Abstract: A humanoid robot includes an upper region, a lower region, and a central region. The upper region includes a head, a torso, and a pair of arms coupled to the torso. The lower region is spaced apart from the upper region and includes a pair of legs. The central region is located between the upper region and the lower region and is configured to allow movement of the upper region and the lower region relative to one another. The central region of the humanoid robot is also configured to provide and facilitate at least three types of discrete movement—pitch, roll, and yaw—both forward and backward, both left and right, and independently or at the same time, of the upper region relative to the lower region to provide the humanoid robot with functionality that substantially mirrors movements that most human beings are typically capable of during daily life.

Abstract: A humanoid robot includes an upper region, a lower region, and a central region. The upper region includes a head, a torso, and a pair of arms coupled to the torso. The lower region is spaced apart from the upper region and includes a pair of legs. The central region is located between the upper region and the lower region and is configured to allow movement of the upper region and the lower region relative to one another. The central region of the humanoid robot is also configured to provide and facilitate at least three types of discrete movement—pitch, roll, and yaw—both forward and backward, both left and right, and independently or at the same time, of the upper region relative to the lower region to provide the humanoid robot with functionality that substantially mirrors movements that most human beings are typically capable of during daily life.

Abstract: A humanoid robot includes an upper region, a lower region, and a central region. The upper region includes a head, a torso, and a pair of arms coupled to the torso. The lower region is spaced apart from the upper region and includes a pair of legs. The central region is located between the upper region and the lower region and is configured to allow movement of the upper region and the lower region relative to one another. The central region of the humanoid robot is also configured to provide and facilitate at least three types of discrete movement—pitch, roll, and yaw—both forward and backward, both left and right, and independently or at the same time, of the upper region relative to the lower region to provide the humanoid robot with functionality that substantially mirrors movements that most human beings are typically capable of during daily life.

Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a method involves identifying, by a processing system, an object to be gripped at a first location, commanding, by the processing system, a robotic actuator to move a gripper in a first direction so that the gripper makes contact with the object, wherein one or more teeth in a plurality of fingers associated with the gripper mechanically engage the object, and commanding, by the proceeding system, the robotic actuator to move the gripper in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction, causing the gripper to grip the object.

Abstract: An example system includes a vehicle, a robot, and a controller. The vehicle may include an accelerator operator and a steering operator. The robot may include as accelerator actuator configured to operate the accelerator operator, and a steering actuator configured to operate-the steering operator. The controller is configured to: in response to an accelerator command, send a first signal to the accelerator actuator to operate the accelerator operator of the vehicle, and in response to a steering command, send a second, signal to the steering actuator to steer the vehicle.

Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a method involves identifying, by a processing system, an object to be gripped at a first location, commanding, by the processing system, a robotic actuator to move a gripper in a first direction so that the gripper makes contact with the object, wherein one or more teeth in a plurality of fingers associated with the gripper mechanically engage the object, and commanding, by the proceeding system, the robotic actuator to move the gripper in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction, causing the gripper to grip the object.

Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a system includes a first finger that includes a plurality of teeth and a second finger that is mechanically coupled to the first finger and includes a plurality of teeth. The first finger and the second finger are configured to move apart when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a first direction against an object. The first finger and second finger are further configured to grip the object when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a system includes a first finger that includes a plurality of teeth and a second finger that is mechanically coupled to the first finger and includes a plurality of teeth. The first finger and the second finger are configured to move apart when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a first direction against an object. The first finger and second finger are further configured to grip the object when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An example system includes a vehicle, a robot, and a controller. The vehicle may include an accelerator operator and a steering operator. The robot may include as accelerator actuator configured to operate the accelerator operator, and a steering actuator configured to operate-the steering operator. The controller is configured to: in response to an accelerator command, send a first signal to the accelerator actuator to operate the accelerator operator of the vehicle, and in response to a steering command, send a second, signal to the steering actuator to steer the vehicle.

Abstract: An actuated joint comprising a first element and a second element movable one with respect to the other, a first actuator and a second actuator connected to said first and second element for controlling the movement of said joint in an agonist-antagonist way, wherein said first actuator has a nominal or maximum power greater than that of said second actuator and said second actuator comprises at least a first elastic element extendable so as to store a maximum amount of elastic energy greater than that storable by said first actuator.