Abstract: Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.

Abstract: A mobile robot is provided for use in an operating environment. The mobile robot may include a mobile robot base, a conveyor system and a drive system. The conveyor system may be supported by the mobile robot base. The conveyor system may include a conveyor belt configured to receive an item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot. The conveyor system may be configured to support the item during movement of the mobile robot within the operating environment. The drive system may be arranged with the mobile robot base. The drive system may be configured to move the mobile robot within the operating environment and position the conveyor system such that the conveyor belt is operable to receive the item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling torsional rotation and/or stiffness of a member by the use of artificial style activation elements.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for picking at least one item is provided. The method includes providing at least one container, the container at least containing a plurality of substantially the same items randomly arranged within the container, providing at least one mechanism for collecting at least one item from the container, enabling the mechanism to roughly determine the position of the mechanism with respect to the items in the container utilizing the least amount of power, moving the mechanism so that it is at least in close proximity to the items in the container, collecting at least one item in the container with the mechanism, moving the mechanism and the collected at least one item at least a predetermined distance away from the remaining non-collected items in the container and determining the number of items collected by the mechanism utilizing the least amount of power.

Abstract: Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. In one method, a mobile robot performs a hospitality service for a guest of a hospitality business. The mobile robot is operated at the hospitality business.

Abstract: A mobile robot is provided for use in an operating environment. The mobile robot may include a mobile robot base, a conveyor system and a drive system. The conveyor system may be supported by the mobile robot base. The conveyor system may include a conveyor belt configured to receive an item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot. The conveyor system may be configured to support the item during movement of the mobile robot within the operating environment. The drive system may be arranged with the mobile robot base. The drive system may be configured to move the mobile robot within the operating environment and position the conveyor system such that the conveyor belt is operable to receive the item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method includes operating, at an initial stage, a fully automated warehouse in which robots handle in an automated way the transfer of items from container to container on an automated basis and receiving an indication of a change in needed throughput through the warehouse. When a spike exceeds a completely automated system threshold, the method implements a hybrid operation for the warehouse, such that (1) the movement of drawer swapping robots and low-profile room robots is modified to create a pre-staging operation in preparation for humans to participate in the process, (2) scheduling humans at particular times to take their turn in manually managing the movement of items from source containers to destination containers. The method includes causing a pre-staging event to occur such that source containers and destination containers can be pre-stage and for the characteristics of the worker.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for monitoring a plurality of articles that are arranged on a support surface according to an article arrangement modeled with a first processing device. One of the methods includes receiving image data generated from the modeled article arrangement. The image data is received by a second processing device, and is indicative of an image of the arranged articles on the support surface. The received image data is used to inspect the arranged articles.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of autonomously operating a vehicle. The method provides at least two cameras in operable communication with the vehicle for providing substantially similar views relative to the vehicle. The at least two cameras receive information relating to the views. The method also provides a laser in operable communication with the vehicle for selectively shining a single discrete mark on at least a portion of the views provided by the at least two cameras. Further, the method determines whether the information received by the at least two cameras is ambiguous regarding the views. The method activates the laser on at least a portion of the views based on whether the information received by the at least two cameras is ambiguous.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided involving at least one vehicle and at least one being such as a person. In one method, the vehicle is operated to autonomously move within an environment. The vehicle is also operated to autonomously acknowledge presence of the being approximately when the vehicle encounters the being during the moving of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling torsional rotation and/or stiffness of a member by the use of artificial style activation elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting a payload carrying device is disclosed. The method comprises providing at least one payload carrying device, a vehicle for transporting the at least one payload carrying device, a connection device for connecting the vehicle and the at least one payload carrying device, at least one sensor device for capturing information regarding the vehicle's surrounding environment, and a control unit for operating the connection device autonomously to connect the vehicle and the at least one payload carrying device where, once connected, the weight of the at least one payload carrying device rests directly on the floor and the vehicle autonomously transports the at least one payload carrying device to a desired location, and operating the connection device autonomously to disconnect the vehicle and the at least one payload carrying device at the desired location where the at least one payload carrying device is immobilized.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for transporting one or more items with an autonomous robot, which is at least capable of independent movement as desired without the need of additional infrastructure, mechanisms or assistance. One of the methods includes providing the robot with a list at least containing the at least one item to be transported, where the at least one item is located in a first area. The at least one item is gathered from the first area via the robot. The at least one item is transported from the first area to at least a second area via the robot. The at least one item is placed in at least the second area without any intervention from outside the robot regardless of where the second area is with respect to the first area so that the at least one item can be autonomously transported from the first area to the second area as needed.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for controlling at least one fluid actuated device; e.g., an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder. A method is provided, for example, involving an actuatable component and an actuation system, which includes an actuation system component and an actuator. During a mode of operation, the actuation system component is fluidly coupled with a first chamber and a second chamber of the actuator using the actuation system. The actuator is operable to move the actuatable component.

Abstract: A mobile robot is provided for use in an operating environment. The mobile robot may include a mobile robot base, a conveyor system and a drive system. The conveyor system may be supported by the mobile robot base. The conveyor system may include a conveyor belt configured to receive an item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot. The conveyor system may be configured to support the item during movement of the mobile robot within the operating environment. The drive system may be arranged with the mobile robot base. The drive system may be configured to move the mobile robot within the operating environment and position the conveyor system such that the conveyor belt is operable to receive the item with the mobile robot and/or provide the item from the mobile robot.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for picking at least one item is provided. The method includes providing at least one container, the container at least containing a plurality of substantially the same items randomly arranged within the container, providing at least one mechanism for collecting at least one item from the container, enabling the mechanism to roughly determine the position of the mechanism with respect to the items in the container utilizing the least amount of power, moving the mechanism so that it is at least in close proximity to the items in the container, collecting at least one item in the container with the mechanism, moving the mechanism and the collected at least one item at least a predetermined distance away from the remaining non-collected items in the container and determining the number of items collected by the mechanism utilizing the least amount of power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a body worn apparatus having a plurality of activation elements arranged in at least one bundle, and a substrate supporting the plurality of activation elements. The method also places the body worn apparatus onto the body of a person, and activates the at least one bundle.

Abstract: A method couples a body worn apparatus and a prosthetic with the body of a person. The body worn apparatus has a plurality of activation elements arranged in at least one suit bundle, and a substrate supporting the plurality of activation elements. The method also activates the at least one suit bundle to move the prosthetic.

Abstract: Mobile robots and methods involving mobile robots are provided. One of the mobile robots electronically presents information using a user interface, where the information is indicative of at least one task. The user interface, for example, may present the information in a visual form with a display screen. The user interface receives a selection of the task. The mobile robot thereafter autonomously performs at least a portion of the selected task.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for transferring energy between a mobile unit and another discrete unit. One such method involves a mobile unit configured as a vehicle. During this method, energy is stored with an energy storage configured with the vehicle. At least some of the stored energy is transferred from the energy storage to an energy receiver using an energy transmitter, where the vehicle is discrete from the energy receiver.