A method of controlling a robotic arm in a surgical system comprises manually applying a force to a body of the robotic arm. Force information is received from ae force sensor on the robotic arm and a controller determines, using the force information, whether the force is a gesture force input. If the force is determined to be a gesture force input, the controller initiates electromechanical movement of the manipulator arm to a draping configuration, instrument attachment configuration, storage configuration, or home configuration.

A robot according to an embodiment includes a first link, a second link, an actuator, and an external gear. The second link is rotatably connected to the first link. The actuator rotationally drives the second link. The external gear is connected to the actuator. The second link includes an internal gear engaged with the external gear.

A robot joint module and a wireless power supply apparatus, system, and method therefor. The apparatus includes: a wireless power receiver arranged at a connecting end of a current robot joint module and adapted to receive electrical power from a previous robot joint module of the current robot joint module; and a wireless power transmitter arranged at an output end of the current robot joint module and adapted to transmit the electrical power to a next robot joint module of the current robot joint module. By receiving electrical power from a previous robot joint module in a wireless power supply mode and sending the electrical power to a next robot joint module in a wireless power supply mode, the electrical power can be transferred between a plurality of robot joint modules, without arranging any power cable. The cost of and difficulty in arranging power cables can be reduced, and cable breakage caused by winding of the power cables can also be avoided, thereby implementing infinite continuous rotation of joints.

A motorized arm for a robotic medical system can include a shoulder coupled to a column of a table by a translational joint that allows translation of the shoulder along the column, a first link rotationally coupled to the column, a second link rotational coupled to the first link, and an arm support coupled to a distal end of the second link. The arm support can be configured to support one or more robotic arms usable during a robotic medical procedures. The motorized arm can include actuators for driving rotation of the links and arbors that can be engaged to increase the torsional stiffness of the motorized arm. The motorized arm can move the arm support between a stowed position below the table to a deployed position.

A multi-axis robotic arm includes a pedestal, a plurality of knuckle module and at least one detachable arm module. One of the plurality of the knuckle modules is connected with the pedestal. Two knuckle modules are connected to a first connecting element and a second connecting element. The first connecting element has a first docking portion, and the second connecting element has a second docking portion. The first docking portion and the second docking portion are detachably docked with each other by a plurality of fasteners. The at least one arm module have a third docking portion and a fourth docking portion. The third docking portion is detachably docked with the first docking portion by the plurality of the fasteners. The fourth docking portion is detachably docked with the second docking portion by the plurality of the fasteners.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a multi-axis rotary actuator that includes a first rotary piston actuator configured to controllably actuate a first pivotal joint between a first linkage to a second linkage about a first axis, and a second rotary piston actuator configured to controllably actuate a second pivotal joint connecting the second linkage to a third linkage about a second axis.

An industrial robot includes: a first-member and a second-member that are rotatable about a particular axis and that each have a hollow portion extending along the axis; a cylindrical member inserted into the hollow portions along the axis, and fixed to the first-member; and a wire disposed in a cylindrical gap between the cylindrical member, the first-member, and the second-member, the wire having a length that enables rotation between the first-member and the second-member and having one end fixed to the first-member and another end fixed to the second-member. The second-member includes a first-portion rotatably supported by the first-member, a second-portion that fixes the end of the wire, and a third portion serially connected between the second-portion and the first-portion, and the third portion has an inner circumferential surface that faces the gap and has been subjected to a friction reducing process.

Link for an articulated manipulator, comprising a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis thereof and having a first joint end and a second joint end, wherein the first joint end and the second joint end define a first joint plane and a second joint plane, respectively. The first joint plane and the second joint are each at an inclination angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first joint plane is arranged parallel to a first axis and wherein the second joint plane is arranged parallel to a second axis, the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the first axis and second axis, and wherein the first axis and second axis are at a mutual twist angle of at least one times the inclination angle.

This application describes multi-stage stop devices for robotic arms. During a first stage, rotational motion of a link of a robotic arm compresses a compressible member of the multi-stage stop device to absorb and dissipate at least some of the force generated by the collision. A second stage provides a hard stop the stops any further rotation. The multi-stage stop devices described herein can include a collapsing pin configured to compress a compressible member during the first stage. After the pin has collapsed a rigid sidewall provides a hard stop preventing further rotation during the second stage.

A collapsible, versatile, multiple axis Cartesian robot system is aimed directly at solving the issue of the inverse relationship of robot portability to workspace volume. The collapsible, multiple axis Cartesian robot, minimizes the collapsed size of the robot while maximizing the workspace volume in the use of multiple, alternating linear and rotary actuators.