Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.

Abstract: A traveling vehicle system includes a determiner to determine, upon receiving from a traveling vehicle an entry permission request for an area under control, whether or not a remaining number of vehicles to a maximum number of vehicles allowed to enter the area is equal to or less than a threshold value, and an entry permitter to temporarily hold the entry permission request from the traveling vehicle if the determiner determines the threshold value has not been exceeded and upon arrival of the traveling vehicle at an entry region for the area, grant the traveling vehicle permission to enter the area if a sum of a number of traveling vehicles within the area and a number of traveling vehicles already permitted to enter the area is less than a maximum number of vehicles, but does not grant entry permission if the sum has reached the maximum number of vehicles.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides an end effector for use with a programmable motion device. The end effector includes a pair of mutually opposing surfaces, at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces being movable with respect to an end effector support structure for supporting the at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces.

Abstract: A surgical system for manipulating an anatomy includes a surgical tool, a robotic manipulator configured to support and move the surgical tool, and one or more controllers that activate a first virtual boundary delineating a first portion of the anatomy that is allowed to be removed by the surgical tool from a second portion of the anatomy that is protected from removal by the surgical tool. The one or more controllers control the robotic manipulator for enabling the surgical tool to perform bulk cutting of the first portion in relation to the first virtual boundary. The one or more controllers control the robotic manipulator for enabling the surgical tool to perform fine cutting of the second portion of the anatomy.

Abstract: Robots, robot systems, and methods for operating the same based on environment models including haptic data are described. An environment model which includes representations of objects in an environment is accessed, and a robot system is controlled based on the environment model. The environment model incudes haptic data, which provides more effective control of the robot. The environment model is populated based on visual profiles, haptic profiles, and/or other data profiles for objects or features retrieved from respective databases. Identification of objects or features can be based on cross-referencing between visual and haptic profiles, to populate the environment model with data not directly collected by a robot which is populating the model, or data not directly collected from the actual objects or features in the environment.

Abstract: A self-propelled device is disclosed to recognize objects, possess objects, and transport objects to a new location. A method is disclosed to use the device to transport objects in environments dangerous to humans. Other example embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted device include a control unit and an articulated structure coupled to the control unit and including a plurality of joints. The articulated structure is configured to support an instrument. The control unit is configured to determine an error that is introduced to a position of the instrument, an orientation of the instrument, or both the position of the instrument and the orientation of the instrument by movement of a first joint of the plurality of joints; and drive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints to reduce the error.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and method for monitoring and controlling field operations including planting and harvesting operations. In one embodiment, a data processing system of a machine includes a data transfer and processing module that communicates bi-directionally with different types of controllers and sensors mounted on the machine or an implement attached to the machine. The data transfer and processing module is configured to execute instructions to receive signals from these controllers and sensors, process these signals, and generate data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine. At least one display device is coupled to the data transfer and processing module. The at least one display device displays the data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine or implement to a user or operator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs stored on computer storage devices, for coordinating movements of robots are disclosed. One of the methods includes, for each robot in a group of robots, identifying a set of tasks assigned to the robot and generating a plurality of candidate motion plans. The method further includes, for each candidate motion plan: (i) generating a 3D model that represents a volume of space through which the robot would move in executing the sequence of motions represented by the candidate motion plan, and (ii) determining a score for the candidate motion plan. The method further includes determining conflicts between candidate motion plans of different robots, selecting a motion plan from the candidate motion plans based on the score for the selected motion plan and the conflicts, and providing the selected motion plans for execution by the group of robots.

Abstract: A system comprises a flexible instrument, a first user input device spaced from the flexible instrument, and a second user input device including a first state and a second state. The system further comprises a control system configured to, based on an input received from the first user input device, control an orientation of the flexible instrument. The control system is further configured to, based on an input received from the second user input device, adjust a stiffness of the flexible instrument. The stiffness of the flexible instrument is lower when the second user input device is in the first state than when the second user input device is in the second state.

Abstract: A teleoperational medical system for performing a medical procedure in a surgical field includes a teleoperational assembly having a plurality of motorized surgical arms configured to assist in a surgical procedure. It also includes an input device configured to receive an input to move all the arms of the plurality of motorized surgical arms to a pre-established position. A processing system is configured to receive the input form the input device and output control signals to each arm of the plurality of motorized surgical arms to move each arm to the pre-established position.

Abstract: A cooperative vehicle-highway communication system allows vehicles and pedestrians to determine their location by sensing selected coatings on roadways, sidewalks, and other paved surfaces in both indoor and outdoor environments. The systems recognize intelligent materials under sensors to determine geo-location. The intelligent materials are incorporated into paints on the roadway surface to mark key locations. Additionally, vehicles recognize highway paint/markings and signs with intelligent paint that provide specialized message content to support driver information and control applications. The intelligent paint materials include a coating that absorbs light while converting the absorbed light to electromagnetic energy. This electromagnetic energy is read by sensors to recognize the materials.

