Abstract: A method for controlling a serving robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring situation information on at least one customer; dynamically determining a workflow for the at least one customer on the basis of the situation information on the at least one customer, using a workflow determination model for determining workflows related to services capable of being provided in a serving place; and causing a target service to be provided to the at least one customer on the basis of the determined workflow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a robot for inspecting an inspection surface are disclosed. An example system may include an inspection robot having a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors and a controller. The controller may include a route profile processing circuit to interpret route profile data for the inspection robot, a configuration determining circuit to determine one or more configurations for the inspection robot in response to the route profile data; and a configuration processing circuit to provide configuration data in response to the determined one or more configurations, the configuration data defining, at least in part, one or more inspection characteristics for the inspection robot.

Abstract: A robotic device for distributing designated items to designated persons, includes: a motion unit to autonomously move said robotic device; storage means including multiple compartments; an item dispenser to dispense items from said storage means; a memory module containing optical recognition scans and personal information of persons located within a premises, and substantive information of the designated items; optical recognition scanners; a control module in communication with the motion unit, the optical recognition scanners, the memory and the item dispenser. The control unit directs movement of the robotic device, directs the optical recognition scanners to scan persons, and compares images from the optical recognition scanners to optical recognitions in the memory. Upon identifying a person, the control unit searches personal information of the person and identifies designated items specified for that person, and then directs the item dispenser to dispense the designated item.

Abstract: A method for providing an advertising content using a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining, with reference to first situation information on a customer in a serving place and second situation information on at least one robot for providing a service in the serving place, an advertising content to be provided for at least one of the customer and the serving place and presentation property information of the advertising content; and providing the advertising content by the at least one robot with reference to the presentation property information.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for maximizing saturation of two different sets of actors performing different sets of dependent operations at different rates over different but overlapping periods of time in a non-conflicting manner. The systems and methods may include transferring a first set of ordered items from item storage to item cache locations at a first rate during a first period of time, and fulfilling orders at a faster second rate over a later second period of time by picking items from a first set of the item cache locations at the second rate, and by replacing items at a non-overlapping second set of the item cache locations at the first rate. The transferring is commenced before the picking to create a buffer that allows a first set of actors, operating at the first rate, to continually provide the dependencies needed for a second set of actors to operate at the faster second rate without conflict and with each set of actors operating at their respective maximum rates.

Abstract: There is described a user mobile device and an enterprise gateway for providing dynamic building interfaces. The gateway receives a request for cards from the device, and the device receives the cards from the gateway in response to the request. Each card has a structure corresponding to one of multiple pre-defined templates. Each card has an assigned rank and is associated with a list of cards defined when the cards are ordered in accordance with the assigned rank. The assigned rank of each card is based at least in part on a user target profile associated with the user mobile device and the customer identification. The gateway comprises a processor that determines an assigned rank for each card based at least in part on a user target profile associated with the user mobile device and the customer identification. The device provides at least one card of the list of cards.

Abstract: An example method includes gathering, via a first module of a first type, first simultaneous localization and mapping data and gathering, via a second module of a second type, second simultaneous localization and mapping data. The method includes generating, via a simultaneous localization and mapping module, a first map based on the first simultaneous localization and mapping data and the second simultaneous localization and mapping data, the first map being of a first map type and generating, via the simultaneous localization and mapping module, a second map based on the first simultaneous localization and mapping data and the second simultaneous localization and mapping data, the second map being of a second map type. The map of the first type is used by vehicles with module(s) of the first and/or second types and the map of the second type is used by vehicles with a module of the second type exclusively.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods by which robots predictively detect objects that may obstruct robotic tasks prior to the robots performing those tasks. For instance, a robot may receive a task, and may obtain dimensions of a task object based on a first identifier obtained with the task or with a sensor of the robot. The robot may determine a first boundary for moving the task object based on the task object dimensions and an added buffer of space that accounts for imprecise robotic operation. The robot may detect a second identifier of a neighboring object, and may obtain dimensions of the neighboring object using the second identifier. The robot may compute a second boundary of the neighboring object based on the dimensions of the neighboring object and a position of the second identifier, and may detect an obstruction based on the second boundary crossing into the first boundary.

