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 gripping system for grabbing and releasing an object using a robotic arm includes a gripper body for operably engaging the robotic arm. The gripper body includes a vacuum pathway, a vacuum source connector operably coupled to the vacuum pathway, and a compressed air source connector. A plurality of compensators are configured to extend and retract relative to the gripper body. Each one of the compensators is configured for being placed in communication with the vacuum pathway when the compensator is in the extended position and for being isolated from the vacuum pathway when the compensator is in the retracted position.

A space-saving floating joint including a locking mechanism that locks a swing of a movable base with respect to a fixed base is provided. A floating joint includes: a fixed base; a movable base; a floating mechanism that floatingly supports the movable base swingably with respect to the fixed base; and a locking mechanism that fixes the movable base in a state of not being swingable with respect to the fixed base. The floating mechanism includes a spherical bearing having a spherical surface, and a spherical washer part that supports the spherical surface slidably. The locking mechanism is provided in an inner part of the spherical bearing.

An automatic screw tightening module includes a plate assembly, an input module, a screwdriver module, a transmission module, a movable module, an elastic element and a position sensor. The screwdriver module includes a screwdriver and a screwdriver sleeve. The transmission module is connected with an input terminal of the input module and the screwdriver sleeve for allowing the input terminal, the transmission module and the screwdriver sleeve to be rotated synchronously. The movable module is movably disposed on a base plate of the plate assembly. The movable module includes a bearing, and portion of the screwdriver sleeve is accommodated in the bearing, so that the screwdriver module and the movable module are moved relative to the base plate. The elastic element is disposed on the base plate and connected with the movable module. The position sensor is disposed on the base plate for sensing a displacement of the movable module.

A planar flexure member for resisting rotation about a central axis thereof includes, in various embodiments, a central portion comprising a plurality of attachment points; and at least one serpentine flexure arm extending from the central portion in a plane. The arm(s) terminate in an arcuate mounting rail that includes a series of attachment points. The rails are positioned in opposition to each other to partially define and occupy a planar circular envelope radially displaced from but surrounding the central portion of the flexure member. A portion of the serpentine arms may extend to (or substantially to) the envelope between the mounting rails.

A work piece processing device includes a tool piece, a work piece holder and a servo-elastic actuator system having simultaneous precision force and position control that moves one of the tool piece and the work piece holder to the other of the tool piece and work piece holder.

A planar flexure member for resisting rotation about a central axis thereof includes, in various embodiments, a central portion comprising a plurality of attachment points; and at least one serpentine flexure arm extending from the central portion in a plane. The arm(s) terminate in an arcuate mounting rail that includes a series of attachment points. The rails are positioned in opposition to to each other to partially define and occupy a planar circular envelope radially displaced from but surrounding the central portion of the flexure member. A portion of the serpentine arms may extend to (or substantially to) the envelope between the mounting rails.

A planar flexure member for resisting rotation about a central axis thereof includes, in various embodiments, a central portion comprising a plurality of attachment points; and at least one serpentine flexure arm extending from the central portion in a plane. The arm(s) terminate in an arcuate mounting rail that includes a series of attachment points. The rails are positioned in opposition to to each other to partially define and occupy a planar circular envelope radially displaced from but surrounding the central portion of the flexure member. A portion of the serpentine arms may extend to (or substantially to) the envelope between the mounting rails.

An end-effector system is disclosed for use with a programmable motion device. The end-effector system includes an arm attachment portion for attachment to an arm of the programmable motion device, an end-effector attachment portion for attachment to an end-effector for grasping objects, a rotational shaft portion for rotational attachment to the arm attachment portion, said rotational shaft portion being coupled to the end-effector attachment portion at a distal end thereof, and a motor system providing rotation of the rotational shaft portion as well as the end-effector attachment portion with respect to the arm attachment portion.

A control apparatus of a robot that includes a flexible portion and a locking mechanism for fixing the flexible portion, the control apparatus including: a lock control unit configured to control locking and unlocking of the flexible portion; and an operation control unit configured to control operation of the robot using different types of control policies depending on whether the flexible portion is locked or unlocked. With this control apparatus, it is possible to effectively control a robot in which locking and unlocking of the flexible portion can be switched.