A fluid activated continuous roll joint apparatus for use in various robotic applications. The continuous roll joint apparatus can include an outer housing, a plurality of collapsible hoses, and a rotor assembly. The outer housing can include a cylindrical inner cavity. The plurality of collapsible hoses can be disposed around a perimeter of at least a portion of the cylindrical inner cavity. The rotor assembly can include a plurality of rollers distributed radially around a rotor frame, where each roller of the plurality of rollers can be positioned to engage (pinch) a collapsible hose of the plurality of collapsible hoses. In an example, the continuous roll joint is activated when fluid is pumped through the plurality of collapsible hoses. Which rotates the rotor through inaction between the collapsible hoses and the rollers.

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

A method is provided. The method includes axially aligning a carrier portion of a separable robotic interface with a probe portion, the carrier portion coupled to a free end of a robotic arm, sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion in response to radially orienting a first alignment feature between the probe portion and the carrier portion, and in response compressing a spring-loaded plug in the carrier portion to release one or more ball bearings to make contact with an outer surface of the probe portion, the plug radially coupled to the carrier portion through a second alignment feature, seating the one or more ball bearings into matching recesses in the outer surface in response to sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion a predetermined distance, and rotating a locking ring of the carrier portion to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion.

A sterile interface module for coupling an electromechanical robotic surgical instrument to a robotic surgical assembly is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector and is configured to be actuated by the robotic surgical assembly. The sterile interface module includes a body member and a drive assembly. The body member is configured to selectively couple the surgical instrument to the robotic surgical assembly. The body member is formed of a dielectric material. The drive assembly is supported within the body member and is configured to transmit rotational forces from the robotic surgical assembly to the surgical instrument to actuate the surgical instrument to enable the surgical instrument to perform a function.

A transportation apparatus (30), includes a bracket (31), a telescopic apparatus (32) and a manipulator (33), where the bracket is mounted to a storage shelf (20), the telescopic apparatus is mounted to the bracket, the manipulator is mounted to the telescopic apparatus, and the telescopic apparatus is used for driving the manipulator to move along a horizontal first reference line (S5) or a horizontal second reference line (S6). The manipulator is driven to move on the first reference line and second reference line that are disposed orthogonally, and thereby the manipulator is able to load or unload goods at any position on the first reference line or second reference line, so as to avoid time being wasted on adjusting an angle of a transportation robot (100). The transportation apparatus has a high transportation efficiency.

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

A transfer robot includes a plurality of hands, a plurality of hand drive motors, and an arm. The plurality of hands are capable of holding a transfer target object, and pivot individually around a pivoting axis. The plurality of hand drive motors are arranged in a direction following the pivoting axis, such that a motor axis to which the plurality of hands are each connected becomes concentric with the pivoting axis, and directly drive the plurality of hands, respectively. The arm includes therein the plurality of hand drive motors.

A sterile interface module includes a body member that couples a surgical instrument to a robotic surgical assembly, a first drive transfer assembly supported by the body member, and a rotatable collar supported on the body member. The first drive transfer assembly includes a drive coupler and a transfer shaft extending from the drive coupler. The drive coupler is engagable with the robotic surgical assembly and the transfer shaft is engagable with the surgical instrument. The drive coupler and the transfer assembly are robotically movable to operate an end effector of the surgical instrument. The rotatable collar is operably associated with the first drive transfer assembly and is manually movable relative to the body member to manually operate the end effector of the surgical instrument.

A cable harness management module includes a base plate and a rotatable element which matches with and can rotate relative to the base plate. The base plate and the rotatable element form a space for receiving the cable harness including a first end and a second end. The cable harness management module has a first fastening member for fastening the first end onto the base plate, and a second fastening member for fastening member for fastening the second end onto the rotatable element. The cable harness can reel on or off the rotatable element when the rotatable element rotates with the robot joint. The cable harness management module may also include a mounting member for removably mounting the base plate to the robot joint. The cable harness management module protects the cable harness inside the compact space from abrasion and lengthen the lifetime of the cable harness.

A tool interchange for a submersible remote operated vehicle (ROV) arm includes a first interchange body that affixes to an ROV arm. A second interchange body is carried by the first interchange body to rotate on a rotation axis. The second interchange body includes a tool mount actuable between gripping an ROV tool to the second interchange body and releasing the ROV tool from the second interchange body. An inductive power coupling part is provided in the tool mount. The inductive power coupling part is presented outwardly in the tool mount opposite the first interchange body, resides on the rotation axis and is fixed with respect to the first interchange body while the second interchange body rotates. The inductive power coupling part is adapted to inductively communicate power with a corresponding inductor power coupling part of the ROV tool when the ROV tool is docked in the tool mount.