Abstract: A robotic limb is described. The robotic limb has a closed tubular casing made of viscoelastic material defining a chamber containing an incompressible fluid. The closed tubular casing has a sheath formed by substantially inextensible intertwined wires. In the chamber there are groups of transverse actuators axially spaced from each other, connected to the sheath and adapted to reversibly contract the closed tubular casing at least partly in the radial direction. The robotic limb also has longitudinal actuators adapted to reversibly contract the closed tubular casing at least partly in the axial direction being connected to each of the groups of transverse actuators.

Abstract: A robot having an overall structure inspired by the Octopus vulgaris is described. The robot has soft arms joined in a radial manner to a central support. The soft arms have the capability of lengthening, shortening and wrapping around in a coil-shape manner. The extremely simple movements and coordination of the soft arms are effective because of the interaction between the single actions. For example during locomotion, while some arms act as a support for stability, the others provide for thrusting allowing the robot to advance. Once near the target, some arms provide for stability whereas the others can bend so as to wrap around and transport external entities.

Abstract: Cylinder for an actuator (11), in which said cylinder (10) comprises at least a liner (13) of a tubular shape developing along a longitudinal axis (X), a head portion (14) and a bottom portion (15), each disposed at one of the ends of the liner (13), and longitudinal tie rods (21) connected, externally to the liner (13), both to the head portion (14) and to the bottom portion (15); the longitudinal tie rods (21) are distanced with respect to each other on the circumference of the liner (13), they are made of a composite material formed by reinforcement fibers located in a matrix of binder material and wound between the head portion (14) and the bottom portion (15) according to a predominant orientation substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (X), and have a continuous annular shape defined by two longitudinal branches (21a) connected by two opposite connection portions (21b, 21c).

Abstract: A robotic arm especially suited for laparoscopic surgery, having a torsional joint and a flexural joint forming serially arranged joints is described. The joints provide respective degrees of freedom for the arm, which further receives drive means for such joints. The robotic arm also has transmission means placed between the drive means have and the joints. The transmission means a first and a second assembly of three gear wheels, preferably conical gear wheels, and a train of three additional gear wheels, preferably straight-cut gear wheels, which couple the first and second assembly to form a differential mechanism.

Abstract: Auxiliary extension device for a crane provided with a telescopic extendable arm having at least one end segment provided with a free end, wherein the auxiliary extension device is made of one or more composite materials.

Abstract: Segment of an articulated arm made of composite material, with an elongated shape defining a longitudinal axis, and having a box-like cross section. The segment includes a first end portion, configured for the pivoting of a further segment, a second intermediate portion configured for the pivoting of an actuation member, and a third end portion. The first, second and third portions are made in a single body. The second intermediate portion includes a protruding zone defined by a first side and by a second side converging with respect to each other to define a top. Pivoting elements are provided in the protruding zone for the pivoting of the actuation member between the protruding zone and the first end portion. The first and the second side defining the protruding zone are filleted to substantially rectilinear adjacent tracts of the first and third end portions.

Abstract: Robotic platform for mini-invasive surgery comprising robotic arms (4a, 4b) suitable to be placed in the body of a patient, introduced through a single access port, which are an extension of external robotic manipulators (19). The continuity between external (1) and internal (4a, 4b) robotic arms is guaranteed by means of a trans-abdominal magnetic connection (6) between the internal robotic arm integral with the external one. The trans-abdominal magnetic coupling not only guarantees a stable anchoring, but most of all it transfers degrees of freedom to the internal robotic arms, inducing the motion of internal magnets by means of the automatized motion of external magnets. It is also possible to reposition the internal robotic arms without requiring having to additionally perform incisions on the abdomen. Using the external robotic arms allows translating the internal ones on the entire abdomen thus providing a working space not bound to the point of insertion and theoretically unlimited.

Abstract: An arm made of composite material, and relative production method, consisting of a plurality of articulated segments with a longitudinal main axis (x), pivoted to each other, each of the articulated segments comprising a box-like structure and at least a joint element attached thereto by means of gluing, the box-like structure having an end cooperating with an end of the joint element on the inside of the surface of the joint element. The ends define a substantially conical reciprocally overlapping area and have profiles concordantly inclined by an angle (?) with respect to the longitudinal axis (x).

