Abstract: A steerable overtube assembly for a robotic surgical system can include a steerable shaft having one or more instrument channel and a control hub configured to mount to the steerable shaft. The assembly can also include a manual actuator extending from the control hub and configured to allow the steerable shaft to be manually steered by a user's hand, and a robotic actuator housed by and/or extending from the control hub configured to connect to a robotic driver to allow robotic steering of the steerable shaft.

Abstract: A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of input sensors, the plurality of input sensors distributed horizontally relative to an inspection surface and configured to provide inspection data of the inspection surface at selected horizontal positions; a controller, comprising: a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position of the inspection robot on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret the inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position.

Abstract: A system including an inspection robot having a plurality of sensors, a further sensor, and a controller. The controller having circuitry to receive inspection data with a first resolution from the plurality of sensors, determine a characteristic on the inspection surface based on the inspection data, and provide an inspection operation adjustment in response to the characteristic, wherein the inspection operation adjustment includes a change from the first resolution to a second resolution. The change from the first resolution to the second resolution includes enabling the further sensor where the further sensor is at least one of: horizontally distributed with or vertically displaced from the plurality of sensors relative to a travel path of the plurality of sensors, and at least one of: offset in alignment from the travel path of the plurality of sensors, or operated out of phase with the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A method includes: accessing a coating thickness range for workpiece coating; triggering an optical sensor to capture scan data representing the workpiece; triggering a depth sensor to capture a first depth value; assembling the scan data into a first virtual model representing the workpiece; defining first spray parameters corresponding to a minimum coating thickness; defining a first toolpath; driving a coating applicator along the first toolpath to spray the coating onto the workpiece; triggering the depth sensor to capture a second depth value; calculating a first coating thickness based on the first depth value and the second depth value; in response to the first coating thickness falling below the target minimum coating thickness defining a second set of spray parameters and a second toolpath; and driving the coating applicator along the second toolpath to spray the coating onto the workpiece according to the second set of spray parameters.

Abstract: Robotic inspection devices for simultaneous surface measurements at multiple orientations are described. An example inspection device includes a robot and a first payload, where the robot is structured to move along an inspection surface in a first direction of travel. The first payload includes a first inspection assembly structured to support two phased array elements. The first phased array element has a first surface orientation and a first directional orientation, and the second phased array element has a second surface orientation and a second directional orientation. A raster device is structured to move the first inspection assembly in a second direction of travel along the inspection surface, wherein the first direction of travel and the second direction of travel are different.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to user-assisted robotic control systems, user interfaces for remote control of robotic systems, vision systems in robotic control systems, and modular grippers for use by robotic systems. The systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media instructions described interact with and control robotic systems, in particular pick and place systems using soft robotic actuators to grasp, move and release target objects.

Abstract: Disposable controls, re-usable devices, and their methods of use. The disposable controls and reusable devices are adapted to in operable communication during a procedure or process, and thereafter the disposable control can be discarded while the reusable device can be reused in a subsequent procedure or process. The disposable controller and reusable portion can be part of an intubation system.

Abstract: Construction robot, for the construction of bridges, formed by a motorized chassis (4) and configured to run longitudinally along a beam (1) with a geo-positioning system (7) and one or more height-adjustable cutting tools (8) arranged over at least one edge of the beam (1). The cutting tools (8) vary the height according to the position of the robot.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a general purpose operating system (GPROS) that shows particular usefulness in the robotics and automation fields. The operating system provides individual services and the combination and interconnections of such services using built-in service extensions, built-in completely configurable generic services, and ways to plug in additional service extensions to yield a comprehensive and cohesive framework for developing, configuring, assembling, constructing, deploying, and managing robotics and/or automation applications. The disclosure includes GPROS extensions and features directed to use as an autonomous vehicle operating system. The vehicle controlled by appropriate versions of the GPROS can include unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) applications such as a driverless or self-driving car. The vehicle can likewise or instead include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as a helicopter or drone.

Abstract: Data is received that includes a feed of images of a plurality of objects passing in front of each of a plurality of inspection camera modules forming part of each of a plurality of stations. The stations can together form part of a quality assurance inspection system. The objects when combined or assembled, can form a product. The received data derived from each inspection camera module can be separately analyzed using at least one image analysis inspection tool. The analyzing can include visually detecting a unique identifier for each object. The images are transmitted with results from the inspection camera modules along with the unique identifiers to a cloud-based server to correlate results from the analyzing for each inspection camera module on an product-by-product basis. Access to the correlated results can be provided to a consuming application or process via the cloud-based server.

