Abstract: A device and method for communicating between networked devices that define a path having a plurality of device positions includes designating a source device for a communication stream wherein the source device has a first port to communicate in a first direction of the path and a second port to communicate in a second direction in the path with devices networked to the source device. A port is selected from one of the first port or the second port of the source device for defining a direction of the communication stream from the source device. A hop count is provided indicating a relative location of a destination device for the communication stream, the hop count being an integer number of network device positions from the source device to the destination device along the path from the selected port.

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 transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. Multiple pieces of layered materials can be transported on a flat planar surface while maintaining the material layer's position and orientation relative to one another during a sewing procedure of these materials along any arbitrary seam shape. In one example, among others, a method includes positioning a second piece of material on a first piece of material located on a sewing plane, positioning a material holding apparatus over the pieces of material to secure position and orientation between the pieces of material, locating the pieces of material with respect to an automated sewing machine by repositioning the material holding apparatus, and sewing the second piece of material to the first piece of material. The methods can eliminate the need of custom-made templates for sewing arbitrarily shaped seams with an automated sewing machine.

Abstract: An end effector is provided that includes a first valve operably connected to a first motor housing, the first valve being moveable along at least four axes, a second valve operably connected to a second motor housing, the second valve being moveable along at least four axes, and a proximity adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a horizontal distance between the first valve and the second valve. An associated conformal coating machine and method are also provided.

Abstract: A pneumatic robotic tool, such as grinder, sander, etc., implements passive force control and compliance using two or more double-acting pneumatic pistons distributed about a pneumatic motor within the tool housing. The multiple pistons facilitate a compact design, reducing tool stack height, as compared to prior-art, single-piston designs. In one embodiment, filtered breather vents and an air pressure equalization passage maintain ambient atmospheric pressure throughout the tool, while preventing the infiltration of dust and other particulates. In one embodiment, a hard port rigidly affixed to the tool housing is provided for at least motor supply pneumatic fluid. The motor supply air is transferred from the hard port to the pneumatic motor via a flexible pneumatic fluid tube within the tool housing. In one embodiment, the pneumatic motor discharge air is vented from the tool housing in a sealed passage that accommodates the tool compliance motion, and prevents dust infiltration.

Abstract: Retroreflective materials and articles are enabled that increase the retroreflectivity of reflective materials or articles for roadway, automotive, and safety purposes by incorporating retroreflective elements that exhibit near-ideal Total Internal Reflection (TIR).

Abstract: A drive system comprising a rotatable input disc that receives an input rotational force and rotates about a longitudinal axis, where the input disc comprises driving features formed on its interior face. The drive system also comprises a rotatable output disc that rotates about the longitudinal axis and comprises driving features formed on its interior face, where the output disc provides an output rotational force. The drive system comprises a drive core between the interior face of the input disc and the interior face of the output disc to translate the input rotational force to the output rotational force. As the input disc is rotated by the input rotational force, engaging feature(s) of power disc(s) in the drive core engages the driving features of the input disc causing rotation of each power disc. As the power disc(s) is rotated, the engaging feature(s) of each power disc(s) engages the driving features of the output disc causing rotation of the output disc.

Abstract: Control architecture for use with transport systems, such as linear drive systems, rotary drive systems, or a combination thereof, comprising a computer system having a controller for operating control system software for receiving input commands and protocols for creating a motion profile for each transport element, and a gateway for receiving the motion profile from the control system software and for operating gateway drive software that functions to select the appropriate drives to move each transport element along one or more tracks in accordance with their motion profiles.

Abstract: A self-contained, low-cost, low-weight guidance system for vehicles is provided. The guidance system can include an optical camera, a case, a processor, a connection between the processor and an on-board control system, and computer algorithms running on the processor. The guidance system can be integrated with a vehicle control system through “plug and play” functionality or a more open Software Development Kit. The computer algorithms re-create 3D structures as the vehicle travels and continuously updates a 3D model of the environment. The guidance system continuously identifies and tracks terrain, static objects, and dynamic objects through real-time camera images. The guidance system can receive inputs from the camera and the onboard control system. The guidance system can be used to assist vehicle navigation and to avoid possible collisions. The guidance system can communicate with the control system and provide navigational direction to the control system.

Abstract: A vehicle including a plurality of truck assemblies is provided. Each truck assembly includes a truck axle, a first wheel fixed to the truck axle, a second wheel selectively coupled to the truck axle, a motor configured to rotate the truck axle, and a clutch operatively coupled to the second wheel. The clutch is positionable between a coupled position and a decoupled position. When the clutch is in the coupled position, the second wheel rotates with the truck axle, and when the clutch is in the decoupled position, the second wheel is free to rotate relative to the truck axle.

