An electromechanical system operates through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a plurality of joints providing multiple degrees of freedom (DOF), including actuated joints and unactuated joints. The unactuated joints are distal with respect to the actuated joints and are in redundant DOF to the actuated joints. The system includes a plurality of actuators each configured to actuate one or more of the actuated joints, and a plurality of sensors each positioned with respect to a respective one of the actuated and unactuated joints. Each sensor is configured to measure corresponding joint data indicative of a position or angle of the respective actuated or unactuated joints. A controller in communication with the sensors receives the measured joint data as feedback signals, generates control signals using the feedback signals, and transmits the control signals to the actuators to thereby control an actuation state of the actuators.

A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.

A link actuator includes a proximal end side link hub, a distal end side link hub, and link mechanisms which connect the distal end side link hub to the proximal end side link hub. Each of the link mechanisms includes a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and an intermediate link member. Each of the proximal end side link hub and the distal end side link hub is provided with a through-hole which allows an origin positioning shaft to be inserted therethrough. The distal end posture of the link actuator is set to a specified posture by inserting the origin positioning shaft through the through-holes. An amount of operation of actuators in a state where preload is applied to the link actuator is set as a position of an origin of the actuator.

A rotational joint of intra-extra rotation (100) for assistance of the movement of intra-extra rotation of a shoulder of a user, said rotational joint (100) comprising a first circular guide (110) arranged to rotate about a rotation axis r, a second circular guide (120) arranged to rotate about a rotation axis r parallel to the rotation axis r, an support element (130) arranged to support the first and the second circular guide (110, 120). The first and the second circular guide (110, 120) are pivotally connected by a conical wheel (140) having rotation axis s perpendicular to rotation axes r and said conical wheel (140) being pivotally constrained to the support element (130). When the conical wheel (140) makes a rotation about its rotation axis s, the first circular guide (110) makes a rotation about its rotation axis r and, at the same time, the second circular guide (120) makes a rotation = about its rotation axis r.

A rotational joint of intra-extra rotation for assistance of the movement of intra-extra rotation of a shoulder of a user. The rotational joint features a first circular guide arranged to rotate about a first rotation axis and a second circular guide arranged to rotate about a second rotation axis that is parallel to the first rotation axis. A support element is arranged to support the first and the second circular guides. The first and the second circular guide are pivotally connected by a conical wheel having a third rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axes and said conical wheel being pivotally constrained to the support element.

A dual linear delta assembly includes a frame, a first linear delta system, and a second linear delta system concentric with the first linear delta system. Each of the first linear delta system and the second linear delta system may include rails mounted to the frame, linear actuators, each linear actuator coupled to a respective rail of the rails and configured to translate along a longitudinal length of the respective rail, pairs of parallel rods each operably coupled to a respective linear actuator of the linear actuators, and a platform coupled to a longitudinal end of each of the pairs of parallel rods opposite the respective linear actuator of the linear actuators.

An articulated compliance mechanism for use with a support structure includes a carriage and a pair of parallel four-bar linkage arrangements. The arrangements collectively have a first set of links configured to rigidly connect to the support structure, a second set of links rotatably coupled to the carriage a distance from the first set of links, and a third set of links rotatably coupled to and spanning the distance. The compliance mechanism supports and provides the carriage, e.g., a rectangular shaped frame, with a stable equilibrium point using a gravitational restoring force, and provides the carriage with a passive translational degree of freedom along a horizontal axis in response to an input force from an operator. An additional compliance mechanism may be serially connected to provide a passive translational degree of freedom along a vertical axis. A system includes the compliance mechanism and support structure.

A work apparatus includes a parallel link mechanism, a position control actuator, a linear motion mechanism, and a rotating mechanism. The parallel link mechanism includes three or more link mechanisms that couple a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that a position of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub. The position control actuator operates the parallel link mechanism. The linear motion mechanism moves a working body in an axial direction orthogonal to a central axis of the proximal end side link hub. The rotating mechanism is mounted on the distal end side link hub and rotates a work object about a rotation center axis parallel to a movement direction of the linear motion mechanism when the central axis and a central axis are on the same line.

An apparatus for use with a robot may couple to or form part of an appendage, for example a wrist. The apparatus can include a base, a first platform, a second platform, a first set of linear actuators that moveably couple the first platform to the base and a second set of linear actuators that moveably couple the second platform to the first platform. The apparatus can take the form of dual prismatic platforms. A controller can provide control signals to operate the linear actuators to cause the first platform to translate and rotate with respect to the base and to cause the second platform to translate and rotate with respect to the first platform. Connectors can couple the base to an appendage and couple an end effector to the second platform.

The composite work apparatus includes: two link actuation devices that support two working bodies such that postures of the working bodies can be individually changed; and three or more linear motion actuators that move the two link actuation devices and two or more work objects relative to each other. In each link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is connected to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture control actuator that arbitrarily changes the posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms.