Abstract: A manifest or other data indicating a high-level objective to move a plurality of items from a source location to a destination location is received. The manifest or other data is utilized to generate a plan to pick and place the plurality of items from the source location to the destination location in a particular order and manner. A first item of the plurality of items is moved to a first location at the destination location as indicated by the manifest or other data using a robotic arm having an end effector. Force sensor information generated by a force sensor is received. The force sensor information is used to align a structure comprising the first item with an opening associated with the first location. The first item is inserted into the opening associated with the first location.

Abstract: A robotic loading/unloading system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data is received via a communication interface. The sensor data is used to determine a position and orientation of an extendable conveyor relative to a robotic loader comprising one or more robotic arms mounted on a robotically controlled rover. The determined position and orientation of the extendable conveyor relative to the robotic loader are used to control one or both of the extendable conveyor and the robotic loader to place the extendable conveyor and robotic loader to position a distal end of the extendable conveyor within reach of the one or more robotic arms at a location within a work area from which one or more pick or placement locations within the work area are within reach of at least one of the one or more robotic arms.

Abstract: A robotic end effector is disclosed. The end effector is configured to grasp, move, and place one or more objects without assistance from another robot. The end effector includes a lateral member configured to be attached to a robotic arm at a central portion of the lateral member, a passive side member fixedly mounted to the lateral member at a first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a first recess on a first side of an object to be grasped, and an active side member hinged to the lateral member at a second distal end opposite the first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a second recess on a second side of the object to be grasped, the second side being opposite the first side of the object to be grasped. The passive side member and the active side member each include a structure, and the structure on the passive side member and the active side member have different profiles.

Abstract: A robotic kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robotic arm is used to move an item to a location in proximity to a slot into which the item is to be inserted. Force information generated by a force sensor is received via a communication interface. The force sensor information is used to align a structure comprising the item with a corresponding cavity comprising the slot, and the item is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: A robotic kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robotic arm is used to move an item to a location in proximity to a slot into which the item is to be inserted. Force information generated by a force sensor is received via a communication interface. The force sensor information is used to align a structure comprising the item with a corresponding cavity comprising the slot, and the item is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data image data associated with a plurality of items present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workspace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan includes performing an active measure to change or adapt to a detected state or condition associated with one or more items in the workspace.

Abstract: Data associated with a plurality of items to be stacked on or in a destination location is received. The data associated with the plurality of items enables a first attribute associated with a first item of the plurality of items to be identified. A plan to stack the items on or in the destination location is generated based at least in part on the received data. The plan includes with respect to the first item a plan, determined based at least in part on the first attribute, to place the first item in a stackable container along with one or more other items and to place the stackable container, once filled, in a corresponding location on or in the destination location. The plan is implemented at least in part by controlling a robotic arm to pick up the items and stack them on or in the destination location according to the plan.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data image data associated with a plurality of items present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workspace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan includes performing an active measure to change or adapt to a detected state or condition associated with one or more items in the workspace.

Abstract: A robotic end effector is disclosed. The end effector is configured to grasp, move, and place one or more objects without assistance from another robot. The end effector includes a lateral member configured to be attached to a robotic arm at a central portion of the lateral member, a passive side member fixedly mounted to the lateral member at a first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a first recess on a first side of an object to be grasped, and an active side member hinged to the lateral member at a second distal end opposite the first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a second recess on a second side of the object to be grasped, the second side being opposite the first side of the object to be grasped. The passive side member and the active side member each include a structure, and the structure on the passive side member and the active side member have different profiles.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to calibrate a camera for use with one or more robots to perform a robotic application. In various embodiments, selection of a camera to be calibrated is received via a user interface. A region of interest associated with the camera and a robot with which the camera is associated is determined. A set of sample points within the region of interest is selected. The robot is moved through a set of trajectories to position the robot, successively with respect to each of at least a subset of the sample points, in a predetermined pose at a location associated with the sample point and, at each location cause the camera to generate a corresponding image that includes at least a fiducial marker located on the robot. The respective predetermined poses and corresponding images are used to perform a set of calibration computations with respect to the camera.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining an identifier from an item is disclosed. The method includes autonomously operating a robotic structure having a robotic arm to pick an item using an end effector of the robotic arm along a predetermined path from a source location to a destination location according to a plan. The picked item is moved according to the plan. An active measure is determined to be performed at least in part to obtain an identifier determined to be missing based on information received via the communication interface from one or more sensors. The robotic structure is autonomously operated to place the item at the destination location based at least in part on the plan.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to calibrate a camera for use with one or more robots to perform a robotic application. In various embodiments, selection of a camera to be calibrated is received via a user interface. A region of interest associated with the camera and a robot with which the camera is associated is determined. A set of sample points within the region of interest is selected. The robot is moved through a set of trajectories to position the robot, successively with respect to each of at least a subset of the sample points, in a predetermined pose at a location associated with the sample point and, at each location cause the camera to generate a corresponding image that includes at least a fiducial marker located on the robot. The respective predetermined poses and corresponding images are used to perform a set of calibration computations with respect to the camera.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining an identifier from an item is disclosed. The method includes autonomously operate a robotic structure to move an item along a predetermined path from a source location to a destination location, and autonomously operating the robotic structure to place the item at the destination location based at least in part on the plan. The item comprises one or more identifiers, and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more identifiers was not obtained by one or more sensors, an active measure is performed to cause the one or more sensors to obtain the at least one identifier that was not obtained. The predetermined path corresponds to a path along which the item is moved from the source location to the destination location. The predetermined path is planned so that the item is moved within a threshold range of the one or more sensors while the item is moved along the predetermined path.

