Abstract: An apparatus for verifying electrical connectivity between a first device and a second device includes: a signal generator configured to generate a first signal having a voltage waveform. under control of a processor; a second device connector configured to transmit the first signal to the second device and acquire a second signal output from the second device in response to the first signal; a processor connector configured to transmit the first and second signals to the processor; a current controller configured to control a magnitude of current such that the first signal has a given current value; and the processor configured to verify the electrical connectivity between the first and second devices based on the first and second signals received through the processor connector.

Abstract: A robot control system and a method for updating camera calibration is presented. The method comprises the robot control system performing a first camera calibration to determine camera calibration information, and outputting a first movement command based on the camera calibration information for a robot operation. The method further comprises outputting, after the first camera calibration, a second movement command to move a calibration pattern within a camera field of view, receiving one or more calibration images, and adding the one or more calibration images to a captured image set. The method further comprises performing a second camera calibration based on calibration images in the captured image set to determine updated camera calibration information, determining whether a deviation between the camera calibration information and the updated camera calibration information exceeds a defined threshold, and outputting a notification signal if the deviation exceeds the defined threshold.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information medium control motion of a moving body according to position information corresponding to a predetermined array pattern. An information processing apparatus includes an information acquisition unit acquires position information from a sensor configured to read a predetermined array pattern, and a motion control unit controls motion of a first moving body including movement in a real space based on the position information.

Abstract: A gateway retrieval alert device is configured for use in an aircraft ground support system. The gateway retrieval alert device is connected to an intercom gateway, either through a direct wireless connection or through a direct connection to a headset of a tug operator, the headset in turn being wirelessly connected to the intercom gateway. The integrity of the wireless link to the intercom gateway is monitored, and when the integrity of the link falls below a set threshold, an alert is issued. The alert is issued externally to the communication network between the ground crew and pilot.

Abstract: A method for computing joint torques applied by actuators to perform a control of a movement of a robot arm having several degrees of freedom is provided. The method includes the act of providing, by a trajectory generator, trajectory vectors specifying a desired trajectory of the robot arm for each degree of freedom. The trajectory vectors are mapped to corresponding latent representation vectors that capture inherent properties of the robot arm using basis functions with trained parameters. The latent representation vectors are multiplied with trained core tensors to compute the joint torques for each degree of freedom.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring real-time operational data of a robotic manipulator. The system includes a robotic manipulator, a robotic manipulator controller, an electronic processor, a memory, and an output device. The memory includes a robotic manipulator profile, the robotic manipulator profile including a history of robotic manipulator operational data. The robotic manipulator controller is configured to generate a data packet based on signals relating to various operations of the robotic manipulator, and transmit the packet to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to process the data contained in the data packet, update the robotic manipulator profile based on the processed data, and generate an alert that is output to the output device based on the updated robotic manipulator profile.

Abstract: A robot is configured to assist an end-user with creative tasks. While the end-user modifies the work piece, the robot observes the modifications made by the end-user and determines one or more objectives that the end-user may endeavor to accomplish. The robot then determines a set of actions to perform that assist the end-user with accomplishing the objectives.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

Abstract: A robot cleaner according to the present invention includes a body provided with a driving unit for movement, a position recognition unit provided in the body to recognize a position of the body, a storage unit configured to store, on a map, a region cleaned while the body is moving by the driving unit, and a control unit configured to control the driving unit, wherein the control unit determines whether a charging stand exists in a cleaning completed region on the map stored in the storage unit when a return condition that the body returns to the charging stand is satisfied, searches for an uncleaned region when the charging stand is not located in the cleaning completed region, and controls the driving unit such that the body moves from a current position to a point in a found uncleaned region or a point around the found uncleaned region.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for a gripping system having an arm mechanism and a hand mechanism attached to the arm mechanism, by which an operation of the arm mechanism can be stopped as soon as the hand mechanism contacts an object. In the gripping system according to the present invention, the hand mechanism is provided with a contact detection unit for detecting that a predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object. The hand mechanism is also provided with a signal transmission unit that is electrically connected to an arm control device. The signal transmission unit transmits a command signal to stop the operation of the arm mechanism directly to the arm control device at the point where the contact detection unit detects that the predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for integrating sensor streams for robotic demonstration learning. One of the methods includes selecting, by a learning system for a robot, a base update rate for combining multiple sensor streams into a task state representation. The learning system repeatedly generates the task state representation at the base update rate, including combining, during each time period defined by the update rate, the task state representation from most recently updated sensor data processed by the plurality of neural networks. The learning system repeatedly uses the task state representations to generate commands for the robot at the base update rate.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes a camera, odometry module, processor, and drive mechanism. The camera captures images of an identifier for a racking system aisle and a rack leg portion in the aisle. The processor uses the identifier to generate information indicative of an initial rack leg position and rack leg spacing in the aisle, generate an initial vehicle position using the initial rack leg position, generate a vehicle odometry-based position using odometry data and the initial vehicle position, detect a subsequent rack leg using a captured image, correlate the detected subsequent rack leg with an expected vehicle position using rack leg spacing, generate an odometry error signal based on a difference between the positions, and update the vehicle odometry-based position using the odometry error signal and/or generated mast sway compensation to use for end of aisle protection and/or in/out of aisle localization.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot controller and an object robot including a first storage part storing a hardware identifier, individual discrimination data, and device specific data including an individual difference parameter. The same hardware identifier is assigned to the object robot having the same mechanism. The robot controller includes a second storage part storing common configuration information corresponding to the hardware identifier and the individual discrimination data and the individual difference parameter of the object robot, and a control part configured, in a case that the hardware identifier corresponding to the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the hardware identifier assigned to the object robot are collated and matched with each other, to create hardware definition information of the object robot based on the common configuration information stored in the second storage part and the individual difference parameter read from the first storage part.

