Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning a wafer in relation to a datum structure. In one example, a system comprises a camera arrangement including at least two cameras, each of the at least two cameras including a field of view when positioned in the camera arrangement, each field of view including a peripheral edge of the wafer and a peripheral edge of the datum structure. A processor receives positional data from each of the at least two cameras and determines, in relation to each field of view, a gap size between the respective peripheral edges of the wafer and the datum location included in the respective field of view. A controller adjusts a position of the wafer relative to the datum structure based on the determined respective gap sizes.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods of solar module recycling, employ sieving for separation of materials. According to one embodiment, a method comprises milling a solar module to create a first feedstock comprising polymer, copper, and silicon. A first sieving of the first feedstock is performed to create a first retained fraction and a first passed fraction. The first retained fraction is re-milled. A second sieving of the first passed fraction is performed to create a second retained fraction and a second passed fraction. Electrostatic separation of the second retained fraction is performed to create a conductive fraction enriched in copper. A third sieving of the second passed fraction may create a third retained fraction and a third passed fraction. Electrostatic separation of the third retained fraction can create a conductive fraction enriched in silicon.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine supplying first torques via a drive shaft to drive the motor vehicle and an electric machine having a rotor via which second drive torques can be supplied by the electric machine to drive the motor vehicle. An axle drive has an axle drive input gear wheel via which the axle drive can be driven. The system includes a gearbox having a first partial gearbox and a second partial gearbox. The first partial gearbox has a first planetary gear set having a first element, a second element, and a third element, The first partial gearbox also has a second planetary gear set having a fourth element, a fifth element, and a sixth element.

Abstract: The preset novel animal feces collection and storage system includes a stationary garage portion and a mobile robot portion. The stationary garage portion includes a garage housing, a door operationally connected to the garage housing, a door opener assembly connected to the garage housing and operationally connected to the door, a raised platform disposed within the garage housing, a ramp extending from the raised platform toward the door, an aperture formed through the raised platform, a bin disposed below the aperture, a charge port positioned within the garage housing, a power source operationally connected to the charge port, a first microprocessor positioned within the garage housing and operationally connected to the power source, a first transceiver operationally connected to the first microprocessor and to the power source, and a weight scale operationally connected to the bin, the power source, and the first microprocessor.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for movement of rectangular prisms in a multi-dimensional space are provided.

Abstract: An automated process for separating and recycling a broad mix of waste material including, but not limited to, paper and flexible plastics. A materials recovery facility (MRF) collects, presorts, and separates into individual commodities the material, then separates partially processed 2D blends from 3D containers, while refraining from any quality control of the 2D blends, and bales the 2D blends. A fiber center receives the bales from the MRF, aggregates the partially processed 2D blends, removes recyclable commodities including flexible plastics from the 2D blends, aggregates each recyclable commodity that is removed from the 2D blends, and forms separate commodity streams of clean paper and clean flexible plastics. Also provided are a related fiber center (and an infrastructure including the center) and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software for performing the process.

Abstract: A robot control device configured to control operation of a robot configured to transfer a substrate while holding the substrate. The robot includes a robotic arm having at least one joint axis, and an end effector provided to a tip end of the robotic arm and configured to hold the substrate. A position and a posture of the end effector are defined by values of N variables. A value of at least one of the N variables that define a holding position and a holding posture of the end effector for holding the substrate placed on the installation position by the end effector is independent from a value of the corresponding variable among the N variables that define a withdrawn position and a withdrawn posture of the end effector after retreating the end effector in the holding position and the holding posture from the installation position.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for implementing a tour generation feature for completing tasks within a facility of an inventory management system. Coordinates for stations, starting locations of inventory holders, and rest locations of the inventory holders of the facility may be obtained. A set of tasks may be determined for each station based on an inventory item requirement associated with each station. A priority order for a subset of inventory holders may be determined based on priority characteristics associated with each inventory holder. Tours for the subset of inventory holders may be determined based on the set of tasks, the coordinates, and travel attributes for each inventory holder. The tours may be modified by iteratively invoking a large neighborhood search algorithm that uses destroy heuristics. Previously determined tours for other subsets of inventory holders may be updated using the modified tours for the subset of inventory holders.

Abstract: A reference cost and a variable cost are included in a link cost for setting a set route for causing a setting vehicle to travel to a destination on a travelable route. A controller obtains an adjusted other vehicle cost by adjusting another vehicle cost with use of a separation adjustment value set smaller the higher a separation index is, obtains a variable cost based on a sum of the adjusted other vehicle costs of all target other vehicles, determines a link cost for each link in a candidate route, which is a candidate for a set route for the setting vehicle, based on the variable cost and the reference cost, obtains a route cost for each candidate route based on the link costs, and sets a set route based on the route costs of the candidate routes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing a localization processing service for enabling localization of a navigation network-restricted subsystem and for providing an observed scene reconstruction service are provided.

