Abstract: A pre-loading system for a pipe handling apparatus in which a boom is pivotally mounted at one end to a skid and in which an arm is interconnected to an opposite end of the boom. The pre-loading system has a tensioning system with one end affixed to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted so as to apply tension to the arm when the arm has a load applied to an end of the arm opposite the boom. The tensioning system includes a first cable assembly having one end interconnected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, and a second cable assembly interconnected to the arm and having an opposite end fixedly mounted. The first and second cable assemblies extend from opposite sides of the arm.

Abstract: A spatial linkage including an inboard gimbal plate that provides a ground for the spatial linkage, an outboard gimbal plate, and at least three links that couple the outboard gimbal plate to the inboard gimbal plate. Each link has a longitudinal axis and two pivotal couplings disposed at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis. Each link is pivotally coupled to the outboard gimbal plate at a first end of the longitudinal axis and pivotally coupled to the inboard gimbal plate at a second end of the longitudinal axis opposite the first end. The pivotal couplings allow the outboard gimbal plate to move relative to the inboard gimbal plate and preventing relative rotation between the outboard gimbal plate and the inboard gimbal plate. Counterweight is coupled to at least one of the links on the opposite side of the inboard gimbal plate from the outboard gimbal plate.

Abstract: A spatial linkage including an inboard gimbal plate that provides a ground for the spatial linkage, an outboard gimbal plate, and three links that couple the outboard gimbal plate to the inboard gimbal plate. Each link has a longitudinal axis and two pivotal couplings disposed at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis. Each link is pivotally coupled to the outboard gimbal plate at a first end of the longitudinal axis and pivotally coupled to the inboard gimbal plate at a second end of the longitudinal axis opposite the first end. The pivotal couplings allow the outboard gimbal plate to move relative to the inboard gimbal plate and preventing relative rotation between the outboard gimbal plate and the inboard gimbal plate.

Abstract: An industrial robot including a first robot part and a second robot part arranged to be moved in relation to each other. A balancing device is arranged between the first robot part and the second robot part. The balancing device is arranged to counteract a gravitational force upon relative movement of the robot parts. The balancing device includes a mechanical spring and a spring housing arranged enclosing the spring. The spring housing includes at least one air inlet adapted for pressurized air supply.

Abstract: A directed beam emitter system for robot navigation in which a light beam emitter emits a modulated directed light beam of a first modulation and an omnidirectional diffuse light region emitter emits a modulated diffuse light region of a second modulation. The modulated directed light beam and the modulated diffuse light region overlap in a plane parallel to ground level such that a light beam receiver on a robot may detect either one or both of the modulated directed light beam and the modulated diffuse light region. The light beam emitter is responsive to a control system used to control one or more light beam emitters.

Abstract: A robotic vehicle is disclosed, which is characterized by high mobility, adaptability, and the capability of being remotely controlled in hazardous environments. The robotic vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks. Right and left elongated flippers are disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot. A linkage connects a payload deck, configured to support a removable functional payload, to the chassis. The linkage has a first end rotatably connected to the chassis at a first pivot, and a second end rotatably connected to the deck at a second pivot. Both of the first and second pivots include independently controllable pivot drivers operable to rotatably position their corresponding pivots to control both fore-aft position and pitch orientation of the payload deck with respect to the chassis.

Abstract: Controlling an orienting/positioning system having a sensor and actuator for controlling at least one of an orienting and positioning action of the sensor. The invention (1) evaluates pre-action output information of a sensor in order to detect the position of a pattern in the input space of the sensor, (2) determines a targeted post-action position of the pattern in the input space of the sensor, (3) defines an actuator command by mapping any deviation of the pre-action and post action position in the input space to actuator control coordinates using a predefined mapping function, (4) controls the actuators according to the defined command to execute the orienting/positioning action, (5) detects the real post-action position of the pattern in an input space of the sensor, (6) adapts the mapping function based on differences between the real post-action position and the targeted post-action position of the pattern in the input space.