Abstract: A user interacts with an autonomous mobile device (AMD) using a voice user interface. The voice user interface allows a user to instruct the AMD to move, stop, go to a specified location, and so forth. The commands may include, but are not limited to: stop, stop moving, move, turn, go to, stay here, go away, and so forth. In one implementation, if the AMD is instructed by the user to go away, the AMD may move out of sight of the user from a first region to another region, such as another room. The AMD will avoid traversing the first region until a timer expires or a command to enter the first region is given.

Abstract: A method for efficiently ascertaining output signals of a sequence of output signals with the aid of a sequence of layers of a machine learning system, in particular a neural network, from a sequence of input signals. The neural network is supplied in succession with the input signals of the sequence of input signals in a sequence of discrete time increments. At the discrete time increments, signals present in the network are in each case further propagated through a layer of the sequence of layers.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot torso, a robot arm, a main controller, and a plurality of bundles of cables; wherein a plurality of shoulder effectors are configured to drive the robot arm to move are disposed on the robot torso, a plurality of arm effectors that are relatively movable are disposed in sequence on the robot arm, and the main controller is disposed on the robot torso and configured to control a corresponding effector to operate, such that the robot arm has a plurality of degrees of freedom; any adjacent two of the main controller, the plurality of shoulder effectors, and the plurality of arm effectors are electrically connected by a cable bundle, each of the plurality of bundles of cables is disposed on an outer surface of the shoulder effector or the arm effector which the bundle of cables travels through.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

Abstract: Disclosed are a robot system and an operation method thereof. The robot system includes a central controller, a robot configured to communication with the central controller and capable of autonomous driving, and a first sensing module configured to communicate with the central controller, to be mounted inside an elevator, and configured to measure an electric power of a communication radio wave emitted by a mobile communication device inside the elevator. The robot may transmit or receive a wireless signal on a mobile communication network established according to 5G communication.

Abstract: A substrate conveying robot has a robot arm including an end effector having a substrate holding unit holding a substrate, arm drive unit for driving the robot arm, an elevating drive unit for elevatingly driving the end effector, a robot control unit controlling the arm drive unit, the elevating drive unit, and the substrate holding unit, and a substrate detection unit having a substrate detection unit which detects a vertical position of the substrate and elevates coordinately with an elevating operation of the end effector. By this configuration, a vertical position of a substrate to be conveyed is detected with high accuracy so that a robot operation can be controlled based on the detection result.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for monitoring a balanced state of a humanoid robot, comprising: acquiring state data of the robot falling in different directions and being stable, forming a support vector machine (SVM) training data set and obtaining, by training, an initial SVM classifier; inputting the state data of the robot to the trained SVM classifier, so that the SVM classifier outputs a classification result; taking statistics on a proportion of cycles judged to have an impending fall in the total number of control cycles within a judgment buffer time after the SVM classifier outputs the classification result, and finally determining a monitoring result of the balanced state of the robot according to the proportion and finally extracting state data of misjudged cycles within the buffer time, adding the state data to the current training data set and updating the SVM classifier, eventually enabling the classifier to achieve the effects of matching motion capabilities of the robot and monitorin

Abstract: A method and computing system comprising identifying one or more candidate objects for selection by a robot. A path to the one or more candidate objects may be determined based upon, at least in part, a robotic environment and at least one robotic constraint. A feasibility of grasping a first candidate object of the one or more candidate objects may be validated. If the feasibility is validated, the robot may be controlled to physically select the first candidate object. If the feasibility is not validated, at least one of a different grasping point of the first candidate object, a second path, or a second candidate object may be selected.

