Abstract: Systems and methods for computer-assisted systems using robotic technology are described. For example, this disclosure describes systems and methods that can be used in various contexts such as, but not limited to, minimally invasive computer-assisted tele-operated surgery using robotic technology. The disclosure describes instruments and mechanisms for actuating and controlling the motions of such instruments. The instruments and actuator mechanisms may be used in medical operations and non-medical operations.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for interacting with a virtual reality environment by means of a virtual reality glove comprising artificial muscles. A plurality of artificial muscles comprising individual artificial muscles operable to either expand or contract is embedded in or attached to a virtual reality glove. Individual artificial muscles are actuated in response to stimulus in the virtual reality environment such that a user wearing the virtual reality glove experiences resistance to virtual objects simulating a resistance the user would feel from a tangible object.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical robotic systems having a master console and slave manipulators, with components and features for enabling a restart without comprising the sterility of the surgical robotic system. In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a restart of a surgical robotic system that is configured to be activated by a sterile user from within a sterile field without compromising the sterile field, and a controller operatively coupled to the restart that is configured to detect that the restart has been activated and, in response to detecting that the restart has been activated, restart the surgical robotic system.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for interacting with a virtual reality environment by means of a virtual reality glove comprising artificial muscles. A plurality of artificial muscles comprising individual artificial muscles operable to either expand or contract is embedded in or attached to a virtual reality glove. Individual artificial muscles are actuated in response to stimulus in the virtual reality environment such that a user wearing the virtual reality glove experiences resistance to virtual objects simulating a resistance the user would feel from a tangible object.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses an electric-pneumatic hybrid-driving flexible manipulator with spring framework from plates of special-shaped thickness, including a screw shaft motor, an upper seat plate, guide coupling rods, linear bearings, a driving plate, a push plate, short push rods, connecting rods, a bottom seat plate, flexible fingers, a rotating finger holder, a long push rod, a small support, tension springs, single-head bellows muscles and a ridged push plate. The framework of the flexible fingers is a thickness special-shaped plate spring designed according to the principle of equal strength. In the disclosure, through the control of a motor, an angle between a finger knuckle and a grasped object can be adjusted to realize the adjustment of the position of a contact point.

Abstract: An industrial robot system includes a manipulator with a drive chain including a motor unit. A controller in the industrial robot system is electrically connected to the drive chain by a set of power transmission lines and is operable to transmit electrical power on the set of power transmission lines so as to impart a controlled movement of the manipulator. A supervision sensor is arranged in the manipulator and configured to sense a property of the manipulator. The supervision sensor is electrically connected to at least a subset of the power transmission lines for transmission of sensor data representing the property to the controller.

Abstract: While a second component is brought into contact with a first component, the first component and the second component are rotated with respect to each other around a specific rotation axis, and rotation of the first component and the second component is stopped when a moment created around the rotation axis exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An inexpensive and compact robot hand and a robot having the robot hand, wherein the robot hand is configured to rotate a cylindrical object gripped by the robot hand and does not negatively affect a cable, etc., connected to the robot hand. N number of fingers are moved by a first drive part so that a circumcircle of a N-sided polygon constituted by the fingers is arranged in a concentric pattern about the center axis of the object. Each first roller is rotatable about an axis parallel to the center axis of the object, and is configured to contact the inner peripheral portion of the object by movement of the finger relative to a hand base. By rotationally driving at least one first roller while a radially outward force is applied to the object, the object may be rotated relative to the hand base.

Abstract: A robotic arm is mounted on a personal mobility device, such as a wheelchair, scooter or the like, and is controlled with a user input interface, also mounted on the personal mobility device. The user input interface has a grip operable by the user to move in a plurality of orthogonal directions, both spatially and angularly, having articulating arms supporting a housing with a pivot member.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a manipulator, an implantable actuator and a controller. The manipulator includes a plurality of integrated sensor/actuators. The sensors of the sensor/actuators are adapted to detect movement about a plurality of axes of movement. The implantable actuator includes a plurality of joints providing a plurality of axes of movement. The controller is configured to receive information from the plurality of sensor/actuators that indicates movement of the manipulator about the plurality of axes and to cause the joints of the actuator to move along corresponding axes of movement. Each sensor/actuator of the manipulator detects movement about an axis of movement corresponding to a similar one of the joints of the actuator.

Abstract: A robot hand includes a finger unit that is in contact with an object. The finger unit includes: a first member in which a tip portion and a base portion connected to the tip portion are formed as a single member; and a second member that covers a surface of the first member.

