Abstract: In one embodiment, a material sorting system comprises: a suction gripper assembly, the suction gripper comprising: a body assembly that includes: an internal airflow passage configured to communicate an airflow between an airflow application port positioned at a first end of the body assembly and a gripping port positioned at the opposing second end of the body assembly; a cup fitting attached to the gripping port; a suction cup secured to the cup fitting; an attachable filter inserted into the suction cup and fastened to the cup fitting; and a mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more mounting points for pivotally attaching the suction gripper assembly to a sorting robot of the material sorting system.

Abstract: A photographic device is configured to be assembled on a body of an unmanned vehicle. The photographic device includes a tripod head module, a camera module, a shock-absorbing module, and a detachable supporting plate. The tripod head module includes a first motor disposed along a first axis, a second motor disposed along a second axis, a third motor disposed along a third axis, and a connecting arm. The camera module is pivotally connected to the tripod head module via the connecting arm. The shock-absorbing module includes a frame and a plurality of shock-absorbing balls. The third motor and the shock-absorbing balls are assembled on the frame, and the shock-absorbing balls surround the third motor. The detachable supporting plate is disposed between the frame of the shock-absorbing module and the camera module, and there is a buffer distance between the frame and the detachable supporting plate.

Abstract: A drone includes a drone main body and a parachute module. The parachute module includes a base, a housing, an inflatable material, a parachute, and an inflating device. The base is disposed on the drone main body. The housing covers the base to form a containing space therebetween. The inflatable material is disposed on the base and furled in the containing space. The parachute is connected to the inflatable material and the housing and is furled in the containing space. The inflating device is disposed on the base and connected to the inflatable material. When the inflating device inflates the inflatable material, the inflatable material expands and strikes the housing, so that the housing is separated from the drone main body, so as to increase a distance between the parachute and the drone main body and deploy the parachute. In addition, a control method of the drone is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery replacement mechanism configured to pick and place a battery from and in a first accommodation bay. The first accommodation bay is provided with a first latch to hold the battery therein. The battery replacement mechanism includes a multi-axial slide table assembly, a carrier, and a pick-and-place device. The carrier is movably disposed on the multi-axial slide table assembly, and the pick-and-place device is movably disposed on the carrier. The carrier includes a second latch, and the pick-and-place device includes a catching hook. The second latch is configured to release the first latch of the first accommodation bay, so that the battery may enter and exit the first accommodation bay, and the catching hook is connected to the battery and is configured to drag the battery toward and away from the carrier. The disclosure further provides a battery replacement system and a battery replacement method for a UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vacuum extraction for material sorting applications are provided. In one embodiments, a vacuum object sorting system comprises: a vacuum extraction assembly that includes at least one vacuum extractor device having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to convert a controlled compressed air stream into a channeled vacuum airflow entering the inlet and exiting the outlet; and an object recognition device coupled to sorting control logic and electronics, wherein the controlled compressed air stream is controlled in response to a signal generated by the object recognition device; wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to capture a target object identified by the sorting control logic and electronics utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, and further utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, to pass the target object through the inlet and outlet to a deposit location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical material characterization of waste materials using machine learning are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: an imaging device configured to generate image frames an area and target objects within the area; an object characterization processor coupled to the imaging device and comprising Neural Processing Units and a Neural Network Parameter Set. The Neural Network Parameter Set stores learned parameters utilized by the one or more Neural Processing Units for characterizing the one or more target objects. The Neural Processing Units are configured by the Neural Network Parameter Set to detect a presence of a plurality of different materials within the image frames based on a plurality of different features. For a first image frame of the plurality of image frames, the Neural Processing Units outputs material characterization data that identifies which of the plurality of different materials are detected in the first image frame.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a robotic vacuum sorting system comprises: a suction gripper mechanism mounted to a sorting robot; a vacuum system coupled to the suction gripper mechanism; robot control logic and electronics coupled to the sorting robot and the vacuum system; and an imaging device coupled to the robot control logic and electronics. In response to an image signal from the imaging device, the robot control logic and electronics outputs robot control signals to control the sorting robot, and outputs one or more airflow control signals to the vacuum system to execute a capture action on a target object using the suction gripper. During the capture action, the robot control logic and electronics outputs control signals such that the vacuum system pulls a vacuum at the gripping port of the suction gripper mechanism as the suction gripper mechanism is applied to capture and hold the target object.