Abstract: A model's ZMP (full-model's ZMP) is calculated using a dynamic model (inverse full-model) 100c2 that expresses a relationship between a robot movement and floor reaction, a ZMP-converted value of full model's corrected moment about a desired ZMP is calculated or determined based on a difference (full-model ZMP's error) between the calculated model's ZMP and the desired ZMP, whilst a corrected desired body position is calculated or determined. Since the robot posture is corrected by the calculated ZMP-converted value and the corrected desired body position, the corrected gait can satisfy the dynamic equilibrium condition accurately.

Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected. The holding arrangement (101) has a unit for actively damping vibration including a vibration damping control loop. This vibration damping control loop outputs a superposition motor current to the electric motor as an actuating quantity in order to move the rotational joint (111, 119) with the electric motor so that a detected vibration of the holding arrangement (101) is countered.

Abstract: A model's ZMP (full-model's ZMP) is calculated using a dynamic model (inverse full-model) 100c2 that expresses a relationship between a robot movement and floor reaction, a ZMP-converted value of full model's corrected moment about a desired ZMP is calculated or determined based on a difference (full-model ZMP's error) between the calculated model's ZMP and the desired ZMP, whilst a corrected desired body position is calculated or determined. Since the robot posture is corrected by the calculated ZMP-converted value and the corrected desired body position, the corrected gait can satisfy the dynamic equilibrium condition accurately.

Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected.

Abstract: A predetermined action sequence is generated by using basic motion units which include time-sequential motion of each joint and compound motion units in which basic motion units are combined. Motion natterns of a robot including walking are classified into motion units, each motion unit servins as a unit of motion, and one or more motion units are combined to generate various complex motions. Dynamic motion units are defined on the basis of basic dynamic attitudes, and a desired action sequence can be generated by using the dynamic motion units. This is a basic control method necessary for a robot to autonomously perform a continuous motion, a series of continuous motions, or motions which are chanaed in real-time by commands.

Abstract: A legged mobile robot possesses degrees of freedom which are provided at roll, pitch, and yaw axes at a trunk. By using these degrees of freedom which are provided at the trunk, the robot can smoothly get up from any fallen-down posture. In addition, by reducing the required torque and load on movable portions other than the trunk, and by spreading/averaging out the load between each of the movable portions, concentration of a load on a particular member is prevented from occurring. As a result, the robot is operated more reliably, and energy is used with greater efficiency during a getting-up operation. The invention makes it possible for the robot to independently, reliably, and smoothly get up from various fallen-down postures such as a lying-on-the-face posture, a lying-on-the-back posture, and a lying sideways posture.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handling device comprising, in combination, a mechanical equilibrium mechanism (10) with low reaction time, having an arm (20) whereof the proximal end (22) is locked on a pivot pin (18) and whereof the distal (26) is adapted to support a load (10), a force sensor (30) positioned in a selected site for detecting apparent weight variation the load (10) resulting from a force being exerted on said load in response to an operator's movement, servo feed-back means (32) actuated by the force sensor (30), and an actuator (34) controlled by the servo feed-back means (32) and connected to the arm to assist the operator's movement. The invention is applicable in particular to robot arms or the like.

Abstract: A robot system includes a plurality of segments 3, joints 4 for linking the segments together, drive units 5 for actuating the joints, and a controller 8 for controlling the drive units. Further, the robot system has bladders 2 filled with a fluid being of lower specific gravity than the outside environment. A center of buoyancy differs from a center of gravity, and the robot system has a specific gravity of greater than 1 relative the outside environment.

Abstract: A robot is provided with a robot weight compensation device having at least one hose element including an internally pressurized gas-tight inner hose portion cooperating with a high tensile strength outer portion. The high tensile strength outer portion includes non-elongatable fibers oriented relative to an axis of the at least one hose element by an angle not equal to 0° and 90°. An outer flexible protective jacket covers the fibers. A first fixing element is fixed to a first end of the hose element. The fixing element is connected to a first part of the robot. A second fixing element is fixed to a second end of the hose element. The second fixing element is articulated to a second part of the robot being movable relatively to the first robot element.

