Abstract: A system and method for operating a robotic system to place objects on multiple placement locations on a given surface. The robotic system may use a sequence for such placement locations to control the placement of objects onto the placement locations.

Abstract: Robotic systems with variable gripping mechanisms, and related systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the robotic system includes a robotic arm and an object-gripping assembly coupled to the robotic arm. The object-gripping assembly can include a main body coupled to the robotic arm through an external connector on an upper surface of the main body and a vacuum operated gripping component coupled to a lower surface of the main body. The object-gripping assembly can also include a variable-width gripping component coupled to the main body. The variable-width gripping component is movable between a fully folded state, a plurality of extended states, and a clamping state to grip a variety of target objects of varying shapes, sizes, weights, and orientations.

Abstract: A computing system including a communication interface and a processing circuit. The communication interface communicates with a robot and a camera having a field of view. The processing circuit performs obtaining image information based on objects within the field of view and determines a first template matching score which indicates a degree of match between the image information and an model template. The processing circuit further determines image edge information based on the image information and determines a second template matching score which indicates a degree of match between the image edge information and a template. The processing circuit additional determines an overall template matching score based on the first template matching score and the second template matching score.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating aspects of target objects and/or associated task implementations is disclosed.

Abstract: A computing system configured for object transfer is provided. The computing system includes at least one processing circuit configured to identify pickable regions of objects according to image information of the objects. Pickable regions may be determined according to a surface cost map indicating smoothness of regions of the image information, determined according to height differences and normal differences. Identification of pickable regions may be used to in a motion planning operation to transfer the objects.

Abstract: A computing system and method are presented. The computing system may store sensor data which includes: (i) a set of movement data, and (ii) a set of actuation data. The computing system may divide the sensor data into training data and test data by: (i) selecting, as the training data, movement training data and corresponding actuation training data, and (ii) selecting, as the test data, movement test data and corresponding actuation test data. The computing system may determine, based on the movement training data and the actuation training data, at least one of: (i) a friction parameter estimate or (ii) a center of mass (CoM) estimate, and may determine actuation prediction data based on the movement test data and based on the at least one of the friction parameter estimate or the CoM estimate. The computing system may further determine residual data, and determine a value for an error parameter.

Abstract: Robotic systems with griping mechanisms, and related systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the robotic system includes a robotic arm and an end-of-arm tool coupled to the robotic arm. The end-of-arm tool can include a housing, a vacuum-gripping component, and a clamping component. The vacuum-gripping component can be operably coupled to a lower surface of the housing to apply a suction force to an upper surface of a target object. The clamping component can include first and second clamping elements. The first clamping element projects at least partially beneath the lower surface of the housing and is movable along a lateral axis to engage a first side surface of the target object. Similarly, the second clamping element projects at least partially beneath the lower surface of the frame and is movable along the lateral axis to engage with a second side surface of the target object.

Abstract: A computing system including a processing circuit in communication with a camera having a field of view. The processing circuit is configured to perform operations related to detecting, identifying, and retrieving objects disposed amongst a plurality of objects. The processing circuit may be configured to perform operations related to object recognition template generation, feature generation, hypothesis generation, hypothesis refinement, and hypothesis validation.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a transfer robot and a multi-surface gripper to grasp and transfer objects is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a transfer robot to grasp and transfer objects is disclosed. The transport robot includes a robotic gripper assembly having an array of addressable vacuum regions each configured to independently provide a vacuum to grasp a target object. The gripper assembly can be configured and/or operated according to one or more physical characteristics of targeted objects and/or corresponding scenarios.

Abstract: A computing system including a processing circuit in communication with a camera having a field of view. The processing circuit is configured to perform operations related to detecting, identifying, and retrieving objects disposed amongst a plurality of objects. The processing circuit may be configured to perform operations related to object recognition template generation, feature generation, hypothesis generation, hypothesis refinement, and hypothesis validation.

