A rotary drive device has a fluid-actuated rotary drive with a drive housing and a drive unit which is rotative relative thereto. The drive unit includes a drive shaft and a pivot piston, non-rotatably arranged thereon, separating two drive chambers from one another. For controlling the fluid-actuated rotary drive, a control valve arrangement including at least one electrically actuatable control valve is provided, which is attached to the drive housing and in this way is combined with the rotary drive to form a drive assembly that can be handled as a single unit. Furthermore, a robot arm is proposed, which has the rotary drive device as an arm joint connecting two arm members.

An actuator arrangement, having a drive for providing a rotational movement about an axis of rotation and which includes an actuator housing whose outer surface extends with a curved profiling along the axis of rotation and which delimits a working space, in which a working element is rotatably accommodated, which includes a drive shaft which penetrates a front surface of the actuator housing, wherein the actuator housing is penetrated by a working port, which is designed for a connection of the working space with a valve arrangement, and with a valve arrangement, which is designed for a provision of a fluid flow at the working port and which includes a valve module, which is accommodated in a valve shaft of a valve housing and which has a fluid port, wherein the valve housing extends with a profiling in the form of a circular ring section along the axis of rotation.

A robotic system for a robotic limb configured to recover energy for minimizing power consumption of the robotic system, comprising a first support member, a second support member, and a quasi-passive elastic actuator rotatably coupling the first and second support members to define a joint of the robotic system rotatable about an axis of rotation defining a degree of freedom. The quasi-passive elastic actuator can comprise a first vane device and a second vane device, the first vane device and second vane device being rotatable relative to each other within the housing and defining, at least in part, a compression chamber and an expansion chamber. The system can further comprise a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising a valve device disposed through an opening of the first vane device along the axis of rotation, and a shunt circuit facilitating fluid flow between the compression and expansion chambers through the valve assembly. The valve assembly is operable to position the valve device in an open position to open the shunt circuit to place the quasi-passive elastic actuator in an inelastic state, and to position the valve device in a closed position to close the shunt circuit to place the quasi-passive elastic actuator in an elastic state.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a fluid actuator including a housing defining a first chamber having a first cavity and a first open end, a first piston assembly including a tubular first piston defining a second chamber having a second cavity and a second open end, disposed in said first housing for reciprocal movement in the first chamber through the first open end, wherein a first seal, the first cavity, and the first piston define a first pressure chamber, and a second piston assembly having an second piston disposed in said first piston assembly for reciprocal movement in the second chamber through the second open end, wherein a second seal, the second cavity, and the second piston define a second pressure chamber, and a first portion of the second piston contacts a first end effector.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a rotary actuator that includes a housing defining an arcuate chamber comprising a cavity, a rotor arm configured for rotary movement, an arcuate-shaped first piston disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement in the arcuate chamber, where a seal, the cavity, and the piston define a pressure chamber that includes part or all of the arcuate chamber, and a portion of the piston contacts the rotor arm, and a rotor assembly rotatably surrounding said housing and having a rotary output tube about the axis, wherein the rotor arm extends radially outward to the rotary output tube and the rotor arm is coupled to the rotary output tube.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a fluid actuator including a housing defining a first chamber having a first cavity and a first open end, a first piston assembly including a tubular first piston defining a second chamber having a second cavity and a second open end, disposed in said first housing for reciprocal movement in the first chamber through the first open end, wherein a first seal, the first cavity, and the first piston define a first pressure chamber, and a second piston assembly having an second piston disposed in said first piston assembly for reciprocal movement in the second chamber through the second open end, wherein a second seal, the second cavity, and the second piston define a second pressure chamber, and a first portion of the second piston contacts a first end effector.

A tunable actuator joint module of a robotic assembly comprises an output member and an input member, where the output member is rotatable about an axis of rotation. A primary actuator (e.g., a motor) is operable to apply a torque to rotate the output member about the axis of rotation. A quasi-passive elastic actuator (e.g., rotary or linear pneumatic actuator) comprising an elastic component is tunable to a joint stiffness value and is operable to selectively release stored energy to apply an augmented torque to assist rotation of the output member and to minimize power consumption of the primary actuator. The tunable actuator joint module comprises a control system having a valve assembly controllably operable to switch the quasi-passive elastic actuator between an elastic state and an inelastic state during respective portions of movement of the robotic assembly (e.g., a hip or knee joint of an exoskeleton). Associated systems and methods are provided.

A quasi-passive elastic actuator operable within a robotic system comprising a housing comprising an output member operable to couple to a first support member of a robotic system, a first vane device supported by the housing and comprising an input member operable to couple to a second support member of the robotic system, a second vane device coupled to the housing and interfaced with the first vane device, the first vane device and second vane device being rotatable relative to each other within the housing and defining, at least in part, a compression chamber and an expansion chamber. A valve assembly is located and operable at the joint of the robotic system, and is operable to switch the quasi-passive elastic actuator between an elastic state and an inelastic state, the valve assembly comprising a valve device disposed through an opening of the first vane device along an axis of rotation of the first vane device. The valve assembly defines, at least in part, a shunt circuit that facilitates fluid flow between the compression and expansion chambers through the valve assembly.

In the integrated hydraulic rotary actuator according to the present invention, a valve, a sensor, a controller, and a driving unit for controlling the rotary actuator are integrated, so wires connecting them are not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent damage due to interference in operation and maintenance is easy. Further, since it is integrated, including a controller, when the actuator according to the present invention is used, connecting with other parts is easy and interference can be reduced. Therefore, it is easy to design and manufacture a resultant product.

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.