Embodiments according to a first aspect of the present invention include an apparatus for transporting cargo, wherein the apparatus includes a mobile platform formed as an inverted pendulum and pick-up means arranged on the mobile platform. The apparatus is configured to lift the cargo by means of the pick-up means and to transport the lifted cargo.

A gripper multi-tool for an underwater vehicle comprises one or more mechanical gripper jaws; a motor; a torque controller operatively in communication with the motor; a cathodic protection (CP) probe disposed on at least one mechanical gripper jaw; a tool interface operatively connected to the motor and configured to selectively receive and/or discharge a tool selected from a plurality of tools; and a power source operatively in communication with the plurality of tools, the torque controller, and the motor. Gripper multi-tool is deployed subsea, such as via an underwater vehicle, and receives and engages a tool selected from a plurality of tools into the tool interface which, once engaged and effectuated, is used to perform a predetermined function. When the predetermined function has completed, the tool may be disengaged and removed from the tool interface and replaced with a further tool to perform a further function.

An example rotational joint assembly for a robotic medical system, the rotational joint assembly comprising at least one arm segment and a rotational joint provided at one end of the arm segment. The rotational joint is to allow the arm segment to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotational joint comprising a brake to lock rotation of the arm segment at the rotational joint and an actuator to selectively engage or disengage the brake. The actuator comprising a cam having two stable regions separated by two transition regions, the two stable regions comprising a first stable region corresponding to engagement of the brake and a second stable region corresponding to disengagement of the brake.

An apparatus has a frame and a plurality of clamps connected to the frame. At least one of the clamps is movable to releasably clamp a sheet of material on the apparatus. The plurality of clamps are configured and located on the frame to be limited to clamp on the sheet of material at least two edges of the sheet of material.

An end effector of the industrial robot has an end effector base portion connected to a robot arm, a first object holding mechanism provided to the end effector base portion so as to hold a first type of object to be handled, a second object holding unit for holding a second type of object to be handled, and a unit holding mechanism provided to the end effector base portion so as to releasably hold the second object holding unit. The second object holding unit which is held by the unit holding mechanism is driven by the first object holding mechanism. The end effector is capable of considerably enlarging a range of kind and size of an object which can be handled while suppressing increase of manufacturing cost and decline in credibility and increase in changing hand installation space accompanying complication of the configuration.

A robotic end effector tool having multiple manipulator elements. The end effector includes a body, a suction cup movable relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position, a plurality of fingers spaced around the suction cup and being actuatable between an open condition and a clamped condition, and a roller coupled to at least one of the fingers such that the roller is arranged to rotate about a first axis. The combination of the suction cup, the fingers and the rollers are arranged to pick an item and adjust the orientation of an object without setting the object down.

Methods and systems for spreading out and folding a suspended laundry article are described. A robotic system for spreading out and folding a laundry article includes at least three lifters disposed about a perimeter of a surface, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the surface, and a controller in operative communication with the two or more sensors and the at least lifters. The controller is configured to receive output signals from the two or more sensors, determine whether the laundry article suspended by at least two lifters of the at least three lifters is spread out, and instruct, based on a determination of the laundry article being spread out, one or more of the at least three lifters to fold the spread out laundry article one or more times.

Method for handling or treating an umbilical cord using a device, which includes a head having at least one actuator and at least two attachment elements, two working parts, each being capable of engaging by a reversible attachment with an attachment element to form with the head a tool capable of being actuated by the at least one actuator, and a device for moving the head in space. The method involves the steps of attaching a working part onto a first attachment element by moving the head, attaching the other working part onto a second attachment element by moving the head, using the tool on the umbilical cord by actuating the actuator, and separating at least one of the working parts from the corresponding attachment element.

This multi-articulated manipulator is operated without rickety movement by means of a pair of grasping members, springs for the grasping members, and other springs extended across the foremost outer shell and the basement outer shell. This manipulator is small in size, easy in handling, rich in reliability, follow-up property and high precision in medical applications. With the multi-articulated manipulator, the foremost outer shell is connected to the basement outer shell in a bending manner. A pair of grasping members of claw members is connected to the foremost end of the foremost outer shell. The claw members are operated with a pair of claw power-transmission shafts and energized with springs to be biased towards their closed situation. The foremost outer shell and the basement outer shell are operated with claw power-transmitting shaft and normally biased by springs towards their closed situation.

An object is to eliminate a harmful effect when a film is bonded by wiping an adhering sealant (30a). Characterized is a wiping device (200) including a stage (230) that supports a sheet-like member (220), a wiping means (210) that wipes an adhering object (30a) adhering on a peripheral portion of the sheet-like member (220), a wiping cloth (241) that is attachably and detachably provided for the wiping means (210), and a solvent (261) that adheres to the wiping cloth (241), in which the wiping means (210) is provided with the wiping cloth (241), makes the solvent (261) adhere to the wiping cloth (241), and wipes the adhering object (30a), or a stack manufacturing apparatus (1000) including such a wiping device (200).