Abstract: A grounds maintenance system comprising: a robot tractor comprising; a robot body; a drive system including one or more motorized drive wheels to propel the robot body; a control system coupled to the drive system, the control system configurable to store a mow plan that specifies a set of paths to be traversed for a grounds maintenance operation and control the drive system to autonomously traverse the set of paths to implement the mow plan; a battery system comprising one or more batteries housed in the robot body; and a low-profile mowing deck coupled to the robot body, the mowing deck adapted to tilt and lift relative to the robot body, wherein the control system is configured to control tilting and lifting of the mowing deck and cutting by the mowing deck.

Abstract: A method of evaluating safety of a robot includes a step of obtaining a three-dimensional image or three-dimensional model of a test robot comprising shape information of a real robot, a step of setting a movement time and movement path of the test robot by inputting profile information comprising movement time information and movement path information of the test robot, a step of calculating a collision pressure and collision force applied to a collision object in consideration of a shape, effective mass, movement speed, and direction of an injury-causing dangerous portion of the test robot, and a step of evaluating safety of the robot by determining whether magnitudes of the calculated collision pressure and collision force fall within magnitudes of a predetermined maximum collision pressure and predetermined maximum collision force.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system including a surgical table, a surgical robotic manipulator coupled to the surgical table and comprising a plurality of links coupled together by a plurality of joints that are operable to move with respect to one another to move the surgical robotic manipulator, at least one of the plurality of links or the plurality of joints having a portion that faces another of the plurality of links or the plurality of joints, a proximity sensing assembly coupled to the portion of the at least one of the plurality of links or the plurality of joints, the proximity sensing assembly operable to detect an object prior to the surgical robotic manipulator colliding with the object and to output a corresponding detection signal, and a processor operable to receive the corresponding detecting signal and cause the manipulator or the object to engage in a collision avoidance operation.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable maneuvering collaborative robots to rescue persons in a hydrological disaster. A plurality of robots are dispersed in a body of water to spread out and seek victims using cooperative foraging techniques within resource constraints. A location of victims located by a robot using sensing techniques is communicated to other robots. A situational assessment is performed using victim location information to determine a number of robots to deploy to the location. The deployed robots are directed to perform coordinated maneuvers to create a connected floatation unit to support floatation of victims for rescue.

Abstract: A system for controlling movement of multiple links of an excavator can move a tool at the end of an excavator arm. The system includes a sensor data interface configured to receive sensor data for determining relative orientations of the multiple links with respect to each other, and a surface setting unit configured to access design data defining a reference surface. The system has a remapping unit configured to remap a user command for moving two links with respect to each other about a corresponding joint to a rotatory tool degree of freedom. The system then coordinates output signals, such that as a function of the remapped user command the tool is rotated within the associated rotatory tool degree of freedom, without the need that an operator coordinates underlying joint movements.

Abstract: An autonomous robot system to enable automated movement of goods and materials in a dynamic environment including one or more dynamic objects. The autonomous robot system includes an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) including a vehicle management system. The vehicle management system provides real time resource planning and path optimization to enable the AGV to operate safely and efficiently alongside humans in a dynamic environment. The vehicle management system includes one or more processing devices to execute a moving object trajectory prediction module to predict a trajectory of a dynamic or moving object in a shared environment.

Abstract: A remote control manipulator system includes a manipulator controlled remotely by an operator; a camera to capture an image including the manipulator; a posture sensor to detect posture data; an action instruction inputter with which the operator inputs an action instruction instructing action to move or stop the manipulator; a control device including a structural data storage to store manipulator structural data representing a structure of the manipulator, a model image generator to generate a model image with referring to the structural data storage and the posture data, and a presentation image generator to generate a presentation image by superimposing a model image on the captured image; and a display to display the presentation image.

Abstract: A robot includes a first arm having a hole and extending along a first axis, a second arm coupled to the first arm, and rotating around a second axis crossing the first axis, a sensor configured to detect a target, and an attachment member provided to the second arm, and configured to support the sensor, wherein the attachment member is inserted through the hole, and extending along the second axis. Further, the sensor may be located outside an outer surface of the first arm.

