Abstract: In embodiments, a holding device includes a suction pad, a first link, a second link, a base, and a tube member. The first link supports the suction pad so that the suction pad can rotate around a first rotation axis. The second link supports the first link so that the first link can rotate around a second rotation axis. The base supports the second link so that the second link can rotate around a third rotation axis. The tube member communicates the suction pad with the base and can be bent. The second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are not parallel to each other.

Abstract: A bracket is provided having a base and an arm. The base can be connected to a rear window hinge support of a hardtop with the hinge bolts used to secure a rear window hinge. The base has slots that provide for an increased flexibility of bolt patterns or widths. The top of the slots are open with necks to allow for easy insertion and removal of the brackets without removal of the rear window and allows the brackets to be used with multiple models. The base has a central void. An arm having an eye upstands from the base. A relief is provided at the area where the arm is connected to the base. Two brackets (a left and a right bracket) are secured to a hardtop before use. A hoist or lift can connect to the eyes to facilitate removal and storage of the hardtop.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a sling including a sleeve, a first eye formed by a first splice, and a second eye formed by a second splice. The sleeve includes braided strands and has a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between. The sleeve also defines a hollow inner volume. The first splice is made by the first end portion extending into and along part of the hollow inner volume proximate the first eye. The second splice is made by the second end portion extending into and along part of the hollow inner volume proximate the second eye. A hollow load bearing portion is defined in the intermediate portion between the first splice and the second splice.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a side supporting unit supporting or releasing a side of a workpiece, a plurality of pusher members pushing the workpiece downward, and a pusher member shifting unit shifting the pusher members in a direction toward or away from the workpiece. An engaging pin to be engaged with a through-hole created in the workpiece is disposed inside at least one of the pusher members.

Abstract: A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.

Abstract: A tendon-driven robotic gripper is disclosed for performing fingertip and enveloping grasps. One embodiment comprises two fingers, each with two links, and is actuated using a single active tendon. During unobstructed closing, the distal links remain parallel, creating exact fingertip grasps. Conversely, if the proximal links are stopped by contact with an object, the distal links start flexing, creating a stable enveloping grasp. The route of the active tendon and the parameters of the springs providing passive extension forces are optimized in order to achieve this behavior. An additional passive tendon is disclosed that may be used as a constraint preventing the gripper from entering undesirable parts of the joint workspace. A method for optimizing the dimensions of the links in order to achieve enveloping grasps of a large range of objects is disclosed and applied to a set of common household objects.

Abstract: Provided is a military shovel, including a shovel head and a shovel handle; a rear end of the shovel head is provided with a connection seat; a front end of the shovel handle is provided with a connection head; the connection seat of the shovel head is hinged to the connection head by a hinge shaft; the military shovel further includes a locking mechanism for fixing the shovel head, the locking mechanism is disposed on the front end of the shovel handle; three locating holes are provided in a sidewall of the connection seat; a locating protrusion is disposed on a sidewall of the connection head; the sidewall of the connection seat where the three locating holes are located is opposite to the sidewall of the connection head where the locating protrusion is located.

Abstract: Safety is one of the most important factors in the robot interaction with unknown and dynamic environments. Recent studies have shown that the use of compliant components as a solution to the safety issue, especially in the physical human-robot interaction. To overcome performance degradation caused by including compliant elements into the systems, variable stiffness approaches have been introduced at the cost of an extra actuator. A variable stiffness gripper is presented. Embodiments of the disclosed gripper may have, for example, with two parallel fingers (jaws). Compliance of the system may be generated by using magnets as the nonlinear springs. Based on the presented design, the position and stiffness level of the fingers can be adjusted simultaneously by changing the air gap between the magnets.

