Abstract: A method of calibrating a coordinate positioning machine is described. The machine is controlled into a pivot pose in which a target point associated with a moveable part of the machine and a pivot point associated with a fixed part of the machine are separated from one another by a known separation. An error value for that pose is determined based on the known separation and a separation expected for that pose from the existing model parameters of the machine. The machine is controlled into a plurality of different target poses, and for each target pose a separation between the target point and the pivot point is measured and an error value for that pose is determined based on the measured separation and a separation expected for that pose from the existing model parameters.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mobile railway asset monitoring apparatus is provided that includes a sensor configured to produce a signal indicative of a rotation of a wheelset of a mobile railway asset. The apparatus further includes a processor to receive data corresponding to a ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is operably coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to estimate a running dimension of the wheelset based at least in part on the rotation of the wheelset and the ground speed of the mobile railway asset. The processor is configured to determine at least one parameter of the mobile railway asset based at least in part on the running dimension of the wheelset.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a transport robot to simultaneously grasp and transfer multiple objects is disclosed. The transport robot includes a multi-gripper assembly having an array of addressable vacuum regions each configured to independently provide a vacuum. The robotic system receives image data representative of a group of objects. Individual target objects are identified in the group based on the received image data. Addressable vacuum regions are selected based on the identified target objects. The transport robot is command to cause the selected addressable vacuum regions to simultaneously grasp and transfer multiple target objects.

Abstract: A production cell includes: at least one robot arranged to handle products; at least one buffer area for intermediate storage of products inside the production cell; a vision system with cameras arranged to determine, based on images from the cameras, the identity and the location of objects in the production cell a plurality of production modules, each production module comprising at least one Hardware Module configured to process products; and a plurality of module attachment locations, each module attachment location being configured to connect with an interface section of a production module through at least a physical connection and a power connection.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot including a hand portion which grips and takes out a workpiece from an accommodation unit in which a plurality of workpieces are accommodated, and transports the workpiece to a predetermined position; a robot control unit which controls conveyance operation of the robot of taking out the workpiece from the accommodation unit and transporting the workpiece to the predetermined position; and a conveyance condition setting unit which sets a conveyance condition regarding the conveyance operation and including, in the workpiece, at least a grip prohibited region that is prohibited from being gripped by the hand portion. The robot control unit controls the robot based on the conveyance condition set by the conveyance condition setting unit.

Abstract: An autonomous solar module installation platform can be used for solar module installation onto a solar tracker. The autonomous solar module installation platform can include an autonomous ground vehicle and a robotic arm for the solar module installation onto the solar tracker. The autonomous ground vehicle can autonomously drive itself to the solar tracker using a global positioning system and align itself with the solar tracker using at least a vision system in order to place one or more solar modules onto the solar tracker.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for fleet management of unmanned aerial vehicles, including flight authorization. One of the methods includes maintaining one or more rules associated with authorizing UAVs to implement flight plans. A request to generate a flight plan associated with a job is received, the request including information indicating a flight pattern comprising, at least, one or more waypoints associated with geospatial references. The flight plan is generated based on the request, and an initial authorization check is determined based on the maintained rules and the generated flight plan. Upon a positive determination, access to the generated flight plan is provided by a ground control system, and the flight plan is implemented.

Abstract: A method for robotic inspection of a part, includes the steps of: supporting the part with a robot mechanism; obtaining part-related sensor input with a sensor positioned to inspect the part supported by the robot mechanism; and controlling movement of the robot mechanism relative to the sensor, wherein the controlling is done by a feedback control unit which receives the sensor input, and the feedback control unit is configured to control the robot mechanism based upon the sensor input.

Abstract: Disclosed is a visual and spatial programming system for robot navigation and robot-IoT task authoring. Programmable mobile robots serve as binding agents to link stationary IoT devices and perform collaborative tasks. Three key elements of robot task planning (human-robot-IoT) are coherently connected with one single smartphone device. Users can perform visual task authoring in an analogous manner to the real tasks that they would like the robot to perform with using an augmented reality interface. The mobile device mediates interactions between the user, robot(s), and IoT device-oriented tasks, guiding the path planning execution with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) to enable robust room-scale navigation and interactive task authoring.

Abstract: Techniques for auto-locating and positioning relative to an aircraft are disclosed. An example method can include a robot receiving a multi-dimensional representation of an enclosure that includes a candidate target aircraft. The robot can extract a geometric feature from the multi-dimensional representation associated with the candidate target aircraft. The robot can compare the geometric feature of the candidate target aircraft with a second geometric feature from a reference model of a target aircraft. The robot can determine whether the candidate target aircraft is the target aircraft based on the comparison. The robot can calculate a path from a location of the robot to the target aircraft based on the determination. The robot can traverse the path from the location to the target aircraft based on the calculation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to improved techniques for personalizing vehicle routes and operator sessions using pre-trained machine learning language models. In certain embodiments, a language model is trained on operator interaction data to learn operator route preferences for vehicle operators. These learned operator route preferences can be leveraged to optimize and personalize vehicle routes and operator sessions in various ways. Other embodiments are disclosed herein as well.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and system for assisting a robot to navigate in a warehouse setting. In some embodiments, robot is configured to receive a reserved route and move according to the reserved route as it navigates inside a warehouse. A reserved route includes one or more waypoints. Each waypoint represents a location and a size, the size being the space needed for accommodating a robot at the location. The one or more waypoints are listed in a sequence for a robot to follow sequentially. In some embodiments, each waypoint may further include a timestamp representing the time that the robot given the reserved route is supposed to arrive at the location.