Abstract: Grippers, such as robotic grippers, and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. One disclosed gripper includes a first compliant gripper jaw, a first push-pull assembly having a first distal end fixed on the first compliant gripper jaw, a second compliant gripper jaw, a second push-pull assembly having a second distal end fixed on the second compliant gripper jaw, and an actuator connected to both the first push-pull assembly and the second push-pull assembly.

Abstract: Fill stations, cup dispensers and faucet clips configured for robotic interaction and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. One disclosed system includes a robot with a visible light sensor and an end effector, a mechanical scale for weighing a vessel, and a visual flag translated by the mechanical scale. The visual flag is hidden when the vessel is below a target weight and is revealed when the vessel is above a target weight. The robot is programmed to detect the visual flag using the visible light sensor and disengage a dispenser of the fill station in response to the detecting of the visual flag.

Abstract: A power supply control method and a monitoring system configured to implement the power supply control method are provided. The monitoring system includes a base station, a drone, and a processor. The base station includes a charging device. The charging device includes a power supply connector and a power source coupled to the power supply connector and outputting electric power through the power supply connector. The drone includes a battery configured to provide electric power to the drone and a charging connector configured to connect the battery and the power supply connector. When the charging connector is connected to the power supply connector, the processor determines an abnormal situation on the power supply connector or the drone according to an electrical characteristic during charging the battery by the power source. The abnormal situation is associated with a foreign object formed on the power supply connector or the drone.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a power supply control method and a monitor system capable of executing the power supply control method. The monitor system includes a base station, an image capture apparatus, and a processor. The base station includes a charging apparatus including a power supply connector and a power source coupled to the power supply connector and outputting power through the power supply connector. The image capture apparatus shoots the power supply connector to obtain a shot image. The processor determines a foreign object distribution on the power supply connector according to the shot image and sends a warning message according to the foreign object distribution. The foreign object distribution relates to foreign objects formed on the power supply connector. Accordingly, whether a charging mechanism fails can be automatically determined and notification and/or compensation may be performed when the charging mechanism fails.

Abstract: A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: A drone and a positioning method thereof, a drone communication system and an operation method thereof are provided. The positioning method of the drone is applicable for a drone to cruise in a flight field. The positioning method includes the following steps: flying according to a destination coordinate in the flight field; sensing a plurality of base stations via a first wireless communication module to obtain a plurality of first radio wave signals of the plurality of base stations; positioning according to the plurality of first radio wave signals to determine a current coordinate of the drone; and flying toward the destination coordinate in the flight field according to the current coordinate. In this way, the drone is capable of reliably positioning to effectively perform automatic flight missions.

Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.

Abstract: A system having components coupled to an aircraft and components remote from the aircraft processes sensor-derived data, transmits information between aircraft system components and remote system components, and dynamically generates updated analyses of position and orientation of the aircraft relative to a desired landing site, while the aircraft is in flight toward the desired landing site. Based on the position and orientation information, the system generates instructions for flight control of the aircraft toward a flight path to the landing site, and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed.

Abstract: A robot for capturing image frames of subjects in response to a request includes a base, a robot head, a camera, a vertical positioning mechanism, and a control system. The base has a transport mechanism for controllably positioning the robot along a lateral surface. The vertical positioning mechanism couples the robot head to the base and adjusts a vertical distance between the robot head and the support surface. The control system controls image capture of the camera, the transport mechanism, and the vertical positioning mechanism.