Abstract: A robotic arm control system including a medical instrument to be inserted into a body-part, a force sensor to detect force applied by the instrument to the body-part, a robotic arm attached to the instrument, a first position sensor to track an instrument position of the instrument in the body-part, a second position sensor to track a body position of the body-part, and a controller to compute, responsively to the instrument position and the body position, a location of the instrument relative to the body-part, compare the detected force applied by the instrument to a permitted force level for application to an anatomical feature at the computed location and send a control command to, or cut power of, the robotic arm to loosen a rigidity of at least one robotic joint in response to the detected force applied by the instrument being greater than the permitted force level.

Abstract: A security monitoring system may implement a method for surveilling an outdoor area using a drone. The method involves receiving an input to initiate a pre-surveillance operation. The input indicates a type of pre-surveillance operation to be performed in the outdoor area. The drone may be configured according to the input and may then perform the pre-surveillance operation to obtain data indicative of environmental features in the outdoor area. A flight trajectory path for the drone is generated based on the data indicative of the environmental features in the outdoor area. The flight trajectory path includes a path for the drone to move within the outdoor area. The drone then performs a detailed surveillance of the outdoor area according to the flight trajectory path. A graphical representation of the outdoor area is generated based on data obtained from performing the surveillance of the outdoor area.

Abstract: A driver interface according to an embodiment may include an engagement member, an actuator, a detection member, and a sensor. The engagement member includes an engagement protrusion protruding from a surface of the engagement member and provided corresponding to an engagement recess provided at a drive transmission member rotatably provided in an adaptor. The actuator is configured to rotate the engagement member. The detection member is movable in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the engagement member. The sensor detects the detection member that has moved as a result of contact with a part of the drive transmission member.

Abstract: A robot is equipped with a processor. The processor detects external appearance or audio of a living being, and by controlling the robot, causes the robot to execute an operation in accordance with liking data indicating preferences of the robot regarding external appearance or audio and the detected external appearance or audio of the living being.

Abstract: Devices that record data from a space, such as audio or video devices having microphones and/or cameras, may have a privacy mode which allows a user to temporarily prevent the device from recoding audio or video of the space. The privacy mode may be a privacy cover, button, airgap, or other mechanism to obfuscate the acoustic or video signal, or to remove power and/or communication from the camera, microphone, control circuit, or to the entire device itself. Additionally, the privacy mode may be remotely enabled for multiple devices in a space.

Abstract: An operation control device for a robot comprises: an input part inputting at least one operation candidate, and a captured image including an object to be processed; a first learning device that has finished learning performed according to first learning data to output a first evaluation value indicating evaluation of each operation candidate when the robot performs a first processing operation upon input of the captured image and the operation candidate; a second learning device that has finished learning performed according to second learning data which differs from the first learning data, to output a second evaluation value indicating evaluation of each operation candidate when the robot performs a second processing operation upon input of the captured image and the operation candidate; and an evaluation part that, based on at least one of the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value, calculates a command value.

Abstract: A cleaner includes: a body which forms an outer appearance; and a mop module which is detachably connected to the body. The mop module includes: a pair of spin mops which contacts a floor while rotating clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from a top; and a module housing which connects the pair of spin mops. The cleaner may travel autonomously due to the rotation of the spin mops.

Abstract: A remote operation system includes a processor that is configured to acquire position information and communication quality information from each of plural vehicles on a regular basis, create position-specific communication quality information in which the position information and the communication quality information are associated with each other, supply the position-specific communication quality information to an operator of a remote operation target vehicle.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining image data representing a set of images of a worksite captured by an image capture component of a mobile computing device, identifying a set of virtual markers associated with the set of images, each virtual marker having a corresponding position in one of the images, and determining, for each virtual marker, a set of coordinates in a coordinate system based on the corresponding position of the virtual marker. Based on the set of coordinates, boundary data is generated that represents a boundary on the worksite. The boundary data is communicated to a robotic mower for control of the robotic mower within an operating area defined based on the boundary.

Abstract: Provided are distance detection method and device for a cleaning robot, a cleaning robot, an electronic device and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The method includes: acquiring detection data of an obstacle detector of the cleaning robot, determining, according to the detection data, whether a distance between the cleaning robot and an obstacle reaches a first distance, where the first distance is a distance between the cleaning robot and the obstacle at a moment when a changing trend of the detection data fits a pre-set changing trend. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, whether the cleaning robot is moving to a specific position a certain distance away from the obstacle may be detected precisely. As the specific position is determined precisely, collision with obstacles can be avoided efficiently for the cleaning robot during working, and thus the distance detection method for the cleaning robot is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air cleaner disposed in an indoor space. An air cleaner according to an embodiment includes a blowing device including a suction port and a discharge port, a fan motor configured to generate an air flow, a purifying unit installed inside the blowing device to purify air, a driving portion configured to move the air cleaner, a communication unit configured to communicate with a moving agent moving in the indoor space, and a processor configured to receive status information including at least one of air quality information and dust occurrence information collected by the moving agent, determine a specific zone in which air purification is to be performed using the status information collected by the moving agent, and perform air purification in the specific zone.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related technologies are disclosed for multi-device robot control. In one implementation, input(s) are received and provided to a personal assistant or another application or service. In response, command(s) directed to an external device are received, e.g., from the personal assistant. Based on the command(s), a robot is maneuvered in relation to a location associated with the external device. Transmission of instruction(s) from the robot to the external device is initiated.

