Disclosed is a hexapod system including first and second supports and six linear actuators. Each linear actuator has an articulated end on the first and second supports, with a swivel connection with a force-absorbing structure embedded in the first support and a swivel connection to linear actuators articulated on the first support, and one of the first and second supports includes a connector that cooperates with the force-absorbing structure. The connector cooperates with a second force-absorbing structure of a second hexapod system, and the two hexapod systems mount in series.

A growth-type soft robot includes a housing including an external body including an internal accommodation space and one side open and a fixing portion formed on a periphery of an open region of the external body, a growth unit including an outer periphery having one end connected to the fixing portion, an inner periphery spaced apart from an inner side of the outer periphery and extending to the accommodation space, and a bent portion connecting the other end of the outer periphery to one end of the inner periphery to form a front end space, and a data collecting unit including a cable extending along a central portion surrounded by the inner periphery and a sensing module acquiring external information, wherein the other end of the inner periphery forms a folded region, and a length of the growth unit is adjustable by air supplied to the front end space.

A robotic surgical system includes a hydraulic drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the hydraulic drive system.

A robotic surgical system includes a hydraulic drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the hydraulic drive system.

A soft robotic gripper having component parts capable of being assembled in the field at the terminus of an industrial robot arm for providing adaptive gripping of a product. A hub includes a pneumatic inlet leading to outlets. Finger mounts with pneumatic passages hold inflatable fingers, and tension fastener(s) secure and compress the finger mounts toward the hub by passing through the pneumatic passages and fastening under tension in a direction of the hub.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

An exoskeleton system comprising a fluidic actuator and a power transmission that includes: a transmission body that defines a transmission chamber configured to hold a fluid, the transmission body having a first and second end, and a piston that translates within the transmission chamber between the first and second ends of the transmission body, with translation of the piston within the transmission chamber changing a volume of the transmission chamber. The exoskeleton system also includes a mechanical power source coupled to the power transmission configured to cause the piston to translate within respective transmission body to change the volume of the transmission cavity; and a first fluid line that couples the power transmission to the fluidic actuator.

An exoskeleton system comprising a leg actuator unit that is configured to be coupled to a leg of a user. The leg actuator unit includes: an upper arm and a lower arm that are rotatably coupled via a rotatable joint, the rotatable joint configured to be positioned at a knee of the user with the upper arm coupled about an upper-leg portion of the user above the knee and with the lower arm coupled about a lower-leg portion of the user below the knee. The upper arm is configured to be coupled to the upper-leg portion above the knee via a first set of couplers that includes a first upper-leg coupler, the lower arm is configured to be coupled to the lower-leg portion below the knee via a second set of couplers that includes one or more lower-leg couplers associated with a lower-leg brace, and an actuator extends between the upper arm and lower arm, the actuator configurable to move the upper arm and lower arm.

An actuator according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a driving body including a plurality of conductive grains, a chamber configured to confine the plurality of conductive grains, and two or more electrodes disposed on a surface of the chamber; and a controller configured to obtain, through the two or more electrodes, a change in an electric signal, in response to a load applied to the chamber, and to adjust the load applied to the chamber based on the change in the electric signal.

This disclosure relates to apparatus a multi-legged robot including at least one pair of actuators. Each actuator includes a pliable body. The pliable body includes a first portion having a first chamber, a second portion having a second chamber, where the second portion coupled to a distal end of the first portion. The pliable body includes a first inlet coupled to the first chamber, where the first portion is configured to bend upon receiving a first fluid via the first inlet and a second inlet coupled to the second chamber, where the second portion is configured to extend upon receiving a second fluid via the second inlet. The multi-legged robot includes a frame coupled to a proximate end of the first portion of each actuator.