Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a mobile robotic device that is operable to detect pallets using a distance sensor. According to these implementations, the robotic device causes the distance sensor to scan a horizontal coverage plane in an environment of the robotic device. Then, the robotic device receives from the distance sensor, sensor data indicative of the horizontal coverage plane. The robotic device compares the sensor data to a pallet identification signature. Based on the comparison, the robotic device detects a pallet located in the environment. Further, based on the sensor data, the robotic device determines a location and an orientation of the detected pallet.

Abstract: A system includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit/receive at least one optical feed and a beam separator configured to separate the optical feed into a plurality of optical beams, and spatially combine the optical beams into the optical beam. The system also includes a dichroic mirror optically coupled to the beam separator and configured to reflect the optical beams, and allow beacon signals to pass therethrough. A position sensitive detector of the system optically couples to the dichroic mirror and is configured to sense an incidence position of each beacon signal allowed to pass through the dichroic mirror, and output a position error for each optical beam based on the sensed incidence positions. The system also includes a multi-axis optical steering system configured to direct each optical beam based on the corresponding position error outputted from the position sensitive detector and a corresponding transmit/receive target.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses systems and methods related to the following example scenarios. When an aerial vehicle of an airborne wind turbine is functioning normally in motoring mode, a voltage converter may receive a nominal voltage from a power conversion system and provide the nominal voltage to the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is experiencing a fault in motoring mode, the voltage converter may receive the nominal voltage and provide a reduced fault voltage to the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is functioning normally in power-generating mode, the voltage converter may receive the nominal voltage from the aerial vehicle and provide the nominal voltage to the power conversion system. When the aerial vehicle is experiencing a fault in power-generating mode, the voltage converter may receive a reduced fault voltage from the aerial vehicle, boost the fault voltage, and provide the boosted fault voltage to the power conversion system.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and correcting errors when picking up and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may control the motor to lower the tether and monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether a payload has detached from the tether. This process of lowering the tether and monitoring the motor current may be repeated up to a predetermined number of times, at which point the control system may operate the motor to detach the tether from the spool, leaving both the tether and the payload behind.

Abstract: Example systems and methods may allow for closed-loop control of robotic operation. One example method includes receiving input data that identifies data sources to monitor and indicates adjustments to make in response to deviations by at least one of the data sources from at least one predicted state during subsequent execution of sequences of operations by robotic devices, receiving data streams from the data sources during execution of the sequences of operations by the robotic devices, identifying a deviation by one of the data sources from a predicted state for which the received input data indicates adjustments to the sequences of operations for the robotic devices, providing instructions to the robotic devices to execute the adjusted sequences of operations, and providing instructions to a second computing device to update a visual simulation of the robotic devices based on the adjusted sequences of operations.

Abstract: A method includes operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method includes positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method includes transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method includes operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

Abstract: Robotic vehicles and methods described herein relate to robot navigation, physical configuration, and obstacle avoidance. An example robotic vehicle includes a chassis and a sensor coupled to the chassis. Furthermore, the robotic vehicle includes a plurality of multi-wheels coupled to the chassis. As such, each multi-wheel is configured to rotate about a primary axis of rotation. Each multi-wheel includes a plurality of rotatable wheel elements and each rotatable wheel element is configured to rotate about a respective secondary axis of rotation. The robotic vehicle includes an actuator configured to extend or retract at least one rotatable wheel element such that a position of at least one rotatable wheel element is adjustable relative to the primary axis of rotation. Yet further, the robotic vehicle includes a motor configured to drive the rotatable wheel elements about their respective secondary axes of rotation and drive the respective multi-wheels about their primary axes.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for determining and assigning intermediate handoff checkpoints for low-resolution robot planning. In various implementations, a global path planner may identify a task to be performed by a robot in an environment. In various implementations, the global path planner may determine, based at least in part on one or more attributes of the environment or the task, an intermediate handoff checkpoint for the robot to reach by a scheduled time while the robot performs the task. In various implementations, the global path planner may determine that a measure of reactivity that would be attributable to the robot upon the robot being assigned the intermediate handoff checkpoint satisfies a reactivity threshold. In various implementations, the global path planner may provide, to a local path planner associated with the robot, data indicative of the intermediate handoff checkpoint.

