The present disclosure relates to a parallel variable stiffness actuator. The parallel variable stiffness actuator can comprise a spring and a variable-stiffness mechanism. The variable-stiffness mechanism can be configured to modulate a stiffness of the parallel variable stiffness actuator. The parallel variable stiffness actuator can further comprise a direct-drive motor arranged in parallel with the spring. A force of the direct-drive motor can be applied directly to a load. The present disclosure further relates to a resonant energy accumulation method implemented by a parallel variable stiffness actuator. A stiffness of a spring can be changed when there is no energy stored by the spring. A resonant energy accumulation method where a force of a direct-drive motor can be applied in resonance with the oscillatory motion, while the stiffness of the parallel variable stiffness actuator can be changed to keep the amplitude of the oscillatory motion nearly constant.

A device for assisting surgery includes means for offsetting a rotation of a first type and a second type, a mechanism for transmitting a rotation of a third type, and a mechanism for transforming the rotation of a third type into a translation. An elastic element is connected at one end to the mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a third type. The mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a third type is connected to a rotary motor, the rotation of the motor in a first direction causing the lowering of a tool and an elongation of the elastic element, the rotation of the motor in a second direction causing the raising of the tool and a contraction of the elastic element, and, when the tool is lowered and the rotary motor is not exerting any torque, the elastic element returns to an initial shape causing the raising of the tool.

A joint structure for connecting a first element and a second element included in a robot includes a Stewart platform that controls a position and/or an angle of the second element relative to the first element. The Stewart platform includes a first member to be joined to the first element, a second member to be joined to the second element, multiple legs connecting the first member and the second member, a driver that changes an effective length of each of the legs to change a position and/or an angle of the second member relative to the first member, and a soft structure that elastically changes the effective length of each of the legs in response to an external force applied to the second member and restores the effective length of each of the legs in response to the external force being removed.

A robot includes a first member and a second member that is rotationally driven about a prescribed axis with respect to the first member. The second member includes a pair of axially spaced-apart flange portions. The second member is supported by the respective flange portions so as to be rotatable about the axis. The robot also includes a balancer that is attached to the first member and the second member so as to be respectively rotatable about attachment axes that are parallel to the axis. In addition, the robot includes an adapter that is inserted between the pair of flange portions. The adapter is attached to the second member in an attachable/detachable manner and disposes the attachment axis of the balancer for the second member at a position that is radially farther inside than outer circumferential surfaces of the flange portions and that is decentered with respect to the axis.

A robotic torso sensing system and method includes: a robotic torso comprising a mobile torso, the robotic torso further comprising a fixed torso; a motor configured to move the mobile torso; a torso encoder configured to provide information to the motor; a master controller operably connected to the motor, the master controller configured to control the motor, the master controller operably connected to the torso encoder, the master controller further configured to control the mobile torso; and a sensor configured to measure a position of the mobile torso, the sensor further configured to transmit the measurement to the master controller.

An electromechanical system operates in part through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a multi-axis robot, a controller, and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the robot. The counterbalance mechanism includes a base structure connected to a set of linkages, a pneumatic cylinder, a spring-loaded cam assembly, and an optional constant force spring. The linkages form a four-bar parallelogram assembly connectable to a load. The cylinder and cam assembly, and optional constant force spring, each impart respective vertical forces to the parallelogram assembly. The forces combine to provide gravity compensation and self-centering functions or behaviors to the load, enabling the load to move with a vertical degree of freedom when manually acted upon by the operator, and to return the load to a nominal center position.

An adjustable force exoskeleton hip joint system. The system includes a hip joint. The hip joint includes a first member rotatable about a hip joint rotation axis, the first member configured to be coupled to one of a lower body link or an upper body link. The hip joint further includes a second member rotatable about the hip joint rotation axis, the second member configured to be coupled to the other of the lower body link or the upper body link. The system further includes an adjustable force mechanism coupled to at least one of the first member and the second member. The adjustable force mechanism includes an actuator coupled to the first member, the actuator comprising a motor configured to selectively apply an adjustable force to the second member to inhibit rotation of the first member with respect to the second member.

Systems and methods are provided for supporting an arm of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the user moves and the arm support follows the movement of the user's arm, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm support.

A support arm interface for connecting a dynamic assist support arm to an exoskeleton structure having a chassis, a connection component on the chassis configured to pivotably attach a dynamic assist support arm thereto, a connection component on the chassis configured to attach an exoskeleton thereto and a leveling mechanism attached to the chassis and configured to level the dynamic assist support arm interface.

The invention relates to a targeted seed implanting robot suitable for clinical human lithotomy position. The targeted seed implanting robot includes a rack, and further includes a position and posture adjusting mechanism, a contact force feedback friction wheel type targeted seed implant and a sine elastic amplification moment compensation mechanism; and the specific use steps are as follows: S1, driving; S2, meshing; S3, swing; S4, transverse movement; S5, compensation moment; S6, linear motion; S7, rotary motion; S8, detection; and S9, transmission of information. The sine elastic amplification moment compensation mechanism is adopted to realize the compensation of lower weight moment of any position shape of a big arm, reduce fluctuation of driving moment, improve stability of tail-end low-speed operation of the robot, combined with the position and posture adjusting mechanism, an external pin of an implant can adjust an incidence angle of the external pin in a fixed-point mode, and in addition, contact force feedback friction wheel type targeted seed implant installed at the tail end of the position and posture adjusting mechanism improves the force information perception ability in the targeted seed implanting process.