Abstract: High-altitude balloons and apparatuses for filling such high-altitude balloons are provided. As an example, an apparatus for filling a high-altitude balloon includes a tube extending through envelope material of the balloon is provided. The apparatus also includes a flange connected to a first end of the tube. The flange is connected to an interior surface of the balloon. A fitting is connected to a second end of the tube. The fitting is configured for attachment with an apparatus for filling the balloon with lift gas. In addition, methods of filling high-altitude balloons with lift gas and methods of manufacturing balloons are also provided.

Abstract: A device is provided that comprises a hardware segment and an actuator to adjust a position of the segment within a range of positions. The device also comprises an encoder to rotate about an encoder axis responsive to the actuator adjusting the position. The device also comprises data storage that includes a dataset indicating offset angles between a reference configuration and a plurality of configurations of the encoder. The device also comprises a controller to cause the actuator to adjust the position to an end of the range of positions, responsively identify a range of encoder positions of the encoder that corresponds to the range of positions of the segment, modify the dataset such that the reference configuration corresponds to an end of the range of encoder positions, and determine a mapping between the offset angles indicated by the modified dataset and the range of positions of the hardware segment.

Abstract: An example method includes determining one or more first movements that begin with a robot at a first position, determining one or more second movements that begin with the robot at the first position and end with the robot standing at a second position, making a first prediction of whether one or more motors of the robot executing the one or more first movements would cause a future temperature of any of the one or more motors to exceed a threshold temperature, making a second prediction of whether the one or more motors executing the one or more second movements would cause a future temperature of any of the one or more motors to exceed the threshold temperature, and causing the one or more motors to execute either (i) the one or more first movements or (ii) the one or more second movements.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may relate to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigating to a target in order to provide medical support. An illustrative method involves a UAV (a) determining an approximate target location associated with a target, (b) using a first navigation process to navigate the UAV to the approximate target location, where the first navigation process generates flight-control signals based on the approximate target location, (c) making a determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, and (d) in response to the determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, using a second navigation process to navigate the UAV to the target, wherein the second navigation process generates flight-control signals based on real-time localization of the target.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to roadmaps for mobile robotic devices are provided. A computing device can receive a roadmap. The roadmap can include an intersection between first and second edges. The computing device can determine a transition curve between the first and second edges and includes first, second, and third curve segments. The first and second curve segments can connect at a first curve junction point. The second and third curve segments can connect at a second curve junction point. The first and third curve segments each include a segment of an Euler spiral and the second curve segment can be a circular curve segment having a fixed radius. The computing device can update the roadmap by replacing the intersection between the first and second edges with the transition curve. The computing device can provide the updated roadmap.

Abstract: An example method includes determining an expected sound profile corresponding to a given task for a robotic device. The method further includes detecting a sound profile during execution of the given task by the robotic device. The method also includes determining one or more differences in amplitude for at least one frequency range between the detected sound profile and the expected sound profile corresponding to the given task for the robotic device. In response to determining the one or more differences in amplitude for the at least one frequency range between the detected sound profile and the expected sound profile, the method additionally includes identifying at least one component of the robotic device associated with the detected sound profile during execution of the given task. The method further includes adjusting control data for the at least one component of the robotic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining work offset data for a robot in a work environment. In an embodiment, a robot operating in a work environment receives an indication to determine a work offset. The work offset describes the location and angular orientation of a working plane of the work environment relative to a base plane of the robot. In response to the indication, the robot identifies the working plane. The robot is controlled to contact one or more points of the working plane. The robot determines respective point locations of the contacted points relative to the base plane based on the respective positions of the robot at respective times of contact. The robot determines the location and angular orientation of the working plane relative to the base plane based on the determined respective point locations of the contacted points.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that may allow for supervisory control interaction by a remote operator to assist with navigation to a target location. The UAV may navigate to a target area and capture and send an image of the target area to the remote operator. The remote operator can then provide a user input that indicates a target location within the target area. Upon receiving an indication of the target area, the UAV can then autonomously navigate to the target location. In some examples, after reaching the target location, the UAV may initiate delivery of a payload at the target location using a retractable delivery system while the UAV hovers above.

Abstract: An example three-dimensional printer system includes (a) a resin container, (b) a base plate, (c) a light source arranged below the resin container, where the light source is operable to emit electromagnetic radiation that causes resin in the resin container to cure, (d) a robotic device having the base plate attached thereto, wherein the robotic device positions the base plate above the resin container and is operable to move the base plate with at least two degrees of freedom, such that a build volume of the three-dimensional printer system extends beyond the edges of the resin container, and (e) a control system that is operable to (i) receive data specifying a three-dimensional structure and (ii) generate control signals that coordinate movement of the base plate by the robotic device and operation of the light source to form the three-dimensional structure from layers of resin.

Abstract: A method for balloon launching may include loading a pre-packaged balloon and payload into a shell structure. The pre-packaged balloon may be pulled out of its packaging in a vertical direction, for instance using a gantry crane. The gantry crane may be configured to inflate the balloon from the top of the envelope. The balloon may be inflated while substantially within the shell structure, which may provide protection from wind gusts. A vehicle, such as a heavy forklift, may provide mobility and support for the balloon and shell. Once the balloon is inflated, the vehicle may move the balloon/shell combination at a rate and direction substantially matching the current wind direction/speed. Furthermore, after reaching a zero-velocity condition relative to the wind, the vehicle may assist and/or initiate the opening of the shell. A tether connecting the balloon to the shell structure may be disconnected, allowing the balloon to launch.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller configured with throttle functionality. An example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback. The haptic hand-holdable controller may implement a throttle where a motor varies feedback to the hand-holdable controller to simulate a throttle.

