each clamping arm has a holding section for holding the container that is to be held, and a control section for interacting with a control cam to actively displace each holding section. The pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the holding sections in a predetermined position. The clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece. A clamping arm and a container treatment device are also provided.

Various embodiments for fast prototyping of morphologies and controllers related to locomotion for a robotic device are disclosed.

An electrically-actuated artificial muscle fiber with bidirectional linear strain and a preparation method thereof are provided. The artificial muscle fiber includes a fiber matrix, electrode layers and insulating layers. The artificial muscle fiber takes the fiber matrix as a skeleton, upper and lower layers of the fiber matrix are covered with one electrode layer respectively, and one insulating layer is covered on a surface of each of electrode layers. A helical fiber body is formed by winding. Finally, the artificial muscle fiber is formed through packaging, where metal wires are taken as leads and respectively connected to upper and lower layers of electrodes.