Abstract: An electromagnetic step-by-step wobbling micromotor comprises an inner component and an annular component being external to the inner one. The outer component may be a stator and the inner component a rotor, or vice versa. The inner component has three or more poles with a winding on each pole, and an external surface facing an internal surface of the outer component. During the operation of the micromotor each winding is powered. The external and internal surfaces have toothed surfaces. Each tooth has a peak radius which is different from the valley radius.

Abstract: An endoscopic device for autonomous locomotion through a selected body cavity in a predetermined direction, the device comprising a hollowed, cylindrical body that extends between two, preferably, the front and rear, end portions, respectively. The body is made of a relatively elastic material and includes an anchor for temporarily and alternately attaching the end portions to a wall portion of the body cavity in synch with corresponding axial extensions and contractions of the body. The body incorporates a reinforcement structure distributed along its length that is substantially rigid in a radial direction and yields in an axial direction, the structure specifically comprising either a plurality of relatively rigid rings or at least one helical spring.

Abstract: A robot having an overall structure inspired by the Octopus vulgaris is described. The robot has soft arms joined in a radial manner to a central support. The soft arms have the capability of lengthening, shortening and wrapping around in a coil-shape manner. The extremely simple movements and coordination of the soft arms are effective because of the interaction between the single actions. For example during locomotion, while some arms act as a support for stability, the others provide for thrusting allowing the robot to advance. Once near the target, some arms provide for stability whereas the others can bend so as to wrap around and transport external entities.

Abstract: A human skin moisture measuring device having an interdigitated resistive sensor formed on a plate-like transparent support is described, with a face designed to be placed into contact with the skin to be subjected to the moisture degree measurement. The device further comprises image sensing means turned towards the opposite face of the support and a lighting device arranged sideways relative to the support to direct the light radiation in the support at a prefixed angle. Means for processing the signal coming from the interdigitated resistive sensor and from the image sensing means give as output a value of the measured moisture degree that is normalized with respect to the actual surface of contact between skin and sensor.

Abstract: An arm to distribute concrete comprising a plurality of articulated segments selectively able to be folded back and extended with respect to each other, made of composite material, wherein at least one of said segments comprises at least a first tract and a second tract, each having a constant cross section, wherein the section size of the first tract is different from the section size of the second tract, a connection tract being provided between said first tract and said second tract.

Abstract: Method to make an arm in a composite material for articulated or telescopic modular structures for the distribution of concrete, which comprises a first step in which one or more layers of fiber (16, 25) are distributed on the external surface (17) of a male-type mold (11) having a cross section defined by at least a substantially flat wall. The section of the male mold (11) reduces, in at least one of its sizes, passing from one of its ends to the other. The fibers (16) may or may not be pre-impregnated with a resinous matrix. The method also comprises a second step in which the male mold (11) is ejected from the product thus obtained, a possible heat treatment being provided, for example in autoclave, before the extraction of the product.

Abstract: A system for insufflating a body cavity comprising a swallowable capsule comprising a chamber (11) containing a fluid capable to generate biocompatible gas or vapour by phase transition or chemical reaction, the chamber (11) being formed with at least one orifice (7) for placing it in communication with the outside. The orifice (7) is blocked by a shutter (4, 6; 26) made of magnetic material and there are provided elastic means (8) able to generate an elastic force sufficient to keep said shutter sealingly engaged in the orifice. The system further comprises magnetic actuating means (12; 34) external to the body cavity for generating a magnetic force having strength sufficient to overcome the elastic force of the elastic means disengaging the shutter from the orifice.

Abstract: A robotic limb is described. The robotic limb has a closed tubular casing made of viscoelastic material defining a chamber containing an incompressible fluid. The closed tubular casing has a sheath formed by substantially inextensible intertwined wires. In the chamber there are groups of transverse actuators axially spaced from each other, connected to the sheath and adapted to reversibly contract the closed tubular casing at least partly in the radial direction. The robotic limb also has longitudinal actuating means adapted to reversibly contract the closed tubular casing at least partly in the axial direction being connected to each of the groups of transverse actuators.

Abstract: A robotic arm especially suited for laparoscopic surgery, having a torsional joint and a flexural joint forming serially arranged joints is described. The joints provide respective degrees of freedom for the arm, which further receives drive means for such joints. The robotic arm also has transmission means placed between the drive means have and the joints. The transmission means a first and a second assembly of three gear wheels, preferably conical gear wheels, and a train of three additional gear wheels, preferably straight-cut gear wheels, which couple the first and second assembly to form a differential mechanism.