Abstract: An apparatus for removing dog waste is disclosed which includes a bottom panel (235) for scooping up a piece of dog waste from a ground, a left side panel (122L) and a right side panel (122R) both attached to a back panel (223), each of the left side panel (122L), the right side panel (122R) and the back panel (223) also attached to the bottom panel (235) to form a concave space with only one front opening, and a front panel (102) pivotally connected to a top edge of the back panel (223), wherein when the front panel (102) pivots to a first position the front panel (102) reaches the bottom panel (235) and completely covers the front opening, and when the front panel (102) pivots to a second position there is a gap between the front panel (102) and the bottom panel (235) for accommodating the piece of dog waste.

Abstract: Soft picking tools for a pick and place robotic system are disclosed. A soft picking tool includes a body made of an integrated piece. The body includes stiff fingers located on a distal end of the body. The body also includes a portion of a soft-walled cavity configured to be deformed by application of a positive or negative pressure in the soft-walled cavity, leading to a motion of the stiff fingers, from a rest position, towards or away from a medial axis of the soft picking tool. The soft picking tool also includes one or more fingertips, where at least one of the stiff fingers includes a fingertip embedded on its distal end. The single-piece design and fingertips enable increased robustness, a reduced footprint, large gripping and spreading forces, and more efficient cluttered and flush grasping.

Abstract: Beverage carriers including a body, a beverage hole, and a slit. The beverage hole is defined in the body and complementarily configured with a beverage container to receive and selectively secure the beverage container. The slit is defined in the body and configured to establish a tear line through the body when the body is pulled in opposing directions proximate the slit.

Abstract: An automatic locking mechanism can include one or more annular elements having teeth facing each other or facing away from each other. The automatic locking mechanism can include a rod disposed between the annular elements. The rod can have one or more pins configured to interface with the teeth of the annular elements. The pins and the teeth are also configured to rotate the rod when the annular elements move relative to the rod. The rotation of the rod can toggle a hook end of the rod in a hook receptacle, which can change states of the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An adjustable seedling pick-up end effector for automatically transplanting plug seedlings is provided includes two clamping fingers installed symmetrically along a direction of a center line, support frames respectively connected adjustably to the clamping fingers, and a mechanical arm fixedly connected to the support frames. The mechanical arm is constructed to drive a clamping pin mechanism to execute actions of prying, grabbing, and quickly releasing the plug seedlings, and the adjustment of the opening degree and the clamping angle of the clamping pin mechanism is realized by adopting the adjustably connected support frames. The end effector can be actively opened and closed to grab and release the plug seedlings, provide a larger space to accommodate the plug seedlings so as not to damage the seedlings, and adjust the opening degree and the clamping angle, which can meet the seedling pick-up requirements for automatic transplanting of plug seedlings of various specifications.

Abstract: A packing gripper system has a load carrying device of a carrying and handling station for gripping, clamping, and lifting vertically directed depositing of individual plate and individual sheet packages into suitably sized container openings of holding and storage containers. The load carrying device is equipped with an expedient and fail-safe motion drive, which enables the gripper fingers to perform horizontally directed gripping and clamping and vertically directed lifting and setting down operations.

Abstract: A reach extending tool includes a grasping section at one end of a tubular body opposite a handle end of the reach extending tool. The grasping section includes a pair of grasping extensions that can be used to grasp and object, including any one of several accessories that are configured to mechanically interface with the grasping extensions. The length between the handle and the grasping section can by adjusted by partially folding the body at an elbow joint.

Abstract: The end effector device includes an end effector including a palm and a plurality of fingers, a drive device, a position shift direction determination unit and a position shift correction unit. Each finger includes a tactile sensor unit capable of detecting external forces in at least three axial directions. The position shift direction determination unit determines in which direction the object being grasped is position-shifted with respect to the fitting recess based on a detection result detected by the tactile sensor unit in a case where at least one of the external forces detected by the tactile sensor unit is a specified value or more. The position shift correction unit moves the palm in a direction opposite to a position shift direction of the object being grasped determined by the position shift direction determination unit.

Abstract: A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.

Abstract: A pet refuse collection apparatus, and methods of use of the pet refuse collection apparatus, including a pet refuse bag supported by a fixture that allows the bag to be positioned underneath the pet to catch the refuse. A frame supports a refuse bag and may be manipulated with a single hand of a user while the frame supports a dispensed pet refuse bag in a position conducive to collecting pet refuse and additionally supports undispensed bags and stores a dispensed bag containing pet refuse.

