Abstract: A robotic system is provided for assembling parts together. In the assembly process, both parts are moving separately with one part moving on an assembly base and another part moving on a moveable arm of a robot base. Motion data is measured by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor. Movement of the robot base or moveable arm is then compensated based on the measured motion to align the first and second parts with each other and assemble the parts together.

Abstract: A passive infra-red guidance system and method for augmenting operation of a vehicle on a roadway includes at least one forward-looking infra-red imaging sensor mounted on the vehicle in operative communication with an image processor tied into the vehicle's operational system. The system identifies the presence of one or more melting agents arranged on the roadway using thermal imaging to detect a thermal contrast between the portion(s) of the roadway surface treated with the one or more melting agents and the untreated portion(s) of the roadway surface, determines the left and right edges of the roadway using thermal imaging and determines the centerline of the travel lane in which the vehicle is travelling based on the identified melting agent(s). The system then compares the determined centerline of the travel lane with the actual position of the vehicle and identifies any adjustment needed for the vehicle's position based on the comparison.

Abstract: A wheeled base includes a housing, two driven wheeled mechanisms positioned on a bottom of the housing and on opposite sides of the housing, at least one passive wheel positioned on the bottom of the housing, actuated feet positioned on the bottom of the housing and configured to move up and down, sensors, and a battery pack arranged within the housing. The two driven wheeled mechanisms each includes a damping mechanism, and each damping mechanism includes at least two dampers configured to absorb impact caused by an upward movement of the housing, and absorb impact caused by a downward movement of the housing.

Abstract: Methods are described that perform dispatched store-to-consumer logistics operations for an ordered item using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server. A dispatch command is received from the dispatch server. The different modular components of the bot assembly are verified to be compatible with the dispatched operation and the ordered item is received in a payload area of a modular cargo storage system. The bot assembly autonomously moves from an origin location to a destination location and notifies the delivery recipient of the approach delivery. When delivery recipient authentication input is received that correlates to the authentication information, selective access is provided to the ordered item within the cargo storage system at the destination location. The bot apparatus monitors unloading, and autonomously moves back to the origin location after the ordered item is detected as removed from the cargo storage system.

Abstract: A passive infra-red guidance system and method for augmenting operation of a vehicle on a roadway includes at least one forward-looking infra-red imaging sensor mounted on the vehicle in operative communication with an image processor tied into the vehicle's operational system. The system identifies the presence of one or more melting agents arranged on the roadway using thermal imaging to detect a thermal contrast between the portion(s) of the roadway surface treated with the one or more melting agents and the untreated portion(s) of the roadway surface, determines the left and right edges of the roadway using thermal imaging and determines the centerline of the travel lane in which the vehicle is travelling based on the identified melting agent(s). The system then compares the determined centerline of the travel lane with the actual position of the vehicle and identifies any adjustment needed for the vehicle's position based on the comparison.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes: an insertion portion, an end effector, a bend restraining unit, a position detector, an operation unit, a first drive unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to generate the first drive signal based on an output and the position of the bend restraining unit which is detected by the position detector. The output is output from the operation unit that operates the bending portion.

Abstract: There is provided a robot control apparatus that controls a vertical articulated robot and is suitable for direct teaching. In the apparatus, an axis setting section sets operation axes and control axes from among the axes subjected to angle control, when performing the direct teaching of changing a position of the arm tip, while retaining a posture thereof at a target posture. The operation axes can be dominant factors when determining the position of the arm tip and are allowed to freely move according to an external force, and the control axes can be dominant factors when determining the posture of the arm tip and are controlled by an angle control section. When performing the direct teaching, the angle control section receives an input of current angles of the operation axes and the target posture to calculate command angles of the respective control axes according to inverse kinematics calculation.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot collaboratively acting with a human, a force sensor provided in the robot and detecting a force, a control unit decelerating or stopping an action of the robot based on output from the force sensor, a first temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the force sensor, and an execution unit performing warm-up operation in the robot until output from the first temperature sensor reaches a first target value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a robot that performs work using an end effector on an object transported by a handler includes calculating a target position of the end effector based on a position of the object, calculating a tracking correction amount for correction of the target position in correspondence with a transport amount of the object, controlling the end effector to follow the object based on the target position and the tracking correction amount, acquiring an acting force acting on the end effector from the object using a force sensor, calculating a force control correction amount for correction of the target position to set the acting force to a target force, and controlling the acting force to be the predetermined target force by driving the manipulator based on the force control correction amount.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of modular robot control, and more particularly to a correction method and system for constructing a modular robot thereof. The correction method and system for constructing a modular robot according to the present invention can be corrected according to whether the assembly structure matches the target structure during the assembly of the modular robot, avoiding repeated assembly work by users, Which brings a good user experience to users.

