A robot arm comprising a plurality of limbs articulated relative to each other, the robot arm extending from a base to a distal limb carrying a tool or an attachment point for a tool, the distal limb being attached by a revolute joint to a second limb, and the robot arm comprising a motor having a body and a drive shaft configured to drive rotation of the distal limb relative to the second limb about the revolute joint, wherein the body of the motor is fast with the distal limb.

A convertible panel includes a number of sub-panels which are movable between a first position in which the panels extend in the same plane to define a unified panel and a configuration in which one or more of the panels are moved into other planes which allow them to form steps. Multiple of the rotated panels may form a sequence of steps, e.g. a staircase. The convertible panel may be moved via a robotic mount, whereby the position or orientation of the convertible panel may be changed.

Aspects of the disclosure include a torque sensor arrangement configured to attach between a first part and a second part to sense torque therebetween, the torque sensor arrangement comprising an interface member having on its exterior an engagement configuration configured to rotationally engage the first part, a torsion member comprising a deflectable body attached at one end thereof to the interface member and comprising, at the other end of the deflectable body, an engagement configuration configured to fixedly engage the second part, and a deflection sensor attached to the deflectable body, wherein the interface member defines a rigid sleeve extending around the deflectable body and the torque sensor arrangement further comprises a bushing located between and in contact with both the sleeve and the deflectable body.

An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

A precision tripod motion system is provided. The tripod motion system in one example includes a bottom plate including three spaced-apart bottom single-degree-of-freedom hinges, a top plate including three spaced-apart top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joints, wherein the top plate is configured to receive a workpiece. Each linear actuator of three linear actuators is coupled to an associated SDOF hinge of the bottom plate and coupled to an associated TDOF joint of the top plate. Each linear actuator is configured to change length over a linear actuation span and configured to return the top plate to a predetermined set position after the top plate is displaced by an external force Each linear actuator includes a ball coupled to the associated three TDOF joint and a positioning actuator configured to move the ball to the predetermined set position prior to the return of the top plate to the predetermined set position.

An unmanned ground vehicle includes a main body, a drive system supported by the main body, a manipulator arm pivotally coupled to the main body, and a sensor module. The drive system includes right and left driven track assemblies mounted on right and left sides of the main body. The manipulator arm includes a first link coupled to the main body, an elbow coupled to the first link, and a second link coupled to the elbow. The elbow is configured to rotate independently of the first and second links. The sensor module is mounted on the elbow.

An autonomous companion mobile robot and system may complement the intelligence possessed by a user with machine learned intelligence to make a user's life more fulfilling. The robot and system includes a mobile robotic device and a mobile robotic docking station. Either or both of the mobile robotic device and the mobile robotic docking station may operate independently, as well as operating together as a team, as a system. The mobile robotic device may have an external form of a three-dimensional shape, a humanoid, a present or historical person, some fictional character, or some animal. The mobile robotic device and/or the mobile robotic docking station may each include a fog Internet of Things (IoT) gateway processor and a plurality of sensors and input/output devices. The autonomous companion mobile robot and system may collect data from and observe its users and offer suggestions, perform tasks, and present information to its users.

A sealed actuator including stacked motor modules. Each motor module has a motor module housing, a motor stator attached to a respective motor module housing, a motor rotor in communication with a respective motor stator, and a stator seal disposed between the motor stator and motor rotor, surrounding the motor rotor and having a sealing surface interface, that interfaces with a respective sealing housing surface of the motor module housing, facing the motor rotor to seal the motor stator from the motor rotor. The motor module housings are stacked against each other and the sealing housing surface interfaced, at the sealing surface interface facing the rotors, to the respective stacked stator seals of the motor module housings forms a substantially continuous seal interface of the stacked motor modules sealed by the stacked stator seals to form a continuous barrier seal between the motor rotors and the motor stators.

An apparatus including a frame, an optical sensor connected to the frame, and an environment separation barrier. The frame is configured to be attached to a housing of a motor assembly proximate an aperture which extends through the housing. The optical sensor comprises a camera. The environment separation barrier is configured to be connected to the housing at the aperture, where the environment separation barrier is at least partially transparent and located relative to the camera to allow the camera to view an image inside the housing through the environment separation barrier and the aperture.

A robot including: a driving mechanism that drives a movable member with respect to a base; and a fan that cools the driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism is provided with a motor, and a reducer that is disposed between the base and the movable member and that moves the movable member with respect to the base by reducing the speed of the rotation of the motor, the motor and the reducer are disposed on either side of a securing plate that is secured to the base, the cooling fan is disposed on an opposite side from the securing plate with the motor interposed between the fan and the securing plate, a space in which a surface of the reducer is exposed is formed outside the reducer, and the securing plate is provided with a vent that is connected to the space by passing through the securing plate.