Abstract: A robotic finger with a stiffening member is provided that includes a front facing member for gripping and a back end member that supports the front facing member. The front facing member is conformable about a target object and includes the stiffening member that alleviates bendset by returning the front facing member to an initial state when the front facing member is no longer conformed about the target object.

Abstract: A robotic device is provided. The robotic device includes a first detachable digit, including a first connector piece. The robotic device also includes a digit mounting apparatus, including a first pivot joint and a second connector piece coupled to the first pivot joint, where the second connector piece is configured to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit. The robotic device also includes an actuator configured to pivot the first pivot joint about a first axis to cause the second connector piece of the digit mounting apparatus to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit to attach the first detachable digit to the digit mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The device includes a finger having a worm gear coupled to its base end. The device also includes an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate a worm coupled to the worm gear, and the actuator is mounted on a carriage such that the actuator is configured to slide along an axis. The device also includes a spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor and the second end is fixed. Further, the actuator is configured to (i) rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the finger toward an object, and (ii) when the finger is in contact with the object and is prevented from further movement, further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to slide the actuator along the axis.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The device includes a finger having a worm gear coupled to its base end. The device also includes an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate a worm coupled to the worm gear, and the actuator is mounted on a carriage such that the actuator is configured to slide along an axis. The device also includes a spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor and the second end is fixed. Further, the actuator is configured to (i) rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the finger toward an object, and (ii) when the finger is in contact with the object and is prevented from further movement, further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to slide the actuator along the axis.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The robotic gripping device includes two opposable fingers and an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is coupled to a first finger. The robotic gripping device also includes a torsion spring surrounding the actuator, the torsion spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor of the actuator and the second end is coupled to a second finger. Further, the actuator is configured to rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the two opposable fingers toward each other to contact the object. The actuator is also configured to further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to wind up the torsion spring when the two opposable fingers are both in contact with the object and the object prevents the fingers from further movement toward each other.

Abstract: Examples described here include a device that has a housing defining a cavity, and a force sensor. The device also includes a first hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity, and a second hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity. The first and second hydraulic actuators move between respectively relaxing modes and thrusting modes along respective longitudinal axes. The longitudinal axis of the first hydraulic actuator is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second hydraulic actuator. The device also includes a first actuated member coupled to the first hydraulic actuator, and a second actuated member coupled to the second hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: An example robotic gripping device includes two opposable gripping fingers and at least one actuator configured to move the two opposable gripping fingers towards and away from each other within a plane of motion. The robotic gripping device further includes a gripper base coupled to the two opposable gripping fingers, where the gripper base comprises an attachment interface. The robotic gripping device further includes a detachable elongated support member that mates with the attachment interface of the gripper base, such that when the elongated support member is attached to the attachment interface of the gripper base, the elongated support member extends parallel to the plane of motion of the two opposable gripping fingers.

Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device having a robotic manipulator and a support stand. The support stand may receive an object placed thereon in a given orientation and maintain the given orientation. The robotic manipulator may pick up an object in a first orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator and determine a target pose for the object. Based on the determined target pose, a control system may determine to reorient the object with respect to the robotic manipulator using the support stand. The robotic manipulator may place the object on the support stand in a particular orientation and pick up the object, disposed on the support stand in the particular orientation, in a second orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator. While the object is held in the second orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator, the robotic device may move the object to the target pose.

Abstract: A robotic device is provided. The robotic device includes a first detachable digit, including a first connector piece. The robotic device also includes a digit mounting apparatus, including a first pivot joint and a second connector piece coupled to the first pivot joint, where the second connector piece is configured to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit. The robotic device also includes an actuator configured to pivot the first pivot joint about a first axis to cause the second connector piece of the digit mounting apparatus to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit to attach the first detachable digit to the digit mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device with a preshaper is provided. The robotic gripping device includes two opposable fingers, each finger having a deformable gripping surface, a base, and a fingertip. The robotic gripping device also includes an actuator coupled to the base of each of the fingers, wherein the actuator is configured to move the fingers toward and away from each other. The robotic gripping device also includes a preshaper component positionable between the fingers, wherein when the fingers are moved toward each other by the actuator and the deformable gripping surface of each finger contacts the preshaper component, the deformable gripping surface of each finger is deformed by the preshaper component such that the fingertips of each finger are curled inward toward each other.