Abstract: A robotic end effector is disclosed. The end effector is configured to grasp, move, and place one or more objects without assistance from another robot. The end effector includes a lateral member configured to be attached to a robotic arm at a central portion of the lateral member, a passive side member fixedly mounted to the lateral member at a first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a first recess on a first side of an object to be grasped, and an active side member hinged to the lateral member at a second distal end opposite the first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a second recess on a second side of the object to be grasped, the second side being opposite the first side of the object to be grasped. The passive side member and the active side member each include a structure, and the structure on the passive side member and the active side member have different profiles.

Abstract: A robotic kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robotic arm is used to move an item to a location in proximity to a slot into which the item is to be inserted. Force information generated by a force sensor is received via a communication interface. The force sensor information is used to align a structure comprising the item with a corresponding cavity comprising the slot, and the item is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: An autonomous tray handling robotic system is disclosed. In various embodiments, data indicating a set of output stacks to be assembled is stored, each output stack including an associated set of trays each of a corresponding tray type. Operation of one or more robots is controlled, each robot being configured to grasp, move, and place one or more trays at a time, according to a plan, to iteratively pick trays from source stacks of trays and assemble the set of output stacks, including by building each output stack by successively placing on the output stack trays picked from one or more corresponding source stacks. Each of the robots comprises a robotic arm and a tray handling end effector configured to grasp, move, and place one or more trays without assistance from another robot.

Abstract: A robotic end effector is disclosed. The end effector is configured to grasp, move, and place one or more objects without assistance from another robot. The end effector includes a lateral member configured to be coupled to a robotic arm, a passive side member coupled substantially rigidly to the lateral member at a first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a first recess on a first side of an object to be grasped, and an active side member coupled to the lateral member at a second distal end opposite the first distal end and configured to engage mechanically with a second recess on a second side of the object to be grasped, the second side being opposite the first side of the object to be grasped. The passive side member and the active side member each include a structure, and the structure on the passive side member and the active side member have different profiles.

Abstract: A robotic kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robotic arm is used to move an item to a location in proximity to a slot into which the item is to be inserted. Force information generated by a force sensor is received via a communication interface. The force sensor information is used to align a structure comprising the item with a corresponding cavity comprising the slot, and the item is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed. The end effector includes a first grasping mechanism for grasping at least one first object when the robotic end effector is operated in a first mode and a second grasping mechanism for grasping a second object when the robotic end effector is operated in a second mode. The second grasping mechanism is robotically positioned in an inactive state when the robotic end effector is controlled to operate in the first mode.

Abstract: A task table for use in a robotic system comprising a robot mounted on a carriage configured to move the robot along a path is disclosed. The task table includes a substantially horizontal table surface, and one or more mounting arms to which the table surface is affixed at a first distal end and comprising, at a second distal end opposite the first distal end, one or more mounting structures, the one or more mounting arms having a length that allows the table surface to be mounted to the robot or the carriage at a distance from a base of the robot that enables the robot to reach a plurality of locations on the table surface each with a desired pose.