Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a torso having a superior portion, an inferior portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The robot further includes two legs connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso, two arms connected to the torso via the superior portion of the torso, and a protrusion also connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso and extending anteriorly from the torso. The robot is configured to move an object toward the torso at least partially via contact between the object and at least one of the arms. The robot is further configured to support a weight of the object at least partially via the protrusion while the robot ambulates via the legs.

Abstract: A strain-wave gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a circular spline, a flexspline, and a wave generator operably associated with one another. Relative rotation between the flexspline and the wave generator causes relative rotation between the circular spline and the flexspline about an axis. The strain-wave gear assembly further includes a first bridge circuit configured to generate a first electrical signal corresponding to strain at a first portion of flexspline. The strain-wave gear assembly also includes a second bridge circuit configured to generate a second electrical signal corresponding to strain at a second portion of flexspline circumferentially offset from the first portion of the flexspline about the axis. The first bridge circuit includes a first resistor at the first portion of the flexspline. Similarly, the second bridge circuit includes a second resistor at the second portion of the flexspline.

Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a torso having a superior portion, an inferior portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The robot further includes two legs connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso, two arms connected to the torso via the superior portion of the torso, and a protrusion also connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso and extending anteriorly from the torso. The robot is configured to move an object toward the torso at least partially via contact between the object and at least one of the arms. The robot is further configured to support a weight of the object at least partially via the protrusion while the robot ambulates via the legs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing impact forces to legged robots as a result of traversing a terrain. The method includes employing actuators and compliant elements to use the contact of a first portion of a foot assembly with a terrain during a step to reduce the vertical velocity of a subsequent portion of the foot assembly so that the vertical velocity of the subsequent portion as it touches the terrain is substantially zero relative to the terrain. Foot assemblies that employ these methods are also provided.

Abstract: A deployment assembly is mounted in a delivery vehicle and holds an autonomous robot that can be deployed to deliver or pick up packages. The assembly has a base and extendable members that move the robot from a retracted position inside the vehicle and an extended position outside the vehicle. The assembly also has securement features that hold the robot in during transport and can also recharge the robot if necessary.

Abstract: A legged robot has legs that have multiple links, one of which is a distal link. A foot assembly for interacting with the terrain is disposed on a distal end of the distal link. As a robot takes a step, a portion of the foot assembly that has lower effective inertia than the rest of the foot assembly touches down first and acts to reduce the vertical velocity of the rest of the foot assembly before it reaches the terrain through the use of an actuator located on the distal or intermediate link.

Abstract: An actuator includes a housing having an input shaft, a transmission, an output shaft, a shaft collar assembly, and an encoder. The shaft collar assembly has an annular body for holding an encoder target and a fastening assembly for affixing the assembly to the output shaft. The location of the encoder target can be adjusted during assembly via an internal bore so that it is in a desired position relative to an encoder sensor when assembly is complete.

Abstract: People and packages are delivered to and picked up from delivery locations by autonomous vehicles that also carry autonomous robots. When a package needs to be picked up or delivered at a particular location, an autonomous robot is deployed from the delivery vehicle and takes the package to the doorstep or other predetermined location or picks up the package from that location and brings it back to the delivery vehicle. After this pickup or delivery, the autonomous robot stows itself back in the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: A transmission includes a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a carrier mounted to the housing, an input shaft, an output shaft, a passage that extends from the housings first end to the housings second end to allow a via through the housing, an input sensor, and an output sensor. The carrier has a first side that faces in a first direction, and a second side that faces in a direction other than the first direction. The input sensor is mounted to the carrier and disposed on the first side of the carrier. The output sensor is mounted to the same carrier and disposed on the carrier's second side. The input and output shafts rotate about the same axis.

Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology is configured for bimanual manipulation of objects. The robot includes a body and two arms individually defining an arm length and including an end effector, an end effector joint proximally adjacent to the end effector along a kinematic chain corresponding to the arm, and a gripper proximal to the end effector along the arm length. The end effector joint is configured to rotate the end effector relative to the gripper. The robot is configured to move at least a portion of a bottom surface of an object away from a support surface by applying force to the object via frictional interfaces between convex gripping surfaces of the grippers and side surfaces of the object. This creates a gap into which paddles of the end effectors can be inserted to support the object from below.