Abstract: A computer-assisted surgery system may have a robotic arm including a surgical tool and a processor communicatively connected to the robotic arm. The processor may be configured to receive, from a neural monitor, a signal indicative of a distance between the surgical tool and a portion of a patient's anatomy including nervous tissue. The processor may be further configured to generate a command for altering a degree to which the robotic arm resists movement based on the signal received from the neural monitor; and send the command to the robotic arm.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulated instruments extending out of its distal end. A controller is configured to command manipulation of one of the articulated instruments towards a state commanded by operator manipulation of an input device while commanding sensory feedback to the operator indicating a difference between the commanded state and a preferred pose of the articulated instrument, so that the sensory feedback serves to encourage the operator to return the articulated instrument back to its preferred pose.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight manipulation system that excels in operability and has a force feedback capability is provided. When automatic operation of a slave manipulator 105 that follows manual operation of a master manipulator 101 is bilaterally controlled by means of communication, the force acting on the slave manipulator is fed back to the master manipulator by operating the master manipulator primarily under electrically-driven speed control and the slave manipulator primarily under pneumatically-driven force control. Therefore, in the master manipulator, it is not necessary to compensate for the dynamics and the self-weight of the master manipulator in the motion range of a user, allowing highly accurate, broadband positional control, which is specific to an electrically-driven system, and in the slave manipulator, nonlinearity characteristics specific to a pneumatically-driven system presents passive softness, provides a high mass-to-output ratio, and produces a large force.

Abstract: A robot hand has a plurality of fingers including a contact sensing finger that senses contact with an object. A base provided with the fingers detects a resultant reaction force that is the combination of reaction forces from the fingers. When no resultant reaction force is detected, the plurality of fingers are moved toward the object, and when the contact sensing finger comes into contact with the object, a force that drives the fingers is switched to a force corresponding to a grasp force. When the contact sensing finger has not come into contact with the object but a resultant reaction force is detected, the driving of the fingers is terminated and the position of the base is corrected by moving the base in a direction in which the resultant reaction force having acted thereon is not detected any more.

Abstract: A robotic manipulator controller and system for use in flexible endoscopy, the manipulator comprising a flexible member configured to be coupled to an endoscope, and an arm connected to and movable by the flexible member, wherein the flexible member has a first end connected to the arm and a second end connectable to the controller to allow a physical movement of the arm to be controllable by a physical movement of the controller.

Abstract: A manipulator device has an arm portion and a hand portion The hand portion includes one or more finger portions that manipulate a target object. Each finger portion includes a slip sensor and multiple contact sensors, with at least one contact sensor at a position proximate to the slip sensor and at least another contact sensor at a position remote from the slip sensor. When the contact sensors at the positions remote from the slip sensor detect contact of the target object and the contact sensors arranged at the positions proximate to the slip sensors do not detect contact, a position of the finger portion is moved by a distance corresponding to the distance between the contact sensors detecting contact of the target object and the contact sensors arranged at the positions proximate to the slip such that a detecting position of the slip sensor is coincident with a position of the target object.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight manipulation system that excels in operability and has a force feedback capability is provided. When automatic operation of a slave manipulator 105 that follows manual operation of a master manipulator 101 is bilaterally controlled by means of communication, the force acting on the slave manipulator is fed back to the master manipulator by operating the master manipulator primarily under electrically-driven speed control and the slave manipulator primarily under pneumatically-driven force control. Therefore, in the master manipulator, it is not necessary to compensate for the dynamics and the self-weight of the master manipulator in the motion range of a user, allowing highly accurate, broadband positional control, which is specific to an electrically-driven system, and in the slave manipulator, nonlinearity characteristics specific to a pneumatically-driven system presents passive softness, provides a high mass-to-output ratio, and produces a large force.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10?6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station.

Abstract: An active gripper for a haptic device including a parallel kinematics structure providing at least three degrees of freedom including three translational degrees of freedom, wherein the gripper comprises a first contact surface being adapted for contact by a first portion of a hand of a user, a second contact surface being adapted for contact by a second portion of the user's hand, which hand's second portion being moveable in relation to the hand's first portion, and a moveable member arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and being adapted to actively move the first contact surface and the second contact surface in relation to each other.

Abstract: In order to increase the safety of a robot that may come into contact with other robots, objects or humans, the invention provides that said robot comprises at least two joints and parts that are moveable in relation to each other via at least one joint. At least one sensor (31) is arranged on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7), detecting torque. Sensor components (21?, 22.1, 22.2) of the sensor (31) are designed for the redundant detection of a torque, or for the redundant detection of a torque of at least two sensors (31) are provided, and redundant evaluation units are provided for the redundant evaluation. In order to increase safety, the invention further provides a method for monitoring torque on a robot of said kind, wherein at least a torque on at least one movable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) is redundantly detected and redundantly evaluated on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) by means of two sensor components of a sensor (31) or by means of two sensors (31).

