A method for estimating a ground plane includes receiving a pose of a robotic device with respect to a gravity aligned reference frame, receiving one or more locations of one or more corresponding contact points between the robotic device and a ground surface, and determining a ground plane estimation of the ground surface based on the orientation of the robotic device with respect to the gravity aligned reference frame and the one or more locations of one or more corresponding contact points between the robotic device and the ground surface. The ground plane estimation includes a ground surface contour approximation. The method further includes determining a distance between a body of the robotic device and the determined ground plane estimation and causing adjustment of the pose of the robotic device with respect to the ground surface based on the determined distance and the determined ground plane estimation.

A coordinate calibration method of a manipulator is provided and includes steps of: (a) controlling the manipulator to move in accordance with a movement command, and acquiring the reference anchor points reached by the manipulator; (b) acquiring a rotation matrix and a translation vector according to the reference anchor points, and acquiring a reference coordinate system accordingly; (c) when the manipulator returning to the work space after temporarily leaving, controlling the manipulator to move in accordance with the movement command, and acquiring the actual anchor points reached by the manipulator; (d) acquiring a rotation matrix and a translation vector according to the actual anchor points, acquiring a corresponding actual coordinate system accordingly, and acquiring a coordinate compensation information by comparing the rotation matrixes and the translation vectors; and (e) adjusting the manipulator according to the coordinate compensation information, and maintaining the manipulator to operate in the reference coordinate system.

Systems and methods for a universal connection interface between a robot and a plurality of modular attachments are disclosed. The connection interface includes a data connection and a dynamic amplifier configured to adjust output of at least one electromechanically coupled mechanical output; and a processor configured to control gain of the dynamic amplifier.

A drive system (1) which is designed in particular as a robot (1a) and which has a fluid-operated linear drive (2), on the drive unit (7) of which linear drive, which drive unit can be driven so as to perform a drive movement (8), there is mounted an electrically and fluidically operable working unit (3). The linear drive (2) is equipped with a control valve device (16) which can be actuated by means of an internal electronic control device (32) in order to move the drive unit (7). Two drive pressure sensor devices (113) and a travel measuring device (114) are connected to the internal electronic control device (32), such that a position-controlled operation of the drive unit (8) is possible. The drive system (1) furthermore includes a flexible electrical cable arrangement (97) and a flexible fluid hose arrangement (95), which are fixed to the drive unit (7) and which serve for the supply of electricity and fluid to the working unit (3).

In a joint movement device (100) for selective flexion and extension of a joint (20), a tendon (120) is disposed adjacent to the first and second joint members. A tendon securing device (112) is secured to the second joint member (12), the tendon (120) being secured to the tendon securing device (112). At least one phalange ring (110) is secured to a joint member and includes a tending routing mechanism (113) configured to route the tendon through the phalange ring (110). An actuator (140) is coupled to the tendon (120) and pulls the tendon (120) inwardly to cause the joint (20) to flex. An elastic member (130) is coupled to the phalange ring (110) and tendon securing device (112) and applies an extension force thereto, thereby causing the joint (20) to extend when the actuator (140) releases the tendon (120).

A robotic surgical assembly includes a slave manipulator connected to a surgical instrument. A jointed subassembly includes at least a first, second and third links. The first and second links are associated in a first joint providing a degree of freedom between the first link and the second link. The second and third links are associated in a second joint providing a degree of freedom between the second link and the third link. The surgical instrument includes a tendon for moving a degree of freedom; the tendon including a tendon distal portion secured to the third link. The first link and/or the second link includes a tendon contact surface on which the tendon slides remaining in contact with the tendon contact surface, defining one or more sliding paths on the tendon contact surface. The sum of all sliding paths defines a total winding angle of at least 120°.

A system has a virtual-world (VW) controller and a physical-world (PW) controller. The pairing of a PW element with a VW element establishes them as corresponding physical and virtual twins. The VW controller and/or the PW controller receives measurements from one or more sensors characterizing aspects of the physical world, the VW controller generates the virtual twin, and the VW controller and/or the PW controller generates commands for one or more actuators affecting aspects of the physical world. To coordinate the corresponding virtual and physical twins, (i) the VW controller controls the virtual twin based on the physical twin or (ii) the PW controller controls the physical twin based on the virtual twin. Depending on the operating mode, one of the VW and PW controllers is a master controller, and the other is a slave controller, where the virtual and physical twins are both controlled based on one of VW or PW forces.

A service robot includes a robot body, a main post vertically mounted on the robot body, and at least one service unit provided on the main post to be movable vertically and to be rotatable, and including a service tool. The service unit includes a main plate that is disposed in an inner space of the main post, and a mounting member that is provided to be rotatable along an outer circumferential surface of the main post, and coupled to the main plate. The service tool is mounted on the mounting member, a vertical driving device is disposed in the inner space of the main post to move the main plate vertically, and a rotation driving device is installed on the main plate to rotate the mounting member.

Cable-driven robotic platform systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The system includes a robotic platform suspended by a system of overhead cables, motorized cable reels and pulleys. A master control computer coordinates operation of the motorized cable system as a function of sensor data captured by navigation sensors on-board the platform so as to move the robotic platform inside an industrial plant. The system is configured to maneuver around pipings and avoid obstacles in the plant in order to maximize the effective workspace that the robotic platform can reach to perform operations including inspection or repair. Additionally, a robotic “wire jacket” device can be attached to suspension cables and configured to crawl along a cable. The wire-jacket can be selectively positioned on a cable to provide an intermediate cable suspension point that improves platform mobility within congested spaces and avoids obstacles.

There are a biped robot gait control method and a biped robot, where the method includes: obtaining six-dimensional force information, and determining a motion state of two legs of the biped robot; calculating a ZMP position of each of two legs of the biped robot; determining a ZMP expected value of each of the two legs in real time; obtaining a compensation angle of an ankle joint of each of the two legs of the biped robot by inputting the ZMP position, a change rate of the ZMP position, the ZMP expected value, and a change rate of the ZMP expected value to an ankle joint smoothing controller so as to perform a close-loop ZMP tracking control on each of the two legs; adjusting a current angle of the ankle joint of each of the two legs of the biped robot in real time; and repeating the forgoing steps.