Abstract: A system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a robot and a dock. The robot includes a body and a plurality of legs connected to the body through which the robot is configured to ambulate. The robot further includes a hanger carried by the body and a charge-receiving electrode at the hanger. The dock includes a hook, a charge-dispensing electrode at the hook, and a guide that urges the hanger into alignment with the hook. The system is transitionable between an undocked state and a docked state. In the undocked state, the robot and the dock are spaced apart from one another. In the docked state, the hanger is received at the hook, the dock supports at least a portion of a weight of the robot via the hook, and the charge-receiving electrode is electrically connected to the charge-dispensing electrode.

Abstract: A system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a robot and a dock. The robot includes a body and a plurality of legs connected to the body through which the robot is configured to ambulate. The robot further includes a hanger carried by the body and a charge-receiving electrode at the hanger. The dock includes a hook, a charge-dispensing electrode at the hook, and a guide that urges the hanger into alignment with the hook. The system is transitionable between an undocked state and a docked state. In the undocked state, the robot and the dock are spaced apart from one another. In the docked state, the hanger is received at the hook, the dock supports at least a portion of a weight of the robot via the hook, and the charge-receiving electrode is electrically connected to the charge-dispensing electrode.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly further includes a first transfer member including first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a third plane. The gear assembly also includes a second transfer member including second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a fourth plane. The planes intersect the axis with the third and fourth planes between the first and second planes. The gear assembly further includes first and second pins circumferentially interspersed around the axis and extending between the first and second supports. The gear assembly transfers torque at least primarily via contact between the first pins and the first lobes and via contact between the second pins and the second lobes.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an assembly axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly includes a first transfer member having first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a third plane. The gear assembly includes a second transfer member having second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a fourth plane. The third and fourth planes are between the first and second planes along the assembly axis. The gear assembly includes first and second pins circumferentially interspersed around the assembly axis and extending between the first and second supports. The gear assembly transfers torque at least primarily via contact between the first pins and the first lobes and via contact between the second pins and the second lobes.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an assembly axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly includes a first transfer member having first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a third plane. The gear assembly includes a second transfer member having second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a fourth plane. The third and fourth planes are between the first and second planes along the assembly axis. The gear assembly includes first and second pins circumferentially interspersed around the assembly axis and extending between the first and second supports. The gear assembly transfers torque at least primarily via contact between the first pins and the first lobes and via contact between the second pins and the second lobes.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly further includes a first transfer member including first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a third plane. The gear assembly also includes a second transfer member including second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a fourth plane. The planes intersect the axis with the third and fourth planes between the first and second planes. The gear assembly further includes first and second pins circumferentially interspersed around the axis and extending between the first and second supports. The gear assembly transfers torque at least primarily via contact between the first pins and the first lobes and via contact between the second pins and the second lobes.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an assembly axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly further includes a first transfer member including first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a third plane. The gear assembly also includes a second transfer member including second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the assembly axis in a fourth plane. The planes intersect the assembly axis with the third and fourth planes between the first and second planes. The gear assembly further includes pins extending between the first and second supports along respective pin axes. The individual pins are configured to rotate about the respective pin axes relative to the first and second supports during operation of the gear assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of identifying at least one deployed robot in a group of robots, differentially commanding the identified robot, and initiating a remote shutdown or disablement of at least one robot selected from a group of robots.

Abstract: A gear assembly in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes first and second supports extending circumferentially around an axis in first and second planes, respectively. The gear assembly further includes a first transfer member including first lobes and first troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a third plane. The gear assembly also includes a second transfer member including second lobes and second troughs circumferentially alternating around the axis in a fourth plane. The planes intersect the axis with the third and fourth planes between the first and second planes. The gear assembly further includes first and second pins circumferentially interspersed around the axis and extending between the first and second supports. The gear assembly transfers torque at least primarily via contact between the first pins and the first lobes and via contact between the second pins and the second lobes.

Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a torso having a superior portion, an inferior portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The robot further includes two legs connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso, two arms connected to the torso via the superior portion of the torso, and a protrusion also connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso and extending anteriorly from the torso. The robot is configured to move an object toward the torso at least partially via contact between the object and at least one of the arms. The robot is further configured to support a weight of the object at least partially via the protrusion while the robot ambulates via the legs.

Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a torso having a superior portion, an inferior portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The robot further includes two legs connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso, two arms connected to the torso via the superior portion of the torso, and a protrusion also connected to the torso via the inferior portion of the torso and extending anteriorly from the torso. The robot is configured to move an object toward the torso at least partially via contact between the object and at least one of the arms. The robot is further configured to support a weight of the object at least partially via the protrusion while the robot ambulates via the legs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing impact forces to legged robots as a result of traversing a terrain. The method includes employing actuators and compliant elements to use the contact of a first portion of a foot assembly with a terrain during a step to reduce the vertical velocity of a subsequent portion of the foot assembly so that the vertical velocity of the subsequent portion as it touches the terrain is substantially zero relative to the terrain. Foot assemblies that employ these methods are also provided.

Abstract: A deployment assembly is mounted in a delivery vehicle and holds an autonomous robot that can be deployed to deliver or pick up packages. The assembly has a base and extendable members that move the robot from a retracted position inside the vehicle and an extended position outside the vehicle. The assembly also has securement features that hold the robot in during transport and can also recharge the robot if necessary.

Abstract: A legged robot has legs that have multiple links, one of which is a distal link. A foot assembly for interacting with the terrain is disposed on a distal end of the distal link. As a robot takes a step, a portion of the foot assembly that has lower effective inertia than the rest of the foot assembly touches down first and acts to reduce the vertical velocity of the rest of the foot assembly before it reaches the terrain through the use of an actuator located on the distal or intermediate link.

Abstract: People and packages are delivered to and picked up from delivery locations by autonomous vehicles that also carry autonomous robots. When a package needs to be picked up or delivered at a particular location, an autonomous robot is deployed from the delivery vehicle and takes the package to the doorstep or other predetermined location or picks up the package from that location and brings it back to the delivery vehicle. After this pickup or delivery, the autonomous robot stows itself back in the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology is configured for bimanual manipulation of objects. The robot includes a body and two arms individually defining an arm length and including an end effector, an end effector joint proximally adjacent to the end effector along a kinematic chain corresponding to the arm, and a gripper proximal to the end effector along the arm length. The end effector joint is configured to rotate the end effector relative to the gripper. The robot is configured to move at least a portion of a bottom surface of an object away from a support surface by applying force to the object via frictional interfaces between convex gripping surfaces of the grippers and side surfaces of the object. This creates a gap into which paddles of the end effectors can be inserted to support the object from below.

Abstract: A deployment assembly is mounted in a delivery vehicle and holds an autonomous robot that can be deployed to deliver or pick up packages. The assembly has a base and extendable members that move the robot from a retracted position inside the vehicle and an extended position outside the vehicle. The assembly also has securement features that hold the robot in during transport and can also recharge the robot if necessary.

Abstract: People and packages are delivered to and picked up from delivery locations by autonomous vehicles that also carry autonomous robots. When a package needs to be picked up or delivered at a particular location, an autonomous robot is deployed from the delivery vehicle and takes the package to the doorstep or other predetermined location or picks up the package from that location and brings it back to the delivery vehicle. After this pickup or delivery, the autonomous robot stows itself back in the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing impact forces to legged robots as a result of traversing a terrain. The method includes employing actuators and compliant elements to use the contact of a first portion of a foot assembly with a terrain during a step to reduce the vertical velocity of a subsequent portion of the foot assembly so that the vertical velocity of the subsequent portion as it touches the terrain is substantially zero relative to the terrain. Foot assemblies that employ these methods are also provided.