Abstract: In a parallel link mechanism, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed. Each link mechanism includes a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and a center link member, and forms a quadric chain link mechanism composed of four revolute pairs. A singular point occurs when a central axis of the proximal or distal end side link hub and a central axis which is a rotation axis of a revolute pair section of the proximal or distal side end link member and the center link member coincide with each other. An axis angle of the center link member is specified such that a posture in which the singular point occurs is avoided.

Abstract: Various implementations include a modular soft robot including a base, an arm coupled to the base, and an actuator. The arm includes a first surface and a second surface opposite and spaced apart from the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of channels, each channel comprising a proximal end at the first surface and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end. Each channel has a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The actuator is configured to deform the arm.

Abstract: An electric drive for a vehicle and a vehicle is having at least one electric machine having a rotor shaft and a planetary transmission for dividing the torque introduced via the rotor shaft to a first output shaft and a second output shaft, wherein for decoupling the rotor shaft at least one switching element is provided relative to the torque transmission between the rotor shaft and an element of the planetary transmission.

Abstract: A forward and reverse rotation structure contains: a gear box which includes a drive shaft coaxially connected with a rotatable wheel. The rotatable wheel includes at least one actuation sheet mounted on an inner wall and an outer wall of the rotatable wheel, at least one spring. The at least one actuation sheet of the inner wall of the rotatable wheel is mounted in a clockwise direction, and the at least one actuation sheet of the outer wall of the rotatable wheel is mounted in a counterclockwise direction. The rotatable wheel also includes a drive wheel, a driven wheel, multiple forward array recesses, an actuated wheel, and an output shaft. The rotatable wheel includes a drive wheel, a driven wheel, multiple reversely array recesses, a direction rotating wheel, and a rotated wheel.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a mount block extending along an axis and a plurality of electric motors supported by the mount block. The electric motors are arranged in series along the axis to define an initial electric motor, one or more intermediate electric motors, and a final electric motor. The drive mechanism also includes a gear mounted to each of the electric motors, and an output member driven by the gear mounted to the final electric motor to receive the combined rotational torque from the gears of the series of electric motors.

Abstract: A blade portion that rotates integrally with a target shaft portion is provided between a target outer peripheral surface that is an outer peripheral surface of the target shaft portion and a tubular inner peripheral surface of a case. A first opening that communicates with a first oil passage is located away, on a first axial side, from a second opening that communicates with a second oil passage. The first oil passage communicates with an oil reservoir. The second oil passage communicates with a target space to which oil is supplied. Assuming that a forward rotation state is a rotation state of each part when a wheel is rotating in a direction in which a vehicle moves forward, the blade portion force-feeds the oil to a second axial side when the target shaft portion is in the forward rotation state.

Abstract: Provided is a power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, the power transmission apparatus including a connecting shaft having an edge portion connected to a mass by a connecting plate, the connecting shaft being coupled to an outer side of a first rotor shaft connected to a first rotor of a first motor, and a drive plate positioned adjacent to a crankshaft while facing the connecting shaft, the drive plate being configured to connect the mass and the crankshaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering system for a vehicle, comprising a steering wheel arrangement having a central axis and being reversibly retractable in a direction towards a dashboard of the vehicle and extendable in a direction away from the dashboard of the vehicle. The steering wheel arrangement includes a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke, a steering wheel hub fixedly connected with the steering wheel by the at least one spoke and extending from the steering wheel towards the dashboard of the vehicle, the steering wheel hub and the steering wheel being rotatable about a central axis (A). The steering wheel rim has a non-planar configuration and has a total angle of rotation of 720° or less.

Abstract: A pedal assembly that has a rotation axis is provided. The pedal assembly includes a pedal pad, which includes a first portion positioned on one side of the rotation axis and a second portion positioned on the other side of the rotation axis such that a load applied to the first portion generates a brake command and a load applied to the second portion generates an acceleration command. A neutral position of the pedal pad is configured to be adjusted between an off mode, where the neutral position of the pedal pad is parallel with a floor surface, a first operating mode where the neutral position of the pedal pad is at a first angle with respect to the floor surface, and a second position where the neutral position of the pedal pad is at a second angle with respect to the floor.

Abstract: A gear includes an annular sleeve and a tooth portion provided by injection molding to cover a part of the sleeve. The sleeve is a stacked body including a plurality of annular steel plates stacked in an axial direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: An impact-protection safety device for a robot comprises a first connection part, which is intended to be connected to a robot arm, and a second connection part, which is intended to be connected to an actuator, wherein the connection parts cooperate with one another by means of guides of a first and second type, and a plurality of spring elements in the form of compression springs are tensioned between the connection parts The different guides each comprise a plurality of pegs connected to the second connection part, wherein the pegs to be assigned to the guide of the first type each have a stop contour that acts in the pull-out direction and engages behind a contour of the first connection part, and the pegs to be assigned to the guide of the second type are each surrounded by one of the spring elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a brake mechanism which supports an operation panel with respect to an apparatus body such that the operation panel can be stopped at an arbitrary angle. The brake mechanism includes a gear portion, a body-side gear, a button, and a bias member. The gear portion is formed about a rotation shaft in the operation panel. The body-side gear intermeshes with the gear portion and rotates about the rotation shaft. The button is movable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. The bias member is arranged between the button and the body-side gear and biases the body-side gear along the axial direction. The brake mechanism is capable of reducing a braking force applied to a rotation of the body-side gear by moving the button along the axial direction in a direction in which it moves away from the body-side gear and reducing a bias force.

