Abstract: A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool and a tool retainer. The tool includes a first body and a second body. The first body includes a tool-change-engagement portion and a first threaded portion that is fixed relative to the tool-change-engagement portion. The second body includes a fastener-engagement portion. The second body is translatable relative to the first body, co-axially with the first body, and is co-axially rotationally fixed relative to the first body. The tool further includes a keeper, fixed within the first body, and a resilient member, captured between the second body and the keeper. The tool also includes a tool retainer, including a second threaded portion, configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion of the first body, and a key, fixed relative to the second threaded portion.

Abstract: A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool, a tool retainer, and a retaining member. The tool includes a fastener-engagement portion, a first threaded portion, and a tool-change-engagement portion between the fastener-engagement portion and the first threaded portion. The tool retainer includes a body. The body includes a symmetry axis, a second threaded portion and a key. The second threaded portion is configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion of the tool so that the tool is rotationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer about the symmetry axis and is translationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer along the symmetry axis. The key is fixed relative to the second threaded portion. The retaining member is removably coupled to the body at a fixed location.

Abstract: A robotic end effector quick change coupling apparatus employs a drive motor assembly having a center drive interface. A coupling component having a magnetic element extends from the drive motor assembly concentric with the center drive interface. An end effector tool has a drive connection adapted to removably receive the center drive interface. A mating coupling component having a mating magnetic element extends from the end effector tool concentric with the drive connection. The magnetic element and mating magnetic element are separably engaged by mutual magnetic attraction to couple the end effector to the drive motor assembly.

Abstract: A method of threadably coupling a first fastener with a second fastener using a rotary drive including a tool. The method includes rotationally anchoring the second fastener relative to the tool by co-axially urging a fastener-engagement portion of the tool against the second fastener and rotating the tool relative to the second fastener using a socket of the rotary drive until the fastener-engagement portion of the tool mates with a receiving portion of the second fastener, receiving the first fastener within the socket of the rotary drive co-axially with the fastener-engagement portion of the tool, and rotating the first fastener with the socket of the rotary drive relative to a housing of the rotary drive to cause the first fastener to threadably engage the second fastener.

Abstract: An isolated human work platform for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans. One or more robots are supported on the base platform independently of the work platform, so that movement of the work platform does not affect the robots' positions. The work platform is isolated from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans.

Abstract: A robotic end effector quick change coupling apparatus employs a drive motor assembly having a center drive interface. A coupling component having a magnetic element extends from the drive motor assembly concentric with the center drive interface. An end effector tool has a drive connection adapted to removably receive the center drive interface. A mating coupling component having a mating magnetic element extends from the end effector tool concentric with the drive connection. The magnetic element and mating magnetic element are separably engaged by mutual magnetic attraction to couple the end effector to the drive motor assembly.

Abstract: A system for printing an image includes a robot, a printhead, a laser device, and a reference line sensor. The robot has at least one arm. The printhead is mounted to the arm and is movable by the arm over a surface along a rastering path while printing a new image slice over the surface. The laser device is configured to etch, during printing of the new image slice, a reference line into either the new image slice or into a basecoat at a location adjacent to the new image slice. The reference line sensor is configured to sense the reference line of an existing image slice and transmit a signal to the robot causing the adjustment of the printhead in a manner such that a side edge of the new image slice is aligned with the side edge of the existing image slice.

Abstract: A method of coupling or decoupling a tool of a rotary-drive sub-assembly and a tool retainer of the rotary-drive sub-assembly includes rotationally anchoring the tool to a first tool-change member, rotatably coupled to a base, by engaging a tool-change-engagement portion of the tool with a first tool-engagement portion of the first tool-change member. The method also includes causing relative rotation between the tool and the tool retainer.

Abstract: A method of threadably coupling a first fastener with a second fastener using a rotary drive including a tool. The method includes rotationally anchoring the second fastener relative to the tool. The first fastener is received within a socket of the rotary drive co-axially with a fastener-engagement portion of the tool. The first fastener is rotated with the socket relative to a housing of the rotary drive to cause the first fastener to threadably engage the second fastener. When the first fastener is rotated relative to the housing and while the fastener-engagement portion is mated with a receiving portion of the second fastener, the fastener-engagement portion is co-axially translated relative to a tool-change-engagement portion of the tool and relative to the socket so that a fastener-engagement indicator, coupled with the fastener-engagement portion, extends past a surface of a tool retainer, coupled to the tool-change-engagement portion.

