Abstract: A defect detection and ranking system for a vehicle assembly line is provided. The system includes an image capture device that captures a plurality of images of a vehicle on the vehicle assembly line. The system also includes a defect detector that analyzes the plurality of captured images and, based on the analysis, detects a plurality of defects on the surface of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of defects has an associated x-y-z coordinate location, a defect type, and a defect severity. The system also includes a datastore containing a vehicle specification, for the vehicle on the vehicle assembly line, and a defect priority based on the vehicle specification. The system also includes a defect prioritization generator configured to: receive the plurality of defects from the defect detector, retrieve the vehicle specification and the defect priority, and apply the defect priority to the plurality of defects, and output a prioritized list of defects, wherein the prioritized list of defects.

Abstract: A dual mounted end-effector system mounted on a motive robot arm for preparing an object surface is described. The system includes a first tool configured to contact and prepare the object surface and a second tool configured to contact and prepare the object surface. The system also includes a force control. The force control is configured to align, in a first state, with the first tool in position to contact and prepare the object surface and, in a second state, with the second tool in a position to contact and prepare the object surface.

Abstract: A disc changing system for a robotic defect repair system is presented. The system has a first abrasive disc and a second abrasive disc. The first and second abrasive discs are coupled to a liner. The system includes an abrasive disc placement device configured to automatically: remove the first abrasive disc from the liner, transport the first abrasive disc to a robotic tool of the robotic defect repair system, and place the first abrasive disc on a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes an abrasive disc remover configured to automatically remove the first abrasive disc after receiving a removal signal. The system also includes a controller configured to send an instruction to the disc placement device to remove, transport and place the first abrasive disc, instruct the robotic tool to conduct an abrasive operation. The controller is also configured to send the removal signal.

Abstract: A method and associated system provides automated abrasive paint repair using automated abrasive paint repair devices that selectively sand, buff, and polish a substrate in response to received instructions generated by a controller. The controller receives coordinates of each identified defect in the substrate along with parameters describing characteristics of each defect, selects a sanding process, a buffing process, and/or a polishing process based on empirically derived rules established by skilled/expert human operators and the received parameters. The controller outputs instructions to cause the automated abrasive paint repair devices to execute the selected sanding process, buffing process, and/or polishing process using the received parameters. The empirically derived rules and parameters may be stored in a lookup table and/or updated by a machine learning module.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a product. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a product, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of the product; ii) determining the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: A robotic device that can include an end effector configured to manipulate one or more tools that drives one or more consumable abrasive products to abrade a substrate along several different surface dimensions, wherein the end effector comprises: three linear actuators each configured to move orthogonal relative to one another and at least one tool mount coupled to one of the three linear actuators and coupled to the tool.

Abstract: A robotic abrading system that includes a robotic tool coupled to a robotic arm. The robotic arm is configured to move the robotic tool into an abrading position with respect to a workpiece. The system also includes a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes a polishing pad coupled to the backup tool. The backup pad or the polishing pad include a heat accumulation reduction mechanism that passively reduces heat accumulation within the backup pad during successive polishing operations.

Abstract: Automated systems and methods of using a tape applicator mounted on a robot arm to apply a tape onto an object surface are provided. The tape applicator, which is instructed by a controller, can automatically follow a real-time-updated tape coverage path on the object surface to optimize the tape application while the tape applicator moves along the object surface. The tape applicator can also create tabs in real time.

Abstract: A defect detection and ranking system for a vehicle assembly line is provided. The system includes an image capture device that captures a plurality of images of a vehicle on the vehicle assembly line. The system also includes a defect detector that analyzes the plurality of captured images and, based on the analysis, detects a plurality of defects on the surface of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of defects has an associated x-y-z coordinate location, a defect type, and a defect severity. The system also includes a datastore containing a vehicle specification, for the vehicle on the vehicle assembly line, and a defect priority based on the vehicle specification. The system also includes a defect prioritization generator configured to: receive the plurality of defects from the defect detector, retrieve the vehicle specification and the defect priority, and apply the defect priority to the plurality of defects, and output a prioritized list of defects, wherein the prioritized list of defects.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a product. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a product, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of the product; ii) determining the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: A robotic system is presented that includes a surface inspection system that receives a plurality of sampled points within a region of a worksurface. The system also includes a robotic arm, coupled to a surface processing tool, the robotic repair arm being configured to cause the surface processing tool to engage the region of the worksurface. The system also includes a process mapping system configured to, based on the plurality of sampled points: approximate a surface topography of the region of the worksurface, modify a trajectory for the robotic arm, based on the approximated surface topography, and generate a control signal for the robotic arm that includes a path for the robotic arm into the region.