Abstract: A method of controlling a robot that performs work using an end effector on an object transported by a handler includes calculating a target position of the end effector based on a position of the object, calculating a tracking correction amount for correction of the target position in correspondence with a transport amount of the object, controlling the end effector to follow the object based on the target position and the tracking correction amount, acquiring an acting force acting on the end effector from the object using a force sensor, calculating a force control correction amount for correction of the target position to set the acting force to a target force, and controlling the acting force to be the predetermined target force by driving the manipulator based on the force control correction amount.

Abstract: A mobile robot moving to a target position indicated by a user terminal, the mobile robot includes a driver configured to move the mobile robot; a communication interface configured to exchange a wireless signal with each of a first terminal transceiver and a second terminal transceiver included in the user terminal; and a controller configured to control the driver to move to the target position after transmission and reception of the wireless signal with the first terminal transceiver and transmission and reception of the wireless signal with the second terminal transceiver.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system has a user interface with a control arm that includes a passive axis system for maintaining degrees-of-freedom of a gimbal rotatably supported on the control arm as the gimbal is manipulated during a surgical procedure. The control arm includes a swivel member, a first member, and a second member. The swivel member is rotatable about a first axis. The first member rotatably coupled to the swivel member about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis. The second member rotatably coupled to the first member about a third axis that is parallel to the second axis. The gimbal rotatably supported by the second member about a fourth axis that is orthogonal to the third axis. The passive axis system correlating rotation of the swivel member about the first axis with rotation of the gimbal about the fourth axis.

Abstract: A robotic working tool comprising a sensor for detecting magnetic fields connected to a controller for controlling the operation of the robotic working tool. The controller is configured to operate according to a first control signal being transmitted through a first boundary wire and according to a second control signal being transmitted through a second boundary wire. The robotic working tool is thereby configured to operate within a composite work area comprising at least a first partial work area and a second partial work area. The first boundary wire delimits the first partial work area and the second boundary wire delimits the second partial work area. The at least first and second boundary wires provide a common perimeter for the composite work area. Analysing the magnetic fields detected by the sensor, the controller determines whether the robotic working tool is inside or outside the composite work area.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system includes vehicles, a positioning device to measure a location of each of the vehicles and output location information of the vehicles; a guidance device to generate, for each vehicle, a guidance command to guide the vehicle; and a storage device to store a guide command for each vehicle. The guidance device generates a guidance command including location information of points of passage defining a traveling path for each vehicle, stores the guidance command to the storage device, and, when at least some of the points of passage are to be altered, stores altered location information of points of passage to the storage device. Each vehicle accesses the storage device to acquire, from the storage device, the altered location information of points of passage.

Abstract: A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus and an information processing method to increase movement patterns of an autonomous mobile body more easily, the information processing apparatus including an operation control unit configured to control an operation of a driving unit. The operation control unit generates, on the basis of a teaching movement, control sequence data for causing a driving unit of an autonomous mobile body to execute an autonomous movement corresponding to the teaching movement, and causes the driving unit to execute the autonomous movement according to the control sequence data, on the basis of an action plan determined by situation estimation. The information processing method includes controlling, by a processor, an operation of a driving unit, and the controlling further includes generating control sequence data, and causing the driving unit to execute an autonomous movement according to the control sequence data.

Abstract: A work machine including a work head including a holding tool to pick up and hold a component, a rotating device to rotate the holding tool about an axis of the holding tool, a pivoting device to pivot the holding tool between a first attitude in which a distal end portion of the holding tool faces downward and a second attitude in which the distal end portion of the holding tool faces sideways; a moving device to move the work head; and a control device to control operation of the work head and the moving device, the control device including an operation control section to cause the holding tool to pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude, and to cause the holding tool to rotate from a holding angle that is a rotation angle when the component was picked up to a target angle.

Abstract: A robot for providing a guidance service using artificial intelligence. The robot measures distances between external robots and the robot and, based on the measured distances, determines that robots are concentrated in a specific area. Based on the determination that robots are concentrated in the specific area, the robot moves some of the external robots to the specific area.