Abstract: Various examples are provided related to automation of pallet loading. In one example, a method includes positioning, by a material manipulator, an opening of a product; inserting a product loading assembly of a pallet loading system through an opening of the product, where the product loading assembly can hold the product during manipulation of the product and the pallet loading system can position the product for loading on a pallet; and transferring the product onto the pallet using the product loading assembly. The product can be a portion of a product or a garment or portion of a garment. The product can be smoothed on a surface of the pallet. The pallet can secure the product to the pallet by a pallet clamp. The product on the pallet can be embellished by processing equipment or workstation.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to processing and handling of products. In one example, among others, a material product holding system includes a product holding assembly and a structure supporting the product holding assembly, the structure coupled to the positioning assembly. The product holding assembly can include support arms and a positioning assembly that can adjust positioning of the support arms with respect to each other to engage with at least a portion of a product supported by the support arms. In another example, a method include engaging support arms with a surface of at least a portion of a product, the support arms tensioning the product, positioning the support arms to load the product on a workstation, contracting the support arms to remove the tension, processing the product, re-engaging the support arms after completion of the processing, and unloading the product from the workstation.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. An automated sewing process feed control system is disclosed in which a material aligner is utilized. An omni-chain material aligner can include a circular roller chain in which the rollers allow for a controlling force to be applied to a material. An omni-belt material aligner can include a belt with attached perpendicular rollers which allow feed control and active motorized steering control. The material aligner can control the pressure applied onto the material to facilitate control of feeding the material.

Abstract: A system for using robotic telesurgery to implant a smart implant is disclosed. The system comprises a remote doctor module communicatively coupled with an operating room module over a cloud network. The operating room module comprises a robotic arm, a processor, and communication interface which communicates with the smart implant during the surgical procedure. The Operating Room Module testing the smart implant prior to implantation surgery; correlating data collected during the implantation surgery against past data from previous surgeries; determining whether the plurality of sensors is working properly; and transferring communication with the smart implant to a user device receive and monitor data from the plurality of sensors integrated into the smart implant to determine the smart implant is operating according as expected and to monitor the patient's condition.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to face identification of material. An image can be captured by a vision system and feature parameters determined and compared to a material feature database to determine which face of the material is being presented. The vision system can employ a set of parameters for configuration to acquire the image. The system can communicate the identification to downstream processes in real time. A near-universal, color agnostic, angular orientation independent identification of material faces can be determined without the need for physical manipulation of the material.

Abstract: A sewn product making apparatus such as a sewing robot can be used to produce a variety of products over a broad range of sizes, shapes or materials. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and the making of sewn products. In one example, among others, a system can generate a product making path using a product construction file, and instruct a sewing device and fabric mover(s) to automatically sew the product based upon the product making path. The product making path can be modified when a deviation is detected, and the sewing adjusted based upon the modified product making path. The product construction file can be generated using information from a computer aided design associated with the product.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to automation of pallet loading. In one example, a method includes positioning, by a material manipulator, an opening of a product; inserting a product loading assembly of a pallet loading system through an opening of the product, where the product loading assembly can hold the product during manipulation of the product and the pallet loading system can position the product for loading on a pallet; and transferring the product onto the pallet using the product loading assembly. The product can be a portion of a product or a garment or portion of a garment. The product can be smoothed on a surface of the pallet. The pallet can secure the product to the pallet by a pallet clamp. The product on the pallet can be embellished by processing equipment or workstation.

Abstract: Described herein are carrier assemblies, and related devices and methods. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier; a textured material including texturized microstructures coupled to the carrier; and microelectronic components mechanically coupled to the texturized microstructures. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; an electrode on the front side of the carrier; a dielectric material on the electrode; a charging contact on the back side coupled to the electrode; and microelectronic components electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; electrodes on the front side; a dielectric material including texturized microstructures on the electrodes; charging contacts on the back side coupled to the plurality of electrodes; and microelectronic components mechanically and electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier.

Abstract: Described herein are carrier assemblies, and related devices and methods. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier; a textured material including texturized microstructures coupled to the carrier; and microelectronic components mechanically coupled to the texturized microstructures. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; an electrode on the front side of the carrier; a dielectric material on the electrode; a charging contact on the back side coupled to the electrode; and microelectronic components electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; electrodes on the front side; a dielectric material including texturized microstructures on the electrodes; charging contacts on the back side coupled to the plurality of electrodes; and microelectronic components mechanically and electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier.

Abstract: Described herein are carrier assemblies, and related devices and methods. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier; a textured material including texturized microstructures coupled to the carrier; and microelectronic components mechanically coupled to the texturized microstructures. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; an electrode on the front side of the carrier; a dielectric material on the electrode; a charging contact on the back side coupled to the electrode; and microelectronic components electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier. In some embodiments, a carrier assembly includes a carrier having a front side and a back side; electrodes on the front side; a dielectric material including texturized microstructures on the electrodes; charging contacts on the back side coupled to the plurality of electrodes; and microelectronic components mechanically and electrostatically coupled to the front side of the carrier.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to face identification of material. An image can be captured by a vision system and feature parameters determined and compared to a material feature database to determine which face of the material is being presented. The vision system can employ a set of parameters for configuration to acquire the image. The system can communicate the identification to downstream processes in real time. A near-universal, color agnostic, angular orientation independent identification of material faces can be determined without the need for physical manipulation of the material.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to face identification of material. An image can be captured by a vision system and feature parameters determined and compared to a material feature database to determine which face of the material is being presented. The vision system can employ a set of parameters for configuration to acquire the image. The system can communicate the identification to downstream processes in real time. A near-universal, color agnostic, angular orientation independent identification of material faces can be determined without the need for physical manipulation of the material.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. An automated sewing process feed control system is disclosed in which a material aligner is utilized. An omni-chain material aligner can include a circular roller chain in which the rollers allow for a controlling force to be applied to a material. An omni-belt material aligner can include a belt with attached perpendicular rollers which allow feed control and active motorized steering control. The material aligner can control the pressure applied onto the material to facilitate control of feeding the material.

Abstract: Material moving apparatus, systems and methods are presented which can include an air material mover. Airflow through orifices can create a localized vacuum such that the uppermost or top layer of material can be separated from the stack of material. The airflow can interact with the material to produce flutter, which assists in separating lower layers from the uppermost layer. A material gripper can grip the uppermost or top layer of material for removal from the stack and repositioning in a work area.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that has a semiconductor die coupled to a substrate. A mold compound encapsulates the semiconductor die, and at least one thermal conductive material section extends from adjacent the semiconductor die through the mold compound. The at least one conductive material section thus conveys heat from the semiconductor die through the mold compound.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to end effectors for use in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. In one example, among others, a compliant perimeter end effector includes a mounting bracket having a contact mounting flange, a plurality of compliant material contact elements coupled about a perimeter of the contact mounting flange. The mounting bracket can couple to a manipulator including, e.g., an industrial robot or other manipulation assembly. The compliant material contact elements can include a contact interface that can engage with a piece of material. The compliant material contact elements can precisely transfer material on a workspace with surface irregularities while equally distributing force to the material.