Abstract: A manipulator is provided that includes a foot part and a number of members connected to the foot part and to each other respectively, and at least a gripper part, such that the members, the gripper and the foot part form an arm. One or more motors are provided in the foot part for moving at least a one of the members and the gripper.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a strategy for computing the motions of a mobile robot operating in an obstacle-laden environment without requiring prior knowledge of the distribution of obstacles in the environment or knowing the trajectory of a target tracked by the robot. Embodiments provide an algorithm that governs the motion of the observer robot based on measurements of the target's position and the location of obstacles in the environment. The algorithm computes a description of the geometric arrangement between the target and the observer's visibility region produced by the obstacles and computes a continuous control rule using this description. Embodiments employ an escape-path tree data structure to categorize the target's possible modes of escaping from the observer robot's sensors and use the escape-path tree to determine the target's shortest escape path.

Abstract: A gait generation system of a legged mobile robot, in particular a biped robot that has the dynamic model expressing the relationship between the motion of the body and leg and the floor reaction force, and provisionally determines the current time gait parameters including at least parameters that determine leg trajectory and the like in response to a demand, supposes the parameters of a periodic gait, corrects the current time gait parameters such that the body trajectory determined from the dynamic model and the parameters of the current time gait, etc., converges to a body trajectory determined from the parameters of the periodic gait, and determines instantaneous values of the current time gait based on the corrected current time gait parameter. With this, the system can generates a gait of any stride, turning angle and walking period, including the floor reaction force acting on the legged mobile robot, that satisfies the dynamic equilibrium condition.

Abstract: A robot apparatus is provided which includes body portions such as a head block (4), leg blocks (3A to 3D), an actuator (25) to actuate the body portions and a CPU (10) to supply a control signal to the actuator (25). In this apparatus, information about an external force applied to the apparatus, such as the position, magnitude, direction, etc. of the external force, is computed on the basis of changes of the control signal supplied from the CPU (10) to drive the actuator (25) and a signal supplied as a response to the CPU (10) when the actuator (25) is driven. The external force information is supplied to the CPU (10) and used as information for selection of a behavior and emotion of the robot apparatus and the next behavior of the apparatus.

Abstract: Industrial robot arranged with a helical spring based balancing system, which is able to stand up to high load.

Abstract: A method for fine tuning of a robot program for a robot application comprising an industrial robot, a tool and a work object to be processed by the tool along a path comprising a number of desired poses on the work object, the robot program comprises a number of program instructions containing programmed poses corresponding to the desired poses, wherein the method comprises: defining a fine tuning coordinate system Xft, Yft, Zft, selecting one of said programmed poses pi, calculating said selected pose in the fine tuning coordinate system, producing program instructions for said selected pose in the fine tuning coordinate system, running said one or more program instructions by the robot, determining the difference between the pose obtained after running the program instructions and the desired pose, adjusting the fine tuning coordinate system in dependence of said difference, producing program instructions for said selected pose in the adjusted fine tuning coordinate system Xft′, Yft′, Zft′

Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of robots and a method for controlling said system. Said system comprises a plurality of controllers, each having an associated motion system adapted to control attached robots, with each motion controller being able to receive motion instructions from at least one motion instruction source and at least one of said motion instruction sources being a control program, as well as a computer network over which said controllers communicate. In this way, the invention can be applied to solve problems which are commonly encountered in coordination activities such as load sharing, mating of parts while processing, fixtureless transfer, teaching, manual motion of coordinated operations, and time coordinated motion.

Abstract: A pick and place apparatus comprises a bond arm adapted for rotation about an axis between a pick location and a place location. The bond arm is formed with a cavity at an end of the arm remote from the axis, within which cavity are located a plurality of damping particles for damping unwanted vibrations of the bond arm. The particles may be irregular tungsten granules with a diameter between 0.3 and 1.2 mm and a filling ratio of about 75%.

Abstract: An industrial robot, provided with a balancing cylinder, which serves as an aid to the motor for actuating an arm of the robot, which oscillates about a supporting structure. The balancing cylinder is supported in cantilever fashion by the aforesaid supporting structure by means of a single oscillating support, which defines an axis of oscillation perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and is set on one side of the body of the balancing cylinder.

