Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member in a hollow shape extending along a longitudinal axis, and a second elongated member including a heater, disposed inside an inner circumference of the first elongated member, and extending in parallel to the first elongated member along the longitudinal axis. The first elongated member includes a high bending stiffness portion and a low bending stiffness portion alternately aligned along the longitudinal axis. One of the first elongated member and the second elongated member includes a shape-memory pipe. The heater extends through an inner space of the shape-memory pipe and configured to heat the shape-memory pipe to increase stiffness of the shape-memory pipe.

Abstract: A variable-rigidity device includes a tubular member including a plurality of high-rigidity portions and low-rigidity portions arranged along a longitudinal axis; a core member arranged on an inner side of the tubular member and including a plurality of high-rigidity core portions and low-rigidity core portions; and an actuator configured to relatively move the core member with respect to the tubular member, in which the actuator is configured to cause a first force to repeatedly fluctuate with a passage of time, the first force causing the core member to relatively move with respect to the tubular member in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube to be inserted into a tract, a shape calculation system configured to calculate a shape of the flexible tube, and a bend detection unit configured to detect formation of first and second bend portions in the flexible tube, based on information of the calculated shape of the flexible tube. The apparatus also includes a positional relationship calculation unit configured to calculate a three-dimensional positional relationship expressed by a crossing angle between first and second imaginary planes respectively passing through the first and second bend portions, and a stiffness control system configured to control a stiffness of the flexible tube, based on the three-dimensional positional relationship.

Abstract: A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member in a hollow shape extending along a longitudinal axis, and a second elongated member including a heater, disposed inside an inner circumference of the first elongated member, and extending in parallel to the first elongated member along the longitudinal axis. The first elongated member includes a high bending stiffness portion and a low bending stiffness portion alternately aligned along the longitudinal axis. One of the first elongated member and the second elongated member includes a shape-memory pipe. The heater extends through an inner space of the shape-memory pipe and configured to heat the shape-memory pipe to increase stiffness of the shape-memory pipe.

Abstract: A variable stiffness apparatus is installed inside a flexible member to provide different levels of stiffness to the flexible member. The variable stiffness apparatus includes at least one variable stiffness unit. Each of the at least one variable stiffness unit includes a flexible coil pipe, a core wire extending inside the coil pipe, a pair of fixing members arranged on both sides of the coil pipe and fixed to the core wire, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts at least one gap between the coil pipe and at least one of the fixing members.

Abstract: The light adjustment apparatus includes a rotation axis body that supports a rotation arm part that removes/places a light adjustment part from/on a light path, and has a magnet installed therein, a support member that supports the rotation axis body rotatably, a turning force that forms a magnetic circuit including the rotation axis body on the circuit, and rotates the rotation axis body by causing a magnetic flux generated by a drive current on which a high-frequency wave is superimposed to act on a magnet, and an electromagnetic drive source that supplies a minute vibration on a sliding portion between the rotation axis body and the support member, in which a frictional resistance at the sliding portion changes from a static friction to a kinetic friction, which reduces the frictional resistance upon rotation activation of the rotation axis body.

Abstract: The invention provides a light control apparatus that can easily remove foreign matters adhering thereto. The light control apparatus includes at least one substrate having an aperture (optical aperture), at least one magnet (rotary shaft member) mounted on the substrate in a rotatable manner, at least one drive blade (a light control part) attached to the magnet, and a coil, which cooperates with the magnet to constitute a driving unit that drives the drive blade. The coil and the magnet causes the magnet to rotate thereby causing the drive blade to swing between a first position and a second position so as to control incident light passing through the aperture. The light control apparatus has a vibration generating unit including the magnet, the coil, and a drive current source, which gives mechanical vibration to the drive blade through a specific path.