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 method for controlling a servomotor with a converter includes monitoring a circuit of a direct-voltage DC link that is connected to an input circuit for flow of an electric current; switching off a first switching device to end the supply of the direct-voltage DC link from an electrical grid if a stop signal occurs; braking the servomotor by control of power semiconductor switches of an inverter circuit in a regenerative braking operation, to reduce the rotation speed of the servomotor, if the monitoring detects that an electric current is not flowing after the first switching device has been switched off; and switching off a second switching device to prevent feeding electrical energy from the direct-voltage DC link into the servomotor if the monitoring detects a flow of electric current after the first switching device has been switched off.

A motor includes a stator and a rotor, the rotor includes a frame coupled to a rotation shaft and a magnet fixed to the frame, with a direction from the stator toward the rotor as a first direction, the magnet includes a plurality of lower part main pole magnets having a magnetization direction in the first direction and pluralities of lower part second rightward sub-magnets and lower part second leftward sub-magnets having a magnetization direction in a direction different from the first direction, the lower part main pole magnet includes a lower part first upward main magnet placed at a negative side in the first direction and a lower part second upward main magnet fixed to the frame, when the magnet is seen along the first direction, the lower part first upward main magnet and the lower part second rightward sub-magnet and lower part second leftward sub-magnet partially overlap.

A vertical articulated robot includes a plurality of joint axis portion units configured to rotationally drive a plurality of arms, and a wiring unit configured to allow wiring portions of the plurality of joint axis portion units to be arranged therein. A joint axis portion unit integrally includes a first motor including a solid first motor shaft and a first speed reducer directly connected to the first motor shaft.

Disclosed herein are various robotic surgical devices and systems that include first and second elongate bodies, first and second driveshafts disposed through the second elongate body, and an in-line shoulder joint with a robotic arm coupled thereto. In certain implementations, the in-line shoulder joint has a differential yoke and a dual shaft disposed within the yoke lumen.

A process for monitoring backlash in a gear of a joint of an industrial robot, wherein said joint includes a first joint body and a second joint body coupled together with the possibility of moving with respect to one other, a motor provided with an encoder, and a motion-transmission assembly designed to transmit the torque generated by said motor to said second joint body to bring about a movement of said second joint body with respect to said first joint body, said transmission assembly comprising said gear. The process is characterized in that the signal of the encoder of the motor for driving the joint is used without providing any additional sensor specifically dedicated to monitoring of the backlash.

A piezoelectric drive device includes two vibrators having vibrating portions with piezoelectric elements and transmitting portions placed in the vibrating portions and transmitting drive forces to a driven member (e.g. a slider), and a fixing portion having through holes (first through hole, second through hole)into which pins or screws are inserted. The two vibrators are placed adjoiningly along a drive direction of the slider, and the fixing portion is placed between the two vibrators and fixing the two vibrators.

A variable stiffness joint and method to alter the stiffness of the joint with multiple stiffness levels is described wherein a plurality of stiffness bits (m) are used for enabling 2 m stiffness level variations for the joint. Each stiffness bit comprises an elastic element in mechanical connection with a clutch (21, 22, 23). The joint revolves with zero stiffness level when all the clutches (21, 22, 23) are disengaged whereas a clutch (21, 22, 23) involves one of the elastic elements which alter the stiffness of the joint. Engaging other clutches (21, 22, 23) involve more elastic elements for altering the joint stiffness and the resultant joint stiffness is determined by adding the stiffness values of all the involved springs (6, 7, 8).

A modular movable robot including a main body, a traveling unit mounted on a lower end of the main body, a module coupling plate which is mounted on an upper end of the main body and on which an object to be transferred is disposed on a top surface thereof, a port module coupled to the top surface of the module coupling plate to fix the object to be transferred, the port module being configured to provide module information to the module coupling plate, a body display unit extending from one end of the module coupling plate, a head display unit rotatably mounted on an upper end of the body display unit, and a control unit configured to receive the module information from the module coupling plate to control at least one of the body display unit or the head display unit on the basis of the received information.

Cable-driven robotic platform systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The system includes a robotic platform suspended by a system of overhead cables, motorized cable reels and pulleys. A master control computer coordinates operation of the motorized cable system as a function of sensor data captured by navigation sensors on-board the platform so as to move the robotic platform inside an industrial plant. The system is configured to maneuver around pipings and avoid obstacles in the plant in order to maximize the effective workspace that the robotic platform can reach to perform operations including inspection or repair. Additionally, a robotic “wire jacket” device can be attached to suspension cables and configured to crawl along a cable. The wire-jacket can be selectively positioned on a cable to provide an intermediate cable suspension point that improves platform mobility within congested spaces and avoids obstacles.