Abstract: The storage system includes a base that supports a container for accommodating articles and a transport robot for transporting the container. The transport robot has a load unit that can load the container and a lift unit for moving the load unit in the vertical direction. The transport robot has a switch unit for switching between a state in which the base restricts the vertical movement of the container and a state in which the base does not restrict the vertical movement of the container. When the storage system increases the number of containers supported by the base, the lift unit moves the container to be stored from a position below the support position on the base to the support position in a state in which the base does not restrict the vertical movement of the container.

Abstract: A robot control system and a method for automatic camera calibration is presented. The robot control system includes a control circuit configured to determine all corner locations of an imaginary cube that fits within a camera field of view, and determine a plurality of locations that are distributed on or throughout the imaginary cube. The control circuit is further configured to control a robot arm to move a calibration pattern to the plurality of locations, and to receive a plurality of calibration images corresponding to the plurality of locations, and to determine respective estimates of intrinsic camera parameters based on the plurality of calibration images, and to determine an estimate of a transformation function that describes a relationship between a camera coordinate system and a world coordinate system. The control circuit is further configured to control placement of the robot arm based on the estimate of the transformation function.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system is presented. The method may include the computing system receiving image information that represents an object surface associated with a flexible object, and identifying, as a grip region, a surface region of the object surface that satisfies a defined smoothness condition and has a region size that is larger than or equal to a defined region size threshold, wherein the grip region is identified based on the image information. The method may further include identifying, as a safety region, a three-dimensional (3D) region which surrounds the grip region in one or more horizontal dimensions, and which extends from the grip region along a vertical dimension that is perpendicular to the one or more horizontal dimensions. The method may further include performing robot motion planning based on the grip region and the safety region.

Abstract: An object gripping assembly and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the object gripping assembly includes a first carrying plate with a first mounting track extending along a first axis and two or more second carrying plates movably carried by the first mounting track. Each of the two or more second carrying plates can include a second mounting track extending along a second axis at least and extendable gripping components movably carried by the second mounting track. A first pitch adjusting component can be operably coupled the two or more second carrying plates to controllably change the pitch of the two or more second carrying plates along the first mounting track. A second pitch adjusting component can be operably coupled to the extendable gripping components on a corresponding second carrying plate to controllably change the pitch of the extendable gripping components along the second mounting track.

Abstract: A computing system including a processing circuit in communication with a robot and a camera having a field of view. The processing circuit obtains image information based on the objects in the field of view and a loading environment, the loading environment which includes loading areas, an object queue, and a buffer zone. The computing system is configured to use the obtained image information in motion planning operations for the retrieval and placement of objects from the object queue into the loading environment. Pallets provided within the loading environment (i.e., within the loading areas) are dedicated to receiving objects having corresponding object type identifiers. The computer system further uses the image information to determine the fill status of pallets existing within the loading environment, and whether new pallets need to be brought into the loading environment and/or swapped out with existing pallets to account for future planning and placement operations.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a robotic system to register unrecognized objects is disclosed. The robotic system may use first image data representative of an unrecognized object to derive an initial minimum viable region (MVR). The robotic system may analyze second image data representative of the unrecognized object to detect a condition representative of an accuracy of the initial MVR. The robotic system may register the initial MVR or an adjustment thereof based on the detected condition.

Abstract: A controller for a robotic system is provided. The controller may derive first data including information about operation objects and information about pallet before loading and/or unloading of the operation object on/from the pallet. The controller may derive a control sequence for loading and/or unloading the operation object on/from the pallet based on the first data before execution of the corresponding loading/unloading task. Based on the control sequence, the controller may instruct a robot to execute the task of loading and/or unloading the operation object on/from the pallet.

Abstract: A method for operating a transport robot includes receiving image data representative of a group of objects. One or more target objects are identified in the group based on the received image data. Addressable vacuum regions are selected based on the identified one or more target objects. The transport robot is command to cause the selected addressable vacuum regions to hold and transport the identified one or more target objects. The transport robot includes a multi-gripper assembly having an array of addressable vacuum regions each configured to independently provide a vacuum. A vision sensor device can capture the image data, which is representative of the target objects adjacent to or held by the multi-gripper assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating aspects of target objects and/or associated task implementations is disclosed.