Abstract: The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.

Abstract: A method includes positioning a robot in a plurality of postures in a substrate processing system relative to a fixed location in the substrate processing system and generating sensor data identifying a fixed location relative to the robot in the plurality of postures. The method further includes determining, based on the sensor data, a plurality of error values corresponding to one or more components of the substrate processing system and causing, based on the plurality of error values, performance of one or more corrective actions associated with the one or more components of the substrate processing system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed herein. The system includes a measuring device detecting a position and a travel distance of movement of the robot, a communication circuit, a memory, and a processor. The processor implements the method, including: specifying a robot coordinate system of the robot based on the measured position data, generating, using the processor, robot reference position data by converting the measured position data based on the specified robot coordinate system, performing, using the processor, position-based parameter optimization based on the robot reference position data, and storing, using a memory, a parameter optimized through the position-based parameter optimization; and transmitting, using a communication circuit, the stored optimized parameter to the robot to actuate movement of the robot based on the stored optimized parameter.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, a robot controller, a video acquisition device configured to acquire a real video of a work space, and a head-mounted type video display device provided with a visual line tracking section configured to acquire visual line information. A robot controller includes an information storage section configured to store information used for controlling the robot while associating the information with a type of an object, a gaze target identification section configured to identify, in the video, a gaze target viewed by a wearer based on the visual line information, and a display processing section configured to cause the video display device to display the information associated with the object corresponding to the identified gaze target, side by side with the gaze target in the form of one image through which the wearer can visually grasp, select, or set contents of the information.

Abstract: A user console for a surgical robotic system has a seat having an armrest and an electromagnetic (EM) transmitter coupled to the armrest to generate an EM field in an EM tracking space around the armrest. A user input device having a handheld housing is to be positioned within the EM tracking by an operator who is seated in the seat, during a surgical procedure. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A teaching system for a robot is provided, including a motion bar for controlling the robot and a robot system utilizing the teaching system. In one embodiment, the teaching system is provided including a first controller configured to provide motion-related control functions for controlling motion of the robot. The teaching system may also include a second controller configured to provide control functions other than the motion-related control functions for programming one or more actions of the robot.

Abstract: To provide a machine teaching terminal, a machine, a program, and a safety confirmation method capable of ensuring the safety of a worker without providing an additional device or the like. A machine teaching terminal communicably connected to a robot so as to be used for teaching the robot within a work area of the robot includes a touch panel display configured to accept input performed by a worker, an input detection part configured to detect input to the touch panel display, an abnormality detection part configured to detect an abnormal state on the basis of the detection by the input detection part, and an abnormal signal transmission part configured to transmit, in the case where the abnormality detection part detects the abnormal state, a signal indicating the abnormal state to the robot.

Abstract: Methods of positioning a gripper to pick or place a specimen container from a sample rack. One method includes providing a robot including the gripper, the gripper moveable in a coordinate system by the robot and including gripper fingers, providing a sample rack including receptacles containing specimen containers, providing data, obtained by imaging, regarding the specimen containers in the sample rack, and dynamically orienting the gripper based upon the data. The data may include population and/or configuration data and the dynamic orientation may include gripper finger opening distance, gripper finger rotational position, and/or gripper offset distance. Gripper positioning apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A robot system that can perform cooperative work in accordance with an action of a person. A robot system according to the present disclosure includes a robot, a detection apparatus detecting a work object and detecting a predetermined action of a worker with respect to the work object, and a robot controller causing the robot to execute a predetermined work on the work object detected by the detection apparatus when the detection apparatus detects the predetermined action.

Abstract: A robot includes an arm, one or more visual sensors provided on the arm, a storage unit that stores a first feature value regarding at least a position and an orientation of a following target, the first feature value being stored as target data for causing the visual sensors provided on the arm to follow the following target, a feature value detection unit that detects a second feature value regarding at least a current position and a current orientation of the following target, the second feature value being detected using an image obtained by the visual sensors, a movement amount calculation unit that calculates a movement command for the arm based on a difference between the second feature value and the first feature value, and a movement command unit that moves the arm based on the movement command.

