Current technologies allow a robot to acquire a tool only if the tool is in a set known location, such as in a rack. In an embodiment, a method and corresponding system, can determine the previously unknown pose of a tool freely placed in an environment. The method can then calculate a trajectory that allows for a robot to move from its current position to the tool and attach with the tool. In such a way, tools can be located and used by a robot when placed at any location in an environment.

A problem with current food service robots is making the robots safe to work around food. A solution provided by the present disclosure is a food-safe tool switcher and corresponding tool. The tool switcher can mate with a variety of tools, which can be molded or 3D printed out of food-safe materials into a single-part, instead of constructed modularly. This provides for easier cleaning.

The present invention relates to a tool changer for automatically connecting a tool changer for collaborative robots, a robot tool changer system, and a method for connecting a tool to a robot arm. The tool changer comprises a first tool changer part intended to be mounted to an arm of the robot, the first tool changer part comprising first connecting means; a second tool changer part intended to be mounted to the operating device and comprising second connecting means. The first and second connecting means are arranged for mutual engagement, such that said first and second tool changer part may be connected and disconnected from each other.

A robot hand includes a motor with a rotary shaft, an accommodating member accommodating a distal end of the rotary shaft, a plurality of swing members swinging with respect to the accommodating member due to rotation of the rotary shaft, and a plurality of claw members swinging with the plurality of swing members.

The various embodiments herein relate to a coupling apparatus for a medical device having a coupler body, a cavity defined in the coupler body, a rotatable drive component disposed within the cavity and having at least two pin-receiving openings, and an actuable locking ring disposed around the cavity.

A sterile interface module includes a body member that couples a surgical instrument to a robotic surgical assembly, a first drive transfer assembly supported by the body member, and a rotatable collar supported on the body member. The first drive transfer assembly includes a drive coupler and a transfer shaft extending from the drive coupler. The drive coupler is engagable with the robotic surgical assembly and the transfer shaft is engagable with the surgical instrument. The drive coupler and the transfer assembly are robotically movable to operate an end effector of the surgical instrument. The rotatable collar is operably associated with the first drive transfer assembly and is manually movable relative to the body member to manually operate the end effector of the surgical instrument.

A tool interchange for a submersible remote operated vehicle (ROV) arm includes a first interchange body that affixes to an ROV arm. A second interchange body is carried by the first interchange body to rotate on a rotation axis. The second interchange body includes a tool mount actuable between gripping an ROV tool to the second interchange body and releasing the ROV tool from the second interchange body. An inductive power coupling part is provided in the tool mount. The inductive power coupling part is presented outwardly in the tool mount opposite the first interchange body, resides on the rotation axis and is fixed with respect to the first interchange body while the second interchange body rotates. The inductive power coupling part is adapted to inductively communicate power with a corresponding inductor power coupling part of the ROV tool when the ROV tool is docked in the tool mount.

A dovetail tool changer includes a first plate to be constrained to an external handling system, a second plate to be constrained to a tool and locking device to lock the second plate in the first plate. The second plate is insertable along a longitudinal direction in a pocket defined in the first plate, both plates have complementary cross sectional shapes and define a dovetailed coupling. The locking device includes at least one floating element movable between a lock position at which it exerts a thrust onto the second plate preventing disengagement thereof from the first plate, and an unlock position, at which the second plate can be separated from the first plate. The locking device includes at least one thrust element connected to the at least one floating element, which are together able to be displaced along a first direction in response to an exerted user force.

Systems and methods for a telescoping suction gripper assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a robotic system comprises: a robot comprising a robotic actuator and at least one robotic arm mechanically coupled to the robotic actuator; a telescoping suction gripper assembly comprising a telescoping member and a suction gripper mechanism, wherein a first end of the telescoping member is coupled to a vacuum supply conduit via a first flexible conduit member and a second end of the telescoping member is coupled to the suction gripper mechanism by a second flexible conduit member, and wherein the suction gripper mechanism is pivotally coupled to the at least one robotic; wherein the telescoping member is configured to adjust in length in response to the at least one robotic arm relocating the suction gripper mechanism from a first position to a second position.

A chuck apparatus includes a pair of grip members driven by a piston via a pair of levers, and the levers are rotatably supported by a body via lever shafts. A lever shaft protrudes from the attachment surface of the body to the transport device, and positioning with respect to the transport device is performed by using the protruding portion.