Abstract: Data is received that includes a feed of images of a plurality of objects passing in front of an inspection camera module forming part of a quality assurance inspection system. Thereafter, a machine learning model is used to generate a representation of each image. These representations are analyzed to determine a type of object captured in the corresponding image. This analysis can be provided to a consuming application or process for quality assurance analysis.

Abstract: An integrated system and method for monitoring a workspace, classifying regions therein, dynamically identifying safe states, and identifying and tracking workpieces utilizes semantic analysis of a robot in the workspace and identification of the workpieces with which it interacts, as well as a semantic understanding of entity properties both governing and arising from interaction with other entities for control purposes. These properties may be stored in a profile corresponding to the entity; depending on the implementation, the profile and methods associated with the entity may be stored in a data structure corresponding to the entity “class.” Volumetric regions (e.g., voxels) corresponding to each entity may be tracked and used to implement object methods and/or control methods. For example, machinery may be controlled in accordance with the attributes specified by the objects corresponding to identified entities in a monitored workspace.

Abstract: Robotic systems for surface inspection with simultaneous measurements at multiple orientations are described. An example inspection system may include a robot for traversing an inspection surface, the robot having an inspection payload to support an inspection element with two phased array UT elements, the first phased array at a first surface orientation and the second phased array at a second surface orientation, both orientations relative to the inspection surface. Each of the inspection elements includes a couplant connection structured to receive couplant from the robot. The inspection further includes a tether fluidly coupling a couplant source to the robot.

Abstract: One variation of a method for autonomously scanning and processing a part includes: collecting a set of images depicting a part positioned within a work zone adjacent a robotic system; assembling the set of images into a part model representing the part. The method includes segmenting areas of the part model—delineated by local radii of curvature, edges, or color boundaries—into target zones for processing by the robotic system and exclusion zones avoided by the robotic system. The method includes: projecting a set of keypoints onto the target zone of part model defining positions, orientations, and target forces of a sanding head applied at locations on the part model; assembling the set of keypoints into a toolpath and projecting the toolpath onto the target zone of the part model; and transmitting the toolpath to a robotic system to execute the toolpath on the part within the work zone.

Abstract: A method of arranging inventory within a storage system. The method includes picking an SKU from a first container located underneath a grid of a grid-based storage system; placing the picked SKU into a dumping tray; transporting the dumping tray to a position located above a second container different than the first container, the second container being located underneath the grid; and depositing the picked SKU into the second container.

Abstract: Platform assembly for use with sorting articles comprises platforms connected to each other to form at least one level surface for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles. Each platform defines a first orientation in which the platform is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition. Each platform includes a first panel comprising a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a grid on the first panel for transit thereabout by the plurality of vehicles. Each marker includes a magnetic signature for determining an orientation of the marker. A container is positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers. In operation, the vehicle is directed by a control system to deposit an article carried thereon into a container associated with a marker based on the location and orientation of the marker.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying a vehicle subject to an emergency alert are provided. The system comprises one or more autonomous vehicles, each autonomous vehicle comprising a vehicle detection and identification system configured to analyze one or more vehicles within a surrounding environment, and a wireless emergency alert system. The wireless emergency alert system may be configured to receive or generate an emergency alert, wherein the emergency alert includes a geographic region associated with the emergency alert and one or more identifiable markers of a wanted vehicle, determine one or more autonomous vehicles to receive the emergency alert, and relay the emergency alert to the one or more autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: System for use in directing an article sorting operation includes a routing engine, first and second vehicles, and a grid comprising a plurality of grid cells, each grid cell having a grid cell length X. First size vehicle has a first vehicle length greater than the grid cell length X and second size vehicle has a second vehicle length greater than the first vehicle length. The system is configured to: receive article information of first and second articles; assign the first article to be transported by the first size vehicle, and the second article to be transported by the second size vehicle; determine a first route for the first size vehicle such that the first route has a first width equaling A*X, and a second route for the second size vehicle such that the second route has a second width equaling B*X.

Abstract: A system for control of a mobility device comprising a controller for analyzing data from at least one sensor on the mobility device, wherein the data is used to determine the gait trajectory of a user. The gait data is then used to provide motion command to an electric motor on the mobility device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and systems for dynamically creating a trajectory for navigating a vehicle. The method may include receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of the autonomous vehicle, the sensor data representative of a driving surface in a field of view of the autonomous vehicle; segmenting a portion of the driving surface in the field of view of the autonomous vehicle by determining nominal path based at least in part on the image data; assigning a plurality of nodes to at least a portion of the nominal path; associating the plurality of the nodes assigned to the nominal path with a line to generate at least one segmentation polyline; determining updated nominal path by fitting the each of the plurality of segmentation lines to the nominal path; generating a trajectory based on the updated nominal path; and navigating the autonomous vehicle according to the trajectory.