The invention discloses a multifunctional rigid-flexible operation engineering rescue accessory. The accessory comprises a frame, two working hydraulic cylinders, eight gripping device connecting rods, two gripping claws, a flexible cleaning device base, a movable guide sleeve, a guide slider, a guide slider rail, a rotary guide sleeve, eight sweepers brush, a functional hydraulic cylinder, and a working hydraulic motor. A gravel clearing function and a stone grabbing function are achieved by using one accessory, and different from a traditional engineering accessory integrating rigid movement, the accessory has the advantage of integrating rigid operation and flexible operation. A rigid grabbing system and a flexible sweeping system are arranged outside the frame and in the cavity of the frame respectively, so as to realize function conversion; through pushing out and retracting of a piston of the functional hydraulic cylinder, the sweeping brushes can be pushed out of the cavity to work and retract to be hidden so that the grabbing function and the sweeping function can be rapidly converted; and moreover, working requirements in various working states are met, and motion interference is avoided.

An electromechanical system operates in part through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a multi-axis robot, a controller, and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the robot. The counterbalance mechanism includes a base structure connected to a set of linkages, a pneumatic cylinder, a spring-loaded cam assembly, and an optional constant force spring. The linkages form a four-bar parallelogram assembly connectable to a load. The cylinder and cam assembly, and optional constant force spring, each impart respective vertical forces to the parallelogram assembly. The forces combine to provide gravity compensation and self-centering functions or behaviors to the load, enabling the load to move with a vertical degree of freedom when manually acted upon by the operator, and to return the load to a nominal center position.

An underwater robotic system includes a frame adapted to be deployed in a body of water and having guide rails and at least one movable rail movably coupled to the guide rails. An actuator module is movably coupled to the at least one movable rail. A control panel disposed proximate the frame and has a plurality of controls thereon. The plurality of controls is operable by an actuator on the actuator module. A position of each of the plurality of controls is known such that motion of the actuator module and the at least one movable rail is remotely controllable to actuate any chosen one of the plurality of controls.

[Object] To provide a hybrid actuator attaining both driving force and responsiveness, capable of reducing inertia of a movable portion.

[Solution] A pneumatic air muscle has a cylinder (112) provided in a flexible member (100) forming a pneumatic artificial muscle. At the center of an upper lid element (109) of the cylinder, a through hole is opened, and an inner wire (103) of a Bowden cable passes through this through hole and is coupled by means of a spring (106) to a bottom portion of the cylinder. When the pneumatic artificial muscle contracts, the inner wire (103) and the pneumatic air muscle move together because of the stopper (105), and the contraction force is transmitted. In contrast, when the pneumatic air muscle extends, the stopper (105) is disengaged, while the tension of inner wire (103) is kept by the spring (106) to prevent slacking.

An example robot includes a first hydraulic actuator cylinder connecting a first member to a second member, where the first hydraulic actuator cylinder comprises a first piston and a first chamber. A second hydraulic actuator cylinder connects the first member to the second member, where the second hydraulic actuator cylinder comprises a second piston and a second chamber. A valve system controls hydraulic fluid flow between a hydraulic supply line of pressurized hydraulic fluid, the first and second chambers, and a return line. A controller is configured to determine a gait state of the robot, and based on the determined gait state, provide a signal to the valve system.

An autonomous postal delivery systems for conventional mailboxes is disclosed. A self-driving vehicle with LIDAR sensors in conjunction with GPS algorithms guides the mail delivery van safely to predetermined addresses. Onboard optical scanners recognize residential mailboxes and robotic systems retrieve mail from secured compartments and deliver mail efficiently. An objective of the invention is to automate postal deliveries to residential mailboxes using unmanned vehicles.

An arm-type support device includes a first frame, a second frame, a first arm member, a second arm member, and an actuator. The actuator includes a driving unit, an actuating rod, and a link member. The first arm member, the second arm member, the first frame, and the second frame form a parallel link. The first arm member is hollow and accommodates the actuator and the second arm member.

Disclosed is a hexapod system including first and second supports and six linear actuators. Each linear actuator has an articulated end on the first and second supports, with a swivel connection with a force-absorbing structure embedded in the first support and a swivel connection to linear actuators articulated on the first support, and one of the first and second supports includes a connector that cooperates with the force-absorbing structure. The connector cooperates with a second force-absorbing structure of a second hexapod system, and the two hexapod systems mount in series.

A mechanical transmission system that transmits motions and forces from one location to another while allowing the relative position/orientation of the two locations to change continuously is disclosed. The system can be used to actuate the joints and tooling of a robotic arm using stationary motors in the robot's base. Since the motors do not contribute any weight or inertia to the arm, this yields a lightweight and agile arm that is more human safe. The transmission includes a controller hydraulic cylinder connected to a remote cylinder by a tubing assembly, which contains hydraulic fluid, and a wire cable. The fluid transmits pushing forces between pistons of the cylinders, while the cable transmits pulling forces. The tubing assembly allows the cylinders to move in space relative to one another.

A gripper device includes a plurality of gripper claws, a plurality of linear motion units, each of which is disposed on corresponding one of the plurality of gripper claws, a synchronization mechanism configured to synchronize movement of the plurality of linear motion units, a first cylinder configured to apply a driving force thereof to the linear motion unit or the synchronization mechanism, a second cylinder having a shorter stroke and a greater driving force as compared to those of the first cylinder, and a transmission mechanism having a clutch which is configured to establish or release mechanical connection between the second cylinder and the synchronization mechanism.