Abstract: A speed reducer relating to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an internal gear having a casing and a plurality of outer pins, where the casing surrounds a main axis, and the outer pins are rotatably arranged in pin grooves provided on an inner periphery of the casing; an external gear meshing with the internal gear; an eccentric body for oscillating the external gear; a carrier rotatable relative to the casing; and a main bearing having an inner sliding surface and an outer sliding surface, where the inner sliding surface is rotatable integrally with the casing, and the outer sliding surface is rotatable integrally with the carrier. One of the inner and outer sliding surfaces is made of resin, and the other of the inner and outer sliding surfaces is made of a thermally conductive material that is more wear-resistant than the resin.

Abstract: A system and method for on-demand retention, release, and positioning of structures including space structures (e.g., solar panels, probes, antennae, scientific instruments, fairings, etc.). The system allows for a lightweight and reliable deployment mechanism utilizing shape memory alloy (SMA) technology that allows for structure transition from a stowed to a deployed configuration. SMAs are used for both the active actuation members (e.g., wires) and passive connecting members (e.g., hinges). The retention and release (R&R) mechanism includes the SMA actuator, a static and detachable plate, a pin puller, and retaining latches/hooks. Once released, the deployment and positioning mechanism consists of SMA preloaded hinges and latches. The innovative system and method may be used for deployment of CubeSat and smallsats solar panels, antennae, and the like where volume and power resources are very limited.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes an elongated slide, a carriage for supporting an instrument drive unit, a drive motor operably coupled to the carriage and configured to drive a movement of the carriage relative to the slide, and a motor release mechanism configured to selectively disengage the drive motor from the carriage to permit a manual movement of the carriage along the slide.

Abstract: A power transmission system for driving a robot joint includes a driving part including a first driving unit and a second driving unit, a first force transmission part including a first sheath formed to have a predetermined length, flexibility, and a hollow shape and a first wire which is inserted into the first sheath and of which one end is fixed to a joint of a robot and the other end is connected to the first driving unit, and a second force transmission part including a second sheath formed to have a predetermined length, flexibility, and a hollow shape and a second wire which is inserted into the second sheath and of which one end is fixed to the joint of the robot and the other end is connected to the second driving unit.

Abstract: A system, e.g., a computer-aided medical system, includes a first link, a second link, a joint, and a dual brake assembly. The first link has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second link has a first end portion and a second end portion. The joint is connected to the second end portion of the first link and to the first end portion of the second link. The dual brake assembly is coupled to the first link and to the second link. The dual brake assembly includes a first brake and a second brake. Braking provided by the dual brake assembly reduces relative motion between the first and second links.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an electric drive unit are provided. A transmission system in an electric drive unit, in one example includes an input shaft rotationally coupled to each of a first electric machine and a second electric machine and a first clutch arranged coaxial to a first countershaft, where a first gear is fixedly coupled the first clutch and meshes with a second gear that is fixedly coupled to the input shaft. The transmission system further includes a second clutch arranged coaxial to a second countershaft and spaced away from the first countershaft and a third gear that is fixedly coupled to the second clutch and meshes with the first gear, where the first clutch and the second clutch are configured to shift the transmission system between multiple gear ratios and deliver mechanical power to an output shaft that is spaced away from the second countershaft.

Abstract: A gearbox for a vehicle includes a primary shaft configured to rotate about a first axis, a distribution gear, a transmission gear arranged around the primary shaft, an auxiliary shaft configured to rotate around a second axis, an auxiliary output gear and an auxiliary transmission gear arranged around the auxiliary shaft, an output gear arranged around the primary shaft for transmitting a power out of the gearbox, and a gear shift system slidable between at least two positions. The gear shift system is configured to rotationally engage the distribution gear and the output gear for transmitting the power directly from the primary shaft to the output gear, or the distribution gear and the transmission gear for transmitting the power indirectly from the primary shaft to the output gear through the auxiliary shaft.

Abstract: A groove follower is provided for cooperating with a shift groove of a shift drum of a multi-step sequential transmission for a motor vehicle, comprising a groove follower body, comprising at least one contact surface for contacting a lateral face of the shift groove of the shift drum, wherein at least part of the at least one contact surface is formed as part of an outer surface of a three-dimensional helix with a helix diameter and a helix pitch.

Abstract: A differential gear includes a holder which is provided between first and second pinion gears in a differential case and through which a differential pinion shaft is inserted. An insertion hole is radially formed in the differential pinion shaft. The holder is formed with a fixing hole facing the insertion hole when the differential pinion shaft is inserted through the holder. Due to insertion of a fixing pin through the fixing hole and the insertion hole, the differential pinion shaft and the holder are relatively non-rotatable. Due to the holder being held between first and second side gears, relative rotation of the holder with respect to the differential case is restricted, and the differential pinion shaft is non-rotatable relative to the differential case.