Abstract: A robotic system is presented that includes a surface inspection system that receives sampling information for a number of areas within a region of a worksurface. The system also includes a robotic arm, coupled to a surface engaging tool, the robotic repair arm being configured to cause the surface processing tool to engage the region of the worksurface. The system also includes a process mapping system configured to, based on the sampling information: approximate a surface topography in the region of the worksurface, generate a surface processing plan for the region based on the approximated surface topography that includes a trajectory. The surface processing plan includes one of: a force profile along the trajectory, a velocity profile for the surface engaging tool along the trajectory, a rotational speed profile, for the surface engaging tool, along the trajectory, or a trajectory modification that accounts for the presence of a surface feature identified in the approximated surface topography.

Abstract: A repaired area on a work surface is presented. The repaired area includes a repairboundary. Within the repairboundary, the work surface has a repair texture and, outside of the repair boundary, the work surface has a work surface texture. The repaired area also includes a repair depth distribution within the repair boundary and a concealing feature. The repaired area is a result of a robotic repair executed on the work surface to remove a defect.

Abstract: A disc changing system for a robotic defect repair system is presented. The system has a first abrasive disc and a second abrasive disc. The first and second abrasive discs are coupled to a liner. The system includes an abrasive disc placement device configured to automatically: remove the first abrasive disc from the liner, transport the first abrasive disc to a robotic tool of the robotic defect repair system, and place the first abrasive disc on a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes an abrasive disc remover configured to automatically remove the first abrasive disc after receiving a removal signal. The system also includes a controller configured to send an instruction to the disc placement device to remove, transport and place the first abrasive disc, instruct the robotic tool to conduct an abrasive operation. The controller is also configured to send the removal signal.

Abstract: A robotic paint repair system that can comprise: a consumable abrasive product configured to abrade a substrate, a tool configured to drive the consumable abrasive product to abrade, a robotic device configured to manipulate the tool and a compliant accessory actuator positioned between the tool and the substrate, wherein the compliant accessory actuator is driven to apply a desired force and a desired stiffness to the consumable abrasive product in response to sensed data collected between the tool and the substrate.

Abstract: A method of tuning the contact pressure across an abrasive disc is presented. The method includes coupling the abrasive disc to a backup pad comprising a pressure tuning feature that causes an experienced pressure by a worksurface, across a radius of the abrasive disc, to be uniform. The method also includes abrading a worksurface by contacting the abrasive disc to the worksurface. The backup pad causes the abrasive disc to have a cut rate that is substantially uniform across the surface of the abrasive disc when compared to the abrasive disc on a backup pad with no pressure tuning feature.

Abstract: A disc changing system for a robotic defect repair system is presented. The system has a first abrasive disc and a second abrasive disc. The first and second abrasive discs are coupled to a liner. The system includes an abrasive disc placement device configured to automatically: remove the first abrasive disc from the liner, transport the first abrasive disc to a robotic tool of the robotic defect repair system, and place the first abrasive disc on a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes an abrasive disc remover configured to automatically remove the first abrasive disc after receiving a removal signal. The system also includes a controller configured to send an instruction to the disc placement device to remove, transport and place the first abrasive disc, instruct the robotic tool to conduct an abrasive operation. The controller is also configured to send the removal signal.

Abstract: An imaging and repair system (100) is presented that includes a first imaging system (110) configured to image and detect a defect on a worksurface. The first imaging system comprises a first camera configured to capture a plurality of first images of the worksurface. The plurality of first images are stored in a data source. The system also includes a second imaging system (110) configured to image and characterize an orange peel of the worksurface in an area proximate the defect. Characterizing the worksurface comprises identifying a delta value of orange peel. The system also includes a defect repair processor configured to select a repair strategy based on a defect type. The system also includes a defect modifier configured to modify the selected repair strategy based on the orange peel characterization of the worksurface. The system also includes a defect repair tool (120) configured to automatically effect the modified repair strategy.

Abstract: A robotic repair unit (400) is presented that includes a removal tool (330, 425) coupled tot he robotic repair unit (400). The removal tool (330, 425) is configured to remove fluid or debris from a worksurface (130). The repair unit (400) also includes a controller (150) configured to control the robotic repair unit (400).