Abstract: A tunable static balancer arrangement on a mechanic device, for adjustably compensating a positive force needed to actuate a moveable part of the device from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are a design and manufacturing method for a three-dimensional electromechanical adhesive surface structure capable of adhesive force manipulation and tactile sensing by using 3D printing. The three-dimensional electromechanical adhesive surface structure includes: a body; a plurality of three-dimensional micro pillar structures which are attached to the body at a certain angle; and a wire which supplies voltage to the plurality of three-dimensional micro pillar structures. The three-dimensional micro pillar structure includes: a pillar which is attached to the body at a certain angle and is formed integrally with the body; a conductive material which is applied to surround the pillar; and an insulating material coated to surround the conductive material in order to be insulated from an opposite surface. The voltage supplied through the wire is supplied to the conductive material. A passage for providing the wire is formed under the plurality of three-dimensional micro pillar structures of the body.

Abstract: A robot according to one or more embodiments may include an arm and a hand. The hand is connected to the arm and supports to convey a wafer. The hand includes a base end portion that is an end of the side connected to an arm, and a distal end portion that is an end of the opposite side of the base end portion. With the hand, a lightened part is formed in at least a part of a first region which is a region of a distal end portion than the center part in the longitudinal direction of the hand.

Abstract: An object attachment handler comprising a configurable gripper, configured to define an open and closed position, based on a software definition of an object to be attached, and a fastening tool, automatically configured to apply a defined force curve at defined positions, to complete attachment of the object, based on the software definition of the object.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a tool gripping device for gripping a bending tool with a robot, the cylindrical enclosure of which is secured to the base plate and equipped with a compressed air connection, while a cylinder head equipped with a compressed air connection is secured to the end of the enclosure opposite the base plate. A clamping element movable with compressed air is arranged in the enclosure, with the conical end of the clamping element extending out of the enclosure through the aperture of the cylinder head. A gripper is led through the hole drilled through the clamping element, the clamp shank of which is secured to the base plate, with a support head fixed eccentrically to the end of the grip stem extending out of the clamping element.

Abstract: A device for gripping containers is provided. The device includes clamps adapted to clamp a container and a centring cone adapted to receive a cap of the container. The centring cone has a longitudinal axis and comprises an inlet mouth, for entrance of the cap, and an inner lateral surface. The inner lateral surface comprises a first, substantially cylindrical portion and a second portion comprised between the first portion and the inlet mouth and diverging outwards in the direction from the first portion to the inlet mouth. The centring cone is a component separate from and independent of the clamps.

Abstract: Provided is a forceps driving apparatus including a body, a gripper installed to be received in the body and formed to be open and closed, an opening and closing member rotatably installed in the body to press or release two sides of the gripper by rotation, an elastic member connected to one side of the opening and closing member to provide an elastic force to the opening and closing member, an actuator connected to the other side of the opening and closing member to rotate the opening and closing member by contraction or extension, and a force sensing module to measure a gripping force of the gripper during the rotation of the opening and closing member.

Abstract: A tendon-driven robotic gripper is disclosed for performing fingertip and enveloping grasps. One embodiment comprises two fingers, each with two links, and is actuated using a single active tendon. During unobstructed closing, the distal links remain parallel, creating exact fingertip grasps. Conversely, if the proximal links are stopped by contact with an object, the distal links start flexing, creating a stable enveloping grasp. The route of the active tendon and the parameters of the springs providing passive extension forces are optimized in order to achieve this behavior. An additional passive tendon is disclosed that may be used as a constraint preventing the gripper from entering undesirable parts of the joint workspace. A method for optimizing the dimensions of the links in order to achieve enveloping grasps of a large range of objects is disclosed and applied to a set of common household objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the automated installation of at least one tunnel lining segment of a tunnel lining ring, said device being couplable to a tunnelling machine, • having a manipulator with at least one tool for receiving, holding and placing the at least one tunnel lining segment, and with at least one actuator for moving the at least one tool, the at least one tool being movable • by means of the at least one actuator in the radial, tangential and/or axial direction in relation to the machine axis of the tunnelling machine in the space of the tunnel section created by the tunnelling machine, • having at least one tool position sensor, which is provided on the manipulator and/or tool, for sensing the respective actual position and actual location of the tool in the space of the tunnel section, having at least one tunnel lining segment sensor, which is provided on the manipulator and/or tool, with which an actual position and/or actual location of at least one section of at least one alread

Abstract: Grippers, such as robotic grippers, and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. One disclosed gripper includes a first compliant gripper jaw, a first push-pull assembly having a first distal end fixed on the first compliant gripper jaw, a second compliant gripper jaw, a second push-pull assembly having a second distal end fixed on the second compliant gripper jaw, and an actuator connected to both the first push-pull assembly and the second push-pull assembly.