Aspects described herein include an end effector capable of prehending items using impactive and astrictive forces. The end effector includes an interface system having a deformable mounting plate and a pliable body member attached to the mounting plate. The end effector further includes a linkage system between a plurality of actuators and the interface system. The linkage system connects to lateral portions of the mounting plate.

Systems and methods for minimally invasive computer-assisted telesurgery are described. A computer-assisted teleoperated surgery system includes a teleoperated instrument actuation pod. The surgical instrument actuation pod includes a plurality of linear actuators arranged around a surgical instrument. The linear actuators engage with actuator engagement members on the instrument and so drive movable parts on the instrument. The actuation pod is mounted on a teleoperated manipulator. Instrument pod mass is close to the teleoperated manipulator to minimize the pod's inertia, momentum, and gravity effects on the manipulator.

Described herein are flexible truss systems and methods of transferring flexible composite parts using these systems. A flexible truss system comprises a flexible truss mechanism and composite pick-and-place mechanisms supported on the flexible truss mechanism and designed to attach to various composite parts. The flexible truss mechanism comprises flexible elongated members and slidable ribs coupled to each flexible elongated member. Specifically, each rib is slidably coupled to at least one flexible elongated member. In some examples, each rib is also fixedly coupled to another flexible elongated member. The slidable coupling allows the flexible truss mechanism to bend and follow the shape of a supported part, such that the composite pick-and-place mechanisms are able to contact and support different areas of the composite part. As such, the same flexible truss mechanism is able to support flexible composite parts having different shapes.

A robotic finger structure includes a proximal phalanx; a middle phalanx rotatably connected to one end of the proximal phalanx; a distal phalanx rotatably connected to one end of the middle phalanx and defining a distal phalanx opening in a front side thereof and at one end adjacent to the middle phalanx; a connecting rod having opposite ends that are rotatably connected to the proximal phalanx and the distal phalanx, and an actuating assembly to drive the middle phalanx to rotate with respect to the proximal phalanx. The connecting rod includes a first angled segment having a first recess facing a back side of the middle phalanx. When the distal phalanx is flush with the middle phalanx, the first angled segment passes through the distal phalanx opening, and a first end of the distal phalanx opening extends into the first recess.

This disclosure relates generally to a mobile robotic manipulator with telepresence system which includes a chassis assembly, a tilting arm assembly, and a rotary gripper assembly. The chassis assembly includes a chassis plate which mounts plurality of drive motors coupled with plurality of omni wheels through plurality of L mounting brackets; plurality of anti-toppling arms includes a plurality of linear guides which is mounted on a C mount plate; and plurality of linear actuators is mounted to expand or retract the plurality of anti-toppling arms. The tilting arm assembly includes a bottom fixed end of a front long actuator is mounted to a large rotating plate through plurality of C clamps. The rotary gripper assembly includes a top plate of a gripper is mounted and separated by gap with a bottom plate of the gripper to place a gripper actuator on top surface of the bottom plate of the gripper.

A computer programmable end of robot arm tool for picking and placing a plurality of objects arranged in a first array from a first pick location to a second place location where the objects are placed in a second array different from said first array where the spacing between the picking arms is programmable between different spacing arrangements including during the pick and place arm movement.

An apparatus for the automated production of screw connections, having an articulated-arm robot and an effector, which is accommodated on an output element of an end member of the articulated-arm robot so as to be rotatable about an effector axis. The effector is in the form of a screwdriving tool, wherein the apparatus has a mouthpiece for providing a screw, the mouthpiece being accommodated on the end member by means of a linear guide and being movable along the effector axis between a feeding position and at least one screwing position.

A drive system (1) which is designed in particular as a robot (1a) and has a linear drive (2), on the drive unit (7) of which, which can be driven to perform a drive movement (8), a working unit (3) is mounted with an interface module (4) being connected therebetween. The working unit (3) has at least one fluidic actuator (54) and at least one electrical actuator (63). The linear drive (2) is accommodated in a casing body (67) which has a longitudinal slot (74) through which the interface module (4) passes. A flexurally resilient fluid tube arrangement (95) and a likewise flexurally resilient power cable arrangement (97), both of which lead to the interface module (4), extend in a casing-body interior (68) which is enclosed by the casing body (67), wherein a fluidic connection and an electrical connection to the working unit (3) are produced through the interface module (4).

A vibration type actuator capable of reducing a change in force generated between a contact body and a vibrating body. The vibration type actuator comprising a vibrating body unit including a vibrating body and a holding portion that holds the vibrating body, a pressurizing unit, a contact body that contacts with the vibrating body by a pressurizing force by the pressurizing unit, and a connecting portion, wherein when predetermined vibration is excited in the vibrating body, the contact body and the vibrating body unit move relative to each other in a first direction, and wherein the connecting portion connects the holding portion to a connection object in the first direction, such that the vibrating body unit is displaced at least in a pressurizing direction by the pressurizing unit when the contact body and the vibrating body unit move relative to each other in the first direction.

An artificial muscle fiber includes an external fiber and an internal fiber. The external fiber includes a first linear array of actuators having protrusions directed in a first direction. The internal fiber includes a second linear array of actuators having protrusions directed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Protrusions of the first linear array of actuators and protrusions of the second linear array of actuators are separated by a non-zero gap, and each actuator of the first linear array of actuators and the second linear array of actuators includes a soft magnetic material.