Abstract: A method includes defining a manufacturing transformation for a mobile workpiece based on mobile workpiece state information of the mobile workpiece, where the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the mobile workpiece. The method includes selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the mobile workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, where the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the set of one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the mobile workpiece.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a smart container are provided. The methods use sensors of the smart container to detect tampering with the smart container after the container leaves a sender and before the container arrives at a receiver. In particular, the sensors detect when the smart container has been opened by someone other than the receiver (i.e., tampered with) and write the detection of tampering (e.g., the sensor measurement) to a blockchain. Delivery agents use scanners to write their possession or agency over the smart container to the blockchain. Accordingly, the agency of the smart container can be determined if tampering occurs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for vehicle integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Example methods may include coupling a landing dish of a vehicle integrated UAS to a ground station assembly; positioning the landing dish and the ground station assembly into a portion of a vehicle and a capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS; and coupling the landing dish to the capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS. In various embodiments, the vehicle integrated UAS may be configured to send and receive information (e.g., route information, power information, status information, etc.) between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) associated with the UAS to device(s) of a vehicle.

Abstract: Landing apparatuses for unmanned aerial vehicles are provided herein. An example battery assembly can include a housing having a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the housing having a receiving interface that receives a first protruding adapter of an associated object. The top surface of the housing having a second protruding adapter that mates with the receiving interface of a second battery assembly, an energy storage unit disposed within the housing, a locking mechanism disposed within the housing, a biasing member that places the locking mechanism in a locked configuration, and a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor being configured to execute the instructions to cause the locking mechanism to move into an unlocked configuration.

Abstract: A method of quenching a press hardenable steel (PHS) is provided. The method includes preparing a die having a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 40W/(m·K) and placing a blank within the die and simultaneously hot stamping and quenching the blank at a heat transfer coefficient of at least 2,950W/(m2·K). In one form, the step of hot stamping the blank is carried out with greater than 20 MPa of contact pressure between the die and the blank. In another form, the step of hot stamping the blank is carried out with 31 MPa of contact pressure between the die and the blank.

Abstract: A mapping system for an environment includes an image sensor configured to generate image data of the environment. The mapping system includes a fixed tag including position indicia, where the position indicia identifies a predefined position coordinate of the fixed tag. The mapping system includes an entity tag including entity indicia, where the entity indicia identifies an entity associated with the entity tag. The mapping system includes a controller configured to determine a position coordinate of the entity tag based on the image data, where the image data includes the position indicia and the entity indicia.

Abstract: A method includes defining, in an image, bounding boxes about an electrical connector assembly, identifying an edge of each of the bounding boxes, and determining one or more metrics based on the edge of each the bounding boxes, where the one or more metrics indicate a positional relationship between the edges of the bounding boxes. The method includes determining a state of the electrical connector assembly based on the one or more metrics and transmitting a notification based on the state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting privacy for safety, comfort, and infotainment of one or more occupants of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. For example, the system may capture image data indicative of an interior of the autonomous vehicle via one or more cameras integrated with the autonomous vehicle. The captured image data is then transformed to remove personal identification information of the one or more occupants, and the transformed image data may be analyzed to identify a concern, e.g., an occupant safety concern or a vehicle safety concern. The level of concern may be determined, and a mitigation strategy may be deployed based on the safety concern identified.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for wirelessly charging a battery in a mobile robot. In an example method in accordance with the disclosure, a mobile robot locates and approaches a wireless battery charging station (by using an onboard camera, for example). The mobile robot then executes an alignment procedure to align a wireless charge receiving pad of the mobile robot with a battery charging pad of the wireless battery charging station. The alignment procedure may involve the mobile robot moving the wireless charge receiving pad in any of three axial directions, such as, backwards, forwards, sideways, upwards, and/or downwards. After alignment is completed, the mobile robot may establish a wireless handshake with the wireless battery charging station. The wireless handshake can include a verification of an authentication of the mobile robot to access the wireless battery charging station, followed by a wireless battery charging operation.