Abstract: A strain wave gearing has a wave generator provided with a plurality of rollers mounted between an ellipsoidal outer peripheral surface of a plug and an inner peripheral surface of an externally toothed gear. The plug is formed with recesses along the ellipsoidal outer peripheral surface. The recesses open in a first end surface of the plug facing toward a diaphragm of the externally toothed gear. The radial rigidity of the plug is relatively low in the side having the first end surface in the direction of a plug axis. When viewed along the direction of the plug axis, the respective rollers can be brought into linear contact with the inner peripheral surface of the externally toothed gear at positions on the long axis (Lmax) of the elliptically-flexed externally toothed gear, so as not to occur one-sided contact state.

Abstract: A robot includes a base attached to an end of a robotic arm, a conveyor fixed to the base, and a holder to hold a workpiece and place the workpiece on a transferring surface of the conveyor. The holder includes a pivot shaft extending along the conveyor in a transferring direction of the conveyor, and reciprocatable or telescopic in the transferring direction, a pivoting structure attached to the pivot shaft so as to be reciprocatable in the transferring direction, and pivotable centering on the pivot shaft in a plane in which a width direction perpendicular to the transferring direction intersects with a height direction perpendicular to the transferring direction and the width direction, and a holding structure upstream of the pivoting part in the transferring direction to hold the workpiece.

Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement having a first coupler mounted for rotation with a first input gear, a second coupler mounted for rotation with a second input gear, and an input-gear selector mounted for rotation with an input shaft and positioned between the first and second couplers. The input-gear selector is movable on the input shaft relative to the first and second couplers. Engagement of the input-gear selector with the first coupler drives rotation of the first input gear with rotation of the input shaft, and engagement of the input-gear selector with the second coupler drives rotation of the second input gear with rotation of the input shaft.

Abstract: A positioning system moves an object in two generally orthogonal directions using a rotationally adjustable bearing system that connects the object to two pairs of non-parallel rails, the bearing system permitting the object to be smoothly translated in one or two directions to a desired position in planar space. This translation is performed smoothly notwithstanding a lack of parallelism between the linear rails.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an actuation system for a driveline shifting member in a transmission system of a vehicle. In one example, a system may include an actuator coupled to a lever arm via one or more parallel axis gears, and a shaft connecting the lever arm to a driveline shifting member, the lever arm driven via a rolling element housed within a slot in the lever arm aligned with a center of a parallel axis gear of the one or more parallel axis gears.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a shift assembly for a vehicle transmission. In one example, a shift assembly for a transmission includes a first barrel cam including a first cam track; a second barrel cam arranged coaxially with the first barrel cam and including a second cam track; a first motor configured to drive the first barrel cam independent of the second barrel cam; and a second motor configured to drive the second barrel cam independent of the first barrel cam.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a first element and a second element movable with respect to the first element in a movement direction. The first element includes teeth successively in the movement direction, two coils in slots defined by the teeth, and a permanent magnet. The second element includes teeth successively in the movement direction. The teeth of the first and second elements and the permanent magnet are arranged so that the second element is held by magnetic forces in each of three positions also when there are no currents in the coils. The second element can be moved between the three positions by supplying electric currents to the coils. Thus, the second element is held in any of the three positions also when current supply to the magnetic actuator is unintentionally lost.

Abstract: A transmission assembly for a powertrain of a vehicle, includes, a control device and a transmission housing for housing a transmission, the control device mountable to the transmission housing and including a transmission mounting surface adapted to face the transmission housing, the transmission housing including a control device mounting surface adapted to face the control device, one of the transmission mounting surface and the control device mounting surface including a groove including at least a first and a second step deeper than the first step, and the other of the transmission mounting surface and the control device mounting surface including an outwardly extending guiding member configured to be received in the groove, configured so that the outwardly extending guiding member can slide in the first step until it reaches the second step, whereafter the transmission mounting surface can be moved towards the control device mounting surface or vice versa.

Abstract: A claw-type gearshift includes a sliding sleeve and a clutch body of a speed change gear, in which the sliding sleeve can engage. A blocking ring having an external toothing is arranged axially between the hub body and the clutch body and is fixed to the hub body such that it is rotatable in relation to the sliding sleeve by a certain degree in the circumferential direction between a release position and two locking positions. The blocking ring has a plurality of axially resilient tabs which are directed radially inward and which bear against the hub body and limit the movement of the blocking ring relative to the hub body in the circumferential direction, and a ring portion which is arranged radially outside of the tabs and which includes a friction surface that rests permanently against a mating friction surface on the clutch body.

Abstract: A track system may include a track assembly and a support assembly. A track assembly may include a toothed portion. The support assembly may include a support member removable from and adjustably connected to the track assembly. The toothed portion may include a plurality of track teeth. The support member may include an adjuster pinion. The adjuster pinion may include a plurality of pinion teeth configured to engage the plurality of track teeth. The adjuster pinion may be adjustable to an engaged position in which the adjuster pinion and the toothed portion are engaged with one another. The adjuster pinion may be adjustable to a disengaged position in which the adjuster pinion and the toothed portion are not engaged with one another.