Abstract: This robot system includes a sensor system, a robot, and a robot controller, in which the robot controller recognizes a robot coordinate system but does not recognize a sensor coordinate system of the sensor system, and the robot controller creates a conversion matrix for carrying out coordinate conversion in a plane including an X-axis and a Y-axis on sets of position coordinates obtained by the sensor system based on the sets of position coordinates of a plurality of objects or points obtained by the sensor system and sets of position coordinates in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction in a robot coordinate system corresponding to the plurality of objects or points.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method includes: receiving an endpoint impedance matrix representing a desired stiffness or damping at the robot endpoint; reflecting the endpoint impedance matrix to an equivalent joint-space matrix associated with one or more of the robot joints, the equivalent joint-space matrix having a nullspace corresponding to near-zero-valued eigenvalues; generating a nullspace-filled impedance matrix from the equivalent joint-space matrix based in part on replacing the near-zero-valued eigenvalues with selected finite positive real values; generating a robot control law using the nullspace-filled impedance matrix; and using the robot control law to control the robot.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus for a database construction and control of a robotic manipulator is provided. The electronic apparatus stores information associated with a task of a robotic manipulator. The electronic apparatus further receives a first plurality of signals from a first plurality of sensors associated with a wearable device. The electronic apparatus further applies a predefined model on a first set of signals of the first plurality of signals. The electronic apparatus further determines arrow direction information based on the application of the predefined model on the first set of signals. The electronic apparatus further aggregates the determined arrow direction information with information about the first set of signals to generate output information. The electronic apparatus further stores the generated output information for each of a first plurality of poses performed for the task using the wearable device.

Abstract: A conveyance robot system according to the present disclosure includes a conveyance robot, and a robot control unit configured to control an operation of picking up an object performed by the conveyance robot, wherein the robot control unit determines that a movable range area, which is an area outside a safety cover where a robot arm is operated, satisfies a safety ensuring condition that can regard safety of the movable range area as equivalent to the safety inside the safety cover and allow the robot arm to perform a work while projecting toward the shelf.

Abstract: There is provided a method for picking up an object from a bin to be implemented by a robotic arm including a controller and a picking-up module. The method includes: recognizing, by the controller, at least one object in the bin based on an image of an interior of the bin so as to determine a type of each object; determining, by the controller, a score for each object based on the type thereof; determining, by the controller, whether a greatest score among the score(s) of the at least one TBT object is greater than a predetermined value; and by the picking-up module, picking up one of the at least one TBT object that has the greatest score when it is determined that the greatest score is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a social robot includes providing a set of quantitative personality trait values, also called a “personality profile” to a decision engine of the social robot. The personality profile is derived from a character portrayal in a fictional work, dramatic performance, or by a real-life person (any one of these sometime referred to herein as a “source character”). The decision engine controls social responses of the social robot to environmental stimuli, based in part on the set of personality trait values. The social robot thereby behaves in a manner consistent with the personality profile for the profiled source character.

Abstract: A robot balance control method includes: obtaining force information associated with a left foot and a right foot of the robot; calculating a zero moment point of a center of mass (COM) of a body of the robot based on the force information; calculating a first position offset and a second position offset of the robot according to the zero moment point of the COM of the body; updating a position trajectory of the robot according to the first position offset and the second offset to obtain an updated position of the COM of the body; performing inverse kinematics analysis on the updated position of the COM of the body to obtain joint angles of the left leg and the right leg of the robot; and controlling the robot to move according to the joint angles.

Abstract: A modular robotic kitchen system is conveniently adaptable to perform a wide range of cooking applications. The modular robotic kitchen system can include a plurality of discrete modular units organized in a small footprint such that multiple types of cooking applications can be performed without a need to replace the modular units. Exemplary modular units include an ingredient module, robotic arm module, assembly and packaging module, and warming module. Optionally a transport unit or sled moves the modules into position. The modular kitchen system includes a central processor operable to carry out different cooking applications upon downloading software corresponding to the specific cooking application and without retooling the existing modules. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A method according to the disclosure configures a processor to predict metal loss in a structure for remediation. The method uses a machine learning model, trained based upon historical data, to predict metal loss over locations of a structure at a time of the prediction. The method identifies from among the predicted locations a high-risk location on the structure in which a magnitude of metal loss indicates potential remediation being needed, dispatches a robotic vehicle to the high-risk location on the structure and inspects the high-risk location using the robotic vehicle to confirm whether the magnitude of metal loss at the location requires remediation. In further methods, remediation is performed. In still further methods, a three-dimensional visualization of the structure is generated with an overlay which depicts predicted metal loss over the sections of the structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for avoiding singular configurations of a robot. A singular configuration of the robot is obtained. A location of an end effector of the robot when the robot is in the singular configuration is determined. For each of a plurality of voxels in a workcell, a distance from the voxel to the location of the end effector when the robot is in the singular configuration is computed. A negative potential gradient of the computed distance is computed. Control rules are generated, wherein the control rules, when followed by the robot, offset the trajectory of the robot according to the negative potential gradient.

