Abstract: A compact displacement sensor comprises a light intensity pattern object, a micro-lens array and an imaging device including a light-intensity measuring surface. The micro-lens array is disposed between the light intensity pattern object and the imaging device such that each micro-lens focuses a corresponding sub-image making up a portion of the light-intensity pattern on the light-intensity measuring surface to create thereupon an image of the object comprising an array of focused sub-images. The displacement sensor can provide high resolution measurements of displacement of the light intensity pattern object from a reference position by registering subsequent images captured after a change in relative position between light intensity pattern object and the imaging device to a reference image based on pattern portions in the focused sub-images.

Abstract: A robotic article management system for acquiring and managing an article, the robotic article management system comprising a platform, a robot positioning member supported by the platform and having a robotic end effector interface, and a robotic end effector supported by the robot positioning member via the robotic end effector interface. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device, and an article interface system having an actuatable article engagement device operable to interface with the article and to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device. A computer-implemented method for acquiring and managing an article. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions embodied thereon for controlling one or more components of a robotic article management system to acquire and manage an article.

Abstract: A solar panel installation system comprising a solar panel presentation system comprising a solar panel dispensing hopper having a hopper enclosure; and a solar panel installation vehicle operable with the solar panel presentation system, and operable to support the solar panel dispensing hopper, and to maneuver about a solar panel support assembly comprising one or more solar panel retention systems which can be oriented transverse to a torque tube of the solar panel support assembly, wherein the installation vehicle is operable to position the solar panel dispensing hopper in an overhead position relative to the one or more solar panel retention systems, and to facilitate installation of a lead solar panel in an installed position in one of the one or more panel retention systems from the overhead position.

Abstract: A robotic article management system for acquiring and managing an article, the robotic article management system comprising a platform, a robot positioning member supported by the platform and having a robotic end effector interface, and a robotic end effector supported by the robot positioning member via the robotic end effector interface. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device, and an article interface system having an actuatable article engagement device operable to interface with the article and to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device. A computer-implemented method for acquiring and managing an article. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions embodied thereon for controlling one or more components of a robotic article management system to acquire and manage an article.

Abstract: A solar panel dispensing device comprising a hopper, a guide arm, and an actuator. The hopper includes a frame defining an interior volume and an exit and is configured to contain a plurality of solar panels therein. The guide arm includes a support surface coupled to the hopper at a position adjacent to the exit of the hopper. The guide arm can extend away from the exit at a position to guide the plurality of solar panels from the hopper to an installation position. The actuator can include a contact interface operable to interface with and displace a lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel to the guide arm.

Abstract: A multi-functional robotic end-effector, the method comprising a support platform, a gripper assembly supported from the support platform, and a negative pressure system to be supported, at least in part, from the support platform. The gripper assembly can comprise an opposable gripper arrangement having first and second grippers, at least one of the first or second grippers being actuatable in at least one degree of freedom. The negative pressure system can comprise a suction asset having an object interfacing component comprising an interfacing surface that defines a suction plane, the negative pressure system facilitating a negative pressure within the suction asset. The suction asset can be supported by one of the support platform or the gripper assembly, and can be positioned within a gripping region of the gripper assembly, or alternatively, the suction asset can be positioned outside of the gripping region of the gripper assembly.

Abstract: A robotic system comprising a robot, and human-imperceptible indicia associated with an object within an environment, the human-imperceptible indicia comprising or linking to interaction information pertaining to a predetermined intended interaction of the robot with the object, the interaction information facilitating interaction with the object by the robot in accordance with the predetermined intended interaction. The system can comprise a sensor that senses the human-imperceptible indicia and the interaction information, and an augmented reality system for conveying human-understandable information to a human operator, which is associated with the interaction or linking information. The machine readable indicia can comprise symbols that can be sensed and interpreted by the robot or the augmented reality system.

Abstract: A solar panel installation system comprising a support clamp installation vehicle capable of being placed on a torque tube of a solar panel support assembly, and operating on the torque tube to install one or more torque tube clamps onto the torque tube from an overhead position. The solar panel installation system comprises a hopper, a drive system operable to engage a torque tube and to facilitate locomotion of the installation vehicle on the torque tube, and a clamp dispensing system comprising a clamp feed system and a clamp placement system. The solar panel installation system further comprises a control system in communication with the support clamp installation vehicle, and operable to control operation of the drive system and the clamp dispensing system. The solar panel installation system further comprises a solar panel installation vehicle that can be operated in a coordinated manner with the support clamp installation vehicle.

Abstract: A robotic solar panel presentation system, as part of a solar panel installation system, for facilitating installation of solar panels into a panel retention system of a panel support assembly, the solar panel presentation system comprising a solar panel dispensing hopper comprising a hopper enclosure operable to receive and support one or more solar panels, and a panel acquisition and placement system comprising at least one moveable installation arm, wherein the panel acquisition and placement system is operable to acquire and manipulate a lead solar panel into an overhead installation position relative to the panel retention system, and to facilitate placement of the lead solar panel into an installed position within the panel retention system. The presentation system can further comprise a control system associated with the solar panel dispensing hopper, and comprising one or more processors and memory operable to control and operate the panel acquisition and placement system.

Abstract: A compact displacement sensor comprises a light intensity pattern object, a micro-lens array and an imaging device including a light-intensity measuring surface. The micro-lens array is disposed between the light intensity pattern object and the imaging device such that each micro-lens focuses a corresponding sub-image making up a portion of the light-intensity pattern on the light-intensity measuring surface to create thereupon an image of the object comprising an array of focused sub-images. The displacement sensor can provide high resolution measurements of displacement of the light intensity pattern object from a reference position by registering subsequent images captured after a change in relative position between light intensity pattern object and the imaging device to a reference image based on pattern portions in the focused sub-images.

