A tool holder. The tool holder is mounted to a platform (9) and comprises a plurality of legs (1) extending from respective positions on the platform (9) for connecting the platform (9) to respective positions on the workpiece. Each leg (1) has a first joint system (8a) at its platform end allowing each leg (1) to pivot relative to the platform (9). Each first joint system (8a) has an actuator arrangement (34) having a first operating mode in which the actuator arrangement (34) is configured to apply a load to move the respective leg (1), and a second operating mode in which the actuator arrangement (34) is configured to allow free movement of the respective leg (1).

A pick-and-place system includes a rigid elongate strongback, configured to be supported by a robotic arm of a robotic device. In addition, the pick-and-place system includes a plurality of actuator-clamp assemblies, mountable in spaced relation to each other on the strongback. Each actuator-clamp assembly includes one or more jaw assemblies, each configured to clamp onto a localized segment of a workpiece. Each actuator-clamp assembly also includes a multi-axis actuator, configured to couple the one or more jaw assemblies to the strongback and adjust an orientation of the localized segment prior to placement of the workpiece onto a mating structure.

A method for compensating for accuracy errors of a hexapod is disclosed, said hexapod comprising a base, an actuation assembly having six linear translation actuators, a control unit, and a movable carriage comprising a platform connected to the base by means of the actuation assembly. The method includes a measurement step for determining geometry and positioning errors on the hexapod, the measurement step including sub-steps for determining positioning errors of the pivot centers on the carriage and on the base, for determining length errors of the actuators and for measuring positioning errors of the actuators along the path thereof, the compensation method also including a step for calculating, from measurements taken, error compensation values and a step for applying said error compensation values to the control unit of the hexapod, during subsequent use of said hexapod.

A hand held robotic system that remains stiff so long as it is operating within allowed limits, but which become actively controlled once the operator exceeds those limits. The system thus corrects deviations by more than a predetermined amount of the operator's hand motions, so that the tool remains in the allowed region even when the operator's hand deviates from the planned trajectory. The pose and path of the robotic operating head is ascertained by means of a navigation or tracking system, or by means of a proximity device to measure the closeness of the operating head to a damage sensitive feature. As the tool deviates from its predetermined path or pose, or comes too close to the hazardous area, the robot control acts to move the tool back to its predetermined pose or path, or away from the hazardous region, independently of user's hand movement.

A strut suitable for use in parallel manipulator and other applications utilizes an actuation member that is subjected to a quasi-static axial tensioning force to effectively preload the strut to provide axial stiffness and bending flexibility at one or more ends of the strut.

A 6-axis positioning system, comprising a base, a movable unit and six variable-length actuators, one end of each actuator being connected to the base and the other end of each actuator being connected to the movable unit. At least one additional variable-length component is provided, one end of which is connected to the base and the other end of which is connected to the movable unit. The 6-axis positioning system can be releasably locked at least in certain positions of the movable unit by means of this additional component. The additional component has a releasable locking brake, and the variable-length component is designed such that its length can be varied passively by means of the movement of the six driven actuators.

A 6-axis positioning system features a base, a movable unit, and six variable-length actuators divided into two groups of three actuators each. The actuators of the first group are positioned within a region bounded by the second group on both the base and the movable unit. Each end of the actuators is connected via pivot fastening systems, allowing precise movement. Specifically, the first group's actuators can move within an angular range of 30 relative to a virtual line running perpendicular from the base, while the second group's actuators can move within an angular range of 0 to 45 relative to a plane spanned by the base. This arrangement ensures a compact, precise, and flexible positioning system, ideal for applications requiring high accuracy and load-bearing capacity.

A hand held robotic system that remains stiff so long as it is operating within allowed limits, but which become actively controlled once the operator exceeds those limits. The system thus corrects deviations by more than a predetermined amount of the operator's hand motions, so that the tool remains in the allowed region even when the operator's hand deviates from the planned trajectory. The pose and path of the robotic operating head is ascertained by means of a navigation or tracking system, or by means of a proximity device to measure the closeness of the operating head to a damage sensitive feature. As the tool deviates from its predetermined path or pose, or comes too close to the hazardous area, the robot control acts to move the tool back to its predetermined pose or path, or away from the hazardous region, independently of user's hand movement.

A charging infrastructure including a charging station (1) for charging a vehicle (10) having a vehicle-side charging interface (20). The charging station (1) includes a robot (50) that carries a robot-side charging interface (100) for establishing a charging connection with the vehicle-side charging interface (20). The robot (50) includes a base frame (51), a movable carrier (60) carrying the robot-side charging interface (100), and at least three displacement assemblies (71-76) between the base frame (51) and the movable carrier (60) that form a mechanism to move the movable carrier (60) with at least three degrees of freedom with respect to the base frame (51). The displacement assemblies (71-76) include an actuator (80) and a compliance assembly (90) in series with the actuator (80) and the robot-side charging interface for resiliently absorbing or releasing a displacement between the actuator and the robot-side charging interface over a compliance stroke or displacement angle.

An industrial robot may include a main body part; a plurality of levers having base end sides turnably connected with the main body part; a plurality of arm parts having respective base end sides turnably connected with respective tip end sides of the plurality of the levers; a movable part which is turnably connected with the respective tip end sides of the plurality of the arm parts; and a plurality of turning drive mechanisms for respectively turning the plurality of the levers. The plurality of the levers may radially extend to an outer peripheral side of the main body part at a substantially equal pitch. The arm part may provided with two arms which are mutually parallel to each other and are formed in a straight shape.