Abstract: Methods of calibrating a position of a component include providing a robot with a gripper and crush and crash sensors, a calibration tool coupled to the gripper, and the component, which has a recess and a crush zone. The methods also include moving the gripper in a first direction to sense contact between the calibration tool and the crush zone, recording the contact position, and moving the gripper to insert the tool into the recess. The gripper is then moved in second directions to sense contact between the tool and the recess and moved in third directions to also sense contact between the tool and the recess. The methods further include recording and processing the contact positions to determine a surface location in the first direction and a physical center of the recess. Robot calibration apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A control system for a surgical robot is provided. The control system includes a first embedded computer and a second embedded computer configured to receive status information from the first embedded computer. The status information includes a status of zero-return for a surgical tool driving module or an imaging tool driving module. The control system also includes a host computer configured to receive the status information from the second embedded computer. The surgical tool driving module or the imaging tool driving module includes a controller, a motor connected with a first coupling and configured to drive the surgical tool or an imaging tool, and a zero point switch configured to detect whether the first coupling is at a zero position. The controller is configured to transmit the status of zero-return to the first embedded computer based on whether the first coupling is at the zero position.

Abstract: A driving system includes a central controller, a plurality of driving paths forming a least crossing position, and a plurality of autonomous driving devices configured to drive along at least one of the driving paths through the crossing position. The central controller is configured to determine a plurality of target driving devices from among the autonomous driving devices that are within a certain range of the crossing position, designate one of the target driving devices as a master driving device and the other of the target driving device as slave driving devices. The master driving device controls passage of the slave driving devices through the crossing position.

Abstract: Robotic automation and methods described herein can be used to enhance the efficiencies of freight shipping processes. For example, this document describes the use of automated systems and methods for densely loading cargo into freight carriers (e.g., semi-trailers) in an efficient manner. Some such systems can include one or more movable robots that can travel along an open side or open top of a semi-trailer to autonomously load parcels into the trailer in a densely packed manner. The disclosed systems and methods allow for the reduction or elimination of manual labor for loading shipping trailers in a very dense manner.

Abstract: A method is presented for programming a repeating motion of a redundant robotic arm on the basis of a variable parameter convergence differential neural network. The method may include establishing an inverse kinematics equation, creating an inverse kinematics problem, introducing a repeating motion indicator, converting a time-varying convex quadratic programming problem into a time-varying matrix equation, and integrating an optimal solution to obtain an optimal solution of a joint angle. The use of the variable parameter convergence differential neural network to solve the repeating redundant mechanical motion has the advantages of high computational efficiency, high real-time performance, and enhanced robot arm robustness.

Abstract: An exchange service robot includes a communication unit, a traveling unit including at least one wheel and a traveling motor, an output unit configured to output a request for putting a currency, a currency recognition sensor configured to recognize the amount of currency put through a currency slot, and a processor configured to acquire information on a withdrawal amount based on exchange rate information between the put currency and a currency to be withdrawn and the amount of put currency, and provide the currency to be withdrawn based on the acquired information.

Abstract: A robot service providing system includes a table monitoring terminal associated with one of a plurality of tables in a venue, a central control terminal, and a movable waiter robot. The central control terminal includes a communication interface, a display, an operation panel, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the display to display a screen including an image including a consumable item captured by a camera of the table monitoring terminal based on image data received by the communication interface, and control the communication interface to transmit a service instruction in response to a user operation on the operation panel. The movable waiter robot is configured to move to said one of the tables based on the service instruction.

Abstract: A robot includes: a wrist unit including a plurality of wrist joints; and a plurality of basic joints configured to determine the position of the wrist unit in a three-dimensional space. Only the basic joints are provided with torque sensors configured to detect torque of the basic joints about axis lines.

Abstract: A robot program generation apparatus that selects a typical arrangement pattern of a robot system; selects elements to be arranged in the arrangement pattern; automatically generates a layout where the elements in a stationary state do not interfere with each other; automatically generates a robot program in accordance with task details corresponding to the arrangement pattern and with the layout; executes the robot program in a virtual environment and automatically modifies installation positions of the elements in the layout based on whether or not the robot in an operating state interfere with any other elements and on whether or not the robot can reach a workpiece; and corrects the robot program based on the installation positions.

Abstract: The operation program creation device includes, an input unit, a storage unit that stores path data indicating a path along which predetermined position of the robot should pass for an operation of the robot to the workpiece, and a control unit which creates the operation program corresponding to the path data when the control unit receives, from the input unit, a start request for creating or renewing the operation program for the operation, wherein the control unit is capable of changing a position of at least one of the robot and the workpiece relative to each other based on an input to the input unit, the control unit provides predetermined notification information when a relative position between the robot and the workpiece when the start request is received is different from the relative position at the time when the operation program for the workpiece was created.

