Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) interchangeably usable by a robot (12) and a human (14). The present invention also relates to a system (100) comprising such a device, a method of operating such a device (10), and a computer readable medium (46). The invention can for example be applied in servicing of heavy-duty vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention allows a robot to carry out communication with excellent affectiveness. A speech and behavior control device (1) includes an utterance content selecting section (16) which selects utterance content of a robot (100) from among a plurality of utterances, a movement control section (17) which controls a movable part (13) to move based on a kind of feeling corresponding to the utterance content, and an audio control section (18) which controls the robot (100) to output the utterance content as audio after movement of the movable part (13) has been started.

Abstract: A robot system includes a target position calculation section which calculates, when a first feature can be detected from an image, a target position of a robot based on the calculated position of the first feature and a stored first positional relationship, and calculates, when the first feature cannot be detected from the image and a second feature can be detected from the image, a target position of the robot based on the calculated position of the second feature and the stored first positional relationship.

Abstract: A structure for joining two or more robots to work in concert on a task is provided that includes a frame and an interface for joining the frame to the two or more robots. A remote-control device for controlling at least one robot is further provided that includes a smart device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, that is connected to a pedestal base via a pivot connection. A robotic system is further provided that includes a frame having a plurality of bracket arms extending from a hub, a distal end of each bracket arm having at least one of a plurality of interfaces. The robotic system also includes two or more robots each joined to the frame at at least one of the plurality of interfaces. The robotic system may further include a remote-control device, an attachment device connected to the frame, and/or an additional robot.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems for transmitting signals through a device located in a blood vessel of an animal for stimulating and/or sensing activity of media proximal to the devices. The media can include tissue and/or fluid. A method of controlling an apparatus in communication with a brain machine interface. The method can include measuring a first neural activity in a first neural area and measuring a second neural activity in a second neural area. The first neural activity can be associated with a first intent. The method can include creating and delivering, via the processor, one or more first control signals to the apparatus upon comparing the second neural activity with the first neural activity, and confirming, based on this comparison, that the second neural activity is associated with the first intent.

Abstract: Systems and a method for teaching a robot in reaching a given target location. The system and method include receiving inputs on a representation of a given target location to be reached by the robot. A check is made whether the given target location is singular. If the given target location is non-singular, the teaching of the robot is effected by associating with the given target location a selected configuration. If the given target is singular, the teaching of the robot is effected by associating with the given target location an assigned joint-values solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a distributed congestion control method and a robot. The method includes: disposing a first area and a second area centered on a target point; detecting, when a first robot moves towards the target point, whether there are other robots in the second area or not, and in a case where there are other robots in the second area, coordinating the first robot and the other robots to determine a second robot allowed to simultaneously enter the first area; and controlling the second robot to move towards the target point in a case where the second robot has entered the first area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a protective function during operation of a machine (1), in which a transfer region (5) is monitored by a plurality of protective devices (L1, L2), the transfer region (5) being arranged between a risk region (2), in which a dangerous movement is performed by the machine (1), and a surrounding region (3), the transfer region (5) being monitored by first protective devices (L1) in respective first monitoring directions (UI) and, independently thereof, by second protective devices (L2) in respective second monitoring directions (U2), at least one of the first protective devices (L1) and at least one of the second protective devices (L2) being arranged relative to one another in such a way that the first monitoring direction (UI) of the at least one first protective device (L1) and the second monitoring device (U2) of the at least one second protective device (L2) have a point of intersection (S).

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting an imminent collision between an object and a component of an autonomous system in the real environment including at least one real, decentralized autonomous component, whereby of at least a part of the autonomous system a virtual image is available, emulating at least one aspect of the autonomous system.

Abstract: A motion dependency surgical robotic system (100) employs an independent robotic arm (20) including a first surgical instrument, a dependent robotic arm (21) including a second surgical instrument, and a motion dependency robot controller (104). In operation, the motion dependency robot controller (104) controls an independent motion of the independent robotic arm (20) within a coordinate space responsive to an input signal indicative of the motion of the independent robotic arm (20) within the coordinate space, and further controls a motion of the dependent robotic arm (21) within the coordinate space as a function of a spatial geometric relationship between the independent robotic arm (20) and the dependent robotic arm (21) within the coordinate space. The spatial geometric relationship defines a procedural synchronization between the independent robotic arm (20) and the dependent robotic arm (21) in a synchronized execution of a surgical task by the surgical instruments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing a robotic grasping technique. The system in accordance with various embodiments may include a warehouse management system for retrieving and storing items, a robotic manipulator for grasping an item, and analysis module configured to receive data regarding a first grasp attempt by the robotic manipulator and analyze the received data to determine whether the robotic manipulator successfully grasped the item.

