A remote center manipulator for use in minimally invasive robotic surgery includes a base link held stationary relative to a patient, an instrument holder, and a linkage coupling the instrument holder to the base link. First and second links of the linkage are coupled to limit motion of the second link to rotation about a first axis intersecting a remote center of manipulation. A parallelogram linkage portion of the linkage pitches the instrument holder around a second axis that intersects the remote center of manipulation. The second axis is angularly offset from the first axis by a non-zero angle other than 90 degrees.

A modularized externally-driven joint structure can be used for general purposes. An externally-driven joint structure: includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction; and a number of rotatable members that are arranged along the axial direction, and are coupled with each other by the shaft member in an axially rotatable manner. Each of the rotatable members includes a pair of face portions that face each other in the axial direction, a side wall portion that is arranged along the outer circumferential edges of the pair of face portions, and at least one coupling portion that is arranged at the face portions or the side wall portion, and is coupled with a link member constituting a link of a robot.

A manipulator module (100) comprising: a first housing segment (102) configured to be connected to a manipulator; a second housing segment (104) rotatably coupled to a distal end of the first housing segment (102) such that the second housing segment (104) can rotate about a longitudinal axis relative to the first housing segment (102); a linear actuator (118), wherein a distal end of the linear actuator (118) is configured to be coupled to an end effector; a first electric motor (110) arranged to drive the linear actuator (118) to actuate the end effector; a second electric motor (112) arranged to rotatably drive the second housing segment (104) relative to the first housing segment (102); wherein the linear actuator (118) is arranged to extend from the first housing segment (102) and through the second housing segment (104).

A rotation mechanism according to the disclosure includes: an output portion for outputting, to a mating member, rotation of a drive source producing a rotational force; a coupling member for coupling the mating member and the output portion by elastic deformation; and an anti-rotation portion for preventing relative rotation between the mating member and the output portion.

A robot structure and a rehabilitation device have multiple elements and joints connecting the elements. At least one of the elements includes a first tubular piece with a first outer lateral surface wall, and a second tubular piece with a second outer lateral surface wall. The second tubular piece is arranged such that the length thereof is at an angle to the length of the first tubular piece so that the second tubular piece is inserted into two opposing tubular sections of the first tubular piece, and the second tubular piece passes through the first outer lateral surface wall of the first tubular piece at opposite sides. The second tubular piece is rigidly connected to the first tubular piece by a first connection element and a second connection element.

A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.

The screwdriving system for connection of components that require high contact pressures for their screw connection, having a screwdriving unit which is connected to an articulated robot, wherein the screwdriving unit contains a motor for the rotary drive, an actuator for the linear drive, a gear mechanism, a torque shaft, a tool holder for a screwdriving tool and a feed head which is supplied with screws, which are held in the feed head during the screwing-in operation, the tool holder, the screwdriving tool and the feed head being arranged on a common screw axis, includes an articulated bearing arrangement, the pivoting of which is able to compensate for a deflection of a robot axis of the articulated robot caused by contact pressures and for a tilted position of the screwdriving unit resulting therefrom.

A fluid activated continuous roll joint apparatus for use in various robotic applications. The continuous roll joint apparatus can include an outer housing, a plurality of collapsible hoses, and a rotor assembly. The outer housing can include a cylindrical inner cavity. The plurality of collapsible hoses can be disposed around a perimeter of at least a portion of the cylindrical inner cavity. The rotor assembly can include a plurality of rollers distributed radially around a rotor frame, where each roller of the plurality of rollers can be positioned to engage (pinch) a collapsible hose of the plurality of collapsible hoses. In an example, the continuous roll joint is activated when fluid is pumped through the plurality of collapsible hoses. Which rotates the rotor through inaction between the collapsible hoses and the rollers.

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.