Abstract: A method for autonomously generating an end effector for interfacing with a part at a manufacturing station includes: accessing a virtual model of an assembly and the part; based on the virtual model, identifying a set of unobstructed surfaces on the part when located in the assembly; selecting a target surface, from the set of unobstructed surfaces, on the part; calculating a virtual interaction surface spanning the target surface on the part defined in the virtual model; locating a virtual end effector base geometry relative to the virtual interaction surface; generating a virtual intermediate structure extending between the virtual interaction surface and the virtual base structure; compiling the virtual interaction surface, the virtual intermediate structure, and the virtual end effector base geometry into a three-dimensional end effector model; and queuing the three-dimensional end effector model for additive manufacturing to form the end effector for installation on a robotic arm.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: accessing a virtual model of the target object; extracting an object feature representing the target object from the virtual model; at the robotic arm, scanning a field of view of an optical sensor for the object feature, the optical sensor arranged on a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; in response to detecting the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor, calculating a physical offset between the target object and the end effector based on a position of the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor and a known offset between the optical sensor and the end effector; and driving a set of actuators in the robotic arm to reduce the physical offset.

Abstract: A device may receive video of a facility from an image capture system. The video may show an individual within the facility, an object within the facility, or an activity being performed within the facility. The device may process the video using a technique to identify the individual within the facility, the object within the facility, or the activity being performed within the facility. The device may track the individual, the object, or the activity through the facility to facilitate an analysis of the individual, the object, or the activity. The device may perform the analysis of the individual, the object, or the activity using information related to tracking the individual, the object, or the activity. The device may perform an action related to the individual, the object, or the activity based on a result of the analysis. The action may positively impact operations of the facility.

Abstract: A method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: at a first time, recording a first optical image through an optical sensor arranged proximal a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; detecting a global reference feature in a first position in the first optical image; virtually locating a global reference frame based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; calculating a first pose of the end effector within the global reference frame at approximately the first time based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; and driving a set of actuators within the robotic arm to move the end effector from the first pose toward an object keypoint, the object keypoint defined within the global reference frame and representing an estimated location of a target object within range of the end effector.

Abstract: Once variation of a method for deriving varied-resolution 3D information from 2D images includes: recording a 2D color near-field image through a first color camera arranged on a robotic arm proximal an end effector, characterized by first focal length, and defining a narrow field of view containing an interaction surface on the end effector; recording a 2D color wide-field image through a second color camera arranged on the robotic arm, characterized by a second focal length less than the first focal length, and defining a wide field of view containing the narrow field of view and a greater region of a working volume; and reconstructing a first portion of a 3D image of the working volume proximal the interaction surface at a first resolution from the 2D color near-field image and a first region of the 2D color wide-field image that overlaps the 2D color near-field image.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling a robotic arm includes: moving the robotic arm through a trajectory; at a first time in which the robotic arm occupies a first position along the trajectory, measuring a first capacitance of a first sense circuit comprising a first electrode extending over a first arm segment of the robotic arm; at a second time in which the robotic arm occupies a second position along the trajectory, measuring a second capacitance of the first sense circuit; calculating a first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit based on a difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance; in response to the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit exceeding a threshold rate of change, issuing a proximity alarm; and reducing a speed of the robotic arm moving through the trajectory in response to the proximity alarm.

Abstract: One variation of a reconfigurable robotic system includes: a base; an arm extending from the base, including a set of articulable axes, and terminating at a head interface board defining a set of interface pins; a component interconnect arranged within the base, including a set of interconnect pins electrically coupled to the set of interface pins, and including a set of logic pins; a control card configured to transiently engage the component interconnect and including: a set of interconnect pads configured to contact the set of interconnect pins, a set of logic pads configured to contact the set of logic pins, and a control circuit interposed between the set of interconnect pads and the set of logic pads and including a set of independently selectable function circuits between each interconnect pad in a subset of the set of interconnect pads and corresponding logic pads in the set of logic pads.

Abstract: A device may receive video of a facility from an image capture system. The video may show an individual within the facility, an object within the facility, or an activity being performed within the facility. The device may process the video using a technique to identify the individual within the facility, the object within the facility, or the activity being performed within the facility. The device may track the individual, the object, or the activity through the facility to facilitate an analysis of the individual, the object, or the activity. The device may perform the analysis of the individual, the object, or the activity using information related to tracking the individual, the object, or the activity. The device may perform an action related to the individual, the object, or the activity based on a result of the analysis. The action may positively impact operations of the facility.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling a robotic arm includes: moving the robotic arm through a trajectory; at a first time in which the robotic arm occupies a first position along the trajectory, measuring a first capacitance of a first sense circuit comprising a first electrode extending over a first arm segment of the robotic arm; at a second time in which the robotic arm occupies a second position along the trajectory, measuring a second capacitance of the first sense circuit; calculating a first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit based on a difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance; in response to the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit exceeding a threshold rate of change, issuing a proximity alarm; and reducing a speed of the robotic arm moving through the trajectory in response to the proximity alarm.

Abstract: A method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: at a first time, recording a first optical image through an optical sensor arranged proximal a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; detecting a global reference feature in a first position in the first optical image; virtually locating a global reference frame based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; calculating a first pose of the end effector within the global reference frame at approximately the first time based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; and driving a set of actuators within the robotic arm to move the end effector from the first pose toward an object keypoint, the object keypoint defined within the global reference frame and representing an estimated location of a target object within range of the end effector.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: accessing a virtual model of the target object; extracting an object feature representing the target object from the virtual model; at the robotic arm, scanning a field of view of an optical sensor for the object feature, the optical sensor arranged on a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; in response to detecting the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor, calculating a physical offset between the target object and the end effector based on a position of the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor and a known offset between the optical sensor and the end effector; and driving a set of actuators in the robotic arm to reduce the physical offset.

Abstract: One variation of a reconfigurable robotic system includes: a base; an arm extending from the base, including a set of articulable axes, and terminating at a head interface board defining a set of interface pins; a component interconnect arranged within the base, including a set of interconnect pins electrically coupled to the set of interface pins, and including a set of logic pins; a control card configured to transiently engage the component interconnect and including: a set of interconnect pads configured to contact the set of interconnect pins, a set of logic pads configured to contact the set of logic pins, and a control circuit interposed between the set of interconnect pads and the set of logic pads and including a set of independently selectable function circuits between each interconnect pad in a subset of the set of interconnect pads and corresponding logic pads in the set of logic pads.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling a robotic arm includes: moving the robotic arm through a trajectory; at a first time in which the robotic arm occupies a first position along the trajectory, measuring a first capacitance of a first sense circuit comprising a first electrode extending over a first arm segment of the robotic arm; at a second time in which the robotic arm occupies a second position along the trajectory, measuring a second capacitance of the first sense circuit; calculating a first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit based on a difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance; in response to the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit exceeding a threshold rate of change, issuing a proximity alarm; and reducing a speed of the robotic arm moving through the trajectory in response to the proximity alarm.