Abstract: Soft picking tools for a pick and place robotic system are disclosed. A soft picking tool includes a body made of an integrated piece. The body includes stiff fingers located on a distal end of the body. The body also includes a portion of a soft-walled cavity configured to be deformed by application of a positive or negative pressure in the soft-walled cavity, leading to a motion of the stiff fingers, from a rest position, towards or away from a medial axis of the soft picking tool. The soft picking tool also includes one or more fingertips, where at least one of the stiff fingers includes a fingertip embedded on its distal end. The single-piece design and fingertips enable increased robustness, a reduced footprint, large gripping and spreading forces, and more efficient cluttered and flush grasping.

Abstract: Soft picking tools for a pick and place robotic system are disclosed. A soft picking tool includes a body made of an integrated piece. The body includes stiff fingers located on a distal end of the body. The body also includes a portion of a soft-walled cavity configured to be deformed by application of a positive or negative pressure in the soft-walled cavity, leading to a motion of the stiff fingers, from a rest position, towards or away from a medial axis of the soft picking tool. The soft picking tool also includes one or more fingertips, where at least one of the stiff fingers includes a fingertip embedded on its distal end. The single-piece design and fingertips enable increased robustness, a reduced footprint, large gripping and spreading forces, and more efficient cluttered and flush grasping.

Abstract: End effector tool changers for a pick, sort, and place robotic system are disclosed. The end effector tool changer comprises an arm attachment portion, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, wherein each engagement mechanism comprises a first part and a second part, and wherein the first part and the second part of the engagement mechanism are selected from the group consisting of a pin and a pinhole; a robotic arm attachment portion, comprising a first plurality of magnets and a first plurality of first parts of the plurality of engagement mechanisms; and a tool attachment portion, comprising a second plurality of magnets and a second plurality of second parts of the plurality of engagement mechanisms. The end effector tool changer has greater mechanical stability, prevents accidental disconnection of the tool, and prevents unintentional rotation of the tool.

Abstract: A system for registering applications for use with a graphic user interface which includes providing registration information for the applications. The registration information includes class identifiers and templates. The templates identify object classes. Each of the class identifiers and each of the templates correspond to a particular application, and the system utilizes templates for registering applications and may utilize subprograms belonging to the graphic user interface to register applications. The system further includes initiating subprograms utilized while registering an object class, if the graphic user interface is inactive.

Abstract: A method and system for the minimization of conflicting activities with respect to an object stored within a data processing system are disclosed. An object within a data processing system may be the subject of multiple activities by users of that system. A temporary record of all current activities with respect to an object is stored within a state mask which has been established in association with that object. Thereafter, prior to permitting a proposed activity, the state mask is utilized to automatically determine if the proposed activity represents a conflict with an existing activity.