Abstract: A method for controlling a transport robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring, when a user makes a request for transport of a target object, information on the user and information on the transport of the target object including a delivery place of the target object; identifying the user on the basis of the information on the user, and determining a place associated with the user as a destination where a transport robot is to transport the target object from the delivery place, with reference to a result of the identification; and causing the target object to be transported to the destination by the transport robot.

Abstract: A support assembly is provided. The support assembly includes: a lower frame configured to be mountable on one surface of a moving object; a guide frame configured such that one end is coupled to an upper surface of the lower frame, and at least a part of another end is curved toward where the lower frame is located; a connection frame configured such that one side includes a plurality of rollers spaced apart at a predetermined interval, and the plurality of rollers slide along the curved part of the guide frame; and an upper frame coupled to another side of the connection frame and configured to move in response to the plurality of rollers sliding along the curved part of the guide frame.

Abstract: In some examples, an autonomous robotic welding system comprises a workspace including a part having a seam, a sensor configured to capture multiple images within the workspace, a robot configured to lay weld along the seam, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify the seam on the part in the workspace based on the multiple images, plan a path for the robot to follow when welding the seam, the path including multiple different configurations of the robot, and instruct the robot to weld the seam according to the planned path.

Abstract: A method includes: synchronously calculating offsets of a first mechanical arm, a second mechanical arm and an endoscopy mechanical arm corresponding to a change of posture of the surgical bed when the change of posture of the surgical bed is detected in real time; calculating target joint readings of each of the first mechanical arm, the second mechanical arm and the endoscopy mechanical arm based on the offsets; adjusting in real time the first mechanical arm, the second mechanical arm and the endoscopy mechanical arm, based on the calculated target joint readings. The method acquires the joint readings of the mechanical arm of the surgical robot with information about a change of posture of the surgical bed so as to achieve the purpose of synchronizing the mechanical arm with the change of posture of the surgical bed.

Abstract: A system comprises a database; at least one hardware processor coupled with the database; and one or more software modules that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, receive at least one of sensory data from a robot and images from a camera, identify and build models of objects in an environment, wherein the model encompasses immutable properties of identified objects including mass and geometry, and wherein the geometry is assumed not to change, estimate the state including position, orientation, and velocity, of the identified objects, determine based on the state and model, potential configurations, or pre-grasp poses, for grasping the identified objects and return multiple grasping configurations per identified object, determine an object to be picked based on a quality metric, translate the pregrasp poses into behaviors that define motor forces and torques, communicate the motor forces and torques to the robot.

Abstract: A method for maintaining inventory within a store includes: accessing an image (e.g., a color image, depth image) depicting an inventory structure; detecting a slot region of the image depicting a slot; identifying a product type assigned to the slot; accessing a product dimension of the product type; defining a target region within the slot in the image based on the product dimension; defining a product region within the slot in the image based on the product dimension and the target region; defining a back-of-shelf plane intersecting the target region of the image; detecting a surface within the product region; and, in response to the surface intersecting the back-of-shelf plane, identifying the slot as empty and generating a prompt to restock the slot with product units of the product type.

Abstract: A lightweight, pocket-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be held in an outstretched hand by a user for take-off and landing of the UAV. The UAV comprises a semi-toroidal or a substantially toroidal hollow body that defines a duct. The UAV further comprises a motor for rotating a fan that directs air into and out of the duct enabling UAV to take flight. The UAV comprises a flight-control system that comprises at least two flight control surfaces that can alter the directed air as it flows through the duct for controlling the roll and pitch and optionally the yaw of the UAV during flight. The flight control system may be controlled by a microprocessor controller. The UAV further comprises a payload, with at least a wireless transmitter and receiver unit.

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 virtualization system implemented within a cloud server enables the simulation of robot structure and behavior in a virtual environment. The simulated robots are controlled by clients remote from the cloud server, enabling human operators or autonomous robot control programs running on the clients to control the movement and behavior of the simulated robots within the virtual environment. Data describing interactions between robots, the virtual environment, and objects can be recorded for use in future robot design. The virtualization system can include robot templates, enabling users to quickly select and customize a robot to be simulated, and further enabling users to update and re-customize the robot in real-time during the simulation. The virtualization system can re-simulate a portion of the robot simulation when an intervention by a human operator is detected, positioning robots, people, and objects within the virtual environment based on the detected intervention.

Abstract: Various approaches to ensuring safe operation of industrial machinery in a workcell include disposing multiple image sensors proximate to the workcell and acquiring, with at least some of the image sensors, the first set of images of the workcell; registering the sensors to each other based at least in part on the first set of images and, based at least in part on the registration, converting the first set of images to a common reference frame of the sensors; determining a transformation matrix for transforming the common reference frame of the sensors to a global frame of the workcell; registering the sensors to the industrial machinery; acquiring the second set of images during operation of the industrial machinery; and monitoring the industrial machinery during operation thereof based at least in part on the acquired second plurality of images, transformation, and registration of the sensors to the industrial machinery.

