Abstract: A robot and work equipment are disposed near a work table including a work table-side controller and a process planning and designing controller capable of being operated by a user. The work table-side controller executes a work process in which the robot and the work equipment operate in conjunction, by receiving signals carrying identification and state monitoring information from a robot-side controller and the work equipment and then sending these signals to the process planning and designing controller, and by sending operation command signals to the robot-side controller and the work equipment in accordance with the aforementioned work process and then receiving operation status signals from the robot-side controller and the work equipment. Based on the signals carrying the identification and state monitoring information on the robot and the work equipment, the process planning and designing controller plans and designs the aforementioned work process.

Abstract: A supplementary support structure, which supports the body of a robot (1), comprises a contact component (7) which is disposed in a part near a joint (2c) on the distal end, having a hand (3) disposed thereon, of an arm (2) of the robot (1) so as to come into contact with a surface on which the robot (1) is supported, such as a floor surface, and a member which lies between the part having the contact component (7) disposed therein and the proximal end of the arm (2). Thus, the supplementary support structure can avoid an increase in the weight of the hand resulting from the support structure, thus eliminate an extra load on a driving system for the hand or the arm, and thus achieve the simplification and size reduction of the driving system. Moreover, the support structure can increase the degree of freedom of the shape or functional design of the hand and thus improve the functioning of the robot.

Abstract: An impact absorbing mechanism, provided to a foot 5 of an extremity of each of two movable legs 2 of a bipedal walking robot 1 having the two movable legs 2, includes: an upper base plate 5-a joined to a foot joint 4 of each of the movable legs 2; a lower base plate 5b positioned below the upper base plate, and being opposite to the upper base plate; and three elastic members 6 anisotropic in terms of elasticity, which are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction about the yaw axis YA extending in a direction perpendicular to the upper base plate 5a, between the upper base plate 5a and the lower base plate 5b, each of which allows the lower base plate 5b to make elastic displacement relative to the upper base plate 5a in the same direction as axis YA extends, while each of which inhibits the lower base plate 5b from making elastic displacement relative to the upper base plate 5a in directions orthogonal to the yaw axis direction, and which join the upper base plate 5a and the lower base pl

Abstract: An impact absorbing mechanism, provided to a foot 5 of an extremity of each of two movable legs 2 of a bipedal walking robot 1 having the two movable legs 2, includes: an upper base plate 5-a joined to a foot joint 4 of each of the movable legs 2; a lower base plate 5b positioned below the upper base plate, and being opposite to the upper base plate; and three elastic members 6 anisotropic in terms of elasticity, which are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction about the yaw axis YA extending in a direction perpendicular to the upper base plate 5a, between the upper base plate 5a and the lower base plate 5b, each of which allows the lower base plate 5b to make elastic displacement relative to the upper base plate 5a in the same direction as axis YA extends, while each of which inhibits the lower base plate 5b from making elastic displacement relative to the upper base plate 5a in directions orthogonal to the yaw axis direction, and which join the upper base plate 5a and the lower base pl

Abstract: A supplementary support structure, which supports the body of a robot (1), comprises a contact component (7) which is disposed in a part near a joint (2c) on the distal end, having a hand (3) disposed thereon, of an arm (2) of the robot (1) so as to come into contact with a surface on which the robot (1) is supported, such as a floor surface, and a member which lies between the part having the contact component (7) disposed therein and the proximal end of the arm (2). Thus, the supplementary support structure can avoid an increase in the weight of the hand resulting from the support structure, thus eliminate an extra load on a driving system for the hand or the arm, and thus achieve the simplification and size reduction of the driving system. Moreover, the support structure can increase the degree of freedom of the shape or functional design of the hand and thus improve the functioning of the robot.

Abstract: A method for detecting a low rigid force and a device therefor are provided in that even a large impact force is applied, by integrating an impact absorbing unit with the force detection mechanism, a force detection mechanism may not be damaged. To that end, between a pair of substrates 2a and 2b opposing each other and undergoing displacement in a direction changing the space between them by an impact force applied thereto, at least one absorption detection mechanism 3 integrally including an impact absorbing unit 4 and a force detecting unit 5 is interposed, so that a force applied between both the substrates 2a and 2b is detected by the force detecting unit 5 while an impact force applied between both the substrates 2a and 2b being absorbed by an elastic force of the impact absorbing unit 4.