The present invention provides a two-degree-of-freedom rope-driven finger force feedback device. The two-degree-of-freedom rope-driven finger force feedback device includes a hand support mechanism, a thumb movement mechanism, an index finger movement mechanism, and a handle mechanism. The hand support mechanism includes a motor, a motor shaft sleeve, a sliding rail, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor. The thumb movement mechanism includes a long rotary disc, a torque sensor, an angle sensor, a thumb sleeve, a pressure sensor, two links, a thumb brace, and a thumb fixing ring. The handle mechanism includes a cylindrical handle, a pressure sensor, a flexible fixing band, and a slider. Torque is driven between the rotary disc and the motor by using a rope. The handle mechanism is movable forward and backward and is capable of automatic restoration. By means of the present invention, the problems of the high costs of a conventional finger force feedback device and the unadjustable characteristic of the conventional finger force feedback device are overcome. The device can be tightly worn and has a self-adaptive degree of freedom. Rope driving can ensure a gentle, smooth, and real feedback force. By means of the mounted sensors, information such as a hand posture, a rotation angle and a grip force of a thumb and an index finger, and a contact force of a middle finger can be transmitted in real time.

A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and an apparatus for operating the robotic control system comprising a master apparatus (64) in communication with an input device (58, 60) having a handle (102) and a slave system (54, 74) having a tool (66, 67) having an end effector (73) whose position and orientation is determined in response to a current position and current orientation of the handle. The method involves producing a desired end effector position and orientation in response to a current position and orientation of the handle. The method involves causing the input device to provide haptic feedback that impedes translational movement of the handle, while permitting rotational movement of the handle and preventing movement of the end effector, when a rotational alignment difference between the handle and the end effector meets a disablement criterion. The method further involves re-enabling translational movement of the handle when the rotational alignment difference meets an enablement criterion.

One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising an operator input device structured to move in response to operator-applied force and to selectably output feedback force to the operator. A first computing system is structured to receive input from the operator input device and provide an output. A second computing system is structured to receive the output and provide a robot control command subject to a force constraint. An industrial robot system is in operative communication with the second computing system and comprises a robotic arm structured to move in response to the command. The second computing system is structured process the output to impose a force constraint using a dual threshold hysteresis control. The first computing system is structured to apply a feedback force to the operator input device correlated to force associated with the industrial robot system.

Provided are methods and systems for remotely controlling of robotic platforms in confined spaces or other like spaces not suitable for direct human operation. The control is achieved using multi-modal sensory data, which includes at least two sensory response types, such as a binocular stereoscopic vision type, a binaural stereophonic audio type, a force-reflecting haptic manipulation type, a tactile type, and the like. The multi-modal sensory data is obtained by a robotic platform positioned in a confined space and transmitted to a remote control station outside of the confined space, where it is used to generate a representation of the confined space. The multi-modal sensory data may be used to provide multi-sensory high-fidelity telepresence for an operator of the remote control station and allow the operator to provide more accurate user input. This input may be transmitted to the robotic platform to perform various operations within the confined space.

Example implementations may relate to a computing device configured to operate a robotic system. In particular, the device receives input data that is generated by a hand-holdable controller including a knob, where the knob includes touch sensors arranged to detect touch on surfaces of the knob. Based on the input data, the device detects that the controller is within a first threshold distance from a first component of the robotic system and responsively operates the first component of the robotic system based on the input data. The device then receives subsequent input data that is generated by the controller. Based on the subsequent input data, the device subsequently detects that the controller is within a second threshold distance from a second component of the robotic system and responsively operates the second component of the robotic system based on the subsequent input data.

Techniques for retracting an instrument into an entry guide include receiving a retraction command for the instrument, the retraction command commanding movement of the instrument into the entry guide; causing, in response to the retraction command and using an instrument manipulator, movement of a rotational joint of the instrument that is external to the entry guide toward a distal end of the entry guide; actuating, after the rotational joint reaches a minimum distance from the distal end of the entry guide, the rotational joint to orient a link of the instrument so that the link can be retracted into the entry guide, the link being adjacent to and distal to the rotational joint; and causing, after the link is oriented so that the link can be retracted into the entry guide and using the instrument manipulator, further movement of the rotational joint toward the distal end of the entry guide.

A motor-driven articulated haptic interface arm includes: a frame; an arm linked to the frame and rotationally mobile about an axis; and a motor, which delivers at least one torque about the axis countering at least one part of forces applied to the arm by its environment. A main transmission transmits the torque to the arm and includes a capstan-type cable reducer, and an auxiliary transmission transmits the torque to the arm. The auxiliary transmission is capable of taking at least two states: an inactive state, when the forces applied to the arm by its environment are below a predetermined threshold, in which the auxiliary transmission transmits no torque to the arm; and an active state when the forces applied to the arm by its environment are higher than a predetermined threshold, in which the main transmission transmits no torque to the arm.

A control device for industrial machines having controlled motion drives for machine components has at least one control element configured to manually influence or specify adjustment movements of at least one machine component and is implemented as a rotary control element with a continuously rotatable actuating element connected in terms of motion to a rotational resistance generator that is variable under control or the actuating element can be connected in terms of motion thereto. The rotational resistance generator is drivable by an analysis and control device. The analysis and control device and the rotational resistance generator in this case are equipped to inhibit the rotational mobility of the actuating element, or to subject it to an increased rotational resistance haptically perceptible by an operator, as a function of machine states or events known to or sensed by the control device. In addition, a corresponding control method is specified.

A teleoperated robotic system that includes master control arms, slave arms, and a mobile platform. In use, a user manipulates the master control arms to control movement of the slave arms. The teleoperated robotic system can include two master control arms and two slave arms. The master control arms and the slave arms can be mounted on the platform. The platform can provide support for the master control arms and for a teleoperator, or user, of the robotic system. Thus, a mobile platform can allow the robotic system to be moved from place to place to locate the slave arms in a position for use. Additionally, the user can be positioned on the platform, such that the user can see and hear, directly, the slave arms and the workspace in which the slave arms operate.

A robot control system has a jointed mechanism with sensors and actuators in a rotatable sphere, tracks movements of a person engaged in the jointed mechanism through the sensors, as commands causing movement of a robot machine, which also has sensors and actuators mirroring the sensors and actuators of the jointed mechanism. The robot machine sends activity data back to influence actuators at the jointed mechanism, providing tactile feedback to the person engaged in the jointed mechanism.