An underwater robotic system includes a frame adapted to be deployed in a body of water and having guide rails and at least one movable rail movably coupled to the guide rails. An actuator module is movably coupled to the at least one movable rail. A control panel disposed proximate the frame and has a plurality of controls thereon. The plurality of controls is operable by an actuator on the actuator module. A position of each of the plurality of controls is known such that motion of the actuator module and the at least one movable rail is remotely controllable to actuate any chosen one of the plurality of controls.

A soft continuum robotic module comprises a plurality of inflatable actuators disposed between plates. Via inflation or deflation of one or more of the actuators, the module may extend, contract, twist, bend, and/or exert a grasping force. One or more modules may be combined to form a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom.

An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region; an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode positioned adjacent a first surface of the housing and a second electrode positioned adjacent a second surface of the housing, the first electrode and the second electrode each having a first end proximate the expandable fluid region and a second end opposite the expandable fluid region; a dielectric fluid housed within the housing; and a clamping device applying a force against the first electrode and the second electrode at the second end of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein 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.

In an implementation, a hydraulic valve includes a valve body, a cylindrical chamber within the valve body, and a cylindrical spool within the chamber. The spool is rotatable between at least a first position and a second position about a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber. The spool includes a landing and an eccentric channel that extends around a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the landing. In the first position, an inlet and an outlet of the hydraulic valve are fluidly coupled by the eccentric channel to allow a flow of a hydraulic fluid circumferentially around the landing from the inlet to the outlet. In the second position, the inlet and/or the outlet are obstructed by another portion of the outer circumferential surface of the landing to prevent the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the inlet to the outlet.

In an implementation, a hydraulic valve includes a valve body, a cylindrical chamber within the valve body, and a cylindrical spool within the chamber. The spool is rotatable between at least a first position and a second position about a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber. The spool includes a landing and an eccentric channel that extends around a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the landing. In the first position, an inlet and an outlet of the hydraulic valve are fluidly coupled by the eccentric channel to allow a flow of a hydraulic fluid circumferentially around the landing from the inlet to the outlet. In the second position, the inlet and/or the outlet are obstructed by another portion of the outer circumferential surface of the landing to prevent the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the inlet to the outlet.

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.

Systems and method for forming a stable silo face in bulk material are disclosed. Particularly, systems and methods for forming a negative rake angle in a silo face of bulk silage are disclosed. Rotation of an articulated arm (e.g., raising and lowering), altering a length of the articulated arm (e.g., extension or retraction), and movement of a machine relative to the silo face (towards and away from) may be automatically controlled to form the negative rake angle. Different implementations contemplate automated control of all or fewer than all of these operations.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

Exemplary embodiments relate to user-assisted robotic control systems, user interfaces for remote control of robotic systems, vision systems in robotic control systems, and modular grippers for use by robotic systems. The systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media instructions described interact with and control robotic systems, in particular pick and place systems using soft robotic actuators to grasp, move and release target objects.