Abstract: Separating target particles from discard particles in an aggregate using tailored frequencies in a mineral separation table is described. The separation table comprises a planar surface angled in a ?z direction along the +x axis at an angle ? and in the ?z direction along the +y axis at an angle ?. A motor is responsive to a first or second vibration wave train received by a controller. The motor vibrates the table with the vibration wave train thereby separating target from discard particles by differences in specific gravity. The first vibration wave train is a plurality of primary half sine waves each followed by a pause. The second vibration wave train is the plurality of the primary half sine waves and a plurality of high frequency sine waves having a frequency that is higher than the primary half sine wave.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for assembling merchandise ordered by customers, such as at shopping facilities. In one form, the system includes: a shopping order interface for receiving merchandise orders; a shopping facility including a merchandise pickup area and a merchandise assembly area; an automated retrieval system for transporting merchandise to the assembly area; an automated retrieval inventory database; an offline retrieval inventory database; and a merchandise database containing dimensions of merchandise. The system also includes a control circuit configured to: receive a merchandise order, determine dimensions of the items in the order, determine an arrangement of the items in order containers, instruct retrieval of items by the automated retrieval system; instruct retrieval of a second set of items not capable of retrieval by the automated retrieval system; and instruct transfer and deposit of the items in the order containers.

Abstract: Time-varying control of a controllable air stream is disclosed, including: a set of image sensors configured to capture image data showing a target object being conveyed by a conveyor device along a Y-direction; an array of air jets located along an X-direction, wherein the X-direction crosses the Y-direction; and a processor configured to: receive the image data from the set of image sensors; determine a classification of the target object within the image data; and modify a two-dimensional firing polygon of air to be directed by the array of air jets on the target object based at least in part on the classification of the target object; and wherein the array of air jets is configured to perform a sorting operation on the target object as the target object is translated across the array of air jets based at least in part on the modified two-dimensional firing polygon.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative systems for performing hill stall/start assist functions. An illustrative drive unit controller receives a zero-speed command and electric motor information, generates a torque command based on the received zero-speed command and the electric motor information, and instructs a drive unit inverter for an electric motor in response to the generated torque command.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot arm and an end effector coupled to the robot arm for receiving an item, the end effector having an aperture defined therein that is partially covered by an item when the item is received by the end effector. The system may include data processors in communication with the robot arm and an input to receive data from a sensor that can detect obstruction thereof as the end effector is moved past the sensor with the aperture aligned with the sensor. The robot system is able to determine a center of the item from positional information captured during sensor transitions. The robot system can then place the item such that the determined center of the item is received at an intended center location.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for movement of rectangular prisms in a multi-dimensional space are provided.

Abstract: A container structure, for example a container structure having a footprint and/or overall dimensions substantially corresponding to those of an intermodal freight shipping container, includes conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the container structure for conveying items within a footprint or a convex hull of the container structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting objects includes a feeding device, at least one transfer device and several target containers. The feeding device is configured to convey the objects to the at least one transfer device. The transfer device is configured to transfer the objects to the target containers. The apparatus has a sorting device in which the target containers can be moved such that the target containers can be positioned either at a transfer position assigned to the at least one transfer device or at any one of a plurality of waiting positions. The waiting positions form an at least two-dimensional position grid.

Abstract: An automated storage system includes a three-dimensional storage grid for storing storage containers, at least one container handling vehicle operating on, around or under the storage grid, and a central communication system with a system transmitter and a system receiver for controlling and communicating with the at least one container handling vehicle for handling storage containers in the storage grid. At least one container handling vehicle includes a vehicle communication system with a vehicle transmitter and a vehicle receiver for communication with the central communication system. The system and vehicle transmitters and receivers are configured to use light for wireless communication. The system transmitter and the system receiver are located in the automated storage system on, around, or under the storage grid transmitting the same communication from all the transmitters of the central communication system.

Abstract: A top loading refuse distributing and compacting device for mounting above or in the top of a refuse collection container is operable to receive, compact and distribute refuse collected with the container. The device includes a pivotal handling member, which is pivotal between a leftward and rightward guiding position, in which left and right opposed inclined surfaces of the handling member alternatingly guide refuse into the right and left side of the container such as to distribute it evenly over said sides, while with the other surface compacting refuse already present in the container. The handling member includes a weight sensor. The device may be operated based on the signals of weight sensor and preferably other sensors, for instance to indicate a living organism being received. The handling member may be one single unit, combining the functions of weighing, distributing and compacting.