Abstract: A method for controlling a serving robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring first sensor data on at least one object placed on a support coupled to a serving robot, using at least one first sensor coupled to the serving robot; deciding whether the at least one object is a serving object on the basis of the first sensor data, and when the at least one object is decided to be a serving object, determining properties of illumination of the serving robot to be applied to the serving object on the basis of the first sensor data; and dynamically changing the properties of the illumination of the serving robot on the basis of information on surroundings acquired during travel of the serving robot.

Abstract: A method for controlling a serving robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a first time to request payment from a customer on the basis of identification information on the customer and information on an order of the customer acquired with respect to the customer; acquiring information on eating status of the customer at a second time associated with the first time; and adjusting at least one of the first time and the second time on the basis of at least one of the information on the eating status of the customer and information on an additional order of the customer additionally acquired with respect to the customer.

Abstract: A method for supporting delivery using a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring delivery information on a delivery item; determining a first location with respect to a building specified from the delivery information and causing a robot to travel to the first location; and causing the robot to travel to a second location in the building specified from the delivery information, with reference to at least one of handover information and takeover information on the delivery item.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting suboptimal mowing due to impacted vegetation and/or orientation changes are discussed. In some examples, blade speeds, blade heights, torques, and/or a current required to spin the blades of a mower at a determined rate may be calibrated and associated with a lawn mower and/or map. Changes in any one or more of the blade speed, current required, torque, etc. (and/or additional data from one or more sensors on the mower) may be used as an indication for determining whether vegetation has impacted the underside of a mower, whether the blade has struck an object, whether the mower is undergoing an orientation change, whether the mower requires maintenance, and the like. Based on the indication, the mower can perform one or more functions to attempt to remediate the problem autonomously and/or send a signal to a user for additional help.

Abstract: A device and system for promoting more recuperative sleep by regulating a user's body temperature. This may be done by using a series of devices that measure information about the user both while they are awake and while they are asleep, communicate that information to a processing unit, and create an ideal body temperature range profile based on that information. A temperature stimulus device may ensure that the core body temperature of the user stays substantially within the ideal body temperature range. By keeping the core body temperature of the user within the calculated range, the device and system will ensure deeper, and therefore more recuperative, sleep.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.

Abstract: A support assembly is provided. The support assembly includes: a lower frame configured to be mountable on one surface of a moving object; a guide frame configured such that one end is coupled to an upper surface of the lower frame, and at least a part of another end is curved toward where the lower frame is located; a connection frame configured such that one side includes a plurality of rollers spaced apart at a predetermined interval, and the plurality of rollers slide along the curved part of the guide frame; and an upper frame coupled to another side of the connection frame and configured to move in response to the plurality of rollers sliding along the curved part of the guide frame.

Abstract: A method for controlling a transport robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring, when a user makes a request for transport of a target object, information on the user and information on the transport of the target object including a delivery place of the target object; identifying the user on the basis of the information on the user, and determining a place associated with the user as a destination where a transport robot is to transport the target object from the delivery place, with reference to a result of the identification; and causing the target object to be transported to the destination by the transport robot.

Abstract: A system comprises a database; at least one hardware processor coupled with the database; and one or more software modules that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, receive at least one of sensory data from a robot and images from a camera, identify and build models of objects in an environment, wherein the model encompasses immutable properties of identified objects including mass and geometry, and wherein the geometry is assumed not to change, estimate the state including position, orientation, and velocity, of the identified objects, determine based on the state and model, potential configurations, or pre-grasp poses, for grasping the identified objects and return multiple grasping configurations per identified object, determine an object to be picked based on a quality metric, translate the pregrasp poses into behaviors that define motor forces and torques, communicate the motor forces and torques to the robot.

Abstract: A calibration device fora 3D (three dimensional) camera and a robotic arm includes three plates with fixed relative positions and non-parallel separation disposed on a mount. Three spatial planes extending from the three plates intersect at a positioning point for external parameter correction. A calibration method for coordinates of a 3D (three dimensional) camera and a robotic arm using the calibration device is also specified in detail.