A robotic tool changer in which the coupling mechanism is actuated using magnetic force is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a robotic tool changer may include a tool unit operatively connected to a robotic tool and a master unit operative to connect to a robotic arm. The master unit may include a housing and a piston. The piston may be disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to place the master unit in one of a coupled state and a decoupled state. Further, the master unit may be operative to assume the coupled state or the decoupled state in response to altering an orientation of magnetic fields to provide a first magnetic force that moves the piston to the coupled state or provide a second magnetic force that moves the piston to the decoupled state.

The present invention relates to a robotic arm with a tool interface (16) comprising an electronically controllable tool attachment for affixing a tool to the interface.

Disclosed herein are a vacuum robot, vacuum robot linkages that may enclose driving assemblies in a sealed environment configured to isolate at least a portion of the driving assemblies from the outside environment, and methods of operation thereof. Drive assemblies that may be enclosed in the sealed environment of the vacuum robot linkage may be infinite rotation driving assemblies that enable a robot link member to have a rotation of at least 360 degrees about an axis. The vacuum robot linkage environment may be sealed through a magnetic liquid rotary seal and/or through a fixed vacuum seal.

Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

A method is provided for transporting components using a gripping apparatus. The gripping apparatus includes a body defining a chamber and includes an exhaust at a first end of the body. The gripping apparatus also includes an air conveyor positioned within the chamber. The method includes attaching a gripper head to a second end of the body opposite to the first end. The gripper head defines one or more openings and a nest. The method further includes generating an air flow through an inlet of the air conveyor and out through the exhaust. The method further includes applying suction via the one or more openings in the gripper head to locate and releasably hold one of the components with the gripper head at the first location based on the generating step. The method further includes transporting the component from the first location to a second location.

A connecting device configured to couple to a robot arm and a robot tool includes a first connecting part including a fixing member having at least one first magnetic part, at least one first optical fiber connector, and at least one first electrical connector which are coupled to the fixing member. A second connecting part which is removable and securely coupled to the first connecting part including a fixing member having at least one second magnetic part, at least one second optical fiber connector, and at least one first conduction connector which are coupled to the fixing member. The first magnetic part and the second magnetic part have opposite magnetic force. When the first magnetic part contacts the second magnetic part, the first optical fiber connector connect to the second optical fiber connector and the first electrical connector connects to the first conduction connector.

A prosthetic attachment for a prosthetic limb. A base is attached to the prosthetic limb. The base has a magnet that is surrounded by base valleys and base peaks. An attachment piece is attached to the prosthetic attachment. The attachment piece also has a magnet that is surrounded by attachment piece valleys and attachment piece peaks. The magnetic force between the base magnet and the attachment piece magnet attracts the prosthetic attachment to the prosthetic limb so that the base peaks and valleys mates with the attachment piece peaks and valleys for a secure removable attachment. In a preferred embodiment a locking device is used to further secure the prosthetic attachment to the prosthetic limb. In a preferred embodiment the prosthetic attachment is a prosthetic hand and the prosthetic limb is a prosthetic arm.

Devices, systems, and methods for automatically exchanging a first end-effector on a robot arm with a second end-effector housed in a docking station. The first end-effector may have a clamp that either engages or disengages the robot arm based upon an application of force of the robot arm onto the end-effector. The clamp may have a spring loaded clip that disengages the first end-effector to allow the robot arm to move away from the released first end-effector. The robot arm may be configured to automatically move to a port of a docking station housing the desired second end-effector using magnetic coils on the robot arm and the docking station to guide the robot arm.

An application head of a coating product on a surface to be coated comprising at least two spray nozzles for the coating product, each spray nozzle suitable for spraying the coating product in the form of an aerosol stream, while simultaneously creating several droplets having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outlet orifice of the spray nozzle.

A modular robotic system that incorporates CNC functionality and is designed to create precise CNC cut parts. The modular CNC system includes a base, a base arm, a first attachment, a second attachment, and a controller. The modular CNC system includes swappable attachment components and tools for different metalworking processes. The modular CNC system performs metalwork in a variety of orientations including a vertical orientation and an upside-down orientation. The modular CNC system is portable and designed to directly attach to a workpiece.