Abstract: An assist device includes a body wearing unit and an actuator unit. The actuator unit includes an output link configured to pivot about a joint of an assist target body part and to be attached to the assist target body part; an actuator including an output shaft configured to generate an assist torque via the output link; a torque determination unit configured to determine a combined torque obtained by combining a user torque and the assist torque from the output shaft, the user torque being input from the output link when the user causes the assist target body part to pivot; a correction unit configured to calculate a correction amount for the determined combined torque; and a pivot angle control unit configured to control a pivot angle of the output shaft based on the determined combined torque and the calculated correction amount.

Abstract: A power assist suit includes a harness worn at least around hips of a wearer, an assist unit, a power unit, and a bearing roller. The assist unit includes an arm and a thigh-worn part. A rail is provided at a part of the arm in a longitudinal direction. The rail includes channel-shaped parts extending along the longitudinal direction. The thigh-worn part is connected to sliding movable parts or integrated with at least a portion of the sliding movable parts. The bearing roller is disposed between each of the channel-shaped parts in the rail and each of inner wall surfaces of the sliding movable parts facing the respective channel-shaped parts.

Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes: a body brace; an output link to be put on an assistance subject body part, the output link pivoting about a joint in the assistance subject body part; an actuator including an output shaft that generates an assistance torque; a torque detection section provided at any position on the way from the output link to the output shaft (of the actuator); torque determination section for determining a combined torque that is a combination of a subject person torque input from the output link as a result of a subject person making the assistance subject body part pivot with the subject person's own strength and the assistance torque from the output shaft; and a controller that controls a rotational angle of the output shaft based on the combined torque.

Abstract: A swinging joint device includes a driving shaft member; a first output portion that swings about a driving axis serving as an axis of the driving shaft member; an elastic body that generates an urging torque corresponding to a first swinging angle that is a swinging angle of the first output portion; an apparent rigidity variable portion that varies apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion; a first angle detection portion that detects the first swinging angle; and a control portion that controls the apparent rigidity variable portion according to the first swinging angle detected by the first angle detection portion to adjust the apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion.

Abstract: An assist device includes a body-worn component that is worn at least around a hip of a user, a thigh unit that is mounted on the body-worn component and each thigh of the user, a torque generation unit having an actuator configured to generate assist torque, a control box disposed above the hip of the user on the body-worn component, the control box accommodating the torque generation unit and a controller configured to control the torque generation unit, and a power transmission unit configured to transmit assist torque generated in the control box to the thigh unit. The assist device reduces a load on a lower back of the user by assisting the user with a movement of each thigh relative to the lower back.

Abstract: A frequency detector includes an oscillation related information output portion to which moving body position related information and a correction parameter are input, and which outputs a frequency adjustment parameter and estimated moving body position related information; a frequency estimating portion to which the frequency adjustment parameter is input, and which outputs an estimated frequency; and an adjusting portion to which the moving body position related information, the estimated moving body position related information, and the estimated frequency are input, and which outputs the correction parameter.

Abstract: An assist device includes a body wearing unit configured to be worn on a body of a user including a region around an assist target body part of the user; and an actuator unit configured to be attached to the body wearing unit and to the assist target body part so as to assist a motion of the assist target body part. The body wearing unit includes a main frame having a pivot shaft portion, and a sub-frame connected to the pivot shaft portion and configured to pivot around an axis of the pivot shaft portion. The sub-frame is pivotable so as to fit a body size of the user.

Abstract: An assist device includes a body wearing unit, and an actuator unit. The actuator unit includes an output link and an actuator having an output shaft. The output shaft is connected to the output link via a speed reducer configured to reduce a pivot angle from the output shaft. The speed reducer includes an accelerating shaft connected to the output shaft and a decelerating shaft connected to the output link. The accelerating shaft of the speed reducer is provided with an output link pivot angle detection unit configured to detect a pivot angle of the output link.

Abstract: An assist device includes a body wearing unit and an actuator unit. The actuator unit includes an output link configured to pivot about a joint of an assist target body part and to be attached to the assist target body part; an actuator including an output shaft configured to generate an assist torque via the output link; a torque determination unit configured to determine a combined torque obtained by combining a user torque and the assist torque from the output shaft, the user torque being input from the output link when the user causes the assist target body part to pivot; a correction unit configured to calculate a correction amount for the determined combined torque; and a pivot angle control unit configured to control a pivot angle of the output shaft based on the determined combined torque and the calculated correction amount.

Abstract: This semiconductor device comprises an active layer that is formed of an oxide magnetic material and a porous dielectric body that contains water and is provided on the active layer. By using hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions which are formed by electrolysis of water, the crystal structure of the active layer is changed between a ferromagnetic metal and an antiferromagnetic insulating body.

Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes: a body brace; an output link to be put on an assistance subject body part, the output link pivoting about a joint in the assistance subject body part; an actuator including an output shaft that generates an assistance torque; a torque detection section provided at any position on the way from the output link to the output shaft (of the actuator); torque determination section for determining a combined torque that is a combination of a subject person torque input from the output link as a result of a subject person making the assistance subject body part pivot with the subject person's own strength and the assistance torque from the output shaft; and a controller that controls a rotational angle of the output shaft based on the combined torque.

Abstract: This semiconductor device comprises an active layer that is formed of an oxide magnetic material and a porous dielectric body that contains water and is provided on the active layer. By using hydrogen and oxygen which are formed by electrolysis of water, the crystal structure of the active layer is changed between a ferromagnetic metal and an antiferromagnetic insulating body.

Abstract: A robot arm includes a second coupling rod fixedly coupled to a second intermediate base at an end of the second coupling rod located closer to the second intermediate base and coupled to a tip base via a second joint at an end of the second coupling rod located closer to the tip base so as to enable the second coupling rod to turn with respect to the tip base, and the first intermediate base and the second intermediate base are coupled together via an intermediate joint so as to be able to turn. The robot arm also includes a turning actuator that turns the second intermediate base with respect to the first intermediate base.

Abstract: A frequency detector includes an oscillation related information output portion to which moving body position related information and a correction parameter are input, and which outputs a frequency adjustment parameter and estimated moving body position related information; a frequency estimating portion to which the frequency adjustment parameter is input, and which outputs an estimated frequency; and an adjusting portion to which the moving body position related information, the estimated moving body position related information, and the estimated frequency are input, and which outputs the correction parameter.

Abstract: An assist device is connected to a moving body that performs a reciprocating swing motion. The assist device includes a first output portion configured to swing around a swing center as a center of a swing motion; a variable rigidity device including an elastic body configured to accumulate energy and release the energy in accordance with a first swinging angle as a swinging angle of the first output portion, and a rigidity varying unit configured to change an apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion; a first angle detecting portion configured to detect the first swinging angle; and a control device configured to adjust the apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion by controlling the rigidity varying unit in accordance with the first swinging angle detected by the first angle detecting portion.

Abstract: Provided is a solid electrolyte including an epitaxial thin film crystal made of an electrolyte containing at least lithium.

Abstract: Rapid, reversible redox activity may be accomplished at significantly reduced temperatures, as low as about 200° C., from epitaxially stabilized, oxygen vacancy ordered SrCoO2.5 and thermodynamically unfavorable perovskite SrCoO3-?. The fast, low temperature redox activity in SrCoO3-? may be attributed to a small Gibbs free energy difference between the two topotactic phases. Epitaxially stabilized thin films of strontium cobaltite provide a catalyst adapted to rapidly transition between oxidation states at substantially low temperatures. Methods of transitioning a strontium cobaltite catalyst from a first oxidation state to a second oxidation state are described.

Abstract: A swinging joint device includes a driving shaft member; a first output portion that swings about a driving axis serving as an axis of the driving shaft member; an elastic body that generates an urging torque corresponding to a first swinging angle that is a swinging angle of the first output portion; an apparent rigidity variable portion that varies apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion; a first angle detection portion that detects the first swinging angle; and a control portion that controls the apparent rigidity variable portion according to the first swinging angle detected by the first angle detection portion to adjust the apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion.

Abstract: A care support apparatus includes a lateral pair of leg links held by a main body. The leg links include first links provided with first wheels at respective one ends of the first links, and second links provided with second wheels at respective one ends of the second links and rotatably coupled to the first links. The second links are rotated to allow the first wheels to approach or leave the second wheels, respectively, to change the height of a main body from a ground surface to support a care receiver.

Abstract: A swinging joint device includes: a driving shaft member; a first swinging arm that is swingably supported about the driving shaft member; a driven shaft member that is arranged parallel to the driving shaft member; an interlocking swinging member that swings about the driven shaft member in an interlocking manner with swinging of the first swinging arm; an elastic body that is connected to the interlocking swinging member to generate an urging force in a direction opposite to an interlocking swinging direction of the interlocking swinging member; a rigidity variable portion that varies rigidity of the elastic body seen from the interlocking swinging member; a first angle detection portion that detects a swinging angle; and a control portion that controls the rigidity variable portion according to the swinging angle detected by the first angle detection portion to adjust the rigidity of the elastic body seen from the interlocking swinging member.