Abstract: Using mirrors to capture, by a camera of a robot, images that capture portions of an environment from multiple vantages. In various implementations, multiple images, that each capture a portion of an environment from a different vantage, may be captured by a camera sensor of a robot via the adjustment of one or more mirrors viewable by the camera sensor—and the multiple images may be captured independent of locomotion of the robot and/or independent of adjusting a camera sensor pose of that camera sensor. One or more processors associated with the robot may utilize the multiple images to determine one or more features about those portions of the environment captured from different vantages in the images.

Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.

Abstract: Generating a grasp pose for grasping of an object by an end effector of a robot. An image that captures at least a portion of the object is provided to a user via a user interface output device of a computing device. The user may select one or more pixels in the image via a user interface input device of the computing device. The selected pixel(s) are utilized to select one or more particular 3D points that correspond to a surface of the object in the robot's environment. A grasp pose is determined based on the particular 3D points. For example, a local plane may be fit based on the particular 3D point(s) and a grasp pose determined based on a normal of the local plane. Control commands can be provided to cause the grasping end effector to be adjusted to the grasp pose, after which a grasp is attempted.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a controller system having a moveable member. In particular, the controller system may include a rotatable knob having a curved surface, at least one motor that is operable to apply torque to the rotatable knob, a curved touchpad arranged to sense touch gestures on the curved surface, and a moveable member that is mechanically adjustable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable member is coupled to the rotatable knob and extends radially from the curved surface along a radial axis, such that application of a force perpendicular to the radial axis to the moveable member causes rotation of the rotatable knob. While in the second position, the moveable member provides accessibility to the curved surface of the rotatable knob.

Abstract: An example robotic gripping device includes two opposable gripping fingers and at least one actuator configured to move the two opposable gripping fingers towards and away from each other within a plane of motion. The robotic gripping device further includes a gripper base coupled to the two opposable gripping fingers, where the gripper base comprises an attachment interface. The robotic gripping device further includes a detachable elongated support member that mates with the attachment interface of the gripper base, such that when the elongated support member is attached to the attachment interface of the gripper base, the elongated support member extends parallel to the plane of motion of the two opposable gripping fingers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media are provided for real-time generation of trajectories for actuators of a robot, where the trajectories are generated to lessen the chance of collision with one or more objects in the environment of the robot. In some implementations, a real-time trajectory generator is used to generate trajectories for actuators of a robot based on a current motion state of the actuators, a target motion state of the actuators, and kinematic motion constraints of the actuators. The acceleration constraints and/or other kinematic constraints that are used by the real-time trajectory generator to generate trajectories at a given time are determined so as to lessen the chance of collision with one or more obstacles in the environment of the robot.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a winch system, wherein the winch system includes a winch line having a first end that is secured to the payload, and wherein the winch system is controllable to vary the rate of descent of the payload, an inertial measurement unit positioned on the payload or on the first end of the winch line, wherein the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure oscillations of the payload, and a control system configured to (a) receive data from the IMU, (b) determine oscillations of the payload based on the data received from the IMU, and (c) operate the winch system to vary the deployment rate of the winch line so to damp oscillations of the payload.

Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media are provided for generating phase synchronized trajectories for actuators of a robot to enable the actuators of the robot to transition from a current motion state to a target motion state. Phase synchronized trajectories produce motion of a reference point of the robot in a one-dimensional straight line in a multi-dimensional space. For example, phase synchronized trajectories of a plurality of actuators that control the movement of an end effector may cause a reference point of the end effector to move in a straight line in Cartesian space. In some implementations, phase synchronized trajectories may be generated and utilized even when those phase synchronized trajectories are less time-optimal than one or more other non-phase synchronized trajectories.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.

Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device having a robotic manipulator and a support stand. The support stand may receive an object placed thereon in a given orientation and maintain the given orientation. The robotic manipulator may pick up an object in a first orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator and determine a target pose for the object. Based on the determined target pose, a control system may determine to reorient the object with respect to the robotic manipulator using the support stand. The robotic manipulator may place the object on the support stand in a particular orientation and pick up the object, disposed on the support stand in the particular orientation, in a second orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator. While the object is held in the second orientation with respect to the robotic manipulator, the robotic device may move the object to the target pose.

Abstract: A system of optical power and data transfer includes an optical emitter to emit a data signal and a power signal along a common path. The system also includes a demultiplexer coupled to receive the data signal and the power signal, where the demultiplexer includes a first output coupled to output the data signal and a second output coupled to output the power signal. An optical receiver is optically coupled to the first output to receive the data signal and convert the data signal into electrical data. A power converter is optically coupled to the second output to receive the power signal and to convert the power signal into electrical power to power operation of other circuitry.