Abstract: A method and computing system comprising identifying one or more candidate objects for selection by a robot. A path to the one or more candidate objects may be determined based upon, at least in part, a robotic environment and at least one robotic constraint. A feasibility of grasping a first candidate object of the one or more candidate objects may be validated. If the feasibility is validated, the robot may be controlled to physically select the first candidate object. If the feasibility is not validated, at least one of a different grasping point of the first candidate object, a second path, or a second candidate object may be selected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a robotic system and method. The system may include a robot and a three dimensional sensor device associated with the robot configured to scan a welding area and generate a scanned welding area. The system may include a processor configured to receive the scanned welding area and to generate a three dimensional point cloud based upon, at least in part the scanned welding area. The processor may be further configured to perform processing on the three dimensional point cloud in a two-dimensional domain. The processor may be further configured to generate one or more three dimensional welding paths and to simulate the one or more three dimensional welding paths.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a robotic system and method, which may include one or more robots. The system may include a robotic system having a maximum number of degrees of freedom. The system may further include a graphical user interface configured to receive a natural robot task having at least one natural workpiece constraint associated with the natural robot task. The system may also include a processor configured to identify a minimum number of degrees of freedom required to perform the natural robot task, wherein the minimum number of degrees of freedom is based upon, at least in part, the at least one natural workpiece constraint associated with the natural robot task.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a robotic system and method. The system may include a robot and a three dimensional sensor device associated with the robot configured to scan a welding area and generate a scanned welding area. The system may include a processor configured to receive the scanned welding area and to generate a three dimensional point cloud based upon, at least in part the scanned welding area. The processor may be further configured to perform processing on the three dimensional point cloud in a two-dimensional domain. The processor may be further configured to generate one or more three dimensional welding paths and to simulate the one or more three dimensional welding paths.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a robotic system and method, which may include one or more robots. The system may include a robotic system having a maximum number of degrees of freedom. The system may further include a graphical user interface configured to receive a natural robot task having at least one natural workpiece constraint associated with the natural robot task. The system may also include a processor configured to identify a minimum number of degrees of freedom required to perform the natural robot task, wherein the minimum number of degrees of freedom is based upon, at least in part, the at least one natural workpiece constraint associated with the natural robot task.

Abstract: A method and computing system comprising identifying one or more candidate objects for selection by a robot. A path to the one or more candidate objects may be determined based upon, at least in part, a robotic environment and at least one robotic constraint. A feasibility of grasping a first candidate object of the one or more candidate objects may be validated. If the feasibility is validated, the robot may be controlled to physically select the first candidate object. If the feasibility is not validated, at least one of a different grasping point of the first candidate object, a second path, or a second candidate object may be selected.

Abstract: A robotic system and apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a housing having a flexible manipulating mechanism operatively connected with the housing. The flexible manipulating mechanism may include an end effector configured to manipulate an object. The apparatus may further include a first imaging device associated with the housing, the first imaging device configured to indicate a position of an object. The apparatus may also include a computing device configured to receive an imaging signal from the first imaging device and to direct the flexible manipulating mechanism towards the object based upon, at least in part, the imaging signal. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for controlling robotic apparatus having several movable elements or segments coupled by joints. At least one of the movable elements can include one or more mobile bases, while the others can form one or more manipulators. One of the movable elements can be treated as an end effector for which a certain motion is desired. The end effector may include a tool, for example, or represent a robotic hand (or a point thereon), or one or more of the one or more mobile bases. In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein, movement of the manipulator and the mobile base can be controlled and coordinated to effect a desired motion for the end effector. In many cases, the motion can include simultaneously moving the manipulator and the mobile base.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for controlling robotic apparatus having several movable elements or segments coupled by joints. At least one of the movable elements can include one or more mobile bases, while the others can form one or more manipulators. One of the movable elements can be treated as an end effector for which a certain motion is desired. The end effector may include a tool, for example, or represent a robotic hand (or a point thereon), or one or more of the one or more mobile bases. In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein, movement of the manipulator and the mobile base can be controlled and coordinated to effect a desired motion for the end effector. In many cases, the motion can include simultaneously moving the manipulator and the mobile base.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for identifying and tracking an object from two-dimensional data pictorially representing said object by an object-tracking system through processing said two-dimensional data using at least one tracker-identifier belonging to the object-tracking system for providing an output signal containing: a) a type of the object, and/or b) a position or an orientation of the object in three-dimensions, and/or c) an articulation or a shape change of said object in said three dimensions.

