Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveyance assisting device includes a main body, an object support part, a main body support part, a foot part, and a connecting part. The main body is to be worn by a user. The object support part is connected to the main body, and is used to support an object to be conveyed. The main body support part supports the main body. The foot part is connected to the main body support part, and is movable along a traveling surface. The connecting part connects the main body support part and the foot part to each other such that a position of the foot part relative to the main body support part is changed according to a direction and a magnitude of force acting on the main body support part.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first mechanism, a second mechanism, a holding unit, a third mechanism, a fourth mechanism and a conveyor. The first mechanism is movable in a first direction. The second mechanism is connected to the first mechanism and is movable on a first horizontal plane intersecting the first direction. The holding unit is connected to the second mechanism and holds an object to be picked up. The third mechanism is arranged below the first mechanism, the second mechanism and the holding unit, and is movable in the first direction. The fourth mechanism is connected to the third mechanism and is movable on a second horizontal plane opposed to the first horizontal plane. The conveyor is connected to the fourth mechanism, and loads and conveys the object held by the holding unit.

Abstract: A driving apparatus according to an embodiment includes a support unit configured to support a portion of an upper limb of a user, a driving unit configured to move the support unit along a track having at least a component in a direction perpendicular to a floor surface, a first measurement unit configured to obtain a first measurement value by measuring a force applied to the support unit, and a control unit configured to drive the driving unit when the first measurement value is more than a predetermined threshold value, so that the driving apparatus can assist a person's standing up action.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a transport assist apparatus includes a backpack, a straight-move support unit and a drive unit. The straight-move support unit is connected to the backpack and includes a support member configured to be driven so as to make an end of the support member contact a floor surface. The drive unit is connected to the backpack and the straight-move support unit and drives the support member in a direction of moving the end toward the floor surface in accordance with lifting up of at least one of a target person and a target object by a user, or in a direction of moving the end away from the floor surface in accordance with setting down of the at least one of the target person and the target object by the user.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a checkout apparatus includes a counter, a scanner, a register terminal, and a recognition unit. The counter is embedded at least one weight meter and to be put at least one of target objects. The scanner reads codes attached to the target objects. The register terminal settles payment for the target objects. The recognition unit identifies the target objects by referring to working property category information pieces indicating a category in scan work for the target objects, based on the codes read by the scanner, and obtains signals that represent states each including one of steady work and unsteady work for an operator, based on a time history of a weight of the target objects.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A manipulator includes an end effector, a support member that supports the end effector, and a fixing member provided to the support member and made of a tube-shaped flexible film with a space therein. In the manipulator, a fluid is supplied to the space of the fixing member to inflate the fixing member so that a flexible cover for covering the end effector is fixed to the support member. Accordingly, cleanness of the end effector is restored.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move in a moving plane on flooring, and turn in horizontal direction of the flooring about a rotation axis vertical to the flooring; an imaging unit configured to take images in a direction horizontal to the moving plane, and rotate in horizontal direction of the flooring about the rotation axis; a storage unit configured to store the image taken by the image processor when the moving unit receives a turning request of a command angle; a detector configured to detect a rotation angle of the imaging unit relative to the moving unit; a controller configured to control a turning of the moving unit and a rotating of the imaging unit based on a common value which makes the moving unit turn in a direction of the command angle and which makes the imaging unit rotate in an opposite direction, and based on a rate value which changes turning of the moving unit or rotating of the imaging unit so as to compensate a gap determined by comparing the taken image with the

Abstract: A method of controlling movement of a robot, the method includes detecting a target person to be followed, following detected target person, detecting an environment of a current position around the robot while following the detected target person, determining whether detected environment satisfies a predetermined target-point condition, specifying the current position as a target point, when the detected environment satisfies the predetermined target-point condition, and creating a path along which the robot travels including specified target point, based on the specified target point and a movable path for the robot stored in a movable path storing unit.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A manipulator includes an end effector, a support member that supports the end effector, and a fixing member provided to the support member and made of a tube-shaped flexible film with a space therein. In the manipulator, a fluid is supplied to the space of the fixing member to inflate the fixing member so that a flexible cover for covering the end effector is fixed to the support member. Accordingly, cleanness of the end effector is restored.