Abstract: A calibration system of a robot includes a data storage unit that stores a number of pieces of data in which actual measured position information obtained by actually measuring a tip position of the robot and information indicating a state of the robot upon actual measurement are combined, a parameter selecting unit that selects mechanical error parameters to be identified from parameters indicating mechanical errors of the robot, a parameter identifying unit that identifies each of the mechanical error parameters using the stored data and information of the selected mechanical error parameters, and an identification result evaluating unit that evaluates an identification result, and, in the case where evaluation does not satisfy a predetermined criterion, selection of different mechanical error parameters by the parameter selecting unit, identification and evaluation are repeated.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention relates to a robot including an operation determining unit that selects an operation of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes the operation selected by the operation determining unit, a body temperature detecting unit that detects a basic body temperature of a user, and a physical condition determining unit that determines a physical condition of the user based on a basic body temperature cycle of the user. When the basic body temperature of the user reaches a predetermined consideration timing in the basic body temperature cycle, the robot changes an amount of activity thereof.

Abstract: A image guided motion scaled surgical robotic system (160) employs a surgical robotic arm (168) and an image guided motion scaled surgical controller (162). In operation, responsive to an input signal indicative of a user defined motion of the surgical robotic arm (168) within an anatomical region, the image guided motion scaled surgical controller (162) controls an actuated motion of the surgical robotic arm (168) within the anatomical region based on a map (164) of a motion scale delineated within an imaging of the anatomical region.

Abstract: Methods of operating a gripper are provided. The methods include providing a robot including the gripper, the gripper moveable by the robot and including gripper fingers, providing a sample rack including receptacles accessible by the gripper, at least some of the receptacles adapted to contain specimen containers, providing data, obtained by imaging, regarding the sample rack and the specimen containers therein, and determining, based on the data, an accessible target receptacle for one of a pick operation or a place operation. Apparatus and systems configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A control point extraction unit (1d) is configured to extract, when a center of a joint portion (V) of a fifth rotary shaft (C5) is defined as a control point (A), a position (P1) of the control point (A) for a teaching point (T1) and a position (P2) of the control point (A) for a teaching point (T2). A linear path calculation unit (1e) is configured to calculate a linear path (L) that passes through the position (P1) and the position (P2). An arm movement calculation unit (1f) is configured to generate teaching data (D1) by calculating a movement of an arm (3) to cause the control point (A) to move along the linear path (L) from the position (P1) to the position (P2).

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-agent system that includes multiple robots, each of the robots cyclically performing the following: starting from an instantaneous system state, ascertaining possible options, the options defining actions by which a transition may be achieved from an instantaneous system state to a subsequent system state; for each of the possible options, ascertaining action costs for performing an action specified by the option; performing an auction, the action costs values ascertained for each option being taken into consideration by each of the other robots; and performing an action, which corresponds to one of the options, as a function of all cost values ascertained or received for the relevant option, the action costs for a particular option each taking an experience parameter into consideration, which is a function of costs for past actions assigned to the particular option previously carried out by the multiple robots.

Abstract: Methods, grasping systems, and computer-readable mediums storing computer executable code for grasping an object are provided. In an example, a depth image of the object may be obtained by a grasping system. A potential grasp point of the object may be determined by the grasping system based on the depth image. A tactile output corresponding to the potential grasp point may be estimated by the grasping system based on data from the depth image. The grasping system may be controlled to grasp the object at the potential grasp point based on the estimated tactile output.

Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a handle on a linkage having a plurality of joints, a base, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which a plurality of its actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an acceleration compensation method for a humanoid robot as well as an apparatus and a humanoid robot using the same. The method includes: calculating an angular acceleration of each joint and calculating a six-dimensional acceleration of a centroid of a connecting rod corresponding to the joint in an absolute world coordinate system, if the humanoid robot is in a single leg supporting state; calculating a torque required by the angular acceleration of each joint of the humanoid robot; determining a feedforward current value corresponding to the torque of each joint; and superimposing the feedforward current value on a control signal of each joint to control the humanoid robot. In this manner, the influence of the acceleration can be effectively suppressed, the rigidity of the PID controller of the humanoid robot can be reduced, thereby improving the stability of the entire humanoid robot.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-agent system having a plurality of robots. Each of the robots execute the following method cyclically until a target system state is achieved: starting from an instantaneous system state, determining possible options where progress is made along a path of system states in a predefined, deterministic finite automaton; the options defining actions through which a transition from a current to a subsequent system state can be achieved; determining a cost value for each of the possible options to carry out an action specified by the option; performing an auction, the cost values ascertained for each option being considered by each of the remaining robots; and executing an action, which corresponds to one of the options, as a function of all of the cost values which are determined or received for the respective option.