Abstract: Control systems for industrial machinery (e.g., robots) or other devices such as medical devices utilize a safety processor (SP) designed for integration into safety applications and computational components that are not necessarily safety-rated. The SP monitors performance of the non-safety computational components, including latency checks and verification of identical outputs. One or more sensors send data to the non-safety computational components for sophisticated processing and analysis that the SP cannot not perform, but the results of this processing are sent to the SP, which then generates safety-rated signals to the machinery or device being controlled by the SP. As a result, the system may qualify for a safety rating despite the ability to perform complex operations beyond the scope of safety-rated components.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a target robot to travel to a first loading station among a plurality of robots, on the basis of information on a location of the first loading station and a task situation of each of the plurality of robots, when a first transport target object is placed at the first loading station; and determining a travel route of the target robot with reference to information on the location of the first loading station and a location of a first unloading station associated with the first transport target object.

Abstract: A mobile robot is configured for operation in a commercial or industrial setting, such as an office building or retail store. The mobile robot may include cameras for capturing images and videos and include microphones for capturing audio of its surroundings. To improve privacy by preventing confidential information from being transmitted, the mobile robot may detect text in images and modify the images to make the text illegible before transmitting the images. The mobile robot may also detect human voice in audio and modify audio to make the human voice unintelligible before transmitting the audio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a console for operating an actuating mechanism, relating to the technical filed of automatic control, and being for use in resolving the technical problem of shift of a controller under the influence of gravity. The console for operating an actuating mechanism includes a controller and a support base. The controller is constrained in both the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, so that connection between the controller and the support base is tight and reliable, and no displacement would occur in any of three directions (i.e., the longitudinal direction, the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction). Thus, the phenomenon that position information given by the controller is inaccurate due to shift of the controller under the influence of the gravity after long-term usage can be avoided, thereby removing the factors affecting success of surgery, and ensuring the success rate of the surgery.

Abstract: Inspection robots with a multi-function piston connecting a drive module to a central chassis and systems thereof are disclosed. An example inspection robot may include a center chassis coupled to a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors. The inspection robot may further include a drive module coupled to the center chassis, the drive module having a drive wheel to engage an inspection surface and a drive piston mechanically interposed between the center chassis and the drive module. The example may further include wherein the drive piston in a first position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a minimum distance between and the drive piston in a second position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a maximum distance between. The example may further include wherein the drive module is independently rotatable relative to the center chassis.

Abstract: A system and method for performing distributed facial recognition divides processing steps between a user engagement device/robot, having lower processing power, and a remotely located server, having significantly more processing power. Images captured by the user engagement device/robot are processed at the device/robot by applying a first set of image processing steps that includes applying a first face detection. First processed images having at least one detected face is transmitted to the server, whereat a second set of image processing steps are applied to determine a stored user facial image matching the detected face of the first processed image. At least one user property associated to the given matching user facial image is then transmitted to the user engagement device/robot. An interactive action personalized to the user can further be performed at the user engagement device/robot.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring information on status of communication connections between a plurality of robots located in a serving place, wherein the status of communication connections between the plurality of robots is specified with respect to at least one relay robot among the plurality of robots; and determining a communication scheme to be used between the plurality of robots, with reference to the information on the status of communication connections between the plurality of robots.

Abstract: A control device for a dishwashing system includes processing circuitry configured to control operation of a work device that performs an operation related to a washing rack that is placeable on each of a plurality of support surfaces extending in substantially the same plane, the plurality of support surfaces including a first support surface, a second support surface disposed in association with a dishwasher capable of washing a dish in the washing rack, and a third support surface; and control the work device to operate such that the washing rack is transferred from the first support surface and returned to the first support surface via the second support surface and via the third support surface. A direction in which the washing rack is carried into the dishwasher and a direction in which the washing rack is carried out of the dishwasher form a substantially right angle as viewed from above.

Abstract: An automated kitchen assistant system inspects a food preparation area in the kitchen environment using a plurality of sensors or cameras. A trained model computes the identity and the location of the food item. In embodiments, the food items are on a grill, and the automated kitchen assistant system is operable to compute the time remaining to remove or flip each of the food items. The output may further be utilized to command a robotic arm, kitchen worker, or otherwise assist in food preparation. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A robot includes a body coupled to a wheel assembly and a container retrieval device. The wheel assembly has a plurality of wheels and a drive mechanism arranged to move the body along a first set of parallel rails and along a second set of parallel rails. The container retrieval device includes an extendable and retractable grapple arranged to selectively secure an engagement feature positioned between a rim and a bottom surface of a container. The grapple thus allows the robot to lift multiple containers in a single lift.