Abstract: A robot according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a robot body; a first shoulder joint attached to the robot body, and rotatable with respect to the robot body; a support unit whose proximal end is attached to the first shoulder joint, and which is rotatable with respect to the robot body together with the first shoulder joint; a second shoulder joint attached to a distal end of the support unit, and rotatable with respect to the support unit; and an arm unit whose proximal end is attached to the second shoulder joint, and which is rotatable with respect to the support unit together with the second shoulder joint.

Abstract: A manipulator includes: a first finger having a sequence of first links and first joint shafts, the sequence of first links bending so that rotation angles of the first joint shafts maintain a fixed relationship; a second finger having a sequence of second links bending sequentially from one of the second links assigned at a basal side of the second finger; and drive sources driving the first and second fingers, wherein an adjacent second link next to the second link assigned at the basal side moves after contacting the second link assigned at the basal side with the object.

Abstract: An outer body of ball shell type has an opening. A camera is located in the outer body and receives an image from outside of the outer body through the opening. A camera support unit is located in the outer body and rotationally supports the camera along a first axis and a second axis mutually crossed at a center of the outer body. A first camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the first axis. A second camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the second axis.

Abstract: An outer body of ball shell type has an opening. A camera is located in the outer body and receives an image from outside of the outer body through the opening. A camera support unit is located in the outer body and rotationally supports the camera along a first axis and a second axis mutually crossed at a center of the outer body. A first camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the first axis. A second camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the second axis.

Abstract: A wire driving mechanism is provided with a pulley rotated around a rotation axis, a pulley which is disposed on the same plane as the rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and rotated around a rotation axis, and a wire wound around on the peripheral surface of the pulley in a predetermined direction, and at the same time, wound around on the peripheral surface of the pulley in the opposite direction to the winding direction on the pulley. Thus, a drive force is transmitted from the pulley to the pulley through the wire.

Abstract: A method of controlling movement of a robot, the method includes detecting a target person to be followed, following detected target person, detecting an environment of a current position around the robot while following the detected target person, determining whether detected environment satisfies a predetermined target-point condition, specifying the current position as a target point, when the detected environment satisfies the predetermined target-point condition, and creating a path along which the robot travels including specified target point, based on the specified target point and a movable path for the robot stored in a movable path storing unit.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move in a moving plane on flooring, and turn in horizontal direction of the flooring about a rotation axis vertical to the flooring; an imaging unit configured to take images in a direction horizontal to the moving plane, and rotate in horizontal direction of the flooring about the rotation axis; a storage unit configured to store the image taken by the image processor when the moving unit receives a turning request of a command angle; a detector configured to detect a rotation angle of the imaging unit relative to the moving unit; a controller configured to control a turning of the moving unit and a rotating of the imaging unit based on a common value which makes the moving unit turn in a direction of the command angle and which makes the imaging unit rotate in an opposite direction, and based on a rate value which changes turning of the moving unit or rotating of the imaging unit so as to compensate a gap determined by comparing the taken image with the

Abstract: A map data memory stores map data of a movement region, position data of a marker at a predetermined place in the movement region, identification data of the marker, and position data of a boundary line near the marker in the movement region. A marker detection unit detects the marker in an image, based on the position data of the marker and the identification data. A boundary line detection unit detects the boundary line near the marker from the image. A parameter calculation unit calculates a parameter of the boundary line in the image. A position posture calculation unit calculates a position and a posture of the mobile robot in the movement region, based on the parameter and the position data of the boundary line.

Abstract: A movable robot includes a movement mechanism unit configured to perform driving for moving the movable robot; a body unit continuously connected to the movement mechanism unit in a movable manner in a planar direction between the movement mechanism unit and the body unit; and a shock absorber interposed between the movement mechanism unit and the body unit, for absorbing one of an inertial force and an external force generated by a movement control in the planar direction.