A new wall climbing robot has been developed and tested using scanning type suction cups and two vacuum pumps. The robot is connected only through electric and information cables and is capable of walking on walls, clearing steps, and sticking on cracks and gaps. It achieved a walking speed of 138 cm/min which is 59% faster than its predecessor, the wall climbing robot with tubes connected to an external vacuum pump. The results of this experiment indicate that a complete self-contained wall climbing robot could be developed by adding a battery and CPU to the robot.

A new shape memory alloy (SMA)-based handling system has been developed that features two SMA wire-based actuator systems. The end-effector can adjust to different shaped work pieces while brake mechanisms allow for energy-free position holding. An electric current is only needed when the end-effector arms need to be rearranged, resulting in an adaptive and energy-efficient handling system that can replace pneumatically driven systems in production and assembly industries. The gripping unit can be controlled externally using a microcontroller and can be mounted on a robot for diverse handling purposes. The system eliminates the need for manual adjustments or exchange of components when switching between products with different workpiece geometries. The new SMA-based handling system is versatile, adaptive, and energy-efficient, making it a viable alternative to traditional systems.

A new type of electric permanent magnet end picker has been designed to solve the issue of workpiece surface adsorption during automobile control arm production and transportation. Existing solutions, such as vacuum chucks and electromagnetic chucks, have limitations that can result in reduced reliability and workpiece fall-off. The new device uses NdFeB material and relies on the magnetic force of the permanent magnet to adsorb. An electromagnetic field is generated to counteract the magnetic force when the robot transfers the workpiece, allowing for separation. The end suction cup is designed according to the workpiece quality and contact area, and modeling analysis has shown that the device meets the needs of car control arm grasping and handling. The new technology provides an alternative solution for automatic production lines and improves the efficiency of automobile control arm production.

In 1948, the author approached the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney to assist with the idea of using suction for delivery of a baby. With the guidance of Professor A.B. Stephens and Mr. Peter Joubert, a rubber sucker cup was designed and connected to an electric vacuum pump using bottles and a mercury manometer. The success of this new method was demonstrated by its implementation in multiple delivery cases at the Crown Street Women’s Hospital in Sydney. This invention revolutionized obstetrics and significantly reduced the complications associated with instrumental delivery. The author believed that the suction technique could be improved further by refining the shape and size of the rubber cup and introducing the use of disposable cups to reduce the risk of infection. Overall, the use of suction for delivery has proven to be a significant advancement in obstetrics and has saved countless lives.

The article discusses the design of a machine that uses a vacuum gripper to easily transfer sheet metal material from a pallet to a fiber machine table. The design process requires careful calculation of the appropriate components needed to lift material loads, including a gripper vacuum, servo motor, load-bearing shaft, transmission drive, gear transmission, and a steel frame. The sheet metal material used for the load requires strong components that can withstand vertical and horizontal loads. The recommended suction motor on the gripping vacuum should have a suction power of 48 m3/hour and electric power of 1.3 kW. The servo motor used should be able to withstand a load of 350 kg with a design power of 171.7 watts and a torque of 93 Nm, along with straight gears with a ratio of 4:3. Overall, the article highlights that careful consideration and understanding of the design requirements and component specifications are crucial in creating an effective and efficient machine using a vacuum gripper.

The article discusses the use of a vacuum gripper as the main tool in the design of a sheet metal material transfer machine. The gripper uses vacuum cup technology to hold and lift sheet metal with a thickness of 15 mm and an area dimension of 2.44 m x 1.22 m. The machine's components include a gripper vacuum, servo motor, load-bearing shaft and transmission drive, gear transmission, and a steel frame. It was recommended to use a suction power of 48m3/hour and an electric power of 1.3 kW, whilst the servo motor used must be able to withstand a load of 350 kg with a design power of 171.7 watts and a torque of 93 Nm, and straight gears with ratio of 4: 3. In conclusion, the machine design requires careful calculation of the formula so that the appropriate machine components are obtained to lift material loads that can withstand both vertical and horizontal loads from the movement of materials and the load of the sheet metal material itself.

The chapter discusses the development of mobile service robots designed to move on vertically oriented glass walls, which could be used for inspection and technological applications in high-rise buildings. The design of the robot was developed based on extensive research activities and includes a mobile platform that uses two parallel placed parallelograms, individual electric actuators, and a vacuum gripping system with smart ejectors and active suction cups. The control system includes a wireless communication module and is equipped with a laser and an ultrasonic position sensor. The authors paid considerable attention to the deformation behavior of the suction cups and the limits of external radial load to stable contact. They also discussed the possibility of increasing the load of gripping elements based on contact surface character and vacuum levels. Overall, the development of these mobile service robots could have significant implications for various industries that require inspection or repair work on vertically oriented glass walls.

The article discusses improvements and changes in phakoerisis, specifically the suction cup used for the procedure. While numerous modifications have been made to phakoerisis in recent years, the original suction cup design from 1902 has remained largely unchanged. Newer, more complicated instruments have been introduced, but are more prone to defects and are more expensive. The author describes the use of a new type of erysiphake at the Hamburg University Eye Department, which is less noisy and more effective than the motor-driven pump previously used. The new design also results in a continuous vacuum, rather than the discontinuous vacuum provided by the motor pump. Overall, the new design is less expensive, effective, and more reliable than previous suction cup designs.

The Mechanical Engineering Laboratory has been developing a wall climbing robot (kAEL-SPIDER) for the painting and cleaning of high-rise buildings and tanks. Two prototypes were studied: a separate type (MSII) and a self-contained type (MSIII). The MSII has eight legs, each terminat ing with a vacuum suction cup, and the power/control unit is set on the ground apart from the main mobile unit. Climbing is achieved by moving the two groups of four legs while synchronizing the suction and release control signals for the suction cups. Climbing experiments on vertical walls of concrete buildings were successful. The MSIII carries all devices, including the power source and controller, and its movement is remotely controlled by the operator. The PAS III uses an engine to drive both a generator and vacuum pump. Climbing tests on the wall were successful, and the technical possibility of this moving method on vertical walls was presented. The development of the kAEL-SPIDER robot is significant as it can perform dangerous tasks that are otherwise impossible for humans to carry out.