A joint structure for a robot includes a first link and a second link rotatably coupled to each other through a joint part and a first linear-motion actuator and a second linear-motion actuator coupling the first link to the second link at a part separated from the joint part. The first linear-motion actuator and the second linear-motion actuator are each connected with the first link and the second link so as to be rotatable about two axes perpendicular to each other. When the second link is in an upright state, a first shaft member and second shaft members are disposed so that an angle formed by axial centers thereof becomes a right angle and the axial centers are oriented in a horizontal direction.

A variable stiffness joint and method to alter the stiffness of the joint with multiple stiffness levels is described wherein a plurality of stiffness bits (m) are used for enabling 2 m stiffness level variations for the joint. Each stiffness bit comprises an elastic element in mechanical connection with a clutch (21, 22, 23). The joint revolves with zero stiffness level when all the clutches (21, 22, 23) are disengaged whereas a clutch (21, 22, 23) involves one of the elastic elements which alter the stiffness of the joint. Engaging other clutches (21, 22, 23) involve more elastic elements for altering the joint stiffness and the resultant joint stiffness is determined by adding the stiffness values of all the involved springs (6, 7, 8).

An industrial robot includes first and second kinematic chains configured to transmit the movements of corresponding first and second actuators to respective movements of an end effector. The first kinematic chain includes a first rod which is stiff. The second kinematic chain includes elements between the second actuator and the first rod such that the actuation of the second actuator causes bending forces on the first rod. The first and second kinematic chains thereby have the first rod as a common element, which improves compactness and accessibility of the robot. This improvement assumes that the robot is provided with one or more stiff rods that can bear the bending forces resulting from the actuation of the corresponding actuators.

A five-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism and a series-parallel multi-degree-of-freedom equipment having the parallel mechanism are disclosed, and can machine complex components and parts as well as large structural parts and implement multi-degree-of-freedom numerical control machining, such as offsite maintenance of large equipment. The parallel mechanism includes: a rack; a movable platform; a first chain connected with the rack by at least two revolute pairs with axes intersecting with each other perpendicularly, and connected with the movable platform by at least two revolute pairs with axes intersecting with one another perpendicularly; a second chain having the same structure as the first chain; and a third chain including a main branch chain and two auxiliary branch chains, wherein the first chain, the second chain, and the third chain are separately connected between the rack and the movable platform.

The present disclosure relates to a robot, and provides a 3 degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with 3 branched-chains, which includes a fixed platform, a movable platform, and three arc-shaped connecting rods. The rotation axes of three arc-shaped connecting rods are intersected with each other and each rotation axes is parallel to the fixed platform. Each arc-shaped connecting rod has a sliding slot curved extending along a longitudinal direction. The three connecting shafts one-to-one corresponds to the three arc-shaped connecting rods and are disposed on the movable platform. A first end of each connecting shaft is fixedly connected with the movable platform. A second end is hinged joint with a connecting head. The connecting head is slid and disposed in the corresponding sliding slot.

Disclosed is a highly backdrivable robotic forceps that can have up to 7 degrees of freedom (DOF) similar to the human wrist/hand and that enables 7 DOF force estimation for use in minimal invasive robotic surgical systems and a robotic forceps control system and method allowing force feedback teleoperation (bilateral) of said robotic forceps. The robotic forceps mechanism is a structure capable of bilaterally controlled motion and having the capability to mimic the hand movements of a surgeon and reflection of the forces on the forceps tip to the surgeon's control interface. Control and estimation of forces applied on the forceps tip can be achieved thanks to the novel backdrivable structure of the robotic forceps mechanism and the control system and method presented here.

A parallel link robot includes: a base portion; a movable portion; link portions coupling the base and movable portions; and actuators attached to the base portion and driving the respective link portions. Each of the link portions includes drive links swung around axes by the respective actuators, and two each of the passive links parallel to each other and swingably arranged between the drive link and the each of the movable portions. The robot includes a drive unit disposed parallel to the two passive links of at least one of the link portions and between the passive links and drives a mechanical unit attached to the movable portion. The drive unit is attached to the drive link with a joint, swingably coupling the drive unit to the drive link around at least mutually intersecting axes, on a straight-line coupling swinging center points of the passive links and the drive link.

A device that makes it possible to make the movements of moving platforms safer and relates more particularly to a linear actuator that can be used in a hexapod positioner supporting a load is provided. The actuator is actuated by electric control and comprises at least one hydraulic damper positioned on the actuator such that the forces generated by damping in the event of extreme breakdown are experienced only by the load and are distributed such as to limit force and acceleration peaks.

A parallel link robot includes: a base having two or more actuators; a movable part; two or more link parts connected to the actuators; an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of an element attached to the movable part; two or more additional actuators that are provided on the two or more link parts and that change the orientation of the element with the same degree of freedom; and power transmission shafts. The link parts each have a driving link and two parallel driven links. The additional actuators are each disposed between the driven links of the two or more link parts. The power transmission shafts extend from the additional actuators along the driven links and are connected, with universal joints, to shafts extending from the orientation changing mechanism. The universal joints are located on a straight line connecting intersections between the two driven links and the movable part.

A parallel link robot includes a base portion; a movable portion that is disposed below the base portion; a plurality of arms that link the base portion and the movable portion so as to be parallel to each other; and a wrist shaft that is supported by the movable portion so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis in a substantially vertical direction. A pair of marks indicate a relative phase between the movable portion and the wrist shaft about the rotation axis are on the movable portion and the wrist shaft, at positions visible from the upper side or the lateral side.