An alignment device has a support base attached to a conveying device, and a mounting plate to which a gripping member is attached, and the mounting plate is transferably abutted on a fastening holder that is fixed to the support base. A movable ring fixed to the mounting plate has a sliding part that is transferably engaged with the fastening holder. A first holding mechanism arranged between the fastening holder and the mounting plate locks the mounting plate to the fastening holder. A second holding mechanism provided between the fastening holder and the movable ring cancels a first-direction force of the mounting plate.

An artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region, an expandable fluid region, and a pass through region formed between the electrode region and the expandable fluid region. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair having a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode including a central opening coaxial with the pass through region and the expandable fluid region, and a dielectric fluid is disposed in the housing. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Waveguides, such as light guides, made entirely of elastomeric material or with indents on an outer surface are disclosed. These improved waveguides can be used in scissors, soft robotics, or displays. For example, the waveguides can be used in a strain sensor, a curvature sensor, or a force sensor. In an instance, the waveguide can be used in a hand prosthetic. Sensors that use the disclosed waveguides and methods of manufacturing waveguides also are disclosed.

Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in soft robotic systems that permit a soft robotic end effector to be a self-contained system, without reliance on a tether to deliver inflation fluid to the actuator(s) of the end effector. According to some embodiments, a robotic system may be provided including a soft actuator and a hub. The body of the hub may include an integrated pressure source configured to supply inflation fluid through the actuator interface to the soft actuator. The pressure source may be, for example, a compressor (such as a twin-head compressor) or a reaction chamber configured to vaporize a fuel to create a high-temperature pressurized gas and deliver the pressurized gas to the actuator One or more accumulators may receive inflation fluid (or a partial vacuum) from the compressor over time, and store the inflation fluid under pressure, thus allowing actuation over a relatively short time period.

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.

A painting robot includes a base, a swivel base, a lower arm, an upper arm, and a wrist unit. The upper arm includes a first upper arm on a base end side and a second upper arm on a tip end side. The second upper arm is supported, on a base end side, by a tip end side of the first upper arm, the first upper arm being supported by the lower arm on an inner surface that is a side surface of the first upper arm, and pivots about a fourth axis parallel to a third axis. The first upper arm is equipped with a pump for an end effector on an inner surface side.

A painting robot includes a base, a swivel base, a lower arm, an upper arm, and a wrist unit. The upper arm includes a first upper arm on a base end side and a second upper arm on a tip end side. The second upper arm is supported, on a base end side, by a tip end side of the first upper arm, the first upper arm being supported by the lower arm on an inner surface that is a side surface of the first upper arm, and pivots about a fourth axis parallel to a third axis. The first upper arm is equipped with a pump for an end effector on an inner surface side.

A fluidic solar actuation system comprising a plurality of fluidic solar actuators that each include a first fluidic inflatable actuator, and a second fluidic inflatable actuator. The system also includes a fluidic routing system configured to covey a fluid originating from a fluid source to: the respective first fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the first fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the first fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the second fluidic inflatable actuators, and the respective second fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the second fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the second fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the first fluidic inflatable actuators.

The subject of the invention is a tool gripping device for gripping a bending tool with a robot, the cylindrical enclosure of which is secured to the base plate and equipped with a compressed air connection, while a cylinder head equipped with a compressed air connection is secured to the end of the enclosure opposite the base plate. A clamping element movable with compressed air is arranged in the enclosure, with the conical end of the clamping element extending out of the enclosure through the aperture of the cylinder head. A gripper is led through the hole drilled through the clamping element, the clamp shank of which is secured to the base plate, with a support head fixed eccentrically to the end of the grip stem extending out of the clamping element.

The subject of the invention is a tool gripping device for gripping a bending tool with a robot, the cylindrical enclosure of which is secured to the base plate and equipped with a compressed air connection, while a cylinder head equipped with a compressed air connection is secured to the end of the enclosure opposite the base plate. A clamping element movable with compressed air is arranged in the enclosure, with the conical end of the clamping element extending out of the enclosure through the aperture of the cylinder head. A gripper is led through the hole drilled through the clamping element, the clamp shank of which is secured to the base plate, with a support head fixed eccentrically to the end of the grip stem extending out of the clamping element.