Abstract: Provided is a computer-assisted method for ascertaining a movement of an apparatus, which has a tool that is movable by way of translational and/or rotational axes of movement of the apparatus, includes the following method steps: a first movement trajectory of the tool is ascertained in a first configuration space. A predetermined parameter of a movement of the tool is optimized when ascertaining the first movement trajectory. A check is carried out as to whether the first movement trajectory satisfies at least one predetermined first boundary condition. A second movement trajectory of the tool in a second configuration space is ascertained by transforming the first movement trajectory into the second configuration space if the first movement trajectory satisfies the predetermined first boundary condition. A check is carried out as to whether the second movement trajectory satisfies at least one predetermined second boundary condition.

Abstract: A simulation may be used to determine a difference between progress of a manually-driven vehicle and progress of a simulated autonomous vehicle. The method includes retrieving log data collected for the manually-driven vehicle driving along a route, generating a plurality of path segments for a portion of the route. The plurality of path segments corresponds to points in a lane that the manually-driven vehicle traveled through on the portion of the route. The method also includes running, using a software of the autonomous vehicle, a simulation of the autonomous vehicle driving along the plurality of path segments, extracting metrics from the log data and the simulation, and determining the difference between a first progress of the manually-driven vehicle and a second progress of the simulated autonomous vehicle based on the metrics.

Abstract: In a hydraulic excavator including a track structure, a swing structure swingably disposed on an upper portion of the track structure, a work implement coupled to the swing structure, an earth removal device including a blade coupled to the track structure and a lift cylinder configured to raise and lower the blade, an operation sensor configured to detect an operation of a travelling lever, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the blade with respect to the track structure, an antenna for a satellite positioning system, the antenna being mounted on the swing structure, and a controller configured to calculate positional data regarding the blade, the controller is configured to determine a travelling operation on the basis of a signal of the operation sensor, calculate a travelling direction of straight forward travelling of the track structure as an orientation of the track structure when the straight forward travelling of the track structure is detected from a trajectory of the antenna with a st

Abstract: A method of adjusting a force control parameter includes a first step of moving a robot arm based on first information on work start position and orientation of the robot arm and a candidate value of a force control parameter, and acquiring second information on a working time taken for the work and third information on a force applied to the robot arm during the work, and a second step of acquiring an updated value obtained by updating of the candidate value of the force control parameter based on the acquired second information and third information, wherein the first step and the second step are repeatedly performed with noise added to the first information until the acquired working time or force applied to the robot arm converges, and a final value of the force control parameter is obtained.

Abstract: A method for determining the joint positions of a kinematic chain uses only an imaging sensor and a computing unit. Characteristic features on the links and joints of the kinematic chain are identified and the joint positions are calculated from these visual measurements. The robot can be controlled without the use of joint encoders. A sensor system for monitoring the status of a kinematic chain includes a computing unit and an imaging sensor. The imaging sensor may be mounted to the kinematic chain or in the surroundings of the kinematic chain and monitors the kinematic chain and/or the surroundings of the kinematic chain. The computing unit determines a pose and/or movement parameters of at least one element of the kinematic chain by analyzing an output signal of the imaging sensor, in particular by analyzing characteristic features and determines a rotational joint position by analyzing the characteristic features.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) based acceleration in robot motion planning are described. In an embodiment, logic circuitry (such as an FPGA), coupled to a processor, accelerates one or more motion planning operations for a plurality of objects. A first memory, coupled to the logic circuitry, stores data corresponding to a plurality of Oriented Bounding Boxes (OBBs). The plurality of OBBs are to provide Bounding Volume (BV) models for the plurality of objects. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A remote operation system for a working machine includes a control device enabling an operator wearing a wearable display to grasp the surrounding situation of himself/herself. The control device includes an operation intention judgment section judging the presence/absence of an operator's operation intention to a remote operation lever based on the contents of acquired judgment information, and a display image switching section. With judgment of presence of the operation intention, the display image switching section makes a working area image taken by a working area image taking camera be displayed in a particular display area of the wearable display. With judgment of absence of the operation intention, the display image switching section stops the display of the working area image in the at least a part of the particular display area and switches it to a surrounding visual-recognition allowing area allowing the operator to visually recognize the surroundings.

Abstract: An animatronics system uses a camera for detecting a person, and an enhanced interaction controller, operably connectable with an animatronics character, for providing entertainment to persons nearby. A tracking program utilizes human presence detection, via input from the camera, to detect and recognize the person for tracking the person and determining when the person enters a predetermined range. The enhanced control program performs, in response to the tracking program determining that the person entered within the predetermined range of the animatronic character, an entertainment routine directed to the person.