Abstract: A patient cart for a robot surgical system can include a mobile base having a frame adapted and configured to support a medical robot, one or more motive devices operatively connected to the frame, and one or more motors connected to the motive devices to drive the motive devices to move the frame. The patient cart can include a drive control interface connected to the frame and configured to sense a user input and to operate the one or more motors to move the one or more motive devices as a function of the user input.

Abstract: A tension compensation system for a robotically controlled medical device can include an instrument controller configured to operatively connect to a robotically controlled medical device to provide tension to one or more actuation cables of the robotically controlled medical device. The system can include an instrument control module configured to control the instrument controller to provide a compensation tension to at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables to compensate for elongation of the at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables based on actuation data associated with the at least one actuation cable of the one or more actuation cables.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in soft robotic systems that permit a soft robotic end effector to be a self-contained system, without reliance on a tether to deliver inflation fluid to the actuator(s) of the end effector. According to some embodiments, a robotic system may be provided including a soft actuator and a hub. The body of the hub may include an integrated pressure source configured to supply inflation fluid through the actuator interface to the soft actuator. The pressure source may be, for example, a compressor (such as a twin-head compressor) or a reaction chamber configured to vaporize a fuel to create a high-temperature pressurized gas and deliver the pressurized gas to the actuator One or more accumulators may receive inflation fluid (or a partial vacuum) from the compressor over time, and store the inflation fluid under pressure, thus allowing actuation over a relatively short time period.

Abstract: A collaborative autonomous ground vehicle or robot for traversing a ground surface is disclosed. The robot is a wheeled vehicle includes two camera groups and other sensors to sense the environment in which the robot will operate. The robot includes a control system configured to operate in a teach mode to learn a route by either following a person or preceding a person and to store the learned route as a taught route. The control system is configured for identifying persons and objects, such as obstacles, within the fields of view of the camera groups. When the robot is in its repeat mode it will take the taught route over the ground surface and take appropriate action if an obstacle is identified in the field of view.

Abstract: A fully autonomous mobile robot is provided that transports items from one area to another. The mobile robot includes a variety of mechanisms that capture an item from a first surface and moves the item within the confines of the mobile robot. The item can then be transported to another surface either within the confines of the mobile robot or to another location.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system may determine a first real-world geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The system can receive captured images depicting real-world agricultural objects of a geographic scene. The system can associate captured images with the determined geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The treatment system can identify, from a group of mapped and indexed images, images having a second real-word geo-spatial location that is proximate with the first real-world geo-spatial location. The treatment system can compare at least a portion of the identified images with at least a portion of the captured images. The treatment system can determine a target object and emit a fluid projectile at the target object using a treatment device.

Abstract: A seating system includes a seat, with structures for supporting a user thereon, and actuators. Each actuator includes a deformable shell with an enclosed internal cavity containing a fluid dielectric contained, a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the deformable shell. The actuators are integrated into the structures and configured for providing at least one function, such as haptic feedback, seat adjustment, alert notification, vibratory signal, user input receiving, and massage function. A portion of the plurality of actuators may be enclosed within an encapsulating shell to form an encapsulated sheet of actuators. Each actuator may be a part of a button-on-demand system, wherein the actuator is normally in a collapsed position such that a user-facing surface of the encapsulating shell is substantially flat and, when activated by a user, the actuator is configured to expand such that the encapsulating shell is raised to form a button.

Abstract: A robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least one kitchen appliance such as a fryer comprises an automated bin assembly, a robotic arm, and a basket held by the robotic arm. The automated bin assembly comprises at least one automated bin for holding the food items. A camera or sensor array collects image data of the food items in the bin(s). A central processor is operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm and automated bin assembly based on the image data and stored data to (a) move the robotic arm to the bin; (b) actuate the bin to drop the food items from the bin into the basket; (c) and to move the basket into the fryer all without human interaction. Related methods are also described.