Abstract: An apparatus has a parameter initial value calculator, a force reference impression part, an evaluation data measurement part, an allowable value setting part, a viscosity parameter calculator, an end determining part, and an inertia parameter adjusting part. The force reference impression part intermittently supplies a force reference to an impedance controller. The evaluation data measurement part measures setting time of time response, an overshoot amount, and the number of vibration times. The allowable value setting part sets allowable values of the overshoot amount and the setting time. The viscosity parameter calculator calculates a viscosity parameter with which the setting time becomes shortest. The end determining part determines the end or continuation of the process by comparing the adjustment values with the allowable values. The inertia parameter calculator adjusts the inertia parameter according to the adjustment values of the overshoot amount and the setting time.

Abstract: Method and system for telematic control of a slave device (402) includes a hand control (101) type control interface which includes a hand grip (102) having an elongated body (202). One or more sensors (208) are provided for sensing a physical displacement of a trigger (212) disposed on the hand grip. An actuator or motor (206) is disposed in the hand grip that is responsive to a control signal from a control system (401) for dynamically controlling a force applied by the trigger to a user of the hand control interface.

Abstract: A robotic system comprises an end effector including an electromagnetic clamp, a force sensor attached to the end effector for measuring force exerted by the clamp against a work piece surface, and a plurality of normality sensors. The normality sensors are positioned about the force sensor to determine whether the clamp is normal to the surface before the force sensor makes contact with the surface.

Abstract: A robotic gripper (10) has fingers (12) that are configured to grasp an object, and an actuator (20) for driving the fingers. The actuator has a drive train (30) connected to the fingers for driving the fingers, an impact mechanism (40) mechanically connected to the drive train for driving the drive train, and a motor (50) connected to the impact mechanism for driving the impact mechanism. The impact mechanism generates a series of impacts that are delivered to the drive train when the impact mechanism is loaded beyond a threshold torque. The drive train is a back-drive inhibited drive train provided by a worm drive (32, 34) that is mechanically coupled to the impact mechanism.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a master-slave robot includes a force correction section detecting unit that detects a section at which force information from at least one of force information and speed information is corrected, and a force correcting unit that corrects the force information at a section detected as a force correction section by the force correction section detecting unit. A small external force applied to a slave manipulator is magnified and transmitted to a master manipulator, or an excessive manipulation force applied to the master manipulator is reduced and transmitted to the slave manipulator.

Abstract: A robotic grasping device (10) has a first finger (20), a second finger (30) and an actuator (40). The first finger has a first fingertip (22), a first base (24) and a first actuator engagement end (26). A first gripping surface (21) of the first finger lies between the first fingertip and the first base. Similarly, the second finger has a second fingertip (32), a second base (34), a second actuator engagement end (36). A second gripping surface (31) of the second finger is between the second fingertip and the second base. The actuator (40) mechanically engages with the first actuator engagement end and the second actuator engagement end to open and close the fingers. A first force sensor (28) is disposed on the base of the first finger to measure a first operative force on the first finger, and a second force sensor (38) is disposed on the base of the second finger to measure a second operative force on the second finger.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot arm, a multi-fingered hand disposed at an end of the robot arm and including a force sensor for use in force control, an image processor that acquires at least location information on a gripping target by detection made by a visual sensor, and a control device that moves the robot arm on the basis of the at least location information on the gripping target acquired by the image processor to cause the multi-fingered hand to approach the gripping target, detects a contact location of actual contact with the gripping target on the basis of an output of the force sensor of the multi-fingered hand, and modifies the location information on the gripping target on the basis of information indicating the detected contact location.

Abstract: A system is capable of controlling the movements of a hand so as to ensure a further stable grasp of an object. In a state wherein an object is in contact with a plurality of finger mechanisms and a palm portion by being grasped by the hand, the load to be applied to the object from each of the plurality of finger mechanisms can be adjusted. Thus, the position of the load center on the palm portion can be displaced so as to be included in a target palm area. Further, the load to be applied to the palm portion can be adjusted so as to fall within a target load range.

Abstract: A robotic device includes a first link portion, a second link portion that moves relative to the first link portion, a first contact load detecting portion that detects a contact load in a contact area of the first link portion, a second contact load detecting portion that detects a contact load in a contact area of the second link portion, and a first link portion control target setting portion that sets a control target for the first link portion. The first link portion control target setting portion sets the control target for the first link portion such that the difference between the detection value of the contact load of the first contact load detecting portion and the detection value of the contact load of the second contact load detecting portion decreases.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, with the purpose of more accurately calculating a disturbance torque generated by an external force acting on a robot, friction parameters contained in algorithms, such as a friction coefficient and a dead-zone threshold value, are dynamically changed based on the mode of operation, the operation speed, and the like. In this manner, a drive torque is estimated with high accuracy.

