Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for causing a transducer to transmit an acoustic input signal into a member of a device. Receiving a detection signal representing reverberations of the input signal traveling within the member from a receiver. Detecting a contact of the member with an object external to the member based on a change in the detection signal, where the change in the detection signal represents an alteration in the reverberations of the input signal caused by the contact of the member with the object. Determining a position along the member of a point of the contact of the member with the object based on the change in the detection signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein may relate to wireless energy transfer between a transmitter and a receiver via resonant coupling. In example embodiments, a method includes identifying a receiver in a wireless power transmission system and identifying a transmitter in the wireless power transmission system. The method also includes determining a real-time per-unit offer corresponding to the identified receiver and determining a real-time per-unit request corresponding to the identified transmitter. The method yet further includes determining a real-time per-unit match based on the offer and the request. The method further includes, in response to determining the match, causing the transmitter to provide electrical energy to the receiver via a wireless resonant coupling link.

Abstract: Methods for annotating objects within image frames are disclosed. Information is obtained that represents a camera pose relative to a scene. The camera pose includes a position and a location of the camera relative to the scene. Data is obtained that represents multiple images, including a first image and a plurality of other images, being captured from different angles by the camera relative to the scene. A 3D pose of the object of interest is identified with respect to the camera pose in at least the first image. A 3D bounding region for the object of interest in the first image is defined, which indicates a volume that includes the object of interest. A location and orientation of the object of interest is determined in the other images based on the defined 3D bounding region of the object of interest and the camera pose in the other images.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to providing configurations of robotic devices are provided. A computing device can receive a configuration request for a robotic device including environmental information and task information for tasks requested to be performed by the robotic device in an environment. The computing device can determine task-associated regions in the environment. A task-associated region for a given task can include a region of the environment that the robotic device is expected to reach while performing the given task. Based at least on the task-associated regions, the computing device can determine respective dimensions of components of the robotic device and an arrangement for assembling the components into the robotic device so that the robotic device is configured to perform at least one task in the environment. The computing device can provide a configuration that includes the respectively determined dimensions and the determined arrangement.

Abstract: A method for planning a high altitude platform-based communication network includes aggregating data from at least one data source, wherein the data includes environmental data. Based on the aggregated data, a plurality of network expansion potential scores are computed according to geographic location. A visual output is generated based on the computed plurality of network expansion potential scores.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for achieving stable tracking and/or manipulation by robots of objects. In various implementations, it may be detected, based on force signal(s) from force sensor(s), that an end effector of the robot has made physical contact with an environmental object. Based on the force signal(s), end effector constraint(s) may be identified. These constraint(s) may include a position constraint associated with position control of the end effector and/or a grasp force constraint associated with grasp force control of the end effector. Error measure(s) may be determined based on a measured position/force of the end effector. The error measure(s) may include a position control and/or grasp control error. The measured position and/or force may be compared with the end effector constraint(s) to reduce an impact of the error measure(s) on operation of the robot.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first and second coordinated paths for first and second robotic devices. The first coordinated path comprises a dependency edge indicating a first position on the first coordinated path and a second position on the second coordinated path. The method also includes determining a first traversable portion extending to a first stopping position before or at the first position on the first coordinated path. The method also includes providing a first instruction to the first robotic device to traverse the first traversable portion; subsequently determining that the second robotic device has passed the second position on the second coordinated path; determining a second traversable portion of the first coordinated path extending to a second stopping position beyond the first position on the first coordinated path; and providing a second instruction to the first robotic device to traverse the second traversable portion.

Abstract: Described herein are three-dimensional (3D) printer systems and methods, which may provide for “continuous pull” 3D printing. An illustrative 3D printer includes: a resin container, a base plate, a light source arranged below the resin container and operable to cure resin in the resin container; and a control system operable to: (a) receive model data specifying a 3D structure; (b) determine 2D images corresponding to layers of the 3D object; and (c) generate control signals to operate the light source and the base plate to sequentially form the layers of the 3D object onto the base plate, wherein the base plate moves a formed portion of the 3D object upward after formation of each layer, and wherein at least a surface of a formed portion of the 3D object remains in contact with the resin in the resin container throughout the formation of the layers of the 3D object.

Abstract: A color shifting illuminator includes a first luminescent material that absorbs first incident photons having an energy greater than or equal to a first threshold energy, and emits first photons with less energy than the first incident photons. The color shifting illuminator also includes a second luminescent material that absorbs second incident photons having an energy greater than or equal to a second threshold energy, and emits second photons with less energy than the second incident photons and less energy than the first photons. The first luminescent material and the second luminescent material are included in a waveguide, and the waveguide exhibits total internal reflection for the first photons and the second photons satisfying conditions for total internal reflection. An extraction region is coupled to the waveguide to emit the first photons and the second photons.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for inventorying objects. In one embodiment, a robot detects an object and sends identification data and location data associated with the detected object to a cloud computing system. The identification data may include an image of the object and/or information from a tag, code, or beacon associated with the object. In response to receiving the identification data and the location data, the cloud computing system identifies the object. The cloud computing system may also determine or create a first map associated with the identified object and a second map associated with the identified object. The first map may be associated with the current location of the object and the second map may correspond to a past location of the object. The cloud computing server may compare the first and second maps, and then send instructions to the robot based on the comparison.