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: The foodstuff assembly system can include: a robot arm, a frame, a set of foodstuff bins, a sensor suite, a set of food utensils, and a computing system. The system can optionally include: a container management system, a human machine interface (HMI). However, the foodstuff assembly system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to enable picking of foodstuff from a set of foodstuff bins and placement into a container (such as a bowl, tray, or other foodstuff receptacle). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to facilitate transferal of bulk material (e.g., bulk foodstuff) into containers, such as containers moving along a conveyor line.

Abstract: A safety wheel incudes: a ring-shaped main wheel; an inner frame positioned inside the main wheel, wherein the inner frame comprising at least two auxiliary wheels that come into contact with an inner surface of the main wheel and rotate when the main wheel is driven; and a sliding block provided to be movable under the guide of the inner frame.

Abstract: An anti-rolling wheel includes: a ring-shaped main wheel; an inner frame positioned inside the main wheel, wherein the inner frame comprising at least two auxiliary wheels that come into contact with an inner surface of the main wheel and rotate when the main wheel is driven; and a sliding block provided to be movable under the guide of the inner frame.

Abstract: A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system includes an inspection robot comprising a plurality of sensor sleds; a plurality of ultra-sonic (UT) sensors; a couplant chamber mounted to each of the plurality of sleds, each couplant chamber comprising: a cone, the cone comprising a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end of the cone; a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion; a couplant entry fluidly coupled to the cone at a position between the cone tip portion and the sensor mounting end; and wherein each of the UT sensors is mounted to the sensor mounting end of one of the couplant chambers.

Abstract: Robots and/or a robot coordinator are provided to execute an overall task by partitioning the task into subtasks and by coalescing results and/or output of the subtasks. The robot coordinator may coordinate, control, and/or program a set of robots to operate within different sections of a site and to execute subtasks associated with different tasks that fall within their respective sections in parallel. The robot coordinator may coordinate, control, and/or program the same or different set of robots to coalesce results and/or output for subtasks for a particular task from the different sections to complete the overall task. For instance, a first set of robots may retrieve objects that are stored at storage locations within the sections in which each robot operates, and a second set of robots may rotate moveable storage apparatus across the sections so that each storage apparatus stores all objects of a particular order.

Abstract: In variants, a method for automated gamete selection can include: sampling a video of a scene having a plurality of gametes, tracking each gamete across successive images, and determining attribute values for a gamete, and selecting the gamete. The attribute values can be determined using a model trained to predict the attribute values for the gamete based on a video.

Abstract: A hub assembly for coupling different grasper assemblies including a soft actuator in various configurations to a mechanical robotic components are described. Further described are soft actuators having various reinforcement. Further described are and soft actuators having electroadhesive pads for improved grip, and/or embedded electromagnets for interacting with complementary surfaces on the object being gripped. Still further described are soft actuators having reinforcement mechanisms for reducing or eliminating bowing in a strain limiting layer, or for reinforcing accordion troughs in the soft actuator body.

Abstract: Navigation of a solar vehicle is provided by obtaining a target geographic destination for the vehicle having one or more photovoltaic solar arrays; obtaining configuration data defining a target solar vector relative to a reference frame of the vehicle; identifying a current geographic positioning of the vehicle via a geo-positioning system of the vehicle, including a current geographic location and a current geographic orientation of the vehicle; identifying a current solar vector relative to the reference frame of the vehicle; and during at least a portion of a solar day, outputting a steering command for the vehicle for an indirect path from the current geographic location toward the target geographic destination that is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the current solar vector to the target solar vector. The steering command can be presented to a human operator or programmatically implemented by an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A force transmission system for a robotically controlled medical device can include a pushing actuator configured to be pushed by a robotic instrument controller and a wire. The wire can include a first end attached to an end of the pushing actuator to be pushed distally by the pushing actuator, and a second end attached to a distal location of the medical device. The system can include a reverse motion device that can be interfaced with the wire between the first end and the second end. The reverse motion device can be configured to cause a proximal pulling action on the second end in response to pushing of the first end distally by the pushing actuator or other actuation by the pushing actuator. The reverse motion device can be configured to maintain a point of contact with the wire in the same spatial location to prevent wire motion due to actuation.

Abstract: A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.