Abstract: A robot system includes a plurality of segments 3, joints 4 for linking the segments together, drive units 5 for actuating the joints, and a controller 8 for controlling the drive units. Further, the robot system has bladders 2 filled with a fluid being of lower specific gravity than the outside environment. A center of buoyancy differs from a center of gravity, and the robot system has a specific gravity of greater than 1 relative to the outside environment.

Abstract: A muscular-force supplementing device of the present invention includes an artificial muscular-force generating section and a control section that controls the driving of the artificial muscular-force generating section. The artificial muscular-force generating section includes a pair of mounting portions worn at two positions on both sides of a wrist joint of the user, and an actuator hinged on connecting portions of the mounting portions. The actuator is a device having therein a plurality of hydraulic cylinders to be operated in a dual-stroke manner. When hydraulic oil serving as the fluid is supplied to pressure chambers, a pair of piston rods are extended, and linear actuator force is transmitted to the connecting portions of the mounting portions, thereby transmitting bending force to the joint of the user.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hyper-redundant manipulator including a plurality of links coupled by joints by determining the shape the manipulator takes when the end of the manipulator is moved to a target position, includes modeling each link as an elastic body having a natural length and a suitable modulus of elasticity that enables the elastic body to stretch and contract, simulating the overall shape of the manipulator when the end has been moved to the target position with the joints locked at a freezed angle and the joints are unlocked to return each link to its natural length, and moving the manipulator end to the target position by controlling each joint angle to match the simulation outcome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical manipulator which capable of manipulating a surgical or medical tool in up to six degrees of freedom. The manipulator has a relatively lightweight, compact design as a result of the use of high force to mass ratio actuators. The manipulator includes a mounting fixture which permits the manipulator to be fixed relative to a portion of a body of a patient.

Abstract: A biped ambulatory robot is provided having a structure in which the electrical storage device is arranged to reduce the load on the joints (particularly the knee joints) of the leg members of the robot and to enable easy maintenance of stability of the robot posture. The electrical storage device 19 which is a power supply for operation of the robot is installed on the electrical storage device unit 16 of the torso 1 of the robot, such that the center of gravity A of the electrical storage device exists on the forward side from the center of gravity B of the robot when in a vertically-erect posture and with the electrical storage device 19 removed. In a state in which the robot stands normally on the floor F with the knee joints 14 of the leg members 2 bent forward slightly, the center of gravity C of the entire robot including the electrical storage device 19 exists substantially directly above the knee joints 14 as seen from one side of the robot.

Abstract: An upper arm portion and a lower arm portion are connected to each other by a substantially cylindrical elbow joint, and are bendable between an extended position in which they are extended into a substantially straight line and a bent position in which they are bent forwards from the extended position. The position of an axis of the elbow joint is offset forwards from the center of the width of the upper and lower arm portions, and slants inclined toward the elbow joint are formed on rear surfaces of the upper and lower arm portions connected to the elbow joint. Thus, when the lower arm portion is turned toward the bent position, a foreign matter can be prevented from being sandwiched between the upper and lower arm portion at a location in front of the elbow joint by displacing the position of the axis of the elbow joint forwards.

Abstract: A device for compensating the weight of a robot arm of a robot with a spring cylinder and having at least one helical spring is characterized in that there is at least one mechanism for the insertion and removal of at least one further, replaceable helical spring and preferably a pretension of at least the replaceable helical spring is adjustable. The device according to the invention makes it possible to modify the spring constant of the spring cylinder in order to individually adjust the compensating force desired for compensating the weight of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus system is provided with at least one robot and with a control unit accommodated in a control cabinet. To improve the integration of robot and technology control units and to utilize synergistic effects, at least one additional, independent electronic system different from the control unit for the robot is provided accommodated in the control cabinet.

Abstract: A robot arm which allows the two hands to be brought together in front of the chest. In a robot arm comprising a shoulder joint attached to a body so as to be rotatable around a laterally extending axial line, an upper arm attached to the shoulder joint so as to be rotatable around an axial line perpendicular to the laterally extending axial line, a forearm attached to the upper arm via an elbow joint, and a hand attached to a free end of the forearm, the elbow joint is attached to the upper arm so as to be rotatable around a longitudinal axial line of the upper arm.