Abstract: A system and method for determining performance of an engine is provided. The system includes two or more sensors configured in operable arrangement at two or more respective positions at a flowpath. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to perform operations, the operations include acquiring, via the two or more sensors, parameter sets each corresponding to two or more engine conditions different from one another, wherein each parameter set indicates a health condition at a respective location at the engine; comparing, via the computing device, the parameter sets to determine the respective health condition corresponding to the respective location at the engine; and generating, via the computing device, a health condition prediction based on the compared parameter sets.

Abstract: A communication system, including: a trailer module disposed on a cargo trailer, the trailer module including a trailer identification number for the cargo trailer; a tractor module disposed on a cargo tractor, the tractor module to electrically couple to the trailer module; and a communications bus to couple the trailer module to the tractor module when the trailer is coupled to the tractor, wherein, when coupled to the tractor module, the trailer module communicates the trailer identification to the tractor module.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of accurately determining a robot coordinate system of a robot configured to be moved along an axis. The apparatus of setting the robot coordinate system of the robot configured to be moved along a first axis includes a coordinate system acquisition section configured to determine, from positions of two robot coordinate systems preset along the first axis, a position of another robot coordinate system to be set between the positions of the two robot coordinate systems by calculation. Further, a method of setting a robot coordinate system of a robot configured to be moved along a first axis includes determining, from positions of two robot coordinate systems preset along the first axis, a position of another robot coordinate system to be set between the positions of the two robot coordinate systems by calculation.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for aligning multiple parts using simultaneous scanning of features of different parts and using feature-based coordinate systems for determining relative positions of these. Specifically, a feature-based coordinate system may be constructed using one or more critical dimensions between features of different parts. The scanner may be specifically positioned to capture each of these critical dimensions precisely. The feature-based coordinate system is used to compare the critical dimensions to specified ranges. The position of at least one part may be adjusted based on results of this comparison using, for example, a robotic manipulator. The process may be repeated until all critical dimensions are within their specified ranges. In some embodiments, multiple sets of features from different parts are used such that each set uses its own feature-based coordinate system. The part adjustment may be performed based on the collective output from these multiple sets.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot arm driven by an electric motor and a vehicle that is movable and supports the robot arm. A control method includes (a) moving the vehicle to a work station of a first type and (b) driving the robot arm in the work station of the first type. The (a) executes a first operation mode for, in a part of the movement to the work station of the first type, moving the vehicle in a state in which electric power is not supplied to the electric motor, starting supply of the electric power to the electric motor during the movement of the vehicle in the state in which the electric power is not supplied to the electric motor, and arranging the vehicle in the work station of the first type in a state in which the electric power is supplied to the electric motor.

Abstract: A controller determines, when a traveling vehicle to proceed in a first direction from a predetermined cell toward a destination is present, whether or not to grant the traveling vehicle occupation permission for a cell adjacent to the predetermined cell in the first direction. The traveling vehicle proceeds in the first direction if occupation permission for the adjacent cell has been granted from the controller, whereas the traveling vehicle stops at the predetermined cell if occupation permission has not been granted. The controller assigns to the traveling vehicle a traveling instruction in which a cell situated at a plurality of cells ahead of the predetermined cell in the second direction is designated as a waypoint to the destination if the traveling vehicle has not obtained occupation permission for the adjacent cell and has continuously been in a stop state at the predetermined cell for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A cooperative robotic arm system includes a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm and a controller. The first robotic arm has first working vector. The second robotic arm has second working vector. The controller is configured to: (1) control the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm to stop moving; (2) determine whether a first projection vector of the first working vector projected on a first coordinate axis and a second working vector projected on the first coordinate axis overlaps; (3) when they overlap, determine whether a third projection vector of the first working vector projected on a second coordinate axis and a fourth projection vector of the second working vector projected on the second coordinate axis overlap; and, (4). when they do no overlap, control a controlled-to-moved one of the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm to move along a reset path.

Abstract: Provided are a self-movement robot, a map invoking method and a combined robot. The self-movement robot includes a robot body and a control center disposed on the body, the robot body comprising a distance sensor, the distance sensor collects two-dimensional map information of a working surface on which the self-movement robot is located, and collects spatial height information above the working surface on which the self-movement robot is located; and while obtaining the two-dimensional map information of the working surface, the control center overlays the spatial height information to the two-dimensional map information and obtains three-dimensional map information of a working region.