A maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

[Problem] Provided is a link mechanism capable of moving a tip end part substantially straight by using a simpler structure. [Solution] A link mechanism including a first parallel link mechanism having a fixed link and an intermediate link parallel to each other, and a pair of side links parallel to each other, a second parallel link mechanism having a fixed link and an intermediate link parallel to each other, and a pair of side links parallel to each other, in which the fixed link is connected to the intermediate link of the first parallel link mechanism, a fixed structure that is formed including the intermediate link of the first parallel link mechanism and the fixed link of the second parallel link mechanism, and a coupling link that couples one of the side links of the first parallel link mechanism and one of the side links of the second parallel link mechanism.

Systems and methods for collision detection and avoidance are provided. In one aspect, a robotic medical system including a first set of links, a second set of links, a console configured to receive input commanding motion of the first set of links and the second set of links, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to access the model of the first set of links and the second set of links, control movement of the first set of links and the second set of links based on the input received by the console, determine a distance between the first set of links and the second set of links based on the model, and prevent a collision between the first set of links and the second set of links based on the determined distance.

An articulating robotic manipulator for underwater wood harvesting having a mechanical articulating arm that folds onto of itself and sits on a floating barge used for cutting under water trees that have been flooded. The ARM is controlled by an operator who is placed in a cabin on the barge above. The barge is a horseshoe cape and the folding arm deploys down the center of the barge and into the water. The barge contains side thrusters and trees can be seen under water using side scan sonar units. The arm consists of five booms and three cylinders. The ARM is 120-feet with a single ballast/tank. It can drop down and swivel 180-degrees. The ARM includes an air delivery system enclosed in the arm from the barge to the cutting head. The cutting head uses a custom cutting head that can open to 10-feet wide. The barge comprises eight ballasts.

A robot for a linear transport system includes a carriage guide rail and first and second XY tables, each with first and second carriages arranged to move independently on the carriage guide rail, and first and second linear guides, each having first and second guide elements which can be moved relative to one another and are configured with an angular offset. The first guide elements of the first and second linear guides are connected via a support structure. The second guide elements of the first and second linear guides are connected to the first and second carriages. The robot can include first and second arm systems connected to one another via an articulated system, with an attached work tool. The first and second arm systems can connect to the support structures of the first and second XY tables via corresponding first and second joints.

A leg structure of a quadruped robot includes a body and four separate leg modules. Each leg module includes a thigh motor assembly, a calf motor assembly, a hip joint motor assembly and an associated linkage and fixing base of the hip joint motor assembly. The hip joint motor drives the thigh and calf assembly through a parallelogram mechanism, the thigh motor assembly directly drives the thigh rod assembly, and the calf motor assembly drives the calf assembly through an anti-parallelogram mechanism. The joint motor assemblies are independent of each other and all the motor assemblies are modularized; the thigh and calf motor assemblies have a good ability to prevent external impact, and the joints on the robot body, formed by using the motor assemblies, have a large working space, thus ensuring the movement flexibility of the robot.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

In a link actuating device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. A posture control drive source configured to arbitrarily change the posture of the distal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms. The link actuating device includes a storage unit configured to store therein an operating position of the posture control drive source when the distal end side link hub is in a defined posture. In each of the two or more link mechanisms, a positioning portion is provided to at least one of the proximal side end link member, the distal side end link member, and the intermediate link member. A positioning member configured to position the distal end side link hub in the defined posture is dismountably mounted between a plurality of the positioning portions.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A robot has a vertical 6-axis articulated arm having an offset arm having a fifth axis and length link, and mutually linking fourth and sixth axes. The fourth and sixth axes shaft centers are parallel. The articulated arm has a head portion designated as a control point. A position and an orientation targeted to the control point is processed by an inverse transform to calculate angles of the axes. A provisional target position of the sixth axis is obtained by subtracting the link length from a target position of the sixth axis. The link length to the provisional target position is given zero to perform the inverse transform process. Processed results are evaluated. Until a difference between a calculated sixth-axis angles and provisionally decided sixth-axis angles becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, processes started from the angle provisional decision of the sixth axis are repeatedly performed.