Abstract: The method of monitoring an operation includes acquiring data from sensors including images of a workspace in which the operation is to be performed, identifying a human operator and a controlled element within the workspace using the acquired images, determining whether the operation has initiated based on a known activation trigger, estimating pose of the human operator using the images, monitoring state of the controlled element based on acquired data, and determining whether an abnormality occurred based on the estimated pose, the state of the controlled element, a duration of the operation, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The method of monitoring an operation includes acquiring data from sensors including images of a workspace in which the operation is to be performed, identifying a human operator and a controlled element within the workspace using the acquired images, determining whether the operation has initiated based on a known activation trigger, estimating pose of the human operator using the images, monitoring state of the controlled element based on acquired data, and determining whether an abnormality occurred based on the estimated pose, the state of the controlled element, a duration of the operation, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining acoustic data from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed on one or more mobile systems, one or more fixed infrastructure elements, or a combination thereof. The method includes obtaining image data from a plurality of image sensors disposed on the one or more mobile systems, the one or more fixed infrastructure elements, or a combination thereof. The method includes determining whether the anomalous state is present based on the image data and the acoustic data. The method includes, in response to the anomalous state being satisfied, identifying a location associated with the anomalous state based on the acoustic data and the image data and transmitting a notification based on the anomalous state and the location.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a portable housing and at least one handle structure integrally formed with the portable housing. The inspection apparatus further includes a vision data system, a lighting system, a user interface system, a wireless communication system, and a controller. The vision data system includes one or more cameras provided on the first face of the portable housing. The vision data system is operable to capture component data. The lighting system is arranged with the vision data system at the first face. The lighting system includes diffused light emitting diode (LED) ring arranged around at least one of the one or more cameras. The manufacturing inspection apparatus is a stand-alone and all-in-one computing device. The manufacturing inspection apparatus processes and stores inspection data locally.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a position of a blank entering a furnace includes measuring a position of a heated blank exiting the furnace, recording one or more offset values from a nominal value of the heated blank exiting the furnace, calculating a revised position of a subsequent blank entering the furnace as a function of the one or more offset values, and adjusting a position of the subsequent blank entering the furnace as a function of the one or more offset values. The position of the heated blank exiting the furnace can be measured with an electronic vision system, a robot can adjust the position of the subsequent blank, and offset value(s) can be an elapsed furnace operation time, a number of heated blanks that have exited the furnace, and a physical dimension between an actual position of the heated blank and the nominal value of the heated blank.

Abstract: A method of inspecting stamped blanks on a stamping line includes identifying at least one target defect location for a given stamped blank configuration where a unique defect type is associated with each of the at least one target defect locations. One or more images of each of the least one identified target defect locations on blanks stamped per the given stamped blank configuration are acquired with one or more cameras assigned to each of the identified target defect locations. The method includes analyzing the one or more images of each of the least one identified target defect locations and detecting if the unique defect type associated with each of the at least one target defect locations is present. Also, each unique defect type is identified with a corresponding unique defect identification algorithm.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a robotic system that includes a robotic arm, a robotic end-effector, a lock, and a control system. The robotic end-effector is detachably coupled to the robotic arm and includes a locomotion device to move the robotic end-effector independent of the robotic arm. The lock is disposed with the robotic arm and robotic end-effector, and is operable to detach and attach the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector. The control system is configured to control the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector, and to operate the lock to detach and attach the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector.

Abstract: A mapping system for an environment includes an image sensor configured to generate image data of the environment. The mapping system includes a fixed tag including position indicia, where the position indicia identifies a predefined position coordinate of the fixed tag. The mapping system includes an entity tag including entity indicia, where the entity indicia identifies an entity associated with the entity tag. The mapping system includes a controller configured to determine a position coordinate of the entity tag based on the image data, where the image data includes the position indicia and the entity indicia.

Abstract: A method includes defining a manufacturing transformation for a mobile workpiece based on mobile workpiece state information of the mobile workpiece, where the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the mobile workpiece. The method includes selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the mobile workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, where the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the set of one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the mobile workpiece.

Abstract: A method for navigating a robot within an environment based on a planned route includes providing the planned route to the robot, where the planned route is based on a destination of the robot and an origin of the robot. The method includes determining whether an object obstructs the robot as the robot travels along the planned route, where the environment includes the object. The method includes moving the object from the planned route in response to the robot obstructing the object.

Abstract: A system includes a robotic system including a robot disposable at a mobile workstation, where the robot is configured to perform an automated operation on a workpiece. The system includes one or more transfer robots configured to transfer the robotic system to or from the mobile workstation. The system includes a control system configured to command the transfer robot to perform a transfer operation of the robotic system, where the transfer operation includes at least one of disposing the robotic system at the mobile workstation or retrieving the robotic system from the mobile workstation. The control system is configured to control the mobile workstation and the robotic system based on image data from the one or more infrastructure sensors, position data from the one or more on-board position sensors, the automated operation to be performed by the robot, or a combination thereof.