Abstract: In a Force/Torque sensor employing strain gages, a hardware temperature compensation procedure substantially eliminates thermal drift of a plurality of load-sensing strain gages with changes in temperature, using trimming resistors and a single, unstressed strain gage. The strain gages are connected in a quarter-bridge configuration, in multiple parallel stages. An unstressed strain gage in quarter-bridge configuration is connected in parallel. Trimming resistors are added across one or more of the unstressed and load-sensing strain gages in a compensation procedure that substantially eliminates thermal drift of the load-sensing strain gages over a predefined temperature range.

Abstract: A fastener delivery arrangement includes a cylindrical sleeve member having first and second ends and an elongated relief extending between outer and inner walls and at least partially between the first and second ends of the sleeve member and in communication with the second end of the sleeve member and configured to receive a plurality of fasteners therethrough, a ram member having a circular cross-section and slidably movable within an interior space between a first position where the ram member is removed from covering the relief and a second position where the ram member covers the relief, a feed assembly configured to provide fasteners to the interior space, a cylinder assembly configured to actuate the ram member between the first and second positions, and a fastener receiver configured to receive the fasteners forced from the interior space of the sleeve member.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a platform and language agnostic method for generating inter-and intra-data type aggregations of heterogeneous disparate data upon which various operations can be performed without altering the structure of the query or resulting distributed data set representation to account for which specific data sources are included in the query.

Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

Abstract: A compliance mechanism for holding a robotic finishing tool implements passive force control and compliance using one or more double-acting pneumatic pistons. A desired application force is set and maintained by controlling pneumatic pressure in chambers both fore and aft of the one or more double-acting pneumatic pistons. The pressures in the fore and aft chambers are dynamically controlled, e.g., in response to changes in spatial orientation of the robot arm and tool, to maintain a desired compliance force applied by the robotic finishing tool to a workpiece. An external regulator maintains the fore and aft chamber pressures, for a given spatial orientation, throughout the holder's range of compliance motion. The compliance mechanism includes a plurality of piston bores; the number of active pistons may be adjusted for a given operation, e.g., in response to the finishing tool weight.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. Multiple pieces of layered materials can be transported on a flat planar surface while maintaining the material layer's position and orientation relative to one another during a sewing procedure of these materials along any arbitrary seam shape. In one example, among others, a system includes a sewing machine including a sewing needle, a material holding assembly and a translation system. The material holding assembly can include mechanical fingers that can contact material on a sewing plane adjacent to the sewing needle and a structural grounding system supporting the mechanical fingers. The translation system can reposition the material on the sewing plane via the mechanical fingers. Clearance around the sewing needle can be provided by repositioning individual mechanical fingers around the sewing needle.

Abstract: An optical bonding machine is provided that includes a robotic placement machine having a Z axis actuator coupled to a first end of a base portion of the robotic placement machine, the Z axis actuator capable of moving up and down a Z axis, and a pick and place plate operably connected to the Z axis actuator, and a vertically oriented adhesive application valve configured to apply an amount of adhesive onto an underside of a substrate, the underside of the substrate facing down when the amount of adhesive is applied, wherein the pick-and-place plate of the robotic placement machine manipulates the substrate within the optical bonding machine such that the substrate receives the amount of adhesive prior to being optically bonded to an other substrate; wherein a movement of the robotic placement machine is controllable over at least 3 axes.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of tape or strips of material along a seam of a garment or other material. In one example, among others, a robotic system includes a joining device that can attach a tape or strip of material across a seam, a loading system that can position material with the seam for attachment of the tape or strip of material, a seam feed system that can adjust positioning of the material for attachment, and a tape handling system that can supply the tape or strip of material to the joining head of the joining device for attachment across the seam. A tape handling system can include a tape joining assembly that can receive tape or strip of material from a current tape cartridge and bond it to the tape or strip of material clamped by the tape joining assembly.

Abstract: A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belt and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures.

Abstract: A robotic tool changer includes master and tool assemblies. When the master and tool assemblies are coupled, rolling members project from the master assembly and contact opposed sloped surfaces of a plurality of cutouts formed in a bearing race in the tool assembly. By contacting opposed sloped surfaces of a plurality of cutouts with the rolling members, torsional freeplay between the master and tool assemblies is eliminated or minimized.