Abstract: Provided is a manipulator including: a link; a joint unit configured to rotate the link; and a distance sensor configured to detect an obstacle entering in a monitoring space that is determined so as to include at least a rotating direction side of the link, the distance sensor being installed so that a sensing direction faces a direction parallel to a surface of the link. Further, provided is a moving robot including the aforementioned manipulator.

Abstract: In teaching of a robot, a control device controls a movable unit in a first control mode in which the movable unit continuously moves according to a force detected by a force detector and a second control mode in which the movable unit moves by a predetermined movement amount according to the force detected by the force detector. A controller selects a first control mode or a second control mode according to a temporal change in the force detected by the force detector and a magnitude of the force.

Abstract: A method for coordinating and monitoring objects in a predefined spatial area that includes multiple subareas that are each associated with a respective subarea computing system includes position and movement information of objects in the particular subarea being ascertained by the particular subarea computing system using sensor units. A particular instantaneous surroundings map of the particular subarea is created by the particular subarea computing system using a particular surroundings map of the particular subarea and the position and movement information. The particular instantaneous surroundings maps are transmitted to a shared higher-order computing system which creates an instantaneous surroundings map of the predefined spatial area and, based on the map, coordinates movements of automated mobile objects in the spatial area with ascertainment of movement specifications that are transmitted to the subarea computing systems and from there to the automated mobile objects.

Abstract: A control system for reducing disturbance torque of a spacecraft is disclosed. The spacecraft revolves around a celestial body surrounded by an atmosphere. The control system includes processors in electronic communication with one or more actuators and a memory. The memory stores data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control system to instruct the spacecraft to enter a safing mode. In response to entering the safing mode, the control system instructs the one or more actuators to align a principal axis of the spacecraft with a vector that is normal to the orbit around the celestial body. The control system also instructs the actuators to rotate the spacecraft about the principal axis, where a rotational orientation of the spacecraft relative to the celestial body is shifted by about one-half a rotation about the principal axis.

Abstract: A robot control device configured to control a robot includes a first memory part configured to store work data, a second memory part configured to store restoring data, a calculating part configured to perform an operation instructing process configured to read the work data and generate an operating instruction to the robot, and a data evacuation process configured to determine whether the operation instructing process operates normally, and when the calculating part determines that the operation instructing process does not operate normally, coincide the restoring data with the work data, and an operation controlling part configured to control operation of the robot based on the operating instruction.

Abstract: A robotic palletizer system and method include selectively operating a palletizing robot between at least a pregrouping state, in which the palletizing robot groups to-be-grouped items at a pregrouping station, and a principal grouping state, in which the palletizing robot groups to-be-grouped items at a principal grouping station. The system and method further include selectively operating a load securing machine between a securing state, in which the load securing machine at least partially secures to be grouped items grouped at the principal grouping station, and a non-operational state. The palletizing robot can be operated in the pregrouping state during at least a portion of a time interval during which the load securing machine is operating in the securing state to secure the to-be-grouped items grouped at the principal grouping station.

Abstract: Provided is a driving control apparatus that can control relaxation of force in an actuator. The driving control apparatus is provided with: a driving control unit configured to control driving of the actuator according to a driving control signal; and a pressure control unit configured to control, according to a pressure control signal, involvement of the driving control signal in control of pressure to be generated by the actuator.

Abstract: A control device for industrial machines having controlled motion drives for machine components has at least one control element configured to manually influence or specify adjustment movements of at least one machine component and is implemented as a rotary control element with a continuously rotatable actuating element connected in terms of motion to a rotational resistance generator that is variable under control or the actuating element can be connected in terms of motion thereto. The rotational resistance generator is drivable by an analysis and control device. The analysis and control device and the rotational resistance generator in this case are equipped to inhibit the rotational mobility of the actuating element, or to subject it to an increased rotational resistance haptically perceptible by an operator, as a function of machine states or events known to or sensed by the control device. In addition, a corresponding control method is specified.

Abstract: A robot having actuator-driven elements, actuators to drive the elements, and brakes to decelerate the elements, the robot requiring voltage UB and/or current IB, the robot including: a source having an input to which voltage UP and current IP are applied, wherein, during normal operation, UP is equal to voltage UP,desired and IP is equal to current IP,desired, and having an output to which voltage Uactual and current Iactual are supplied, wherein during normal operation: Uactual=UB and Iactual=IB, an energy store integrated into the source for maintaining UB and IB for time ?t following failure or drop in UP and/or IP, a unit for monitoring UP, wherein as soon as UP deviates by amount ?U from UP,desired, a signal is generated, and a control unit connected to the unit for controlling the robot and its elements into a predefined safe state upon receipt of the signal.

Abstract: Empathy toward a robot is increased by the robot emulating human-like or animal-like behavior. A robot includes a movement determining unit that determines a direction of movement, a drive mechanism that executes a specified movement, and a familiarity managing unit that updates familiarity with respect to a moving object. The robot moves away from a user with low familiarity, and approaches a user with high familiarity. Familiarity changes in accordance with a depth of involvement between a user and the robot.