Abstract: A robot includes an arm including a plurality of joints, arm members that form the arm, each arm member supporting a load, actuators that drive the joints and that are supported by the arm members, a load sensor embedded in at least one of the arm members to measure the load applied to the at least one of the arm members, a controller that controls movements of the actuators on the basis of a result of the measurement performed by the load sensor, and a wire hole through which a sensor line extend from a space inside the at least one of the arm members to a space inside the arm, the sensor line connecting the load sensor to the controller.

Abstract: A combination of a haptic device and a computer-assisted medical system is used for interactive haptic positioning of a medical device coupled to the haptic device. A reconfigurable haptic object facilitates the positioning of the medical device and/or the haptic device. The haptic object may be modified in response to application of a force against the haptic object by a user of the haptic device pushing the haptic device against the haptic object. Preferably, the haptic object moves in the direction of the force applied by the haptic device. The medical device may be guided to a desired pose relative to a target area from its current position. The user may approach the target area from its current position and still be provided with haptic cues to enable the user to guide the medical device to the target area.

Abstract: A holding system includes a force control module configured to generate a force signal to cause a holding device to perform at least one of a hold stroke and a release stroke. The hold stroke includes transitioning a gripping element of the holding device to a first position to grip an object. The release stroke includes transitioning the gripping element to a second position to release the object. The holding device is non-backdrivable. A stall detection module is configured to (i) monitor a sensor signal received from a sensor of an electric motor assembly of the holding device and (ii) detect a first stall condition of an electric motor based on the sensor signal. A shut off module is configured to shut off current to the electric motor based on the detection of the first stall condition during or at an end of the release stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design and microfabrication method for microgrippers that are capable of grasping micro and nano objects of a large range of sizes and two-axis force sensing capabilities. Gripping motion is produced by one or more electrothermal actuators. Integrated force sensors along x and y directions enable the measurement of gripping forces as well as the forces applied at the end of microgripper arms along the normal direction, both with a resolution down to nanoNewton. The microfabrication method enables monolithic integration of the actuators and the force sensors.

Abstract: A workpiece gripping integrity device and method are provided having a charge-transfer sensing device configured to detect a change in charge associated with a gripper arm assembly based on a grip condition thereof. The charge-transfer sensing device can be configured to detect a change in capacitance between the gripper arm assembly and ground, wherein the change in capacitance is based on a grip condition of the gripper arm assembly associated with a plurality of grippers contacting the workpiece.

Abstract: An embodiment of a haptic gripper system includes a slave gripper device, a master gripper device, and a gripper motor controller. The gripper motor controller includes a slave encoder loop, a master encoder loop, and a haptic loop. The haptic loop is configured to receive a slave motor encoder loop output signal and a master motor encoder loop output signal, determine a difference signal between the slave motor encoder loop output signal and the master motor encoder loop output signal representative of a difference between a first relative angular position of a slave gripper motor and a second relative angular position of a master gripper motor, and provide a slave motor control signal to a slave motor control signal input, and provide a master motor control signal to the master motor control signal input.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gripper for a manipulator robot comprising two members articulated at a first end, each member comprising a jaw support (8?) at a second end, and a jaw (10?) that will come into contact with an object, the jaw (10?) being approximately plane, a force sensor (26?) arranged between at least one jaw support (8?) and a jaw (10?) so as to apply a force during displacement of the jaw (10?), and a deformable parallelogram connection (14?) connecting the jaw (10?) to the jaw support (8?), the sensor (26?) being oriented such that a sensitive axis of the sensor is orthogonal to the plane of the jaw (10?).

Abstract: A force sensor is disposed on a base portion, a finger base on which a pair of fingers are opposed to each other is disposed on a measuring unit of the force sensor, a finger driving mechanism base is disposed on the base portion so as to not contact the force sensor, the finger base or the fingers, and finger driving mechanisms are disposed on the finger driving mechanism base so finger opening and closing driving force vectorsface each other within a plane on which the pair of the opposed fingers are moved to open or close so as to cancel each other, such that the fingers are driven so the resultant force is virtually zero. An actuator, is installed at a place other than the base portion, the force sensor, the finger base, or the fingers and the finger driving mechanism base, and drives the finger driving mechanism.

Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes: a drive unit (101) driving an actuator (115) based on a torque command value; a drive torque estimation unit (107) estimating a drive torque from a joint shaft angle; an external torque calculation unit (108) calculating a difference between the estimated drive torque and the torque command value as an external torque; a Jacobian matrix calculation unit (105) calculating a Jacobian matrix based on the joint shaft angle; an external force calculation unit (109) calculating an external force from the Jacobian matrix and the external torque; and a correction amount calculation unit (110) calculating a correction amount from the external force.

Abstract: A robotic finger that includes multiple phalanges, each phalange configured to be compliantly actuated. The robotic finger also includes compliant touch sensors that, in combination with the compliant actuation, provides the robotic finger with two levels of compliance. The two levels of compliance enable the robotic finger to gently conform to and manipulate objects.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot arm, a multi-fingered hand disposed at an end of the robot arm and including a force sensor for use in force control, an image processor that acquires at least location information on a gripping target by detection made by a visual sensor, and a control device that moves the robot arm on the basis of the at least location information on the gripping target acquired by the image processor to cause the multi-fingered hand to approach the gripping target, detects a contact location of actual contact with the gripping target on the basis of an output of the force sensor of the multi-fingered hand, and modifies the location information on the gripping target on the basis of information indicating the detected contact location.

Abstract: Based upon a force in a vertical direction exerted between an object and a hand and an angle made by the hand relative to a horizontal face, a transporting force estimation unit estimates a transporting force applied in the vertical direction by a person, and based upon the estimated force, a force controlling operation is carried out so as to set a force in the vertical direction of the robot arm of a robot system to a predetermined force.

Abstract: A robot structure, suited especially for minimally invasive surgery, comprises two robot elements interconnected by a hinge. Using a force transmission the movable robot element of said robot structure, notably comprising two gripping elements, can be moved. A sensor element is provided for picking up forces occurring. To reduce the influence of motional forces, said force transmission is connected with a base element of said sensor element such that motional forces transmitted by said force transmission element are supported at the base element.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes a robotic arm, an end effector movably connected thereto and provided with a movable end effector element driven by an actuator, and a force sensor arranged between the robotic arm and the end effector. The actuator is formed by a hydraulic cylinder. The robotic arm is provided with a hydraulic line connected to said hydraulic cylinder of the end effector.

Abstract: A method for modifying a component may comprise measuring the component using a modifying tool, and recording position data for the component based on the measuring. A path for the modifying tool may be provided using the position data, and the component may be modified by moving the same modifying tool based on the provided path.

Abstract: A mixed size product end of arm tooling is used in conjunction with a robot to pick mixed size product and place the product onto a pallet or layers resting on top of a pallet. The end of arm tooling includes two center rails/forks mounted to a base. Two outer rails/forks are mounted to linear bearings that guide the outer rails/forks when moving inwardly or outwardly from the center rails for pre-sizing to the product. Pusher arms are formed of two outer pusher arms and one center pusher arm. These pusher arms are attached to linear bushings that guide the pusher arms forward and backward. The pusher arms push off the product simultaneously as the robot is withdrawing the rails.

Abstract: In a control method for a power assist apparatus, a pressing force acting on a workpiece held by a workpiece holding apparatus is detected, a determination is made as to whether or not the detected pressing force exceeds a preset threshold, a determination is made as to whether or not a dead man switch provided on the workpiece holding apparatus is ON, and a determination as to whether or not to release a rotation restriction applied to a joint portion for connecting the workpiece holding apparatus rotatably to an arm is made in accordance with a result of the determination as to whether or not the detected pressing force exceeds the preset threshold and a result of the determination as to whether or not the dead mean switch is ON.

Abstract: A grabber for automatically grabbing and placing packing units of different dimensions and configurations includes a frame with a support, a hold-down device and a stripper attached to the frame. The support supports a bottom portion of a respective packing unit, and is generally horizontally movable with respect to the frame. The hold-down device is downwardly movable toward the support to clamp the respective packing unit between the support and the hold-down device. The stripper is disposed above the support and is generally horizontally movable. The respective packing unit is substantially immobilized by the hold-down device and the stripper as the support is retracted.

Abstract: It is often desirable to define objects with respect to images of an anatomy displayed using an image guided surgery system. For non-trivial objects, or those with complicated two or three dimensional forms, it may be difficult to present information in a manner that is simple for a user to understand. The local distance to a surface of interest, such as the surface of the defined object, or to a desired position, the local penetration distance of the surface of interest, or haptic repulsion force, often provides the most useful information for augmenting the interaction of the user with the image guided surgery system. The scalar value of the local distance may be conveyed to the user by visual, audio, tactile, haptic, or other means.