A manipulator includes an elongated portion; a bending portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated portion, the bending portion being formed by articulating a plurality of segment pieces; an end effector coupled to a distal end of the bending portion; an actuator coupled to a proximal end of the elongated portion; a first wire coupled to between the actuator and the end effector, the first wire being configured to actuate the end effector; and a second wire coupled to between the actuator and the bending portion, the second wire being configured to actuate the bending portion. Each of the plurality of segment pieces is configured to be articulated so as to be twisted with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the bending portion, and the first wire is configured to be inserted into the plurality of segment pieces so as to form a substantially twisted path.

A manipulator configured to navigate a heat exchanger including a plurality of tubes extending through a tubesheet is disclosed herein, the manipulator including a first end effector, a second end effector, and an articulation assembly. The first end effector is configured to accommodate an instrument configured to service the heat exchanger and includes a first actuator configured to extend a first gripper into a tube of the plurality of tubes. The second end effector includes a second actuator configured to extend a second gripper into a tube of the plurality of tubes. The first and second gripper are configured to secure the manipulator to the tubesheet, and, when the second gripper is securing the manipulator to the tubesheet, the articulation assembly is configured to enable the first end effector to move relative to the second end effector in a plane that is parallel to the tubesheet.

A robotic apparatus including a plurality of rigid body sections that move relative to each other by one or more multi-degree of freedom joints. The robotic apparatus can traverse a fixed frame by attaching its distal ends to the frame and moving the rigid body sections relative to each other.

A flexible drive manipulator according to an example embodiment may include a proximal portion, a plurality of joint portions drivably connected from an end of the proximal portion with respect to a longitudinal axis, a distal portion connected to an end of the plurality of joint portions, a pair of drive wires passing through the plurality of joint portions in parallel along the longitudinal axis, the pair of drive wires configured to drive the plurality of joint portions in a rotational direction of rotation with respect to a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a fixing wire passing through the plurality of joint portions in a shape of converging along the longitudinal axis, the fixing wire configured to adjust rigidity of the plurality of joint portions.

A flexible underwater robot, a control method and a device is provided with at least one movable joint and a control module. A flexible joint module of the movable joint comprises a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate, a first spring, several second springs, several third springs, several first pulling ropes, several second pulling ropes and a pulling module. The first spring, the second springs and the third springs are arranged from inside to outside in sequence with gradually decreased rigidities correspondingly to form a gradual rigidity structure, so that it is more flexible to adjust a posture. When the robot is impacted, it may absorb and release energy to ensure the integrity of the flexible joint module, so that the stability is improved.

The invention relates to a serpentine inspection robot mechanism for lifting cage guide driven by magnetic wheels, comprising a magnetic wheel drive part and a pitching yawing part, wherein the magnetic wheel drive part comprises a worm and gear transmission mechanism (I) and a magnetic wheel driving mechanism (II), and the pitching yawing part comprises a pitching yawing mechanism (III). Magnetic wheels are driven by the worm and gear transmission mechanism (I) and the magnetic wheel driving mechanism (II), while the pitching and yawing control of the robot are realized by the pitching yawing mechanism (III). The serpentine robot driven by the magnetic wheels (22) resolves the problems that the efficiency of ordinary serpentine robot is low, and it is difficult for the simple-wheel-type robot to span the large gap and to reach some concealed corners, with the cage guide of the lifting machine sucked by the magnetic wheels (22).

A wire-driven manipulator including a driver, a first deforming section including a first distal member, a plurality of first guide members, and a plurality of first wires, and a second deforming section provided between the first deforming section and the driver with the second deforming section including a second distal member, a plurality of second guide members, and a plurality of second wires. The plurality of first wires are fixed to the first distal member, and at least one of the plurality of first wires is further fixed to the plurality of first guide members and other wires of the plurality of the first wires are slidable with respect to the plurality of first guide members. The plurality of second wires are fixed to the second distal member, and at least one of the plurality of second wires is further fixed to the plurality of second guide members and the other wires of the plurality of the first wires are slidable with respect to the plurality of second guide members. In addition, the length of the first deforming section is shorter than the length of the second deforming section.

Systems and methods for controlling an elongate device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a robotic system may comprise a manipulator assembly configured to drive an elongate device and a control device configured to receive user input commanding the elongate device. The robotic system may also comprise a control system communicatively coupled to the manipulator assembly and the control device. The control system may be configured to monitor movement of the elongate device during a plurality of intervals, monitor user input received by the control device during the plurality of intervals, and adjust a property of the elongate device based on at least one of the monitored movement or the monitored user input.

Systems and methods for controlling movement of a steerable device are provided. In some embodiments, a system may include a control device, a manipulator system, and/or a control system communicatively coupled to the manipulator system and the control device. The control system may track a virtual user-instructed position based on a first user input, determine a device position of a portion of the steerable device, and determine a position discrepancy in a first direction between the determined device position and the virtual user-instructed position. The control system may also receive a second user input commanding motion of the steerable device in a second direction. At least a portion of the second direction may be opposite the first direction. The control system may also reduce the position discrepancy based on an aspect of the second user input and a catch-up profile.

A robot for detecting and saving a life, includes: a body part including a plurality of unit joints; a head part which is provided at the front of the body part in the direction in which the body part moves forward, and which has a gripper capable of picking up an object by a plurality of tongs parts that are folded and unfolded; and an extension part capable of extending forward from the head part so as to enter a small space that is difficult for the body part to enter.