Systems and corresponding control methods providing a ballistic robot that flies on a trajectory after being released (e.g., in non-powered flight as a ballistic body) from a launch mechanism. The ballistic robot is adapted to control its position and/or inflight movements by processing data from onboard and offboard sensors and by issuing well-timed control signals to one or more onboard actuators to achieve an inflight controlled motion. The actuators may move an appendage such as an arm or leg of the robot or may alter the configuration of one or more body links (e.g., to change from an untucked configuration to a tucked configuration), while other embodiments may trigger a drive mechanism of an inertia moving assembly to change/move the moment of inertia of the flying body. In-flight controlled movements are performed to achieve a desired or target pose and orientation of the robot during flight and upon landing.

A waste sorting manipulator can include a gripper assembly for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area. There is at least one servo for moving the gripper assembly between the manipulator and the working area. There is also at least one slidable coupling mounted between the at least one servo and the gripper assembly for allowing relative movement between the at least one servo and the gripper assembly.

A lightweight 4-degree-of-freedom leg mechanism of a bionic quadruped robot, which includes a hip-joint lateral-swing assembly, a thigh longitudinal-swing assembly and a shank longitudinal-swing assembly. The hip-joint lateral-swing assembly includes a hip-joint swing cylinder and an electro-hydraulic actuator. One end of the electro-hydraulic actuator and one end of the thigh longitudinal-swing assembly are respectively connected to the hip-joint swing cylinder via a connecting block. The other end of the electro-hydraulic actuator is hinged to a side of the thigh longitudinal-swing assembly. The other end of the thigh longitudinal-swing assembly is hinged to the shank longitudinal-swing assembly.

The invention relates to a modular exoskeleton structure that provides force assistance to a user, comprising a base module (1) comprising a lumbar belt (11) capable of surrounding the lower trunk of the user, two hip modules capable of being attached to two respective thighs of the user, and a backpack support module (14) for an exoskeleton structure, comprising: a hoop (141) designed to be anchored to the hip modules, at the hips of a user, a support rod (142) designed to extend along the back of the user and capable of being engaged in a pouch of a backpack to suspend the backpack to the backpack support module (14), wherein the rod (142) comprises a first rod element (1421) connected to the hoop (141), a second rod element (1422) capable of sliding with respect to the first rod element (1421) so as to vary a length of the rod (142), and a damper for cushioning the movement of the second rod element (1421) with respect to the first rod element (1422) caused by the walking of the user.

An actuator includes first and second ends defining an axis there between, and at least four inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber is resiliently deformable, elongate, and extends axially between the first and second ends and circumferentially about a central core defined between the ends and by the inflatable chambers. A first pair of the four inflatable chambers is contra rotatory about the core to a second pair of the four inflatable chambers. A pressure change in one or more of the inflatable chambers causes motion of the first end relative to the second end. The actuators can be employed in robots or robotic arms.

For tightening screwed connections by a multi-screwing device with first and second screwing tools, each with rotary drive for screwing an exchangeable bushing on and off, a device for longitudinally straining a threaded bolt, and a tool for retightening the nut, the screwing tools are moved at right angles relative to tool axes by an actuating drive. When the bushings of the screwing tools are both screwed onto a threaded bolt, these steps are performed: a) bushing of first screwing tool is unscrewed from threaded bolt and raised; b) first screwing tool is moved relative to the second into a position in which tool axis of first screwing tool is aligned with screw axis of a further threaded bolt; c) first screwing tool is lowered and screwed onto further threaded bolt; d) threaded bolt is longitudinally strained, and e) steps a) to d) are repeated for second tool.

A shear force actuator is described, including: two substantially parallel first structural components disposed along a first axis; a plurality of substantially parallel second structural components disposed between and bridging the two first structural components; a plurality of joint sections each joining the second structural component with the first structural components at an oblique angle of between 0 and 90 degrees to define a plurality of cells, each capable of being connected with a fluid inflation or deflation source; an elastic surface covering the remaining surfaces of the cells in a fluid-tight manner, wherein at least one of the joint section, the first structural components, and the second structural components is elastic so that cell collapses upon removal of fluid from the cell to generate a linear force along the first axis.

An exoskeleton includes a first link and a second link, wherein the first link and the second link are rotatable relative to each other about a first axis of rotation, thereby forming a first rotary joint of the exoskeleton. A joint drive has a first element and a second element. The first element is connected to the first link by a second rotary joint; the second element is connected to the second link by a linear joint; and the second element is connected to the first element by a third rotary joint.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards robotic systems and methods. The robot may include an end effector, a tool flange of the robot, and a joint. The end effector may include a contacting part configured to contact a workpiece. The joint may be positioned between, and connected to, the tool flange and the end effector. The joint may include a variable angle between the tool flange and the end effector.

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.