Abstract: A care method and a care robot that can simplify care and reduce the burden on a caregiver, in particular the burden on the caregiver during the transfer of a care receiver. A sheet is spread out on top of a bed, and the care receiver is laid on the sheet. The sheet is formed so that both ends thereof have parts to be held that are held by arms of a robot. The robot and the arms are positioned relative to the care receiver, and the robot is moved towards the bed so that the arms hold the parts to be held. The arms are raised by a predetermined distance, and when the arms are in the raised state, the robot is moved away from the bed.

Abstract: A master-slave system (1) according to the present invention includes a slave actuator (As1 to As3) for generating a slave driving force (?s) to control a slave robot in terms of driving force, an effective driving force sensor (Fs1 to Fs3) for measuring a slave effective driving force (?sa) actually acting on a terminal output axis of the slave actuator (As1 to As3), and a slave target effective driving force calculating device (3) for calculating a slave target effective driving force (?sad) which is a target value for the slave effective driving force (?sa), on the basis of a master operating force (fm) applied to the master robot by an operator (U). The slave actuator (As1 to As3) generates the slave driving force (?s) on the basis of the slave target effective driving force (?sad) and the slave effective driving force (?sa).

Abstract: Provided is a robot which is easily operated and with which it is possible for a caregiver to transfer a person alone. A robot (R) provided with a traveling unit (M1), a hoisting unit (M2) provided to the traveling unit (M1), a tilting unit (M3) provided to the hoisting unit (M3), an operating unit (M4) provided to the tilting unit (M3), and a pair of arms, wherein: the tiling unit (M3) has a main tilting unit and an auxiliary tilting unit provided to the main tilting unit; and the auxiliary tilting unit has auxiliary tilting members which are provided to both ends of the main tilting member on the main tilting unit, holds the arms, and can rotate freely.

Abstract: A master-slave system (1) according to the present invention includes at least one master displacement sensor (Pm1 to Pm3) for measuring a master displacement for a master robot, at least one slave displacement sensor (Ps1 to Ps3) for measuring a slave displacement for a slave robot, a master target displacement calculating device (2) for mapping the slave displacement and thereby obtaining a master target displacement which is a target value for the master displacement corresponding to the slave displacement, and a master actuator (Am1 to Am3) for generating a master driving force to position-control the master robot on the basis of the master target displacement and the master displacement. The mapping is predefined such that a set of master target displacements excludes a singular configuration for the master robot. The master-slave system (1) renders it possible to solve a singular configuration problem for both the master robot and the slave robot.

Abstract: A two-legged walking transportation device includes an upper body unit for supporting the trunk of the rider, and leg units provided below the upper body unit, each of the leg units includes a link mechanism connected at one end to the upper body unit via a hip joint with at least three degrees of freedom, a foot mechanism connected to the other end of the link mechanism via an ankle joint with at least two degrees of freedom, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the rider's foot to the link mechanism via a multi-axis force sensor so as to be only rotatable with respect to directions in which the ankle joint is movable, the hip join is voluntarily controlled in accordance with operating force and/or operating torque provided by the rider's foot and sensed by the multi-axis force sensor, and control of the ankle joint while standing is automatically performed as balance maintenance control without directly involving the rider.

Abstract: A wireless linear motor comprising: a stationary stator having permanent magnets; a movable stage having coils and a controller with a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with an external data processing system, the controller adapted to energize the coils to position the stage over the stator in response to control signals from the external system; and, a frame having first and second electrically conductive linear guides for slideably mounting the stage over the stator, wherein each linear guide has a stage portion attached to the stage through a first electrical insulator, a frame portion attached to the frame through a second electrical insulator, a plurality of ball bearings disposed between and electrically coupling the stage and frame portions, and a conductor coupling the stage portion to the controller for providing electrical power from an external power supply to the controller through the frame portion of each guide.

Abstract: A method for minimizing contact between a needle point and a needle thread in a computer controlled embroidery machine, to prevent breakage of the needle thread by the needle point upon penetration of a workpiece during stitching. The method includes the steps of: determining a first straight path between a current needle penetration location and a next needle penetration location; and, moving to the next needle penetration location along a second non-straight path so that the needle thread is pulled away from the needle point.