Abstract: Anthropomorphic hand comprising: a palm; a metacarpus; a thumb; four aligned fingers constrained to said palm, each comprising a proximal phalanx, a middle phalanx and a distal phalanx; a motor; a plurality of differential stages which transmit motion from said motor to said aligned fingers and to said thumb: a first stage whose planet carrier is moved by said motor and whose sun gears move planet carriers of a second and a fifth stage, sun gears of the second and fifth stages being integral to the planet carriers of a third and a fourth stage, whose sun gears move four gears having axes coincident with the axes of rotation between the aligned fingers and the palm; sun gears of the fifth stage being configured to rotate said metacarpus and a gear having axis coincident with the axis of rotation between the proximal phalanx of the thumb and the metacarpus.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to 3D-architected soft machines with topologically encoded actuation, and methods of making and using the 3D-architected soft machines.

Abstract: A portable pet waste collection device which overcomes issues involved with collecting and carrying pet waste when a refuse container is not close by. A lid portion connects to an expandable body portion. A bag dispenser is retained in the lid area through which a user obtains a bag prior to collection. The body portion of the device can be kept in a collapsed state prior to collection, and expanded for receiving a bag of waste. The device conveniently retains the waste bags until proper disposal facilities are available.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate holding device that inhibits drop in holding accuracy of a substrate. A Bernoulli chucking pad suctions and holds a front surface or a back surface of a substrate S. A position determiner 54 is capable of pushing the substrate S in contact with a side surface 82 of the substrate S, and positioning the suctioned substrate S. A pin 66 enables the position determiner 54 to come in contact with the side surface 82 of the substrate S. The pin 66 brings the position determiner 54 into contact with the side surface 82 of the substrate S, and the position determiner 54 thereby positions the substrate S.

Abstract: A continuous foam-type band suitable for placement about a cylindrical container such as a compressed air or gas cylinder is disclosed, and use of the band as a handle as well as a means for isolation and protection of the compressed air or gas cylinder or similar containers is also disclosed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.

Abstract: A device for gripping an object includes a pair of grippers each having a gripping surface formed with a plurality of fine channels, a driver for driving the pair of grippers, a pump connected to at least one of the plurality of fine channels, to supply a fluid to the at least one of the plurality of fine channels, and a controller for controlling the driver to enable the pair of grippers to grip the object or controlling the pump to adjust an amount of the fluid supplied to the gripping surface.

Abstract: A soft robot hand includes a palm, a first fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm, and a second fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm. The first actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a first human finger. The second actuator is spaced apart from the first actuator. The second actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a second human finger.

Abstract: An annealing apparatus includes a heater plate and a cooler plate disposed in a chamber, a delivering robot, a sensor and circuitry. The delivering robot is configured to deliver a wafer between the heater plate and the cooler plate in the chamber. The sensor is located on the delivering robot and configured to output a first signal in response to a motion of the delivering robot. The circuitry is coupled to the sensor and configured to detect whether an abnormality of the delivering robot occurs according to the first signal.

Abstract: A robot arm assembly for detecting a pose and force associated with an object is provided. The robot arm assembly includes an end effector having a plurality of fingers, and a deformable sensor provided on each finger. The deformable sensor includes a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to the housing, an enclosure filled with a medium, and an internal sensor disposed within the housing having a field of view directed through the medium and toward an internal surface of the deformable membrane. A processor is configured to receive an output from each internal sensor, the output including a contact region of the deformable membrane as a result of contact with the object. The processor determines an amount of displacement of the contact region based on the output from each internal sensor, and determines the pose and the force associated with the object based on the amount of displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually impaired individuals. The apparatus includes a top element having a base and at least two pairs of arms extending outwardly from the base. The base includes a first aperture and a second aperture. The apparatus further includes a handle connecting to the top element at a distal end of the top element. The handle includes an end part. The end part includes a third aperture and a slot connected by a “V” shaped portion. The apparatus further includes a restraint having a first end securing at an interior of the handle via the first aperture of the base and a second end of the restraint exposed outside the handle.

Abstract: A method for passive aerial cord release mechanisms and an aerial cord release mechanism for an aerial vehicle (AV). A method includes determining a retracting force to be applied to a winch of an aerial vehicle (AV), wherein the determined retracting force is a force required to retract a cord to be coiled around the winch within the AV, and the cord is temporarily coupled to the winch, such that an external force exceeding a predetermined threshold causes decoupling between the cord and the winch.