A shear stud welding system is disclosed. The system comprises a shear stud holder, a robotic arm and a microcontroller. The shear stud holder comprises a turret and a first motor coupled to the turret and configured to rotate the turret about an axis to a predetermined angle such that a shear stud among the plurality of shear studs is at a dispensing position. The robotic arm is configured to transfer the shear stud from the shear stud holder to a workpiece. The microcontroller is configured to control the movement of the robotic arm to pick up the shear stud from the dispensing position and transfer the shear stud holder to the workpiece at a welding position and cause the first motor to rotate the turret to a predetermined angle to cause a shear stud among the plurality of shear studs assume the dispensing position.

A robotic system for providing a surface cleaning device to a solar panel device, the robotic system may include (a) a drive unit that is configured to move the robotic system in relation to the solar panel device; (b) a support unit that comprises guiding elements, the guiding elements are configured to support the surface cleaning device; wherein the guiding elements comprise a first guiding element and a second guiding element; (c) an alignment unit that is configured to align, during an alignment process, the first guiding element and the second guiding element with the solar panel device; (d) sensing units that comprises a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit; wherein the first sensing unit is configured to sense a first spatial relationship between the first guiding element and a first portion of the solar panel device; wherein the second sensing unit is configured to sense a spatial relationship.

Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness through magnetic attraction are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include magnetically-attractable particles located on or within the membrane. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably attract the magnetically-attractable particles and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor by modifying air pressure within the sensor cavity, based on modifiable strength of the magnetic object to attract the magnetically-attractable particles.

Methods, systems, and methods of manufacture for soft robotic actuators are described herein. In one aspect, a soft robotic actuator can include an elastomeric material defining a cavity; a volume of liquid metal (LM) positioned within the cavity; and an energy source coupled to the LM, where the energy source is adapted or configured to alter a temperature of the volume of LM, whereby altering the temperature of the volume of LM initiates an actuation of the elastomeric material.

A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology is configured for bimanual manipulation of objects. The robot includes a body and two arms individually defining an arm length and including an end effector, an end effector joint proximally adjacent to the end effector along a kinematic chain corresponding to the arm, and a gripper proximal to the end effector along the arm length. The end effector joint is configured to rotate the end effector relative to the gripper. The robot is configured to move at least a portion of a bottom surface of an object away from a support surface by applying force to the object via frictional interfaces between convex gripping surfaces of the grippers and side surfaces of the object. This creates a gap into which paddles of the end effectors can be inserted to support the object from below.

A mechanical hand mimics a human hand having similar degrees of freedom and sensory abilities while appearing visually similar to human hand. The mechanical hand comprises a mechanical hand skeleton and resilient elastomer (e.g., silicone) skin that fully encloses the mechanical hand skeleton. The mechanical hand skeleton may advantageously be molded directly into the resilient elastomer (e.g., silicone) skin such that the hand appears, moves, and feels very similar to a real human hand. The mechanical hand may have applications in robotics, for example as an end-of-arm tool or end effector, or may have other applications. Robotic applications may include prosthetics applications.

A robot and an operation method thereof are disclosed. A robot may include a loading box provided to load goods, and to be movable at a certain distance with respect to the robot when closed and opened, a drive wheel configured to drive the robot, an auxiliary wheel provided at a position spaced apart from the drive wheel, and a variable supporter configured to change the position of the auxiliary wheel, and supporting the loading box, and the variable supporter may move the auxiliary wheel so as to correspond to the movement direction of the center of gravity of the robot. The robot may transmit and receive a wireless signal on the mobile communication network constructed according to a 5 Generation (G) communication.

A dual mounted end-effector system mounted on a motive robot arm for preparing an object surface is described. The system includes a first tool configured to contact and prepare the object surface and a second tool configured to contact and prepare the object surface. The system also includes a force control. The force control is configured to align, in a first state, with the first tool in position to contact and prepare the object surface and, in a second state, with the second tool in a position to contact and prepare the object surface.

A safety switch device includes a first support member and a second support member which are formed so as to secure a mobile terminal, and a grip part to be grasped by an operator’s hand. The safety switch device includes an enable switch for transmitting a signal for permitting a robot to operate, and an emergency stop button for transmitting a signal for stopping the robot. The first support member and the second support member are formed so as to secure a plurality of types of mobile terminals having different sizes. The grip part is disposed at the center part of the shape of the back surface of the mobile terminal, which corresponds to the position of the center of gravity of the mobile terminal.

A safety system for allowing a robot having a controller and at least one movable member to be manually guided by a user includes a sensor module is disposed on a surface of the robot that comprises a user-interaction sensor that produces a sensing signal. The sensor module further includes a resilient member having an outer surface. A motion control module is adapted to move the robot through the controller according to a first threshold of the sensing signal. A safety module is adapted for stopping movement of the robot through the controller according to a second threshold of the sensing signal and represents a potential threat of harm to the user.