Abstract: A robot assembly for safe operation in a manufacturing setting with humans including a sensor for detecting a human location and human movement is provided. A safety control module providing a boundary of a safety zone area that is associated with the human in a task oriented state that includes a largest possible area in which the human or an associated work object can extend when the human is standing in one location and performing the work task. The human movement and safety zone area location being used to develop a capture set area that includes at least one predictive future safety zone area location. Using the at least one predicted future safety zone area, establishing a travel path for moving the robot between locations without overlapping the capture set area.

Abstract: A fenceless system and method for automatically moving one or more items between a structure at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system comprises a robot having an end effector to selectively grasp an item. A trajectory planning controller directs the robot to move the item between a source location and a destination. A touch sensor detects a contact between an external object and a surface of the robot or a surface surrounding the end effector; and a proximity sensor detects a person in proximity to the robot. A vision sensor detects a location and orientation of items to be moved. The robot moves in proximity to a person without a safety fence preventing the person from contacting the robot. The system adjusts a speed of the robot in response to detecting a person in one of a plurality of zones around the robot.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a shape and pose of an object is provided. The system includes a controller and a grasping device. The grasping device includes a plurality of fingers that are moveable relative to a base. The fingers include one or more tactile sensors attached thereto. The tactile sensors are configured to collect data, such as a 2D image or 3D point cloud, based on points of contact with the object when the object is grasped. The grasping device is configured to roll the object within the fingers and collect additional data. The controller may combine the data and determine the shape and pose of the object based on the combined data.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically moving one or more items between a structure at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system includes first and second vision systems to identify an item and to determine the precise location and orientation of the item at the source location and the precise location and orientation of the destination, which may or may not be in a fixed location. A controller plans the best path for the robot to follow in moving the item between the source location and the destination. An end effector on the robot picks the item from the source location, holds it as the robot moves, and places the item at the destination. The system may also check the item for quality by one or both of the vision systems. An example of loading and unloading baskets from a machine is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining probable presence, in a surveyed household, of appliances having no load sensors, said method implemented by one or more processing devices to perform: Acquiring at an edge device located at the house hold, the load data of the household; Realtime compression of load measurements; Calculating indicators which represent the measured load data, wherein the indicators provide partial representation of the measured data, wherein the partial representation include data pattern or specific type of measurement or schedule of measurement which is associated with the presence of specific type of appliances; Transmitting the calculated indicator and compressed data from edge device to cloud server; Applying learning algorithm at the cloud server, only on the calculated indicators for identifying presence of appliance.

Abstract: A system and method for laser cutting a plurality of parts, for example metal chassis components, using a plurality of laser cutting apparatuses is provided. The system includes a plurality of the laser cutting apparatuses disposed in a single enclosed cell for simultaneously trimming multiple parts. The system also includes at least one inner chamber and at least one set of double doors for transferring the parts in and out of the enclosed cell without any light escaping the cell. The parts are conveyed through the first door to the inner chamber while the second door is closed, and through the second door to the enclosed cell while the first door is closed. The system also includes robots continuously preloading and unloading the parts to maximize the laser trimming time.

Abstract: A system for automatic detection of inefficient household thermal insulation includes a server module and a plurality of household client modules. The system performs the following steps: acquiring data relating to each monitored household; identifying periods of HVAC down-time and determining indoor temperature gained during these periods; extracting parameters of temperature gain, relating to the measured rate of temperature gain during the down time; training a machine learning algorithm, to create at least one classification model, wherein all monitored households are classified according to the parameters of temperature gain; producing expected values for parameters of temperature gain per each household, according to household's class membership; producing the ratio between the expected and measured values for parameters of temperature gain per each monitored household; comparing the ratio among similar households; and identifying inefficiently insulated household according to the comparison.

Abstract: A method for identifying an electric water heater having excessive and abnormal electricity consumption for detecting inefficiency or even a malfunction comprising the following steps: The present invention provides a method for automatic detection of inefficient household heater within a group of monitored households, implemented by a server module and a plurality of household client modules, wherein each of said a server module and plurality of household client modules comprising one or more processors, operatively coupled to non-transitory computer readable storage devices, on which are stored modules of instruction code, wherein execution of said instruction code by said one or more processors implements the following actions: acquiring data relating to each monitored household, including at least part of: environmental conditions, power consumption of each water heater, household profile parameters, and household residents' profile parameters; detect events wherein the water heater's power consumption