Abstract: A robotic system and apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a housing having a flexible manipulating mechanism operatively connected with the housing. The flexible manipulating mechanism may include an end effector configured to manipulate an object. The apparatus may further include a first imaging device associated with the housing, the first imaging device configured to indicate a position of an object. The apparatus may also include a computing device configured to receive an imaging signal from the first imaging device and to direct the flexible manipulating mechanism towards the object based upon, at least in part, the imaging signal. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A system for inspecting components is provided. The system includes an image data system that generates image data of the component, such as from a position overlooking the top of a bumped wafer. An interferometry inspection system is connected to the image data system and receives the image data, and analyzes the image data to locate interference fringing that is used to determine the surface coordinates of the bump contacts.

Abstract: A system for processing image data, such as an image of a die cut from a silicon wafer, is provided. The system includes an irregular edge detection system, which can locate edge data of a feature of the image data, such as the edge of a probe mark in a bond pad. A feature area calculation system is connected to the irregular edge detection system, such as by accessing data stored by the irregular edge detection system. The feature area calculation system can receive the edge data of the feature and determining the area of the feature, such as by summing normalized pixel area values. The irregular edge detection system uses interpolation to locate edges that occur between the centerpoints of adjacent pixels.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for identifying and tracking an object from two-dimensional data pictorially representing said object by an object-tracking system through processing said two-dimensional data using at least one tracker-identifier belonging to the object-tracking system for providing an output signal containing: a) a type of the object, and/or b) a position or an orientation of the object in three-dimensions, and/or c) an articulation or a shape change of said object in said three dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method, the apparatus comprising a controlled element (10), such as a robotic manipulator, and a dynamically updatable control system (11). The control system (11) uses a control system equation (eq. (1)) to determine control signals (dq/dt) for controlling the controlled element (1) given any required inputs (q, V) to the control system equation (eq. (1)). The control system (11) is dynamically updatable in that in response to a script file indicating a code structure (11d) preferably having linked nodes (12a 13a-c) and representing at least some components (W,F,&agr;,&bgr;) of the control system equation (eq. (1)), the control system (11) creates the code structure (11d), at run-time, and does so such that the nodes (12a 13a-c) can be queried (i.e. are executable logic) to provide values for at least some components (W,F,&agr;,&bgr;) of the control system equation (eq. (1)).

Abstract: A system for inspecting components is provided. The system includes an image data system that generates image data of the component, such as from a position overlooking the top of a bumped wafer. An interferometry inspection system is connected to the image data system and receives the image data, and analyzes the image data to locate interference fringing that is used to determine the surface coordinates of the bump contacts.

Abstract: A system for processing image data, such as an image of a die cut from a silicon wafer, is provided. The system includes an irregular edge detection system, which can locate edge data of a feature of the image data, such as the edge of a probe mark in a bond pad. A feature area calculation system is connected to the irregular edge detection system, such as by accessing data stored by the irregular edge detection system. The feature area calculation system can receive the edge data of the feature and determining the area of the feature, such as by summing normalized pixel area values. The irregular edge detection system uses interpolation to locate edges that occur between the centerpoints of adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A system for processing image data, such as an image of a die cut from a silicon wafer, is provided. The system includes an irregular edge detection system, which can locate edge data of a feature of the image data, such as the edge of a probe mark in a bond pad. A feature area calculation system is connected to the irregular edge detection system, such as by accessing data stored by the irregular edge detection system. The feature area calculation system can receive the edge data of the feature and determining the area of the feature, such as by summing normalized pixel area values. The irregular edge detection system uses interpolation to locate edges that occur between the centerpoints of adjacent pixels.