Abstract: A robotic device is provided. The robotic device includes a first detachable digit, including a first connector piece. The robotic device also includes a digit mounting apparatus, including a first pivot joint and a second connector piece coupled to the first pivot joint, where the second connector piece is configured to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit. The robotic device also includes an actuator configured to pivot the first pivot joint about a first axis to cause the second connector piece of the digit mounting apparatus to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit to attach the first detachable digit to the digit mounting apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations that relate to determining tactile information using encoders coupled to one or more fingers of a robotic gripping device. The robotic gripping device may include a finger. The finger may include a deformable front face, a base link, a first encoder, and a second encoder. The first encoder may be coupled to the base link of the finger, and configured to detect a grip angle of the finger while the robotic gripping device is gripping an object. The second encoder may be coupled to the deformable front face of the given finger, proximate to the base link of the finger. Additionally, the second encoder may be configured to detect a bend angle of the deformable front face of the finger while the robotic gripping device is gripping the object.

Abstract: A robotic gripping device is provided. The device includes a finger having a worm gear coupled to its base end. The device also includes an actuator having a motor and a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate a worm coupled to the worm gear, and the actuator is mounted on a carriage such that the actuator is configured to slide along an axis. The device also includes a spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the motor and the second end is fixed. Further, the actuator is configured to (i) rotate the shaft relative to the motor by a first amount to move the finger toward an object, and (ii) when the finger is in contact with the object and is prevented from further movement, further rotate the shaft relative to the motor to slide the actuator along the axis.

Abstract: Examples described here include a device that has a housing defining a cavity, and a force sensor. The device also includes a first hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity, and a second hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity. The first and second hydraulic actuators move between respectively relaxing modes and thrusting modes along respective longitudinal axes. The longitudinal axis of the first hydraulic actuator is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second hydraulic actuator. The device also includes a first actuated member coupled to the first hydraulic actuator, and a second actuated member coupled to the second hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A robotic finger is provided. The robotic finger includes a first member that has a plurality of rigid sections that are rotatably connected end-to-end through respective first joints. The robotic finger also includes a second member that has a plurality of flexible sections that are connected end-to-end at respective second joints. The robotic finger also includes a plurality of linkages connecting the first member and the second member so as to align the plurality of flexible sections with the plurality of rigid sections side-by-side, and a respective linkage connects a respective first joint of the first member to a respective second joint of the second member. The robotic finger further includes a fingertip section that connects a distal end the first member to a distal end of the second member.

Abstract: A robotic finger is provided. The robotic finger includes a first member that has a plurality of rigid sections that are rotatably connected end-to-end through respective first joints. The robotic finger also includes a second member that has a plurality of flexible sections that are connected end-to-end at respective second joints. The robotic finger also includes a plurality of linkages connecting the first member and the second member so as to align the plurality of flexible sections with the plurality of rigid sections side-by-side, and a respective linkage connects a respective first joint of the first member to a respective second joint of the second member. The robotic finger further includes a fingertip section that connects a distal end the first member to a distal end of the second member.

Abstract: Examples described here include a device that has a housing defining a cavity, and a force sensor. The device also includes a first hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity, and a second hydraulic actuator positioned in the cavity. The first and second hydraulic actuators move between respectively relaxing modes and thrusting modes along respective longitudinal axes. The longitudinal axis of the first hydraulic actuator is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second hydraulic actuator. The device also includes a first actuated member coupled to the first hydraulic actuator, and a second actuated member coupled to the second hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A printed circuit board electrorheological fluid valve and method with spaced, bonded, epoxy printed circuit board laminates defining flow channels therebetween. Electrodes are formed on opposite surfaces of the flow channels and surface pads on a laminate are electrically connected to the electrodes for applying a voltage thereto controlling the flow of electrorheological fluid in the flow channels.

Abstract: A printed circuit board electrorheological fluid valve and method with spaced, bonded, epoxy printed circuit board laminates defining flow channels therebetween. Electrodes are formed on opposite surfaces of the flow channels and surface pads on a laminate are electrically connected to the electrodes for applying a voltage thereto controlling the flow of electrorheological fluid in the flow channels.