A method of operating a robotic control system comprising a master apparatus in communication with an input device having a handle and a slave system having a tool having an end effector whose position and orientation is determined in response to a position and orientation of the handle. The method involves producing a desired end effector position and a desired end effector orientation of the end effector, in response to a current position and a current orientation of the handle. The method further 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 first criterion. The method further involves re-enabling translational movement of the handle when the rotational alignment difference meets a second criterion.

A method is provided for the alignment of a multiaxial manipulator with an input device, which serves to control the manipulator, which method includes the steps of execution of one or more reference movements with the input device, execution of one or more reference movements with the manipulator, recording of the executed reference movements, calculation of a transformation matrix based on the recorded reference movements, and use of the calculated transformation matrix for the alignment of the movements of the input device with the manipulator.

A hand controller for enabling a user to perform an activity and method for controlling a robotic arm is provided. The hand controller includes a bar with a grip and a plurality of motors to provide a force feedback to the user in response to the movement of the plurality of mechanical arms. The method involves receiving input corresponding to the manipulation of a bar and providing a force feedback in response to the movement of the plurality of mechanical arms.

The present invention relates to methods for learning a robot task and robots systems using the same. A robot system may include a robot configured to perform a task, and detect force information related to the task, a haptic controller configured to be manipulatable for teaching the robot, the haptic controller configured to output a haptic feedback based on the force information while teaching of the task to the robot is performed, a sensor configured to sense first information related to a task environment of the robot and second information related to a driving state of the robot, while the teaching is performed by the haptic controller for outputting the haptic feedback, and a computer configured to learn a motion of the robot related to the task, by using the first information and the second information, such that the robot autonomously performs the task.

Disclosed herein a haptic handling system for tele-robotic surgery. The haptic handling system may include a main body, a fine-tuning roll mechanism, and a grasp control mechanism. The main body may include a first hollow cylindrical section and a second hollow cylindrical section. The fine-tuning roll mechanism may include a knob, a roller coupled to the knob, and a roll encoder coupled to the roller. The grasp control mechanism may include a slider comprising an internal slider and an external slider, a lead screw coupled to the slider, and a grasp encoder coupled to the lead screw. The haptic handling system may further include a force feedback system comprising one or more dynamometers measuring a magnitude and a direction of a couple and a force applied to a surgical tool, a roll actuator coupled to the roller, and a grasp actuator coupled to the lead screw.

A master console includes handles configured to control robotic surgical instruments of a slave robot, force/torque detectors configured to detect forces applied to the handles by an operator, a force compensator configured to generate force control signals that cancel out the forces applied to the handles by the operator, and a master controller configured to drive at least one joint of each of the handles in order to control motion of the handles based on motion control signals and the generated force control signals.

Systems, devices, articles, and methods as disclosed, described, illustrated, and claimed herein. The systems, devices, articles, and methods generally relates to the field of robotics.

There is disclosed a rotary actuator apparatus for hydraulically or pneumatically rotating a robotic joint. In an embodiment the apparatus comprises: a curved piston rotatably coupled to an axel shaft, and positioned within a curved piston chamber; resilient barrier modules are adapted to separate the curved piston within the curved piston chamber from first and second hydraulic or pneumatic chambers on either side of the curved piston chamber; whereby, in use, the curved piston is configured to rotate about the axel shaft upon hydraulic or pneumatic pressure being applied to at least one of the first and second hydraulic or pneumatic chambers.

A bend sensor is used to determine force applied to a robotic arm. The force may be an external force applied to the arm, an internal actuation force, or both. In some aspects, a stiffening element is used to restore the arm to a minimum kinematic energy state. In other aspects, the stiffening element is eliminated, and the arm is fully actuated.

A visuo-haptic sensor is presented which uses a deformable, passive material that is mounted in view of a camera. When objects interact with the sensor the deformable material is compressed, causing a change in the shape thereof. The change of shape is detected and evaluated by an image processor that is operatively connected to the camera. The camera may also observe the vicinity of the manipulator to measure ego-motion and motion of close-by objects. The visuo-haptic sensor may be attached to a mobile platform, a robotic manipulator or to any other machine which needs to acquire haptic information about the environment.