A robot control apparatus includes a drive controller configured to control a plurality of motors which are configured to drive a plurality of link mechanisms of a parallel link robot, respectively, and abnormality determination circuitry configured to determine based on state data of the plurality of motors whether at least one of collision of the parallel link robot and dislocation in the link mechanisms occurs.

The present invention provides a handheld robot for orthopedic surgery and a control method thereof. The handheld robot of the present invention includes a main body, a grip, a kinematic mechanism, a tool connector, a tool, a force sensor and a positioning unit. The handheld robot of the present invention combines the position/orientation information of the tool acquired by the positioning unit with the force/torque information acquired by the force sensor, and utilizes the combined information to adjust the position of the tool so as to keep the tool within the range/path of a predetermined operation plan. In this way, the precision of the orthopedic surgery can be enhanced, and the error occurred during the surgery can be minimized.

A coordinate positioning machine that includes: a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a hexapod metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume, and a non-hexapod drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume. Also, a coordinate positioning machine including a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume in fewer than six degrees of freedom, and a metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume in more degrees of freedom than the drive arrangement.

A link actuation apparatus includes: a parallel link mechanism including a proximal-side link hub, a distal-side link hub, and three or more link mechanisms each coupling the distal-side link hub to the proximal-side link hub such that a posture of the distal-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-side link hub; posture control drive sources; and a control device. The control device includes an abnormality detector including: a measurement section configured to measure a predetermined state value which is affected by abnormality in revolute pair parts of a link actuation apparatus body constituted by the parallel link mechanism and the posture control drive sources; and a determination section configured to determine if any of the revolute pair parts has abnormality in on the basis of a measurement result obtained by the measurement section. For example, the measurement section measures rigidity, or driving torque or the like.

An article accumulating apparatus that uses a robot to transfer to a predetermined location and accumulate an article conveyed thereto is disclosed. The article accumulating apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an accumulation unit, and a discharge unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the article. The accumulation unit is disposed in series with the conveyance unit and is configured to accumulate the article. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the article in the conveyance unit to an area outside the accumulation unit. The discharge unit is disposed in a robot movable range that is a range in which the robot holds and transfers the article to the accumulation unit.

A device includes a frame having a plurality of rails, each rail including a slider. A first rail support member is connected to a first end of the plurality of rails, and a second rail support member is connected to a second end of the plurality of rails. The second end is opposite the first end. A plurality of arms is connected to the sliders. Each arm includes a ball joint at one end connected to one of the sliders. Each arm includes another end, opposite the one end, connected to a platform via a hinge joint. The platform is configured to roll and pitch via changing positions of the sliders along the plurality of rails.

Provided is a support structure comprising a link member (a rod-like member), a clamp member disposed to surround the link member, and an elastic member disposed between the link member and the clamp member, the support structure supports the link member inside the clamp member via the elastic member, and the elastic member comprises a liquid impermeable material, and fills a space between the link member and the clamp member.

A method and apparatus are for abnormality detection. The method includes: acquiring an estimated value of a movement parameter of a mobile platform of a parallel robot. The estimated value is calculated based on sensing information about a sensor mounted on the mobile platform. Based on the estimated value and a designated value of the movement parameter, the method includes determining whether an abnormality occurs in the parallel robot. By way of the method and apparatus, abnormality of a parallel robot can be detected reliably.

A coordinate positioning machine that includes: a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a hexapod metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume, and a non-hexapod drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume. Also, a coordinate positioning machine including a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume in fewer than six degrees of freedom, and a metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume in more degrees of freedom than the drive arrangement.

A parallel link robot includes a base having an axis, a movable portion movable along the axis so as to pick a workpiece in a first working region and place the workpiece in a second working region, and first, second and third arms arranged around the axis to form first, second, and third angles between the first, second and third arms. Each of the arms connects the base and the movable part to move the movable part along the axis. The third angle is less than 120 degrees. The first angle and the second angle are equal. The first and third arms are positioned on a side of the first working region with respect to the axis. The second arm is positioned on a side of the second working region with respect to the axis.