A robot system includes a robot configured to perform a work to a workpiece, and a user interface configured to remotely manipulate the robot. The robot includes a robotic arm, a robot hand attached to the robotic arm and configured to perform the work to the workpiece, and an acceleration sensor attached to the robot hand. The robot system further includes a speaker configured to output an acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor as perceptual information.

A remote control system including a robot arm, an imaging apparatus, a base part, and a remote controller for remotely controlling the robot arm. The robot arm is fitted to the base part. The imaging apparatus is fitted to the base part and provided near a head of a wearer. The base part is fitted to an upper half of a body of the wearer, the upper half of the body being exemplified by a back. The robot arm and the imaging apparatus are communicably connected to the remote controller. The remote controller controls the robot arm based on an image received from the imaging apparatus.

A robotic-arm apparatus may include a robotic hand dimensioned to approximate a size and movement of a user's hand. The robotic-arm apparatus may also include one or more tactile-sensing pads coupled to at least a portion of the robotic hand, wherein a tactile-sensing pad is configured to detect surface data about a surface in a real-world environment. Additionally, the robotic-arm apparatus may include an actuator configured to move the robotic hand to mimic a motion of a glove worn by the user's hand, wherein the glove is configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to the surface data to the user's hand. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

A stiffening element to provide variable resistance to movement between a pair of members at a joint. The stiffening element comprises a filler with particles flowable in a bladder. A pressure source is coupled to the bladder to vary a pressure within the bladder and collapse the bladder. Collapsing the bladder varies a flow characteristic of the filler within the bladder, Varying the flow characteristics of the filler varies resistance of the bladder to movement of the bladder, and thus a pair of movable members and the joint.

Improved actuator and retraction mechanisms for force feedback exoskeletons are described. An actuator assembly for a force-feedback exoskeleton comprising: a rotating body coupled to a tendon and to a spring, said spring configured to produce a torque on the rotating body; and a second body having a surface configured to apply a variable force to a surface of the rotating body by means of a membrane enclosing a volume fluidically coupled to at least one control valve and to a pressurized fluid source, wherein the volume enclosed by the membrane comprises: a first pressure state in which the rotating body contacts the second body; and a second pressure state in which the rotating body does not contact the second body.

The disclosure relates to a system (1) and method for instructing a robot. The system (1) comprising an immersive haptic interface, such that operator interaction with a master robot arm (2) is reflected by a slave robot arm (3) arranged for interaction with a workpiece (4). The interaction of the slave robot arm (3) is reflected back to the master robot arm (2) as haptic feedback to the operator. The dynamic system is continually simulated forward and new commands are calculated for the master robot arm and the slave robot arm.

Methods and systems for improved haptic feedback using robotic arms are provided. In one embodiment, a haptic feedback system is provided that includes one robotic arm with at least one joint and one end effector. The end effector may be physically coupled to a user. The system may further include an external data connection to a computing device associated with an environment (e.g., a virtual environment, a physical environment). A controller may then be configured to receive force and torque information via the external data connection and role robotic arm based on the force and torque information to apply haptic feedback via the end effector to a user.

There is provided a parallel link device including a base, a plurality of arms each having at least four degrees of freedom and each including a first arm link, a second arm link, and a rotating joint, and a support which is coupled to an end of the second arm link of each of the plurality of the arms, and a position and a posture of which changes along with changes of posture of the plurality of the arms, where an axis of rotation (O7) of the rotating joint, which is coupled to the support and the second arm link, intersects or is adjacent to a rotational central point (Q) of the support.

A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a handle on a linkage having a plurality of joints, a base, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which a plurality of its actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.

A surgical robotic system, comprising: a surgical robot; a user input device coupled to the surgical robot and manipulatable by a user to control operation of the surgical robot, the user input device comprising one or more sensors configured to collect data as the user manipulates the user input device; a processor unit configured to: analyse the collected data to determine whether a parameter associated with the operation by the user of the surgical robot has a desired working value; and generate an output signal indicating responsive action is to be taken in response to determining from the collected data that the parameter does not have a desired working value.