An exoskeleton system comprising at least one actuator unit that includes a fluidic actuator; an exoskeleton device including a fluidic system, and electronics; and a first cable extending from the exoskeleton device to the at least one actuator unit.

A method of operating an exoskeleton system that includes obtaining at an exoskeleton device, sensor data from one or more sensors; and determining, by the exoskeleton device based at least in part on the sensor data, one or more states, including one or more of: at least one state of the exoskeleton system; at least one state of a user wearing the exoskeleton system; and at least one state of a location where the user and exoskeleton system are located. The method further includes determining, by the exoskeleton device, a response based at least in part on the determined one or more states; and generating the response by the exoskeleton device causing actuation of the exoskeleton system.

An exoskeleton system comprising: one or more actuator units that comprise a fluidic actuator; an exoskeleton device; one or more cables, the one or more cables comprising a first cable extending from the exoskeleton device to a first actuator unit of the one or more actuator units; and a retractable cable assembly coupled to the first cable, with the retractable cable assembly configured to pull the first cable to reduce slack in the first cable.

An exoskeleton system that includes at least one actuator unit having an upper arm and a lower arm that are rotatably coupled via a joint and a fluidic actuator that extends between the upper arm and the lower arm.

An exoskeleton system, the exoskeleton system comprising one or more actuator units that include a fluidic actuator, one or more sensors and an exoskeleton device. The exoskeleton device includes a fluidic system, and a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, are configured to control the exoskeleton system to introduce fluid to the fluidic actuator of the one or more actuator units to cause actuation of the fluidic actuator of the one or more actuator units. The exoskeleton system may be configured to operate in, on or around a body of water and can be water and/or corrosion resistant.

Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.

Technology is provided for controlling the motion of soft growing robots during retraction to prevent uncontrollable buckling or bending. A double walled flexible tubular robot is provided with an inside wall, an outside wall, and a folded tip. A retraction device located at the folded tip has a routing aperture sized to encompass the inside wall and for routing the inside wall through the retraction device. The retraction device further has a retraction mechanism inside the retraction device to controllably retract material of the inside wall through the routing aperture in the direction away from the folded tip, thereby decreasing the outside wall, creating more inside wall, and as such shortening the length of the flexible robot. This technology enables behaviors, such as (1) growing in one direction, and then retracting and growing in a different direction, and (2) retracting through a confined space without applying

The invention disclosure a remotely operated pneumatic manipulator based on Kinect, comprising Kinect sensor, computer, D/A embedded board, PWM piezoelectric pneumatic ratio valve, pneumatic triad, air compressor, artificial muscle, spring and finger joint, wherein the Kinect sensor is provided on one side of the finger joint, a camera module of the Kinect sensor is faced to the finger joint. The pneumatic humanoid manipulator of the invention has basically the same dimensions as human hands, can achieve human-computer interaction and remotely operation, the transmission structure thereof is novel, simple and compact, the fingers thereon are convenient to control and flexible to move, the finger movement range is large for wide application, moreover, the PWM piezoelectric pneumatic ratio valve is with advantages of fast dynamic response, low cost, strong resistance to noise, and high detection accuracy of Kinect sensor.

The disclosure discloses an electric-pneumatic hybrid-driving flexible manipulator with spring framework from plates of special-shaped thickness, including a screw shaft motor, an upper seat plate, guide coupling rods, linear bearings, a driving plate, a push plate, short push rods, connecting rods, a bottom seat plate, flexible fingers, a rotating finger holder, a long push rod, a small support, tension springs, single-head bellows muscles and a ridged push plate. The framework of the flexible fingers is a thickness special-shaped plate spring designed according to the principle of equal strength. In the disclosure, through the control of a motor, an angle between a finger knuckle and a grasped object can be adjusted to realize the adjustment of the position of a contact point. To adjust the position of the contact point of the grasped object, the acting point of the contact force and the direction of the acting force can be selected according to situations, so that the grasping is more accurate and reliable. At the same time, the angle between the finger knuckle and the grasped object can be adjusted to adapt to a larger change in size of the grasped object. In the disclosure, a pneumatic system is large in gain and the pneumatic bellows muscles are light, so that the response is quick and the buffering effect is good.

Systems and methods for grasping and manipulating objects are presented. The systems include a first actuator configured to either contract, expand, or rotate about a first axis. In some cases the actuator acts to deform a structure that is configured to grasp an object. In other cases the actuator directly interacts with an object to grasp the object or aid in the grasping of the object. The entire system may be connected to a robotic arm or other system to allow for picking and placing of objects. The first actuator includes a compliant shell defining an enclosed cavity, a dielectric fluid disposed within the enclosed cavity, a first electrode disposed on a first side of the compliant shell, and a second electrode disposed on a second side of the compliant shell opposite the first side.