A method for operating a joint and a joint for connecting a first joint element to a further joint element are provided. The joint includes the two joint elements, a head element, a socket element, and at least two drive devices. The head element is connected to or formed by the first joint element and the socket element is connected to or formed by the further joint element. The head element and the socket element are mounted movably on one another, and the drive devices are connected via at least one flexible connecting element to the head element or the first joint element, or to the socket element or the further joint element. The at least one connecting element is guided at least section-wise along the head element.

An apparatus including a robot drive, a first arm connected to the robot drive, and a second arm connected to the robot drive. The first arm includes a first upper arm, a first forearm and a first end effector. The second arm includes a second upper arm, a second forearm and a second end effector. The first and second upper arms are connected to a first drive shaft of the robot drive. The first and second upper arms are either a same member or two members stationarily connected to one another. While the first arm is being extended and retracted, straight movement of the first end effector is provided relative to the robot drive along an axis which intersects a drive axis of the robot drive, where a wrist joint of the first arm does not intersect the drive axis while the first arm is being extended and retracted.

A cable-driven robot exhibits a base structure, a movable operating element, and a plurality of cables each having a first end fixed to the movable operating element. The robot includes a plurality of movement units for the cables, at least one having a frame hinged to the base structure pivotingly about a vertical hinge axis and further having a motor mounted on the frame and comprising a rotation shaft. The one movement unit further includes at least one pulley mounted rotatably on the frame so as to be connected to the motor rotation shaft. The pulley has a fixing point in which a second end of one of the cables is fixed and has a groove conformed and dimensioned so as to accommodate and receive, internally thereof, only a winding portion of the cable comprising a series of winding turns that are concentric and overlapping one another.

A substrate transport arm including a first link; a second link rotatably connected to the first link; a third link rotatably connected to the second link at a wrist joint; and a mechanical transmission having a pulley. The third link includes an end effector configured to support a substrate thereon. The mechanical transmission is connected to the third link to control rotation of the third link on the second link. The mechanical transmission is configured to control rotation of the third link as a function of an angle between the first and second links such that, as the first and second links are rotated relative to each other, the wrist joint follows a wrist path which includes a curved portion, and where a center of the substrate supported on the end effector is moved along a substantially straight substrate path as the wrist joint follows the curved portion.

A device forming a robotic hand, including a base forming a hand palm, at least two articulated structures each forming a robotic finger, each articulated structure being connected to the base by at least one articulation, at least one drive mechanism for each articulation, at least one actuator arranged to actuate the at least one drive mechanism by means of at least one flexible drive link connecting and driving the at least one drive mechanism, structure for measuring the pivoting of the at least one actuator and one or more of the articulations, a glove covering the base and the at least two articulated structures, the glove being closed so as to form, inside the glove, a volume filled with oil between the wall of the glove and the base and the at least two articulated structures. Robotic hands used in aquatic environments at great depths are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the technical field of vertical automatic storage cabinets and provides a vertical automatic storage cabinet that comprises: a cabinet body; a storage rack provided on an inner wall of the cabinet body; a storage box, detachably provided on the storage rack; a manipulator assembly provided in the transportation space and being configured to grasp the storage box. In this vertical automatic storage cabinet, storage racks are arranged on both sides in the cabinet body, and the manipulator assembly is located in the area between the two storage racks, the storage boxes on both sides can be taken out of the cabinet body by the manipulator assembly in the middle.

In order to extend a life span of a flexible cable passing through a movable portion, provided is a hand mechanism which has a plurality of fingers and grips an object with the fingers, including: a flexible cable; a joint which flexes or extends with the grip of the object, has a path for the flexible cable, and has a first surface and a second surface that is a surface bending from the first surface at a bending portion in the path; and a sheet which is provided between the first surface and the flexible cable to have flexibility and is formed such that a gap is provided between the second surface and the sheet.

A robot manipulator includes: an arm body; a wrist effector, connected to the arm body; a multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) connecting device, rotatably connected to the wrist effector; and a grabber, connected to the multi-DOF connecting device, wherein the multi-DOF connecting device is configured to receive a power output by the wrist effector and drive the grabber to rotate.

An articulation assembly, surgical instrument including the same, and robotic surgical system including the same. The articulation assembly includes a lead screw assembly including a lead screw and a collar operably engaged about the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw translates the collar about the lead screw. The lead screw defines a proximal input end rotatably received within a first base assembly and a distal dock end rotatably received within a second base assembly. An articulation cable is operably coupled to the collar such that movement of the collar about the lead screw tensions or de-tensions the articulation cable. A set screw is threadingly engaged within the second base assembly and operably coupled to the distal dock end of the lead screw such that proximal rotational driving of the set screw urges the lead screw proximally, thereby urging the collar proximally to tension the articulation cable.

An object gripping mechanism is provided for use with a robotic arm. A robotic arm and method of manufacturing an object gripping mechanism are also provided. The object gripping mechanism includes an attachment modular configured to connect the object gripping mechanism to the robotic arm. The object gripping mechanism also includes a plurality of retractable arms each pivotably connected with the attachment modular. The object gripping mechanism also includes one or more movement mechanisms collectively configured to pivot the plurality of retractable arms to a desired position. The object gripping mechanism further includes a drive mechanism positioned within each of the plurality of retractable arms and configured to pivot the object engagement feature using a gear and timing belt configuration.