A posture holding device is for use in a transfer device which has a holding part configured to hold an object and a first link and a second link connected to the holding part. The transfer device moves the first link and the second link relative to the holding part so as to move the holding part between a transfer position and a standby position. The posture holding device holds a posture of the holding part and includes a magnetic gear rotatably connecting the first link and the second link to the holding part. The magnetic gear is disposed such that the one end of the first link connected to the holding part is rotated about a first axis and the one end of the second link connected to the holding part is rotated about the first axis or a second axis different from the first axis.

A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, at least one arm link rotatably connected to the frame and a shaftless drive section. The shaftless drive section including stacked drive motors for rotating the at least one arm link relative to the frame through a shaftless interface, each of the stacked drive motors including a stator having stator coils disposed on a fixed post fixed relative to the frame and a rotor substantially peripherally surrounding the stator such that the rotor is connected to a respective one of the at least one arm link for rotating the one of the at least one arm link relative to the frame causing an extension or retraction of the one of the at least one arm link, where the stacked drive motors are disposed in the at least one arm link so that part of each stator is within a common arm link.

A driving component for robot can include a communicating module configured to receive control signals, a motor, a controller coupled to the communicating module and configured to drive the motor according to the control signals received by the communicating module, a sensor configured to detect environment and providing detected results to the controller, a battery configured to provide electric power to the communicating module, the motor, the controller and the sensor, and a housing containing the communicating module, the motor, the controller, the sensor and the battery. The housing can include a coupling structure configured to couple to another driving component.

Described is a robotic control device for manipulating a gripper-held tool. The device includes a robotic gripper having a plurality of tactile sensors. Each sensor generates tactile sensory data upon grasping an tool based on the interface between the tool and the corresponding tactile sensor. In operation, the device causes the gripper to grasp a tool and move the tool into contact with a surface. A control command is used to cause the gripper to perform a pseudo-random movement with the tool against the surface to generate tactile sensory data. A dimensionality reduction is performed on the tactile sensory data to generate a low-dimensional representation of the tactile sensory data, which is then associated with the control command to generate a sensory-motor mapping. A series of control commands can then be generated in a closed-loop based on the sensory-motor mapping to manipulate the tool against the surface.

A robot teaching device is suitable for being signal connected to a controller used to control a robot, and includes: a connecting base which includes an enable switch and a first connector, and is connected to the controller by a transmission wire; a motion device which is removably disposed in the connecting base, and includes a second connector connected to the first connector, and a touch screen for displaying plural virtual keys. The motion device will be wirelessly signal connected to the controller, when it is removed from the connecting base, and the touch screen will display the virtual keys. When the motion device is inserted in the connecting base, and the enable switch is not pressed, the first and second connectors will be connected, and the virtual keys will be switched off. The virtual keys will be switched on after the enable switch is kept being pressed.

An actuator (1M, 1S) with a motor (12) and a motor controller (11) is configurable to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator which is coupled mechanically for driving a common load. For the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, the motor controller (11) receives on an input terminal (Y3) an external position control signal (pC), generates a motor control signal (sC) for controlling the motor (12) based on the position control signal (pC), and supplies the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5) for controlling a slave. For the case where the actuator (1S) is set as the slave, the motor controller (11) controls the motor (12) by supplying to the motor (12) the motor control signal (sC) received from the master. Controlling the actuators with a master improves workload balancing and reduces damages to transmission mechanics of the actuators.

A robotic surgical system includes a carrier for axially moving an instrument drive unit and an attached surgical instrument. A release mechanism is coupled to the carrier and a slide rail and transitions between a first state, in which the carrier and instrument drive unit are fixed relative to the release mechanism, and a second state, in which the carrier and instrument drive unit are manually movable relative to a slide rail.