Abstract: Embodiments regard a semiconductor device including an oxide current aperture. An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes an N-type semiconductor layer; an active region on the N-type semiconductor layer, the N-type semiconductor layer located on a first side of the active layer; a P-type semiconductor layer located on a second, opposite side of the active layer; and one or more oxide current apertures including a first oxide current apertures in close proximity to the active region, wherein each oxide current aperture includes a non-oxidized region surrounded by an oxidized region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for remote perception assistance to facilitate robotic object manipulation are provided herein. From a model of objects in an environment of a robotic manipulator, a virtual boundary line separating two adjacent identified virtual objects may be identified. The robotic manipulator may be configured to perform a task involving a manipulation of at least one object in the environment represented by the identified virtual objects. Based on the identifying, a request for remote assistance with verifying the virtual boundary line may be sent to a remote assistor device. A response to the request, including a modification to the virtual boundary line, may then be received from the remote assistor device. The robotic manipulator may then be caused to perform the task based on the modification to the virtual boundary line.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a status of a component of a device are provided. An example method includes triggering an action of a component of a device, and responsively receiving information associated with the action of the component from a sensor. The method further includes a computing system having a processor and a memory comparing the information with calibration data and determining a status of the component based on the comparison. In some examples, the calibration data may include information derived from data received from a pool of one or more devices utilizing same or similar components as the component. The determined status may include information associated with a performance of the component with respect to performances of same or similar components of the pool of devices. In one example, the device may self-calibrate the component based on the status.

Abstract: A tileable display panel includes a screen layer, an illumination layer and a display layer. The screen layer is for displaying a unified image to a viewer. The illumination layer includes at least one light source emitting lamp light into a diffusing region of the illumination layer. The illumination layer also includes a plurality of emission apertures that are each configured to emit the lamp light from the diffusing region in a divergent projection beam. The display layer is disposed between the screen layer and the illumination layer. The display layer includes a plurality of pixelets corresponding to the plurality of emission apertures. The pixelets in the plurality of pixelets are positioned to be illuminated by the divergent projection beams from the corresponding emission apertures.

Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to robot-cloud interaction. In particular, a cloud-based service may receive a query from a first robotic system including sensor data, a request for instructions to carry out a task, and information associated with a configuration of the first robotic system. The cloud-based service may then identify stored data including a procedure previously used by a second robotic system to carry out the task and information associated with a configuration of the second robotic system. The cloud-based service may then generate instructions for the first robotic system to carry out the task based at least in part on the sensor data, the procedure used by the second robotic system to carry out the task, the information associated with the configuration of the first robotic system, and the information associated with the configuration of the second robotic system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for teaching positions to components of devices are described. An example method includes providing instructions to a robotic device or robotic manipulator to place the robotic manipulator into a fine-tuning teach mode, in which the robotic manipulator is in a given position and is configured to move based on application of a manual contact in one or more step movements having a preset amount of distance. The method also includes determining that a given manual contact is applied to the robotic manipulator, and causing the robotic manipulator to incrementally move in the one or more step movements having the preset amount of distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gesture interaction with a photo-active painted surface is described. The method may include driving a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of an image to cause photo-active paint to display the image. The method may also include capturing, with at least a camera of a painted surface display system, image data of the image displayed on the photo-active paint applied to a surface and a user motion performed relative to the image. The method may also include analyzing the captured image data to determine a sequence of one or more physical movements of the user relative to the image displayed on the photo-active paint. The method may also include determining, based on the analysis, that the user motion is indicative of a gesture, and driving the spatial electromagnetic modulator to update.

Abstract: An implementation operable by a device coupled to a sound sensor array including a plurality of sound sensors in a particular arrangement is provided. The implementation involves obtaining a plurality of simulated responses mapping respective simulated physical arrangements of one or more simulated sound sources to respective expected outputs from the sound sensor array. The implementation also involves receiving a response based on output from the sound sensor array. The response may indicate detection of sounds from a plurality of sound sources in an environment of the sound sensor array. The implementation also involves comparing the received response with at least one of the plurality of simulated responses. The implementation also involves estimating locations of the plurality of sound sources relative to the sound sensor array based on the comparison. The implementation also involves operating the device based on the estimated locations of the plurality of sound sources.

Abstract: Embodiments may relate to intuitive user-interface features for a head-mountable device (HMD), in the context of a hybrid human and computer-automated response system. An illustrative method may involve a head-mountable device (HMD) that comprises a touchpad: (a) sending a speech-segment message to a hybrid response system, wherein the speech-segment message is indicative of a speech segment that is detected in audio data captured at the HMD, and wherein the speech-segment is associated with a first user-account with the hybrid response system, (b) receiving a response message that includes a response to the speech-segment message and an indication of a next action corresponding to the response to the speech-segment message, (c) displaying a screen interface that includes an indication of the response, and (d) while displaying the response, detecting a singular touch gesture and responsively initiating the at least one next action.