Abstract: An annealing apparatus includes a heater plate and a cooler plate disposed in a chamber, a delivering robot, a sensor and circuitry. The delivering robot is configured to deliver a wafer between the heater plate and the cooler plate in the chamber. The sensor is located on the delivering robot and configured to output a first signal in response to a motion of the delivering robot. The circuitry is coupled to the sensor and configured to detect whether an abnormality of the delivering robot occurs according to the first signal.

Abstract: A robot arm assembly for detecting a pose and force associated with an object is provided. The robot arm assembly includes an end effector having a plurality of fingers, and a deformable sensor provided on each finger. The deformable sensor includes a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to the housing, an enclosure filled with a medium, and an internal sensor disposed within the housing having a field of view directed through the medium and toward an internal surface of the deformable membrane. A processor is configured to receive an output from each internal sensor, the output including a contact region of the deformable membrane as a result of contact with the object. The processor determines an amount of displacement of the contact region based on the output from each internal sensor, and determines the pose and the force associated with the object based on the amount of displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually impaired individuals. The apparatus includes a top element having a base and at least two pairs of arms extending outwardly from the base. The base includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The apparatus further includes a handle connecting to the top element at a distal end of the top element. The handle includes an end part. The end part includes a third aperture and a slot connected by a “V” shaped portion. The apparatus further includes a restraint having a first end securing at an interior of the handle via the first aperture of the base and a second end of the restraint exposed outside the handle.

Abstract: A method for passive aerial cord release mechanisms and an aerial cord release mechanism for an aerial vehicle (AV). A method includes determining a retracting force to be applied to a winch of an aerial vehicle (AV), wherein the determined retracting force is a force required to retract a cord to be coiled around the winch within the AV, and the cord is temporarily coupled to the winch, such that an external force exceeding a predetermined threshold causes decoupling between the cord and the winch.

Abstract: An affordance is disclosed which allows a robot system to pick an expanded range of items using a single type of end effector, without requiring the use of different end effectors. The affordance includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is arranged to be grasped by an end effector of the robot system and the second layer is arranged to adhere to the item. A system having an affordance and a robot system with an end effector arranged to grasp at least one item from storage by way of the affordance is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gripping device for handling sample containers is presented. The sample containers are closed by caps of a given cap type or are not closed by caps. The gripping device comprises a number of fingers configured to collectively cause gripping of a sample container, a tactile sensor device arranged at at least one of the fingers and configured to sample a longitudinal profile of the sample container and of the cap, if any, being gripped, and a control device coupled to the tactile sensor device. The control device determines if the sample container is closed by a cap or not closed by a cap based on the sampled longitudinal profile.

Abstract: A tool for manufacturing of a reinforcement bar structure, wherein the tool comprises a main body, a jaw arrangement, a tying device and an arrangement configured for moving the jaw arrangement between a gripping state and a tying state. A system for manufacturing a reinforcement bar structure, wherein the system comprises a supply of reinforcement bar material, a bending apparatus, a holding apparatus and a group of robots wherein at least one robot of the group of robots is equipped with the tool for manufacturing a reinforcement bar structure. A method for transporting and attaching a reinforcement bar during manufacturing of a reinforcement bar structure using a tool comprising a main body, the method comprising gripping a reinforcement bar, tying together the reinforcement bar with another reinforcement bar by looping a wire around the reinforcement bars, tightening the wire around the reinforcement bars, forming a knot, and cutting the wire.

Abstract: Handheld tweezers having detachable tips interchangeable to optimally perform a variety of functions, personal and commercial. Examples of interchangeable tips may include flat slant tips, rounded tips, and point tip tweezers.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for lifting a tank car is provided. The lifting apparatus can include a first arm to surround and not contact a tank car jacket and a second arm to surround and not contact the tank car jacket.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic end effector configured to mount to a robotic manipulator includes gripping elements configured to grasp objects, a drive mechanism configured to open and close the gripping elements, a central controller configured to control operation of the drive mechanism and the gripper elements, the central controller hosting a control program that enables control of the end effector independent of the robotic manipulator, and at least one of a forward-facing ultrasonic distance sensor configured to measure a distance between the gripping elements and an object to be grasped, and a forward-facing camera mounted between the gripping elements configured to capture video data of an object to be grasped.