Abstract: A method is presented. A machine head is positioned in a desired location relative to a material on a tool using a sensor connected to the machine head and calibrated to detect magnetic material in the tool. An operation is performed on the material using the machine head starting at the desired location.

Abstract: A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool and a tool retainer. The tool includes a fastener-engagement portion, a first threaded portion, and a tool-change-engagement portion between the fastener-engagement portion and the first threaded portion. The tool retainer includes a body and a retaining member. The body includes a symmetry axis, a second threaded portion, configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion of the tool so that the tool is rotationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer about the symmetry axis and is translationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer along the symmetry axis, and a key, fixed relative to the second threaded portion. The tool retainer further includes a retaining member that is removably coupled to the body at a fixed location.

Abstract: A computer implemented method may include the steps of: (1) providing a first point cloud representative of at least a bare portion of a surface of an object relative to a reference portion of the surface, (2) providing a second point cloud representative of at least a coated portion of the surface relative to the reference portion, (3) registering the first point cloud and the second point cloud with respect to a common reference coordinate system, (4) registering a first reference portion subset of the first data points representative of the reference portion and a second reference portion subset of the second data points representative of the reference portion, and (5) calculating difference values indicative of a thickness of the surface coating based on differences between a coated portion subset of the second data points and a bare portion subset of the first data points.

Abstract: An isolated human work platform for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans. One or more robots are supported on the base platform independently of the work platform, so that movement of the work platform does not affect the robots' positions. The work platform is isolated from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting collaborative robots and humans in a narrowing work envelope. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans, wherein the work platform is narrower than the base platform, and the work platform is positioned relative to the base platform to provide areas for positioning one or more robots on one or more sides of the work platform. The robots are supported on the base platform independently of the work platform, so that movement of the work platform does not affect the robots' positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning robots using a gantry. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans. One or more robots are supported on the base platform independently of the work platform. At least one gantry is positioned above the base platform and adjacent the work platform for supporting and positioning the robots along the work platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying cables to robots at non-static locations. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans. One or more are robots supported on the base platform independently of the work platform. A cable carrier system is positioned above the base platform and underneath the work platform for providing cables to the robots.

Abstract: A system for printing an image includes a robot, a printhead, a laser device, and a reference line sensor. The robot has at least one arm. The printhead is mounted to the arm and is movable by the arm over a surface along a rastering path while printing a new image slice over the surface. The laser device is configured to etch, during printing of the new image slice, a reference line into either the new image slice or into a basecoat at a location adjacent to the new image slice. The reference line sensor is configured to sense the reference line of an existing image slice and transmit a signal to the robot causing the adjustment of the printhead in a manner such that a side edge of the new image slice is aligned with the side edge of the existing image slice.

Abstract: A system for printing an image on a surface includes a robot, a printhead having a reference line printing mechanism, and a reference line sensor. The robot has at least one arm. The printhead is mounted to the arm and is movable by the arm over a surface along a rastering path while printing a new image slice on the surface. The reference line printing mechanism is configured to print a reference line on the surface when printing the new image slice. The reference line sensor is configured to sense the reference line of an existing image slice and transmit a signal to the robot causing the arm to adjust the printhead in a manner such that a side edge of the new image slice is aligned with the side edge of the existing image slice.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a structure using reusable master path rules. The surface of the structure is identified to form surface data. A framework for the surface of the structure is generated using the surface data. The framework comprises a plurality of points. Reusable master path rules are created for a master path connecting the plurality of points. The master path is a continuous line representing a universal route for applying coatings to the surface. The coating is applied to the at least a portion of the surface of the structure using the reusable master path rules.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus comprising a vision system, a drilling tool, and a system controller. The vision system may be configured to generate data about a number of laser signatures on a surface of a workpiece. The drilling tool may be configured to drill a number of holes in the surface of the workpiece. The system controller may be configured to generate drilling instructions for the drilling tool using the data generated by the vision system.