Abstract: Industrial robot arranged with a helical spring based balancing system, which is able to stand up to high load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for balancing the weight carried by a robot arm of a robot. Said device comprises a fluid spring, rotably a pneumatic spring, and a control device for controlling the movements of the robot. The device is characterized by a pressure sensor which measures the pressure of the fluid of the fluid spring. Said device and the method provided for by the invention permit the exact adjustment and balancing of the movements of the robot arm.

Abstract: Control of a robotic mechanism comprising both active and passive joints is accomplished, where the motion of one or more of the passive joints is constrained by one or more constraints imposed on the mechanism by the environment, the mechanical construction of the mechanism, or the nature of the task such as a surgical robot holding a surgical instrument inserted into a patient through a natural or man-made orifice. The control incrementally moves the mechanism in a series of successive movements from its actual position to its desired or target position. The effect of moving each individual joint of the mechanism is characterized by Cartesian displacement of the target and a Jacobian is constructed mapping between infinitesimal joint displacements of the target to be extended to include both passive and active joints. Thus, hybrid robots containing both active and passive joints can be effectively controlled.

Abstract: In a biped walking robot having a body and two articulated legs each connected to the body and each having a foot at its free end such that the robot is controlled to walk by landing a heel of the foot first on a floor. The heel of the foot has projections and packings charged in gaps. The projections are constituted to have high rigidity against forces acting in the direction of the gravity axis and low rigidity, which is lower than the first rigidity, against forces acting in other directions, when the heel is landed, thereby enabling to achieve an optimum balance between absorption/mitigation of shock at footfall and attitude stabilization after footfall.

Abstract: A SCARA type robot with counterbalanced arms and tilting base. This apparatus enables accurate planar movement of a probe. Weak or flexible foundations or footings do not affect positioning accuracy of the probe. Positioning accuracy, relative to the movement plane, of a probe is unaffected by positions of the arms. At any angle of the probe movement plane the counterbalanced arms allow the same size drive motors, torque transmission devices, and drive electronics. These features make the invention very useful for on-site or portable near-field testing of antennas. A manipulator may be used in place of the probe. Most of the benefits will be retained if load variations on the manipulator are kept small.

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism for use with a multijoint manually positionable measuring arm of a three dimensional coordinate measurement system provides a reversible and adjustable counterbalancing force to offset the weight of the arm and facilitate its movement. The counterbalance mechanism of the present invention acts within the plane of the joint minimizing the moment arm created by the joint and allowing for low overhung loads transmitted from the arm to the base.

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism for use with a multi-joint manually positionable measuring arm of a three dimensional coordinate measurement system provides a reversible and adjustable counterbalancing force to offset the weight of the arm and facilitate its movement. The counterbalance mechanism of the present invention acts within the plane of the joint minimizing the moment arm created by the joint and allowing for low overhung loads transmitted from the arm to the base.

Abstract: In a legged mobile robot, in particular in a biped robot, the feet position and/or posture is determined in such a manner that compensating moment of total floor reaction force about a desired total floor reaction force central point is determined, based upon the detected posture inclination of the robot, and is distributed to each of the feet such that each foot rotates respectively by predetermined angles about the desired total foot floor reaction force central point and a desired foot floor reaction force central point, in order to control the actual total floor reaction force and the actual foot floor reaction force acting on the robot properly such that it walks on a floor having not only a slope extending over a relatively long distance, but also existing locally. With this, it becomes possible to control the floor reaction force acting on the robot easily and properly, without causing any interference to occur.