Abstract: An animal waste collection and transport device having a container and a handle. The container includes an opening configured to receive animal waste. The handle has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted to be grasped by the operator. The second portion has a lid and a waste scraping tool such as a shovel, hoe, or rake and is used to help move the animal waste into the container. The device includes an attachment assembly selectively movable between a first position where the container and handle are attached to each other and a second position wherein the container and handle are detached (or detachable) from each other so the scraping tool can be used to direct animal waste into the container. In the first position the waste scraping tool is positioned inside the container and the lid covers the opening in the container to seal the scraping tool and any animal waste inside the container.

Abstract: An end effector for moving workpieces and replaceable parts within a system for processing workpieces. The end effector may include an arm portion extending between a first arm end and a second arm end along the axial direction. The end effector may further include a spatula portion extending between a first spatula end and a second spatula end, the first spatula end being adjacent the second arm end. Further, the end effector may include a first support member extending outwardly from the spatula portion, a second support member extending outwardly from the spatula portion, and a shared support member extending outwardly from the arm portion. The shared support member and the first support member together to support workpieces of a first diameter, and the shared support member and the second support member together support replaceable parts of a second diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gripper including a pair of main bodies each having an internal space and spaced apart from each other, a pair of openings provided at ends of the pair of main bodies, a pair of moving bodies protruding from the ends of the pair of main bodies through the openings, a pair of inner bodies fixed in the internal space of the pair of main bodies, and a pair of springs configured to be compressed between the inner body and the moving body.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a rotation body in which at least a lower portion is a cylindrical rotated portion, a housing including a top plate portion in which the rotated portion is inserted, a driving mechanism provided in the housing and configured to rotate the rotation body, and an exhaust unit. The top plate portion of the housing comprises a circular opening in which the rotated portion is inserted, and a groove portion provided to surround the opening and communicating with the opening. The groove portion comprises, at at least one point of the groove portion in a circumferential direction, a wide portion whose groove width in a radial direction of the opening is made large. The exhaust unit is provided to communicate with the wide portion and exhausts air in the groove portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripping apparatus comprising a membrane; a flexible housing; with said membrane being fixedly connected to a periphery of the housing. The invention further relates to a method of producing a gripping apparatus.

Abstract: A gripping tool includes first and second arms connected to each other at proximal ends, a first gripping portion having a first gripping surface, and a second gripping portion having a second gripping surface. The first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other when the first and second arms are pressed toward each other in closing directions. At least one of the first and second gripping portions is an elastic part extending toward the proximal end. When the first and second arms are further pressed in the closing directions from a state in which the first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other, the elastic part is elastically deformed while maintaining the planar contact between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses an electric-pneumatic hybrid-driving flexible manipulator with spring framework from plates of special-shaped thickness, including a screw shaft motor, an upper seat plate, guide coupling rods, linear bearings, a driving plate, a push plate, short push rods, connecting rods, a bottom seat plate, flexible fingers, a rotating finger holder, a long push rod, a small support, tension springs, single-head bellows muscles and a ridged push plate. The framework of the flexible fingers is a thickness special-shaped plate spring designed according to the principle of equal strength. In the disclosure, through the control of a motor, an angle between a finger knuckle and a grasped object can be adjusted to realize the adjustment of the position of a contact point.

Abstract: A tool system for a robotic arm is provided. The tool system includes a tool support structure; a tool structure, coupled to the tool support structure, having at least one structural member; a connector mechanically coupled to the structural member and shaped for engaging the tool support structure; and a control unit mechanically coupled to the at least one structural member and configured to sense and adjust performance of the tool structure based on determining a connection to the tool support structure.

Abstract: Various examples of a device for aiding in closure of a zipper are disclosed. The device includes a body comprising a base portion and an elongated spring portion extending from the base portion, the elongated spring portion configured with a bend such that the elongated spring portion overlaps the base portion such that a distal portion of the elongated spring portion together with at least a portion of the base portion forms a gripping section to receive a zipper tab of the zipper; and a locking member comprising a lever arm and a tension member, the tension member positioned at an angle with respect to the lever arm, the locking member configured to pivot with respect to the body such that the tension member applies pressure to the elongated spring portion in a closed position to secure the zipper tab.

Abstract: A gripping device includes: a palm portion; a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction; a connecting portion formed in a position surrounding an outer edge of the palm portion on a side opposite to a side formed with the finger portions, the connecting portion connected to a case; a high-strength portion provided between the palm portion and the connecting portion, the high-strength portion having a predetermined length from the outer edge of the palm portion in the thickness direction of the palm portion, and the high-strength portion being less likely to be deformed than the palm portion; the case connected to the connecting portion, the case coming into contact with a base end of the high-strength portion; and an actuator configured to deform the palm portion.