Abstract: A system includes a moveable element adapted to move relative to a coordinate system defined for a robot, an object detection transceiver unit adapted to be mounted on the moveable element, and a controller. The controller controls the object detection transceiver unit to emit a signal and obtain a return signal for an operational cell of the robot at each of a series of predetermined positions to emulate a transceiver aperture larger than an aperture of the object detection transceiver unit. A location corresponding to a marker present in the operational cell is determined from the return signals. A predetermined operation is carried out where the predetermined operation includes using the determined location to guide movement of the robot.

Abstract: A robotic production line assembly has a recipe programmed in order to process a workpiece, an articulated robot having the recipe assigned thereto, an end effector attached to a wrist of the robot, a feeding system that transfers the workpiece, an unloading system that unloads the workpiece from a process conveyor, a plurality of working stations cooperative with the robot, a workpiece identification system, a robotic controller and a system controller. The robotic production line is compact and is capable of flexible and chaotic production.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for a gripping system having an arm mechanism and a hand mechanism attached to the arm mechanism, by which an operation of the arm mechanism can be stopped as soon as the hand mechanism contacts an object. In the gripping system according to the present invention, the hand mechanism is provided with a contact detection unit for detecting that a predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object. The hand mechanism is also provided with a signal transmission unit that is electrically connected to an arm control device. The signal transmission unit transmits a command signal to stop the operation of the arm mechanism directly to the arm control device at the point where the contact detection unit detects that the predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object.

Abstract: A robot control device includes manual pulse generation units that generate pulses having a pulse number depending on an operation amount of an operator, command signal calculation units that calculate an operation command signal to a robot based on a pulse number to be input, and a pulse number limiting unit that limits, to a threshold, the pulse number to be input into the command signal calculation units, in a case or cases where the pulse number generated by the manual pulse generation units is larger than the predetermined threshold, where, in a case or cases where the pulse number generated by the manual pulse generation units is equal to or less than the threshold, the pulse number is output as it is.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot controller and an object robot including a first storage part storing a hardware identifier, individual discrimination data, and device specific data including an individual difference parameter. The same hardware identifier is assigned to the object robot having the same mechanism. The robot controller includes a second storage part storing common configuration information corresponding to the hardware identifier and the individual discrimination data and the individual difference parameter of the object robot, and a control part configured, in a case that the hardware identifier corresponding to the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the hardware identifier assigned to the object robot are collated and matched with each other, to create hardware definition information of the object robot based on the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the individual difference parameter read from the first storage part.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a transmission apparatus configured to transmit operation data for an apparatus, a reception apparatus configured to receive the operation data, a wireless communication unit via which the transmission apparatus and the reception apparatus wirelessly communicate with each other, and a cable configured to connect the transmission apparatus and the reception apparatus, wherein the transmission apparatus transmits a synchronization signal to the reception apparatus via the cable, the synchronization signal indicating a timing to execute the operation data, and wherein the transmission apparatus transmits the operation data corresponding to an operation of the apparatus in a predetermined period to the reception apparatus using the wireless communication unit.

Abstract: A control device includes: a storage unit storing a work program of a robot; a display control unit displaying a virtual robot formed by virtualizing the robot and a teaching point in a simulator screen at a display unit, based on the work program stored in the storage unit; and an accepting unit accepting a selection of the teaching point displayed in the simulator screen. The display control unit displays, in the simulator screen, a first window including a first command corresponding to the selected teaching point, when the accepting unit accepts the selection of the teaching point.

Abstract: A switchgear or controlgear with unmanned operation and maintenance includes: an equipment safety system that includes a steering and control system for calculating a action radius of a robot system. An acting area in an internal space of the switchgear or controlgear is divided into virtual zones. Each action in each virtual zone is precalculated predictively as a micro simulation in which actual sensor data are considered before an intended action is triggered.

Abstract: A method and computing system comprising identifying one or more candidate objects for selection by a robot. A path to the one or more candidate objects may be determined based upon, at least in part, a robotic environment and at least one robotic constraint. A feasibility of grasping a first candidate object of the one or more candidate objects may be validated. If the feasibility is validated, the robot may be controlled to physically select the first candidate object. If the feasibility is not validated, at least one of a different grasping point of the first candidate object, a second path, or a second candidate object may be selected.

Abstract: A method of evaluating safety of a robot includes a step of obtaining a three-dimensional image or three-dimensional model of a test robot comprising shape information of a real robot, a step of setting a movement time and movement path of the test robot by inputting profile information comprising movement time information and movement path information of the test robot, a step of calculating a collision pressure and collision force applied to a collision object in consideration of a shape, effective mass, movement speed, and direction of an injury-causing dangerous portion of the test robot, and a step of evaluating safety of the robot by determining whether magnitudes of the calculated collision pressure and collision force fall within magnitudes of a predetermined maximum collision pressure and predetermined maximum collision force.