Abstract: An automated natural dialogue system provides a combination of structure and flexibility to allow for ease of annotation of dialogues as well as learning and expanding the capabilities of the dialogue system based on natural language interactions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for designing a 3D modeled object representing a transmission mechanism with a target 3D motion behavior. The method including obtaining a 3D finite element mesh and data associated to the mesh, performing a topology optimization based on the mesh and on the associated data, therefore obtaining a density field representing distribution of material quantity of the 3D modeled object. The method further includes computing a signed field based on the density field and the associated data, identifying one or more patterns of convergence and divergence in the signed field, each pattern forming a region of the signed field, and for each identified pattern, identifying a joint representative of the identified pattern and replacing a part of the density field corresponding to the respective region formed by the identified pattern by a material distribution representing the identified joint.

Abstract: A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.

Abstract: The disclosure notably relates to a computer-implemented method for designing a part by topology optimization. The method comprises defining a working volume for the optimization of the part and at least one boundary condition applied to the part, computing a vector field over the working volume, each vector of the field representing an optimal direction and a quantity of material corresponding to satisfy the at least one boundary condition, computing a set of flow lines by propagating from starting points in the vector field. For each flow line of the set, an element for the primary structure of the part is computed and a secondary structure of the part linking the set of primary as well as the secondary structure elements together is computed.

Abstract: A method of extending a conversational computing interface comprises obtaining data-flow traces indicating computational steps that occur based on execution of a nonnative skill implemented in a nonnative programming language of the conversational computing interface. A native computer-executable plan is automatically generated. The generated native computer-executable plan represents the data-flow traces in a native programming language of the conversational computing interface. The conversational computing interface is automatically trained based on the native computer-executable plan and a conversational event associated with the native computer-executable plan.

Abstract: A method of adapting a computerized assistant program to satisfy an updated constraint. The method comprises maintaining a dialogue history including a first utterance that indicates an initial constraint. The method further comprises receiving a second utterance indicating a new constraint that conflicts with the initial constraint. The method further comprises recognizing a revision function statement parametrized by a reference to an initial computerized assistant program configured to satisfy the initial constraint, and a reference to the new constraint. The method further comprises executing instructions derived from the revision function statement to return a revised computerized assistant program that is configured to satisfy the new constraint.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens. In some embodiments, an optical window is disposed in the hollow chamber and is optically coupled to the output surface of the lens such that the light exiting the lens passes through the optical window before exiting the light module. In some embodiments, the shoulder can be formed as part of the housing.

Abstract: In one aspect, a handheld lighting system is disclosed, which comprises a handheld housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a light module disposed at least partially in the housing. The handheld lighting system further includes a removable and replaceable power module that is coupled to the housing (e.g., it is at least partially disposed within the housing) and is electrically coupled to the light module, e.g., through a pair of electrical leads, for providing electrical power thereto. Light intensity from the light module may be controlled from a knob on the power module. Various adapters can allow the lighting system to attach to a multitude of medical, industrial, dental or veterinary endoscopes or other instruments.

Abstract: A method of extending a conversational computing interface. The method comprises executing a nonnative skill implemented in a nonnative programming language of the conversational computing interface. The method further comprises automatically computer-tracing computer operations performed by the nonnative skill during such execution. The method further comprises automatically computer-generating a native computer-executable plan representing the traced computer operations in a native programming language of the conversational computing interface.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining an identifier from an item is disclosed. The method includes autonomously operate a robotic structure to move an item along a predetermined path from a source location to a destination location, and autonomously operating the robotic structure to place the item at the destination location based at least in part on the plan. The item comprises one or more identifiers, and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more identifiers was not obtained by one or more sensors, an active measure is performed to cause the one or more sensors to obtain the at least one identifier that was not obtained. The predetermined path corresponds to a path along which the item is moved from the source location to the destination location. The predetermined path is planned so that the item is moved within a threshold range of the one or more sensors while the item is moved along the predetermined path.

Abstract: A robotic system is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface, and one or more processors coupled to the communication interface and configured to: receive, via the communication interface, data associated with a plurality of items within a workspace, determine to control a flow of items on a chute based at least in part on the data associated with the plurality of items within the workspace, and in response to determining to control the flow of items, implement to control the flow of items at least by controlling a flow disrupter move in a manner that causes the flow of items to change, wherein the flow disrupter is flush with the chute when the flow disrupter is not deployed to impede the flow of items.

Abstract: A robotic system comprising an end effector-mounted sensor is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robotic arm is manipulated to move a sensor to a position such that an object of interest is within a read range of the sensor. A sensor data read by the sensor is received via a communication interface. The sensor data is used to determine an attribute of the object; and the determined attribute of the object is used to determine a plan to grasp and move the object.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data including data associated with an item present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to move and place the item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan takes into consideration an attribute of the item determined based at least in part on the sensor data.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data image data associated with a plurality of items present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workspace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan includes performing an active measure to change or adapt to a detected state or condition associated with one or more items in the workspace.

Abstract: A system that provides a sharable language interface for implementing automated assistants in new domains and applications. A dialogue assistant that is trained in a first domain can receive a specification in a second domain. The specification can include language structure data such as schemas, recognizers, resolvers, constraints and invariants, actions, language hints, generation template, and other data. The specification data is applied to the automated assistant to enable the automated assistant to provide interactive dialogue with a user in a second domain associated with the received specification. In some instances, portions of the specification may be automatically mapped to portions of the first domain. By having the ability to learn new domains and applications through receipt of objects and properties rather than retooling the interface entirely, the present system is much more efficient at learning how to provide interactive dialogue in new domains than previous systems.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens.

Abstract: A method and/or system includes: adding a new source of data to be stored in the data storage system; obtaining the schema for the new source of data to be stored in the data storage system; storing the data to be stored in the data storage system in a Not Only Structured Query Language (NOSQL) database in the data storage system; and storing schema for the data to be stored in the data storage system in a metadata store in the electronic data storage system wherein the metadata store is separate from the NOSQL database.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination of machinery, electronics and building space design using specialized disinfection systems, air filtration, audio-visual communication, electronic controllers and isolation booths in a manner that mitigates the risk of disease transmission among simultaneous and serial users of the shared space.

Abstract: A method of automatically delineating turns in a multi-turn dialogue between a user and a conversational computing interface. Audio data encoding speech of the user in the multi-turn dialogue is received. The audio data is analyzed to recognize, in the speech of the user, an utterance followed by a silence. The utterance is recognized as a last utterance in a turn of the multi-turn dialogue responsive to the silence exceeding a context-dependent duration dynamically updated based on a conversation history of the multi-turn dialogue and features of the received audio, wherein the conversation history includes one or more previous turns of the multi-turn dialogue taken by the user and one or more previous turns of the multi-turn dialogue taken by the conversational computing interface.

Abstract: A system that allows non-engineers administrators, without programming, machine language, or artificial intelligence system knowledge, to expand the capabilities of a dialogue system. The dialogue system may have a knowledge system, user interface, and learning model. A user interface allows non-engineers to utilize the knowledge system, defined by a small set of primitives and a simple language, to annotate a user utterance. The annotation may include selecting actions to take based on the utterance and subsequent actions and configuring associations. A dialogue state is continuously updated and provided to the user as the actions and associations take place. Rules are generated based on the actions, associations and dialogue state that allows for computing a wide range of results.