Abstract: Generating a robot control policy that regulates both motion control and interaction with an environment and/or includes a learned potential function and/or dissipative field. Some implementations relate to resampling temporally distributed data points to generate spatially distributed data points, and generating the control policy using the spatially distributed data points. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to automatically determining a potential gradient for data points, and generating the control policy using the automatically determined potential gradient. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to determining and assigning a prior weight to each of the data points of multiple groups, and generating the control policy using the weights.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may relate to a system including a transmit resonator configured to couple power from a source into an oscillating field generated with a reference phase by the transmit resonator resonating at an oscillation frequency; one or more repeaters, each at a respective location, each including: a repeat resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency, where each of the one or more repeaters is configured to regenerate the oscillating field with a phase shift relative to a phase at the respective location; and at least one receiver, the at least one receiver including: a receive resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency in response to coupling to the oscillating field, where the at least one receiver is configured to transfer a power of the oscillating field to a load associated with the at least one receiver.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electromagnetic resonator antennas and methods for their manufacture. An example electromagnetic resonator antenna includes a first substrate and a first metal layer disposed on the first substrate. The first metal layer includes copper. The antenna also includes a dielectric layer disposed on the first metal layer. The dielectric layer includes a polarizable electrical insulator. The antenna additionally includes a second metal layer disposed on the dielectric layer. The second metal layer includes copper. The antenna yet further includes a second substrate disposed on the second metal layer and a feed line electrically coupled to at least one of the first metal layer or the second metal layer. At least one aspect of at least one of the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, or the second metal layer is selected based on a desired resonance frequency.

Abstract: A system includes: a light source; a detector configured to spectrally resolve light across an operative wavelength range; a retroreflector module including a reflector and an optical filter integrated with the reflector, the reflector being configured to retroreflect at least some of incident light across the operative wavelength range; an optical filter configured to filter light across the operative wavelength range, the optical filter having an angular-dependent optical characteristic for light across the operative wavelength range; and an electronic processing module in communication with the detector.

Abstract: A computing system may obtain, for each vehicle of a plurality of vehicles located within a location area, navigation data that indicates a travel route for the vehicle. Based on the navigation data for the plurality of vehicles, the computing system determines a subset of the plurality of vehicles that are within a threshold distance of each other and have respective travel routes that at least partially overlap. The computing system selects, based on a set of selection parameters, two or more vehicles among the subset of vehicles to form a platoon of vehicles that travel in a coordinated arrangement in proximity to each other during at least a portion of the respective travel routes of the selected vehicles. The computing system can direct the selected vehicles to form the platoon of vehicles.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for creating, storing, and/or offloading tagged robot sensor data. In various implementations, a first plurality of sensor data points that are sampled by one or more sensors associated with a robot and that share a first attribute may be identified. Each of the first plurality of sensor data points may be tagged with a first tag, which may be indicative of the first attribute. A context in which a robot is operating may be identified. A first transport rule that governs how sensor data points tagged with the first tag are treated when the robot operates in the context may then be identified. At least a subset of the first plurality of tagged sensor data points may then be offloaded from the robot and/or stored locally on the robot pursuant to the first transport rule.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining an operational configuration of a wireless power adapter. The method includes determining whether the wireless power adapter is calibrated to supply a legacy device with electrical energy. The method further includes, in response to determining that the wireless power adapter is not calibrated to supply the legacy device with electrical energy, delivering a first power signal to the legacy device via a first electrical coupling member. The method also includes detecting a response of the legacy device to receiving the first power signal, and based on the response of the legacy device, determining an operational configuration of the wireless power adapter. Furthermore, the method includes configuring the wireless power adapter to operate according to the determined operational configuration.

Abstract: Example methods and systems are disclosed for on-demand packaging of one or more items. According to one example, a method can include receiving an order for the item(s) and determining characteristic-information for the item(s) using a computer system. The characteristic-information includes an indication of at least a size and a shape of the item(s). The method also includes processing the characteristic-information based on design criteria to determine an arrangement of the item(s) within at least one container volume, and a configuration for a protective structure to hold the item(s) in the arrangement within the container volume(s). The method can further include, in response to the processing the characteristic-information, forming the protective structure according to the configuration, placing the item(s) into the protective structure according to the arrangement, and placing the protective structure and the item(s) in the container volume(s).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) model of an operating volume for a cable-suspended robotic system, where the operating volume is defined, at least in part, by a plurality of cable support structures. Identifying a cable positioned device suspended from a plurality of cables and an object that obstructs a path of the cable positioned device within the operating volume within the 3D model. Locating the cable positioned device relative to the object using the 3D model. Controlling one or more cable motors to navigate the cable positioned device within the operating volume.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for spatiotemporal reservations for robots. In various implementations, a sequence of spatial regions of an environment, and a sequence of respective time intervals that are reserved for a robot to operate within the sequence of spatial regions, may be reserved for the robot. A default path through the sequence of spatial regions may be identified. During traversal of the default path, it may be determined that the default path will be unpassable by the robot through a given spatial region during a given time interval reserved for the robot to operate within the given spatial region. Thus, an alternative path through the given spatial region that is traversable by the robot during the given time interval may be identified. The robot may then be traversed along the alternative path through the given spatial region within the given time interval.