Abstract: Use of nickel in a cathode material of the general formula Li (4/3-2x/3-y/3-z/3)NixCoyAlzMn(2/3-x/3-2y/3-2z/3)02 wherein x is greater than 0.06 and equal to or less than 0.4; y is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.4; and z is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.05 for suppressing gas evolution during a charge cycle and/or increasing the charge capacity of the material.

Abstract: A method of mounting a rotor assembly to a frame of an electric motor includes providing a rotor assembly having a bearing and a frame having a bearing seat. The method includes locating the bearing within the bearing seat, applying a first adhesive at a substantially hidden interface between the bearing and the bearing seat, applying a second adhesive at a substantially visible interface between the bearing and the bearing seat, and curing the first and second adhesives using different curing processes.

Abstract: A fan assembly including a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator that is arranged to generate an air flow, and an air outlet that is arranged to emit at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly is provided. The air outlet is arranged to be oscillated relative to the base. The fan assembly further includes a controller that is arranged to control the oscillation of the air outlet relative to the base. The controller is arranged to vary an oscillation speed of the air outlet for each oscillation.

Abstract: Measures for use in operating a robot having one or more sensors. A representation of an environment of the robot is generated by operating the one or more sensors to sense a set of parameters representative of the environment of the robot. A list of objects in the environment and associated identifiers for each object in the list is generated. Control data is received from the electronic user device. The control data includes an identifier for an object in the generated list that a user of the electronic user device wishes to locate within the environment. In response to receipt of the control data, the robot and the one or more sensors are operated to search the environment to determine a location of the identified object in the environment.

Abstract: Measures for use operating a robot having one or more sensors. At the robot, a representation of an environment of the robot is generated by operating the one or more sensors to sense a set of parameters representative of the environment of the robot. The representation includes at least one surface in the environment other than a surface on which the robot is located. Control data is received from the electronic user device. The control data indicates a desired action to be performed at the at least one surface in the environment of the robot. In response to receipt of the control data, the robot is caused to perform the desired action at the at least one surface in the environment of the robot.

Abstract: An evaporator device incudes a crucible comprising an inlet through which solid material is introduced to the crucible, and an outlet through which vaporised material is released from the crucible. Vapours outgassed from molten material within the crucible are guided away from the outlet.

Abstract: A compound of the general formula: (i) wherein x has a value greater than 0.06 and equal to or less than 0.4. The compound is also formulated into a positive electrode for use in an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A pump assembly for a dental cleaning appliance includes a positive displacement pump including a fluid chamber and a fluid displacement member which is moveable in a linear direction relative to the fluid chamber, and a drive for actuating the pump to draw fluid into the fluid chamber through a fluid inlet. An energy storage device converts kinetic energy generated during actuation of the pump by the drive into potential energy, and stores the potential energy. A cam is connected to the drive for rotation relative to the fluid displacement member. The cam has a ramp extending about the fluid displacement member which is engaged by a cam follower connected to the fluid displacement member. As the cam moves relative to the fluid displacement member, the cam follower moves along the ramp to actuate the pump to draw fluid into the fluid chamber, and beyond the end of the ramp to enable the energy storage device to use the stored potential energy to actuate the pump to urge fluid from the fluid chamber.

Abstract: Measures for use in controlling a robot. At an electronic user device, data representative of an environment of the robot is received from the robot. The received data indicates a location of at least one moveable object in the environment. In response to receipt of the representative data, a representation of the environment of the robot is displayed on a graphical display of the electronic user device. Input is received from a user of the electronic user device indicating a desired location for the at least one moveable object in the environment of the robot. In response to receipt of the user input, control data is transmitted to the robot. The control data is operable to cause the robot to move the at least one object to the desired location in the environment of the robot.

Abstract: A force sensing device for use in a robotic finger including: a first segment, the first segment having a first joint at a first end thereof; a second segment, the second segment being connected to the first segment by a second joint; and a third segment, the third segment being connected to the second segment by a third joint; and torque sensor for sensing the torque at each of the joints when a force is applied to the third segment. The first, second and third joints are disposed within the same plane and are disposed in a triangular arrangement.

Abstract: A robot gripper including: a base section; a first finger connected to the base section by a base section joint and n phalanxes; a second finger connected to the base section by a base section joint and n+m phalanxes, each phalanx of the second finger being connected to an adjacent phalanx by a phalanx joint and the first and second fingers being opposable to one other; wherein n and m are positive integers.

Abstract: Certain examples described herein provide a method of controlling a robotic device including a body, an end effector coupled to the body by one or more joints and a propulsion system to drive the one or more joints to control a state of the robotic device. Example methods include applying impedance control to the robotic device; determining a reference trajectory of the end effector; detecting an applied external force and/or torque acting on the robotic device causing a departure from the reference trajectory; calculating an adjustment to be applied to one or more of the one or more joints to compensate for the detected applied external force and/or torque; and using the calculated adjustment to control the one or more joints to actuate the end effector and recover the reference trajectory of the end effector.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wheel to contact a surface having a reference surface plane in operation of the vehicle; a chassis; an axle housing having an axis which is normal to the reference surface plane; and an axle. The axle extends from the axle housing, to couple the wheel to the axle housing and to support rotation of the wheel relative to the axle housing to support motion of the vehicle across the surface in operation of the vehicle. A suspension system couples the wheel to the chassis and includes a linkage assembly having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the axle housing. The first end of the linkage assembly is spaced apart laterally from the second end of the linkage assembly along a longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly. The suspension system is configured to maintain the axis of the axle housing at an angle normal to the reference surface plane in response to an angular displacement between the chassis and the reference surface plane.

Abstract: A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body includes an attachment mechanism having a slot and an actuator, the attachment including a protrusion adapted to engage with the slot wherein the actuator has a first position and a second position and the actuator is moved from the first position towards the second position as the protrusion engages with the slot. In the first position the actuator may at least partially obscures the slot. The actuator includes a surface which may interact with the protrusion when the protrusion engages with the slot. The surface may be adapted to at least partially define the slot at or near the second position. When the protrusion is at a pre-determined position within the slot, the actuator may return towards the first position. The actuator may be biased into the first position.

Abstract: A hand held appliance including a fluid flow path extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a ceramic heater within the fluid flow path wherein the fluid flow path is non-linear and the heater is non-linear. The appliance may include a housing wherein the housing houses the heater and encloses the fluid flow path, and wherein the housing is curved. The heater may be curved. The housing may include a straight section and a curved section and the heater is housed within the curved section. The heater may include at least one heating element comprising a flat ceramic plate and a conductive track. The heating element may be arcuate. The heating element may have a constant curvature.

Abstract: A brushless motor comprising a frame; a rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a rotor core and a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly being mounted to the frame; and at least one stator comprising a C-shaped stator core, the stator core comprising a back and first and second arms, wherein at least one of the first and second arms includes a protrusion that contacts the frame so as to inhibit radial movement of the stator core towards the rotor assembly.