Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for robotic learning and execution of skills. A robotic apparatus can include a memory, a processor, sensors, and one or more movable components (e.g., a manipulating element and/or a transport element). The processor can be operatively coupled to the memory, the movable elements, and the sensors, and configured to obtain information of an environment, including one or more objects located within the environment. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn skills through demonstration, exploration, user inputs, etc. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills and/or arbitrate between different behaviors and/or actions. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn an environmental constraint. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn using a general model of a skill.

Abstract: One variation of a method for maintaining perpetual inventory within a store includes: accessing a radar scan of an inventory structure within a store; accessing an optical image of the inventory structure; identifying a product type associated with the slot in a region of the optical image; retrieving a volumetric definition of the product type; locating a slot volume defining the slot in the radar scan; extracting a volumetric representation of a set of product units intersecting the slot volume in the radar scan; segmenting the volumetric representation by the volumetric definition to calculate a quantity of the set of product units occupying the slot; and updating a stock record of the store to reflect the quantity of the set of product units occupying the slot.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically-powered material-transport vehicle having a vehicle-charging contact on one side of the vehicle, and a second vehicle-charging contact on the opposite side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a load-bearing cap that covers the top of the vehicle, and a cap elevator for raising and lowering the cap. The cap can be raised and lowered to a transit position, a payload-engagement position, a charging position, and a maintenance position. In the transit position and payload-engagement position, the cap covers the vehicle-charging contacts so that they are not exposed. In the charging position, the cap is raised so that the vehicle-charging contacts are exposed. The vehicle can enter a charging-dock with the cap in the charging position in order to recharge the vehicle's battery.

Abstract: A robot includes: a base having a plurality of wheels; a motor system mechanically coupled to one or more of the wheels; a body having a bottom portion coupled above the base, and a top portion above the bottom portion; a support at the top portion, wherein the support is configured to withstand a temperature that is above 135° F.; and a processing unit configured to operate the robot.

Abstract: An integrated automated robotic test system for automated driving systems is disclosed, which is operable to provide an automated testing system for coordinated robotic control of automobiles equipped with automation functions (i.e., test vehicles) and unmanned target robots with which test vehicles may safely collide. The system may include a system for controlling a vehicle that includes a brake actuator, a throttle actuator, and a steering actuator. The brake actuator is controlled by a brake motor and configured to press and release a brake pedal of the vehicle. The throttle actuator is controlled by a throttle motor and configured to press and release a gas pedal of the vehicle. The steering actuator is configured to control a steering wheel of the vehicle. The steering actuator includes a steering motor configured to attach to the steering wheel and a reaction stand configured to support the steering motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle controllers for agricultural and industrial applications are described. For example, a method includes receiving image data, captured using one or more image sensors connected to a vehicle, depicting one or more plants in a vicinity of the vehicle; detecting the one or more plants based on the image data; responsive to detecting the one or more plants, adjusting implement control data; and controlling, based on the adjusted implement control data, an implement connected to the vehicle to perform an operation on the one or more plants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle controllers for agricultural and industrial applications are described. For example, a method includes accessing a map data structure storing a map representing locations of physical objects in a geographic area; accessing current point cloud data captured using a distance sensor connected to a vehicle; detecting a crop row based on the current point cloud data; matching the detected crop row with a crop row represented in the map; determining an estimate of a current location of the vehicle based on a current position in relation to the detected crop row; and controlling one or more actuators to cause the vehicle to move from the current location of the vehicle to a target location.

Abstract: A method includes: obtaining a desired value for a parameter relevant to the automatic delivery of breathable gas; saving, by the system, the desired parameter value; finding, by the system, an actual value of the parameter; querying, by the system, whether the actual parameter value agrees with the desired parameter value; determining, by the system, that the actual parameter value does not agree with the desired parameter value; adjusting, by the system, a system setting so as to attain the desired parameter value; querying, by the system, whether the actual revised parameter value agrees with the desired parameter value; and repeating, by the system, the steps of determining, adjusting, and querying whether the actual revised parameter value agrees with the desired parameter value until the actual revised parameter value agrees with the desired parameter value.

Abstract: A container with an alignment correcting end is provided. The alignment correcting end has angled side walls that extend from parallel flat square or rectangular sides of the container. Each angled side wall extends at an angle between 5 and 70 from one of the parallel walls towards the center of the container. Nubs may be disposed about an exterior of the angled side walls. Also, a passive displacing robotic element for performing misaligned or off-axis placement of the container with the alignment correcting end is provided. The passive displacing robotic element provides displacement of the one or more robotic actuators that are used to engage and place the container into the slot in response to the alignment correcting end of the container contacting the slot edge, wall, or other barrier.

Abstract: One variation of a method for tracking stock level within a store includes: dispatching a robotic system to image shelving structures within the store during a scan cycle; receiving images from the robotic system, each image recorded by the robotic system during the scan cycle and corresponding to one waypoint within the store; identifying, in the images, empty slots within the shelving structures; identifying a product assigned to each empty slot based on product location assignments defined in a planogram of the store; for a first product of a first product value and assigned to a first empty slot, generating a first prompt to restock the first empty slot with a unit of the first product during the scan cycle; and, upon completion of the scan cycle, generating a global restocking list specifying restocking of a set of empty slots associated with product values less than the first product value.