Abstract: A robot controller is a controller configured to control a motor of a robot and includes: a housing accommodating a heat generating part that generates heat; a vent hole that is open on a wall of the housing; a fan configured to supply air, introduced through the vent hole into the housing, to the heat generating part; and a lid part configured to cover the vent hole.

Abstract: A robot system includes a transfer device, a plurality of robots, a sensor configured to detect a workpiece to which a work has not yet been performed, and a controller provided to each of the plurality of robots. The plurality of robots are disposed in series in a transferring direction of a workpiece. When the sensor detects the unworked workpiece and the robot is in a stand-by state, the controller causes the robot to perform the work to the unworked workpiece, and when the sensor detects the unworked workpiece and the robot is working, the controller inhibits the robot to perform the work to the unworked workpiece.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot having a base, a robot arm coupled to the base, a motor that drives the robot arm, a supply unit that supplies electric power to the motor, and a switch mechanism that switches between a conduction state in which the motor and the supply unit are conducting and a non-conduction state in which the motor and the supply unit are not conducting, and a vehicle having a movement mechanism that transports the robot and an operation portion that operates the switch mechanism and turns the conduction state to the non-conduction state, and being configured to take a coupled state in which the vehicle is coupled to the base and a decoupled state in which the vehicle is decoupled from the base, wherein the operation portion operates the switch mechanism in the coupled state.

Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot including drive shafts; and a control device configured to control the robot, in which each of the drive shafts includes a drive unit configured to cause a second member to operate with respect to a first member, the drive unit includes a motor, a deceleration mechanism configured to decelerate rotation of the motor and supply the rotation to the first member and the second member, and an input-side detector configured to detect a rotation angle position of the motor, at least one drive unit includes an output-side detector configured to detect an operation position of the second member with respect to the first member, and the control device controls the motor such that each of the drive shafts with high responsiveness is caused to operate with priority, on the basis of the detected rotation angle position of the motor and the detected operation position.

Abstract: A control system for a neck mechanism includes a perception system configured to track movement of an object, and a perception control system that controls a rotary motor to yaw a platform and controls a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator that is in parallel with the first linear actuator to pitch and roll the platform according to a target position of the platform. The perception system tracks movement of the object by estimating its position and pose in 3D space and the platform is moved according to a vision-based position and pose estimation result.

Abstract: An automated device has a movable structure covered at least in part by a sensorised covering. The sensorised covering comprises a plurality of covering modules, which includes one or more sensorised covering modules. Each sensorised covering module includes a plurality of distinct layers stacked on top of one another and including a load-bearing layer and at least one cushioning layer. Each sensorised covering module integrates at least one contact sensor device (C), which includes a first lower electrically conductive layer (61) and a second upper electrically conductive layer (63), set between which is an electrically insulating layer (62).

Abstract: There is provided for a calibration method for an operation apparatus. The operation apparatus comprises a first moving body unit capable of pivoting about a horizontally extending axis, a first driving unit configured to drive the first moving body unit, and a first detection unit configured to detect a pivot position of the first moving body unit. The method comprises aligning the first moving body unit to one reference position selected from a plurality of predetermined reference positions, determining the reference position by comparing a driving parameter value of the first driving unit at the one reference position with determination parameter values respectively preset for the plurality of reference positions, and registering, as reference position information for calculating the pivot position, position information of the one reference position determined in the determining and detection value information of the first detection unit.

Abstract: There is provided a robot control apparatus that controls a vertical articulated robot and is suitable for direct teaching. In the apparatus, an axis setting section sets operation axes and control axes from among the axes subjected to angle control, when performing the direct teaching of changing a position of the arm tip, while retaining a posture thereof at a target posture. The operation axes can be dominant factors when determining the position of the arm tip and are allowed to freely move according to an external force, and the control axes can be dominant factors when determining the posture of the arm tip and are controlled by an angle control section. When performing the direct teaching, the angle control section receives an input of current angles of the operation axes and the target posture to calculate command angles of the respective control axes according to inverse kinematics calculation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of modular robot control, and more particularly to a modular robot and a method for calculating a position of a module unit thereof. The modular robot and the position calculation method for module units of the modular robot are characterized in that position information of the module units is determined by recognizing interface identification information of docking parts of adjacent module units, and have the advantage of precise and quick recognition, thereby ensuring the accuracy of a position calculation result of each module unit, and facilitating the widespread application of the modular robot.

Abstract: A method for palletizing includes receiving a target box location for a box grasped by the end-effector, the box having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces. The method also includes positioning the box at an initial position adjacent to the target box location and tilting the box at an angle relative to a ground plane where the angle is formed between the ground plane and the bottom surface. The method further includes shifting the box from the initial position in a first direction to a first alignment position that satisfies a threshold first alignment distance, shifting the box from the first alignment position in a second direction to the target box location that satisfies a threshold second alignment distance, and releasing the box from the end-effector. The release of the box causes the box to pivot toward a boundary edge of the target box location.