A wearable exoskeleton comprises a back frame set and a lower limb link rod set. The back frame set comprises a sliding rod and an object seat. The object seat is coupled to the sliding rod and configured for carrying object. One end of the lower limb link rod set is coupled to the object seat. The back frame set is worn on the back of the user. The lower limb link rod set is worn on the lower limb of the user for responding to the flexing or erecting movements of the user's lower limb. When the other end of the lower limb link rod set contacts the ground with the action of the lower limb, the ground provides an upward reaction force, and the reaction force is transmitted to the object seat through the lower limb link rod set to push up the object.

A robot includes a movable unit displaced in horizontal directions and having a recessed part opening upward in a vertical direction, a connector placed within the recessed part, and a drain part that communicates between a bottom portion of the recessed part and an outside of the movable unit and drains a liquid within the recessed part out of the recessed part.

An embodiment includes an exoskeleton robotic system including: a first linkage; a bearing coupled to the first linkage; a joint including a motor configured to move the first linkage along the bearing; an axial load sensor configured to sense an axial force transmitted to the axial load sensor via the joint, the axial force including one of tension or compression but not torque; a bracket including first and second bracket locations and first and second arms; and a housing that includes at least part of the joint and which couples the bracket to the bearing. The bracket couples to the housing at the first bracket location and couples to the axial load sensor at the second bracket location. The first arm couples the second arm to the first bracket location, and the second arm couples the first arm to the second bracket location.

A method and system for sensing using a soft robotic system. The method and system uses displacement and/or deformation of elastomeric components, fibers, or liquids in the soil robotic system to change a visual state which is recordable in images by a digital camera. The displacement or deformation, or force applied to the soft robotic system is measured by analyzing the images using machine vision.

A multistable compliant mechanism is formed by connecting sequentially multiple basic units front to end to form a closed annular structure. Each basic unit includes two flexible hinges perpendicular to each other on different planes and two rigid connection parts for connecting the flexible hinges. The two flexible hinges are connected by a rigid connection part, and one of the flexible hinges is connected to a flexible hinge of an adjacent basic unit through the other rigid connection part. Lengths of two rigid connection parts in a same basic unit are equal, but lengths of rigid connection parts of different basic units are not necessarily equal. The multistable compliant mechanism features the continuous rotation and multi-steady state of a tri-compliant mechanism. The multistable compliant mechanism also features variable mechanism topology, an adjustable unit number, easy implementation, and promotion. A method for steady state analysis of the multistable compliant mechanism is also provided.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for tracking location of an inspection robot are disclosed. An example apparatus for tracking inspection data may include an inspection chassis having a plurality of inspection sensors configured to interrogate an inspection surface, a first drive module and a second drive module, both coupled to the inspection chassis. The first and second drive module may each include a passive encoder wheel and a non-contact sensor positioned in proximity to the passive encoder wheel, wherein the non-contact sensor provides a movement value corresponding to the first passive encoder wheel. An inspection position circuit may determine a relative position of the inspection chassis in response to the movement values from the first and second drive modules.

A continuum robot having at least two independently manipulateable bendable section for advancing the robot through a passage, without contacting fragile elements within the passage, wherein the robot incorporates control algorithms that enable the continuum robot to operate and advance into the passage, as well as the systems and procedures associated with the continuum robot and said functionality.

One or more embodiments of a continuum robot may include a bendable body having linear members provided along a first pitch circle, and motors respectively having output shafts provided along a second pitch circle offset outside from the first pitch circle and being configured to respectively drive linear members to bend the bendable body; intermediate supporting shafts provided along a third pitch circle offset outside from the first pitch circle and offset inside from the second pitch circle; first connection members respectively connecting end portions of the linear members and the intermediate supporting shafts to each other; and second connection members respectively connecting the intermediate supporting shafts and the output shafts to each other and configured to convert rotation of each of the output shafts into rectilinear motion to cause each of the intermediate supporting shafts to rectilinearly move.

An inspection robot incudes a robot body, at least two sensors, a drive module, a stability assist device and an actuator. The at least two sensors are positioned to interrogate an inspection surface and are communicatively coupled to the robot body. The drive module includes at least two wheels that engage the inspection surface. The drive module is coupled to the robot body. The stability assist device is coupled to at least one of the robot body or the drive module. The actuator is coupled to the stability assist device at a first end, and coupled to one of the drive module or the robot body at a second end. The actuator is structured to selectively move the stability assist device between a first position and a second position. The first position includes a stored position. The second position includes a deployed position.

An information processing apparatus including a controller (130) configured to, based on a detected state of the apparatus, control outputting of sound that is performed by the apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to, according to an amount of change in the state, sequentially change a mode of outputting a synthetic sound that can be output by the apparatus in a normal state is provided. Furthermore, an information processing method including, by a processor, based on a detected state of an apparatus, controlling outputting of sound that is performed by the apparatus, wherein the controlling includes, according to an amount of change in the state, sequentially changing a mode of outputting a synthetic sound that can be output by the apparatus in a normal state is provided.