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: Provided are robots that autonomously detect and correct individualized anomalies resulting from deviations in the sensors and/or actuators of individual robots, and environmental anomalies resulting from deviations in the environment elements that the robots rely on or use in the execution of different tasks. To do so, a robot may receive a task, may determine expected kinematics that include expected activations of a set of sensors and actuators by which the robot executes the task, may activate the set of sensors and actuators according to the expected kinematics, may track the actual kinematics resulting from activating the set of sensors and actuators according to the expected kinematics and continuing the activations until detecting one or more environment elements signaling completion of the task, and may adjust one or more sensors, actuators, or environment elements in response to the actual kinematics deviating from the expected kinematics.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques are disclosed for selecting and dispatching a worker to assist a robot. The system may include a computer comprising a processor and a computer readable memory. The computer readable memory may include lists of worker criteria items for a plurality of workers and a list of assistance criteria items for a robot. The system may include a triggering application executable by the processor for identifying triggering data corresponding to a triggering item within sensor data from the robot. A ranking application may also be stored on the computer and may be executed in response to an identification of triggering data corresponding to the triggering item. The ranking application may be operable to cross-reference the worker criteria items on each of the first lists with the assistance criteria items on the second list and to generate a ranking of the plurality of workers based on the cross-referencing.

Abstract: A method for controlling movement of a robot includes inputting a first linear velocity parameter and a first angular velocity parameter, which are specified as the robot moves, into a first limit model for limiting a centripetal acceleration to correct the first linear velocity parameter and the first angular velocity parameter, thereby calculating a second linear velocity parameter and a second angular velocity parameter, inputting the second linear velocity parameter and the second angular velocity parameter into at least one of a second limit model for limiting a linear velocity and a third limit model for limiting an angular velocity to correct the second linear velocity parameter and the second angular velocity parameter, thereby calculating a third linear velocity parameter and a third angular velocity parameter, and controlling the movement of the robot based on the third linear velocity parameter and the third angular velocity parameter.

Abstract: Example routing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a first set of routing systems is interfaced with a network connection via a network interface. A second set of routing systems interfaced with a secure system is configured to receive information from the first set of routing systems via a first unidirectional data channel. In some embodiments, the first set of routing systems is configured to receive information from the second set of routing systems via a second unidirectional data channel. The secure system is not visible from the network interface.

Abstract: An inventory verification device (“IVD”) provides automatic inventory verification and detection of inventory discrepancies. The IVD automatically verifies the quantity of items in a container based on weight and/or height measurements obtained for the items in the container using two or more sensors of the IVD. The IVD may also automatically updated tracked inventory of an item based on detected changes to the weight and/or height of the items in the container as a result of a worker adding items to the container or removing items from the container without the working providing confirmation for each addition and/or removal. The IVD autoatmically verifies whether correct items are stored in a container by performing feature matching of various characteristics for items imaged in the container against expected characteristics for items that should be stored in the container.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing inter-vehicle communication are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a fleet management system, operating data from one or more self-driving vehicles via a communication network, and operating the fleet management system to determine a characteristic of a set of vehicles of one or more self-driving vehicles satisfies at least one communication condition. In response to determining the set of vehicles satisfies the at least one communication condition, the fleet management system can operate to select a stored data portion from a manager storage unit based at least on the characteristic of the set of vehicles; and transmit the data portion to the set of vehicles via the communication network. A method of providing inter-vehicle communication between one or more self-driving vehicles is also disclosed.

Abstract: One variation of a method for managing virtual shopping lists includes: dispatching robotic systems, deployed in store, to autonomously scan inventory structures within this store; deriving current stock conditions of this store based on scan data recorded by these robotic systems; initializing a virtual shopping list for a user; in response to receipt of selection of a first product, from a population of products, isolating a subset of stores, in the set of stores in the geographic region, associated with current stock conditions indicating presence of the first product and products previously added to the virtual shopping list; in response to the subset of stores including at least one store, adding a first identifier of the first product to the virtual shopping list; and specifying a particular store, in the subset of stores, for fulfillment of a set of products on the virtual shopping list.

Abstract: There is disclosed a rotary actuator apparatus for hydraulically or pneumatically rotating a robotic joint. In an embodiment the apparatus comprises: a curved piston rotatably coupled to an axel shaft, and positioned within a curved piston chamber; resilient barrier modules are adapted to separate the curved piston within the curved piston chamber from first and second hydraulic or pneumatic chambers on either side of the curved piston chamber; whereby, in use, the curved piston is configured to rotate about the axel shaft upon hydraulic or pneumatic pressure being applied to at least one of the first and second hydraulic or pneumatic chambers.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for robotic learning and execution of skills. A robotic apparatus can include a memory, a processor, sensors, and one or more movable components (e.g., a manipulating element and/or a transport element). The processor can be operatively coupled to the memory, the movable elements, and the sensors, and configured to obtain information of an environment, including one or more objects located within the environment. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn skills through demonstration, exploration, user inputs, etc. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills and/or arbitrate between different behaviors and/or actions. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn an environmental constraint. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn using a general model of a skill.