Abstract: A process for guiding an instrument in space, in which the instrument is arranged at the free end of an articulated arm whose arm sections are caused to pivot and/or travel with respect to each other by drive units. The instrument is caused to travel in a limited movement region under the control of a control device. For predetermination of the movement region for points that are situated in the movement region, a respective pivot angle and/or travel position between the respective arm sections is set. The respective position and attitude of the instrument is sensed by at least a first measuring device. For hand-controlled guiding of the instrument, an actuating force exerted on the instrument and/or the articulated arm is sensed by a second measuring device.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of controlling a robotic mechanism comprising both active and passive joints, where the motion of one or more of the passive joints is constrained by one or more constraints imposed on the mechanism by the environment, the mechanical construction of the mechanism or the nature of the task. The method is capable of controlling mechanisms with multiple sets of passive joints with multiple environmental constraints restricting the motion of the mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the novel method is used to control a surgical robot holding a surgical instrument inserted into a patient through a natural or man-made orifice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a robot having multi-joint arms movable in a horizontal plane, which is mechanically compact as well as small sized and operated with high precision and a minimum output of drive sources, substantially comprising a robot body (1), a cylindrical mount (2) movable vertically of the robot body through a guide means (3) and a slider means (4), a vertical threaded shaft (6) rotatably journaled in the robot body and operatively connected to the cylindrical mount, the vertical threaded shaft being rotated by a first drive motor (5) to vertically move the cylindrical mount therealong, a first arm (9) having one end operatively connected to the cylindrical mount so as to be turningly moved in a horizontal plane by a second drive motor (12), a second arm (10) having one end operatively connected to the opposite end of the first arm so as to be turningly moved in a horizontal plane by a third drive motor (17), and a control R shaft (11) rotatably mounted on a free end of the second arm so as to be rotated b

Abstract: According to the invention, a latch 17 provided at a distal end of a lever 16 is urged to engage with a gear 13 fixed at a joint fulcrum 2 jointing a vertical arm 1 and a horizontal arm 3, for effecting angular displacement, thereby actuating a switch 20a,20b for a detecting mechanism. Because the mechanism is compact, it is easily applicable to existing balancing stands in which for example a parallel linkage mechanism formed with a combination of a plurality of vertical arms and horizontal arms is supported at a predetermined fulcrum.

Abstract: A compact lifting device whose load arm is fixed to a cover of lid of a processing chamber provides, a tubular pan body with an externally easily adjustable spring counterweight type member passing through the tubular center of the pan body. The spring member is cleverly mounted between an upper and lower portion of the pan body and rotates with the pan body as the lift mechanism swings from side to side. An innovative center core mounting of the spring device allows loads from the lifted weight to be equally distributed on two side of the pan body. The rotation of the pan body is by the use of bearings which are constructed so that a flange of pan body is utilized as two races of a ball bearing further reducing the space need for mounting such a lifting device.

Abstract: A driven robot arm (1) has a torque compensation unit for a motional degree of freedom (4). A separate magnetic compensation unit (9) is proposed which is independent of the robot arm drive.

Abstract: A multi-joint robot is disclosed, wherein a mount structure is vertically moved by means of a drive mechanism including a vertical threaded shaft and a stepping motor for rotationally driving said threaded shaft, thereby to vertically move the mount structure along the threaded shaft between an upper most position and a lower most position. A balancing device for balancing the weight of the mount structure includes at least one or more tension coil springs, the tension coil spring having one end anchored to a bottom of the robot, the opposite end connected to the bracket of the mount structure and an intermediate part thereof put into slide engagement with the pulley means which is arranged at an upper part of said robot above said bracket of said mount structure, so that the tension coil spring or springs may be expanded when said mount structure is at a position below said upper most position.

Abstract: A unitary prealigner and robot arm includes an upper arm, a forearm, and a hand that is equipped with vacuum pressure outlets to securely hold a specimen. The robot arm is carried atop a tube that is controllably positionable along a Z-axis direction. The prealigner is attached to the tube by a movable carriage that is elevatable relative to the robot arm. The prealigner further includes a rotatable chuck having a vacuum pressure outlet for securely holding a specimen in place within an edge detector assembly that senses a peripheral edge of the specimen. The prealigner may be elevated to receive a specimen from the robot arm or it may be lowered to allow clearance for the robot arm to rotate. In operation, the robot arm retrieves a specimen and places it on the prealigner, which performs an edge scanning operation to determine the effective center and specific orientation of the specimen.