Abstract: A robot includes a mobile base, a turntable rotatably coupled to the mobile base, a robotic arm operatively coupled to the turntable, and at least one directional sensor. An orientation of the at least one directional sensor is independently controllable. A method of controlling a robotic arm includes controlling a state of a mobile base and controlling a state of a robotic arm coupled to the mobile base, based, at least in part, on the state of the mobile base.

Abstract: A robot comprises a mobile base, a robotic arm operatively coupled to the mobile base, and at least one interface configured to enable selective coupling to at least one accessory. The at least one interface comprises an electrical interface configured to transmit power and/or data between the robot and the at least one accessory, and a mechanical interface configured to enable physical coupling between the robot and the at least one accessory.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a structural support rigidly coupled to a surface of a mobile robot and a plurality of perception modules, each of which is arranged on the structural support, has a different field of view, and includes a two-dimensional (2D) camera configured to capture a color image of an environment, a depth sensor configured to capture depth information of one or more objects in the environment, and at least one light source configured to provide illumination to the environment. The imaging apparatus further includes control circuitry configured to control a timing of operation of the 2D camera, the depth sensor, and the at least one light source included in each of the plurality of perception modules, and at least one computer processor configured to process the color image and the depth information to identify at least one characteristic of one or more objects in the environment.

Abstract: A method of estimating one or more mass characteristics of a payload manipulated by a robot includes moving the payload using the robot, determining one or more accelerations of the payload while the payload is in motion, sensing, using one or more sensors of the robot, a wrench applied to the payload while the payload is in motion, and estimating the one or more mass characteristics of the payload based, at least in part, on the determined accelerations and the sensed wrench.

Abstract: A perception mast for mobile robot is provided. The mobile robot comprises a mobile base, a turntable operatively coupled to the mobile base, the turntable configured to rotate about a first axis, an arm operatively coupled to a first location on the turntable, and the perception mast operatively coupled to a second location on the turntable, the perception mast configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the first axis, wherein the perception mast includes disposed thereon, a first perception module and a second perception module arranged between the first imaging module and the turntable.

Abstract: A method of planning a swing trajectory for a leg of a robot includes receiving an initial position of a leg of the robot, an initial velocity of the leg, a touchdown location, and a touchdown target time. The method also includes determining a difference between the initial position and the touchdown location and separating the difference between the initial position and the touchdown location into a horizontal motion component and a vertical motion component. The method also includes selecting a horizontal motion policy and a vertical motion policy to satisfy the motion components. Each policy produces a respective trajectory as a function of the initial position, the initial velocity, the touchdown location, and the touchdown target time. The method also includes executing the selected policies to swing the leg of the robot from the initial position to the touchdown location at the touchdown target time.

Abstract: A control system may receive a first plurality of measurements indicative of respective joint angles corresponding to a plurality of sensors connected to a robot. The robot may include a body and a plurality of jointed limbs connected to the body associated with respective properties. The control system may also receive a body orientation measurement indicative of an orientation of the body of the robot. The control system may further determine a relationship between the first plurality of measurements and the body orientation measurement based on the properties associated with the jointed limbs of the robot. Additionally, the control system may estimate an aggregate orientation of the robot based on the first plurality of measurements, the body orientation measurement, and the determined relationship. Further, the control system may provide instructions to control at least one jointed limb of the robot based on the estimated aggregate orientation of the robot.

Abstract: A method tor controlling a robot includes receiving image data from at least one image sensor. The image data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method also includes executing a graphical user interface configured to display a scene of the environment based on the image data and receive an input indication indicating selection of a pixel location within the scene. The method also includes determining a pointing vector based on the selection of the pixel location. The pointing vector represents a direction of travel for navigating the robot in the environment. The method also includes transmitting a waypoint command to the robot. The waypoint command when received by the robot causes the robot to navigate to a target location. The target location is based on an intersection between the pointing vector and a terrain estimate of the robot.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a position measurement system includes receiving measurement data from the position measurement system and determining that the measurement data includes periodic distortion data. The position measurement system includes a nonius track and a master track. The method also includes modifying the measurement data by decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components and removing the periodic components from the measurement data.

Abstract: A user is provided with a GUI that may allow the user to change functionality associated with a non-battery-powered card, a battery-powered card, a payment sticker, or another device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device). Such functionality may cause a network entity to deliver transaction details to a processing facility. The processing facility may be implemented with processing zones for scrubbing personal information from the transaction details and providing sanitized information to third party applications that may utilize the sanitized information for value. Third-party applications may interact with the processing facility via zone-based APIs to promote third-party software development within the processing facility and to promote third-party communications with the processing facility. Each of the processing zones may enforce security contexts such that processing zones of equal security contexts may communicate with other, while processing zones of unequal security contexts may not.