Abstract: A current regulator for a pulsed load is provided herein. The current regulator may include: an input power source; a current sense circuit; a capacitive energy storage device; a current sink driver; a current source charger which receives input current from the input power source via the current sense circuit and provides a charge for the capacitive energy storage device coupled between the current source charger and the current sink driver which drives the pulsed load; a power monitor circuitry which generates a feedback signal, based on a function of the input power and a function of at least one of: voltage across the capacitive energy storage, or voltage across the current sink driver; and a pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM) circuitry which controls the current source charger based on the feedback signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting inefficient HVAC operation, by obtaining first training data for HVACs in a training set of households during a first period of moderate weather; obtaining second training data for HVACs in the training set of households during a subsequent period of harsher weather; generating classification labels of the household locations of the training set according to the second training data; applying the first training data and the classification labels to train a supervised machine learning algorithm, to generate an HVAC classification model predictive of inefficiency during periods of harsher weather conditions; obtaining operational data pertaining to HVACs in an operational set of households during a second period of moderate weather; and applying the HVAC classification model to predict inefficiency of HVACs at individual households in the operational set during a second subsequent period of harsher weather.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining conditions of malfunction or inefficiency of HVAC systems, within a plurality of monitored households, in which there are no sensors for directly measuring the power consumption per specific HVAC. The said method comprise the steps of: a. monitoring the power consumption of a plurality of households; b. monitoring the concurrent environmental conditions at the location of the said plurality of households; c. analyzing each household's power consumption, and extracting weighted failure indications of inefficient or malfunctioning HVAC systems; d. determining the probability of various HVAC conditions of malfunction of inefficiency, according to the said weighted indicators; and e. emitting a an alert in relation to the said condition of HVAC malfunction of inefficiency, comprising at least one of: HVAC malfunction type, probability, probable cause, and suggested action.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically moving one or more parts between a bin at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system includes a first vision system to identify a part within the bin and to determine the pick location and pick orientation of the part. A second vision system determines the location and orientation of a destination inside or outside of the bin, which may or may not be in a fixed location. A controller plans the best path for the robot to follow in moving the part between the pick location and the destination. An end effector is attached to the robot for picking the part from the bin, holding the part as the robot moves it, and placing the part at the destination. The system may also check the part for quality by one or both of the vision systems.

Abstract: A robot assembly for safe operation in a manufacturing setting with humans including a sensor for detecting a human location and human movement is provided. A safety control module providing a boundary of a safety zone area that is associated with the human in a task oriented state that includes a largest possible area in which the human or an associated work object can extend when the human is standing in one location and performing the work task. The human movement and safety zone area location being used to develop a capture set area that includes at least one predictive future safety zone area location. Using the at least one predicted future safety zone area, establishing a travel path for moving the robot between locations without overlapping the capture set area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forecasting load and managing a control plan for households having electric appliances wherein the control plan determines the activation of the electric appliances at pre-defined control periods.

Abstract: A current regulator for a pulsed load is provided herein. The current regulator may include: an input power source; a current sense circuit; a capacitive energy storage device; a current sink driver; a current source charger which receives input current from the input power source via the current sense circuit and provides a charge for the capacitive energy storage device coupled between the current source charger and the current sink driver which drives the pulsed load; a power monitor circuitry which generates a feedback signal, based on a function of the input power and a function of at least one of: voltage across the capacitive energy storage, or voltage across the current sink driver; and a pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM) circuitry which controls the current source charger based on the feedback signal.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically moving one or more items between a structure at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system includes first and second vision systems to identify an item and to determine the precise location and orientation of the item at the source location and the precise location and orientation of the destination, which may or may not be in a fixed location. A controller plans the best path for the robot to follow in moving the item between the source location and the destination. An end effector on the robot picks the item from the source location, holds it as the robot moves, and places the item at the destination. The system may also check the item for quality by one or both of the vision systems. An example of loading and unloading baskets from a machine is provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system and method for automatic detection of inefficient household thermal insulation, comprising a server module and a plurality of household client modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting inefficient HVAC operation, by obtaining first training data for HVACs in a training set of households during a first period of moderate weather; obtaining second training data for HVACs in the training set of households during a subsequent period of harsher weather; generating classification labels of the household locations of the training set according to the second training data; applying the first training data and the classification labels to train a supervised machine learning algorithm, to generate an HVAC classification model predictive of inefficiency during periods of harsher weather conditions; obtaining operational data pertaining to HVACs in an operational set of households during a second period of moderate weather; and applying the HVAC classification model to predict inefficiency of HVACs at individual households in the operational set during a second subsequent period of harsher weather.

Abstract: A system and method for orienting a workpiece on an assembly line to prepare the workpiece for an operation is provided. The method includes positioning a flexible fixture on the assembly line. The flexible fixture has a base and at least one adjustable component. The workpiece is positioned on the flexible fixture. A first orientation of the workpiece relative to the flexible fixture is detected with a detection device and transmitted to a calibrator. The calibrator determines a difference between the detected first orientation of the workpiece and a predetermined fixture orientation and transmits instructions from the calibrator to the flexible fixture to move the workpiece from the detected first orientation to the predetermined fixture orientation. The workpiece is moved with the at least one adjustable component into the predetermined fixture orientation and is fixedly held with the adjustable component.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically moving one or more parts between a bin at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system includes a first vision system to identify a part within the bin and to determine the pick location and pick orientation of the part. A second vision system determines the location and orientation of a destination inside or outside of the bin, which may or may not be in a fixed location. A controller plans the best path for the robot to follow in moving the part between the pick location and the destination. An end effector is attached to the robot for picking the part from the bin, holding the part as the robot moves it, and placing the part at the destination. The system may also check the part for quality by one or both of the vision systems.