Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: accessing a virtual model of the target object; extracting an object feature representing the target object from the virtual model; at the robotic arm, scanning a field of view of an optical sensor for the object feature, the optical sensor arranged on a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; in response to detecting the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor, calculating a physical offset between the target object and the end effector based on a position of the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor and a known offset between the optical sensor and the end effector; and driving a set of actuators in the robotic arm to reduce the physical offset.

Abstract: A method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: at a first time, recording a first optical image through an optical sensor arranged proximal a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; detecting a global reference feature in a first position in the first optical image; virtually locating a global reference frame based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; calculating a first pose of the end effector within the global reference frame at approximately the first time based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; and driving a set of actuators within the robotic arm to move the end effector from the first pose toward an object keypoint, the object keypoint defined within the global reference frame and representing an estimated location of a target object within range of the end effector.

Abstract: One variation of a reconfigurable robotic system includes: a base; an arm extending from the base, including a set of articulable axes, and terminating at a head interface board defining a set of interface pins; a component interconnect arranged within the base, including a set of interconnect pins electrically coupled to the set of interface pins, and including a set of logic pins; a control card configured to transiently engage the component interconnect and including: a set of interconnect pads configured to contact the set of interconnect pins, a set of logic pads configured to contact the set of logic pins, and a control circuit interposed between the set of interconnect pads and the set of logic pads and including a set of independently selectable function circuits between each interconnect pad in a subset of the set of interconnect pads and corresponding logic pads in the set of logic pads.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling a robotic arm includes: moving the robotic arm through a trajectory; at a first time in which the robotic arm occupies a first position along the trajectory, measuring a first capacitance of a first sense circuit comprising a first electrode extending over a first arm segment of the robotic arm; at a second time in which the robotic arm occupies a second position along the trajectory, measuring a second capacitance of the first sense circuit; calculating a first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit based on a difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance; in response to the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit exceeding a threshold rate of change, issuing a proximity alarm; and reducing a speed of the robotic arm moving through the trajectory in response to the proximity alarm.