Abstract: A method for determining a step path involves obtaining a reference step path for a robot with at least three feet. The reference step path includes a set of spatial points on a surface that define respective target touchdown locations for the at least three feet. The method also involves receiving a state of the robot. The method further involves generating a reference capture point trajectory based on the reference step path. Additionally, the method involves obtaining at least two potential step paths and a corresponding capture point trajectory. Further, the method involves selecting a particular step path of the at least two potential step paths based on a relationship between the at least two potential step paths, the potential capture point trajectory, the reference step path, and the reference capture point trajectory. The method additionally involves instructing the robot to begin stepping in accordance with the particular step path.

Abstract: A Parametric Disturbance Sensor is provided. The parametric disturbance sensor has a stripline enclosure having an internal chamber; a stripline sensor core positioned within the internal chamber; a fill material filling the internal chamber so that the stripline sensor is not in direct contact with the stripline sensor core enclosure; and a cable-end connector connected to the stripline sensor core for connecting the stripline sensor core to a processing unit.

Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of producing progenitor cells from induced pluripotent stem cells, wherein the progenitor cells comprise endothelial cells, pericytes, brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), hematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs), microglia or neural precursor cells (NPCs).

Abstract: A system (10) for convolving and adding frames of data comprises a first sensor-display device (14) and a second sensor display device (26). Each sensor display device (14, 26) comprises an array (80) of transmit-receive modules (82). Each transmit-receive module (82) comprises a light sensor element (86), a light transmitter element (84), and a memory bank (90). A radial modulator device (20) is positioned where transmission of light fields comprising frames of data are Fourier transformed. Filters implemented by modulator elements of the radial modulator device (20) convolve the fields of light comprising the frames of data, which are then sensed on a pixel-by-pixel basis by the light sensor elements (86), which accumulate charges, thus sum pixel values of sequential convolved frames of data.

Abstract: Programming fixtures are provided that program devices, such as payment cards, with data, such as personal data, using light transmitters and receivers. A code sequence may be entered into the devices to transition the devices into one of several test modes. Pressing a button may cause diagnostic data to be communicated by the device. Pressing another button may cause default data to be communicated by the device. A personalization test module may capture the diagnostic data and/or default data to document and/or verify operation of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to intelligent grippers with individual cup control are disclosed. One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of determining grip quality between a robotic gripper and an object. The method comprises applying a vacuum to two or more cup assemblies of the robotic gripper in contact with the object, moving the object with the robotic gripper after applying the vacuum to the two or more cup assemblies, and determining, using at least one pressure sensor associated with each of the two or more cup assemblies, a grip quality between the robotic gripper and the object.

Abstract: A method of planning a path for an articulated arm of robot includes generating a directed graph corresponding to a joint space of the articulated arm. The directed graph includes a plurality of nodes each corresponding to a joint pose of the articulated arm. The method also includes generating a planned path from a start node associated with a start pose of the articulated arm to an end node associated with a target pose of the articulated arm. The planned path includes a series of movements along the nodes between the start node and the end node. The method also includes determining when the articulated arm can travel to a subsequent node or the target pose, terminating a movement of the articulated arm towards a target node, and initiating a subsequent movement of the articulated arm to move directly to the target pose or the subsequent node.

Abstract: A method for palletizing includes receiving a target box location for a box grasped by the end-effector, the box having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces. The method also includes positioning the box at an initial position adjacent to the target box location and tilting the box at an angle relative to a ground plane where the angle is formed between the ground plane and the bottom surface. The method further includes shifting the box from the initial position in a first direction to a first alignment position that satisfies a threshold first alignment distance, shifting the box from the first alignment position in a second direction to the target box location that satisfies a threshold second alignment distance, and releasing the box from the end-effector. The release of the box causes the box to pivot toward a boundary edge of the target box location.

Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data for an environment about the robot. The sensor data is captured by one or more sensors of the robot. The method includes detecting one or more objects in the environment using the received sensor data. For each detected object, the method includes authoring an interaction behavior indicating a behavior that the robot is capable of performing with respect to the corresponding detected object. The method also includes augmenting a localization map of the environment to reflect the respective interaction behavior of each detected object.