Abstract: Provided is an arm structure of an industrial robot in which the same wrist element is enabled to have a plurality of types of characteristics, thus allowing a variation model to be readily implemented. An arm structure of an industrial robot with a plurality of wrist elements, the arm structure being provided with, in a housing: a first motor and a second motor that drive the plurality of wrist elements respectively; a first gear that is attached to a first output shaft of the first motor and has an external diameter equal to that of the first output shaft; and a second gear that is attached to a second output shaft of the second motor and has an external diameter equal to that of the second output shaft. The second motor is disposed in front of the first motor and is disposed such that the axis of the second output shaft is laterally offset with respect to the axis of the first output shaft. A space portion is provided to the rear of each of the first motor and the second motor.

Abstract: A detachable, self-contained robotic arm system includes: a mounting subsystem configured to releasable engage an operating platform; a robotic arm subsystem coupled to the mounting subsystem; a control subsystem coupled to the mounting subsystem and configured to effectuate movement of the robotic arm assembly; and a connectivity subsystem configured to detachably couple the detachable, self-contained robotic arm system to one or more external systems.

Abstract: A friction drive transmission includes a drive pulley having an engaging face, a tip plate that supports the drive pulley and is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the engaging face of the drive pulley, and a friction ring that drives an axle. The friction ring may contact the engaging face of the drive pulley and may be moveable relative to the engaging face of the drive pulley to transition between forward rotation and reverse rotation. When the friction ring moves into a reverse rotation position for reverse rotation of the axle, the tip plate may pivot, with the drive pulley, about the pivot axis from a first position into a second position. The first position may be different from the second position.

Abstract: Parallel variable stiffness actuators are disclosed. The parallel variable stiffness actuator can comprise a spring and a variable-stiffness mechanism. The variable-stiffness mechanism can be configured to modulate a stiffness of the parallel variable stiffness actuator. The parallel variable stiffness actuator can further comprise a direct-drive motor arranged in parallel with the spring. A force of the direct-drive motor can be applied directly to a load. Resonant energy accumulation methods implemented by a parallel variable stiffness actuator are also disclosed. A stiffness of a spring can be changed when there is no energy stored by the spring. A resonant energy accumulation method where a force of a direct-drive motor can be applied in resonance with the oscillatory motion, while the stiffness of the parallel variable stiffness actuator can be changed to keep the amplitude of the oscillatory motion nearly constant.

Abstract: A push-type input device according to one embodiment includes: an operation knob configured to receive a pushing operation by an operator; a click sensation-imparting mechanism configured to impart a click sensation to the pushing operation; a slider configured to slide in a predetermined sliding direction in response to the pushing operation; a rotating body configured to rotate in response to sliding of the slider; a sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating body; and a determination section configured to perform a switch-on determination based on a detection result of the rotation angle by the sensor. The determination section performs the switch-on determination between the rotation angle of the rotating body corresponding to the maximum load in load characteristics of the pushing operation and the rotation angle of the rotating body corresponding to the minimum load in load characteristics of the pushing operation.

Abstract: A gear has a gear body made of a first plastic material. The gear body has an axis of rotation, external toothing arranged around an axis of rotation, a centrally located receiving opening, and an intermediate portion located between the external toothing and the wall of the receiving opening. The gear body is fixedly integrally formed on a support body, which is arranged at least partially in the intermediate portion and is made of a second plastic material having a higher stiffness and lower elasticity than the first plastic material, such that surface portions of the external toothing, of the wall of the receiving opening, of the intermediate portion, and of the support body form a substantially flat end face of the gear. The external toothing is helical toothing with teeth which, at least in portions, extend at a helix angle to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A system comprising: an industrial robot comprising a robot arm end portion and a power supply circuit arranged to supply current to the robot arm end portion, and an end effector comprising a power tool and an accumulator module (such as a battery) arranged to power operation of the power tool, the end effector being attached to the robot arm end portion, the end effector further comprising a charger arranged to draw current from the power supply circuit at the robot arm end portion and to supply charging current to the accumulator module. Charging of the accumulator module for the power tool is facilitated and the efficiency of the manufacturing process is increased.

Abstract: The spiral advance/retreat actuation device includes a first strip material, a second strip material, an inner guide member as a strip material guide unit, an outer cylindrical wall, and a strip material storage container. The strip material storage container includes a first storage chamber that spirally stores a first strip material that has transitioned from a cylindrical configuration state to a separated state, and a second storage chamber that spirally stores a second strip material that has transitioned from a cylindrical configuration state to a separated state. The inner bottom surface of the first storage chamber and the inner bottom surface of the second storage chamber are sloped so as to descend as they move away from the axis.