Abstract: A robotic-arm apparatus may include a robotic hand dimensioned to approximate a size and movement of a user's hand. The robotic-arm apparatus may also include one or more tactile-sensing pads coupled to at least a portion of the robotic hand, wherein a tactile-sensing pad is configured to detect surface data about a surface in a real-world environment. Additionally, the robotic-arm apparatus may include an actuator configured to move the robotic hand to mimic a motion of a glove worn by the user's hand, wherein the glove is configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to the surface data to the user's hand. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a robot including a microphone configured to acquire a voice, a camera configured to acquire a first image including a gesture, and a controller configured to recognize the acquired voice, recognize a pointed position corresponding to the gesture included in the first image, control the camera to acquire a second image including the recognized pointed position, identify a pointed target included in the second image, and perform a control operation on the basis of the identified pointed target and a command included in the recognized voice.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a universal connection interface between a robot and a plurality of modular attachments are disclosed. The connection interface includes a data connection and a dynamic amplifier configured to adjust output of at least one electromechanically coupled mechanical output; and a processor configured to control gain of the dynamic amplifier.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for repositioning a deformable laundry article are described. For example, a robotic device includes a conveyor configured to transfer the deformable laundry article outside of a work volume, two or more lifters including grippers individually anchored about the perimeter of the work volume, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the work volume, and a memory storing data indicative of repositioned deformable laundry articles. A controller is in operative communication with the memory, the two or more sensors, and the two or more lifters. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensors, identify grip points on the deformable laundry article suspended above the conveyor, instruct a lifter to grip and lift an identified grip point to the suspension height, determine whether the deformable laundry article is repositioned, and instruct the lifters to lower the repositioned deformable laundry article onto the conveyor.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to performance recreation, and in particular, the recreation of observed human performance using reinforcement learning. In this regard, a first object is identified from a plurality of objects. The manipulation of the first object is tracked from a first position to a second position. A characterization of the manipulation is generated. A policy that controls a mechanical gripper to recreate the manipulation is generated based on an iteratively increasing cumulative award. The mechanical gripper iteratively recreates the manipulation to increase a cumulative award with each recreation.

Abstract: A flux sensing system includes a memory and a processor in communication with the memory and a sensing device, the memory storing a plurality of capabilities and a plurality of semantic fluxes associated with the plurality of capabilities. The computing system is configured to infer a semantic based on received inputs and route the inputs to the semantic fluxes based on semantic drift inference between their associated capabilities and inferred semantic. Further, it positions the sensing device for receiving the input from a user in an optimal manner.

Abstract: A method for object grasping can include: generating a set of keypoints for one or more detected objects in a scene; subdividing the set of keypoints into subsets, each corresponding to a subregion of a detected object; determining a graspability score for the subregion; determining a grasp location for the subregion; selecting a candidate grasp location; and optionally grasping an object using the candidate grasp location.

Abstract: A robot device includes: a robot; an operation control section; a sensor configured to detect a value related to a position of a control target portion of the robot; a low-speed position information acquisition section configured to acquire low-speed position information of the control target portion; a calibration section configured to perform calibration between the sensor and the robot by using the low-speed position information and a command position; and a learning control section configured to learn a correction amount that reduces a deviation between operation described in an operation program and an actual operation of the control target portion, by using a detection value of the sensor that is acquired when the robot is operated in accordance with the operation program, the low-speed position information or the command position, and calibration data acquired through the calibration.

Abstract: Device for plugging a plug-in region of an expansion board into a plug-in coupling including: a first interface providing the coupling; a second interface providing the board; a robot manipulator having an effector; and a controller controlling the robot manipulator to plug the region into the coupling, the controller configured to execute a program for the robot manipulator to perform operations including: picking up the board at the second interface using the effector; guiding the board along a trajectory and target orientation of the region to the coupling; carrying out tilting motions of the region until reaching or exceeding a limit value condition G1 for a torque acting on the effector and/or a limit value condition G2 of a force acting on the effector, and/or reaching or exceeding a force/torque signature and/or a position/velocity/acceleration signature at the effector, indicating completion of plugging the region into the coupling within predefined tolerances.