An encoder includes a base section, a spindle gear attached to a turning shaft section, a counter-shaft gear configured to mesh with the spindle gear and including a cylindrical gear section, a magnet provided in the counter-shaft gear, and an annular bearing member provided in the base section and configured to support the counter-shaft gear. When a straight line extending along the shaft section is represented as a first axis and a straight line orthogonal to the first axis is represented as a second axis, the magnet is disposed to overlap the bearing member in a plan view from a direction in which the second axis extends.

An overhead system assists an operator in moving an object when the operator imparts a manual force to the object in a shared workspace characterized by overlapping ranges of motion of the robot and operator. The system includes an articulated serial robot, a cable, sensors, and a control system. One end of the cable connects to a distal end link of the robot. Another end of the cable connects to the object to suspend the object. The sensors measure a cable force and/or angle. The control system regulates operation of the robot by translating vertically and horizontally in response to the cable force and/or angle. The control system limits the position and/or velocity of the end link according to corresponding work space rules, including respective position and velocity limits, such that the system is immune to a single-point failure.

An apparatus for active contact force control is disclosed. The apparatus can have upper flange on which to mount a production tool. The apparatus can be mounted, via a lower flange, on a multi-axis machine to obtain spatial motion together with the corresponding production tool. The apparatus can comprise a housing inside which can be a linear actuator connected to guides. Mechanical connection between a ball screw and the upper flange can contain a force sensor and at least one spherical joint. The connection between the spherical joint and the upper flange can be formed using a mechanical dissipative element made of elastic dissipative elements and a disc plate positioned between the elastic dissipative elements.

A method of operating an exoskeleton system that includes obtaining at an exoskeleton device, sensor data from one or more sensors; and determining, by the exoskeleton device based at least in part on the sensor data, one or more states, including one or more of: at least one state of the exoskeleton system; at least one state of a user wearing the exoskeleton system; and at least one state of a location where the user and exoskeleton system are located. The method further includes determining, by the exoskeleton device, a response based at least in part on the determined one or more states; and generating the response by the exoskeleton device causing actuation of the exoskeleton system.

An exoskeleton system, the exoskeleton system comprising one or more actuator units that include a fluidic actuator, one or more sensors and an exoskeleton device. The exoskeleton device includes a fluidic system, and a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, are configured to control the exoskeleton system to introduce fluid to the fluidic actuator of the one or more actuator units to cause actuation of the fluidic actuator of the one or more actuator units. The exoskeleton system may be configured to operate in, on or around a body of water and can be water and/or corrosion resistant.

An automated system and method for construction and assembly of walls, floors and ceilings are disclosed. The automated system comprises at least one robotic arm, at least one material gripper tool, at least one sliding, rising and rotating system, and tongue-and-groove interconnection elements.

A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle α1< >180° and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle α2=180°−α1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle α2=−α1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.

The present disclosure provides a conveyance system and the like capable of preferably conveying a conveyed object in accordance with a state of the conveyed object. The conveyance system includes a conveyance robot, a drive controller, which is a controller, an image data acquisition unit, and a setting unit. The conveyance robot conveys the conveyed object. The drive controller controls an operation of the conveyance robot. The image data acquisition unit acquires image data obtained by capturing images of the conveyed object. The setting unit sets an operation parameter of the conveyance robot in the drive controller based on the acquired image data.

A device sized and shaped for insertion into a body comprising: at least one mechanical limb comprising: a support segment; a first flexible section extending from the support segment and terminating in a coupling section; and a second flexible section extending from the coupling section and terminating in a tool or a connector for a tool; wherein a long axis of one or more of the flexible sections is bendable in a single bending plane; wherein a long axis length of the first flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the first flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis; wherein a long axis length of the second flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the second flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis.

A robot joint 1 has two adjacent outer cylinders 3 and 5 and an inner cylinder 7 which extends inside the two outer cylinders and is provided with openings 9 in the cylinder wall. The inner cylinder 7 is connected via leaf springs 11, 13 to the two outer cylinders. The robot joint is provided with measuring means comprising markings 15 which are formed by holes 15 in the cylinder wall of one of the outer cylinders 3, as well as detection means 17, 19 for counting the number of markings that passes the detection means during rotation of the two outermost cylinders 3, 5 relative to each other, which detection means are connected to the other outer cylinder 5. By measuring the rotation of the outer cylinders relative to each other and linking it back to the robot arm drive, the consequences of the inaccuracies in the joint can be compensated.