Abstract: A walk-about exoskeleton system can comprise an exoskeleton and a walk-about platform in support of the exoskeleton. The walk-about platform can be maneuverable about a ground surface. The walk-about platform can comprise a conveyance system operable with the walk-about platform. The conveyance system can be operable to facilitate movement of the walk-about platform about the ground surface. The walk-about platform can also comprise a bi-pedal locomotion zone defined, at least in part, by the walk-about platform. The bi-pedal locomotion zone can provide clearance for bi-pedal locomotion of an operator donning the exoskeleton.

Abstract: Technology is described for adding inserted message data into machine learning modified communications. The method can include receiving message data from a sender to be sent to a recipient. Another operation may be estimating a conversion time to convert the message data to a second language that is different than a language of the sender, using a machine learning translation service. A message insert may be provided or identified that approximates the conversion time. The message insert to be reproduced for the recipient may be sent. The message data may be sent to the recipient as converted to the second language.

Abstract: A solar panel installation system comprising a solar panel presentation system comprising a solar panel dispensing hopper having a hopper enclosure; and a solar panel installation vehicle operable with the solar panel presentation system, and operable to support the solar panel dispensing hopper, and to maneuver about a solar panel support assembly comprising one or more solar panel retention systems which can be oriented transverse to a torque tube of the solar panel support assembly, wherein the installation vehicle is operable to position the solar panel dispensing hopper in an overhead position relative to the one or more solar panel retention systems, and to facilitate installation of a lead solar panel in an installed position in one of the one or more panel retention systems from the overhead position.

Abstract: A solar panel installation system comprising a solar panel presentation system comprising a solar panel dispensing hopper having a hopper enclosure; and a solar panel installation vehicle operable with the solar panel presentation system, and operable to support the solar panel dispensing hopper, and to maneuver about a solar panel support assembly comprising one or more solar panel retention systems which can be oriented transverse to a torque tube of the solar panel support assembly, wherein the installation vehicle is operable to position the solar panel dispensing hopper in an overhead position relative to the one or more solar panel retention systems, and to facilitate installation of a lead solar panel in an installed position in one of the one or more panel retention systems from the overhead position.

Abstract: A robot or robotic system comprising a plurality of support structures, and a plurality of joint mechanisms each joint mechanism rotatably coupling at least two of the plurality of support structures. A sensor discrepancy detection system can be operable to interrogate a suite of sensors within the robotic system, and can comprise a plurality of sensor groups, each associated with a respective joint mechanism, and each comprising a plurality of sensors from the suite of sensors. A controller can execute a remedial measure associated with a safety/remedial mode of the robotic system based on an identified discrepancy between the sensor output data of the load cell compared to transformed sensor output data from the joint position sensor and the actuator position sensor, accounting for the transmission ratio, related to a difference in position and representing a transmission deflection, and correlated to a corresponding force associated with the difference in position.

Abstract: Technology is described for a controller or control service that facilitates the use of robots as hybrid machines. More specifically, a task space controller can be provided for an robot with hybrid input from either a human or programmed tasks.

Abstract: A compact displacement sensor comprises a light intensity pattern object, a micro-lens array and an imaging device including a light-intensity measuring surface. The micro-lens array is disposed between the light intensity pattern object and the imaging device such that each micro-lens focuses a corresponding sub-image making up a portion of the light-intensity pattern on the light-intensity measuring surface to create thereupon an image of the object comprising an array of focused sub-images. The displacement sensor can provide high resolution measurements of displacement of the light intensity pattern object from a reference position by registering subsequent images captured after a change in relative position between light intensity pattern object and the imaging device to a reference image based on pattern portions in the focused sub-images.

Abstract: A solar panel installation system comprising a support clamp installation vehicle capable of being placed on a torque tube of a solar panel support assembly, and operating on the torque tube to install one or more torque tube clamps onto the torque tube from an overhead position. The solar panel installation system comprises a hopper, a drive system operable to engage a torque tube and to facilitate locomotion of the installation vehicle on the torque tube, and a clamp dispensing system comprising a clamp feed system and a clamp placement system. The solar panel installation system further comprises a control system in communication with the support clamp installation vehicle, and operable to control operation of the drive system and the clamp dispensing system. The solar panel installation system further comprises a solar panel installation vehicle that can be operated in a coordinated manner with the support clamp installation vehicle.

Abstract: A joint implant can include a proximal joint implant element having a proximal curved interface surface with a plurality of proximal registration features. A distal joint implant element can be rotatably coupled to the proximal joint implant element, and can have a distal curved interface with a plurality of distal registration features that are complementary to the proximal registration features such that the registration features interface together to maintain registration between the proximal and distal joint implant elements. A joint implant element connector can include a proximal pin supporting the proximal joint implant element and a distal pin supporting the distal joint implant element. At least one of the curved interface surfaces can include a protrusion that prevents rotation of the joint implant elements when the protrusion contacts the opposite curved interface surface.

Abstract: A walk-about human augmentation system, comprising an upper-body robotic human augmentation system having a first robotic arm, a walk-about platform in support of the upper-body robotic human augmentation system, the walk-about platform comprising a walk-about base, and a mast in the form of a carrier support assembly supported by the walk-about base, the carrier support assembly comprising a framework and an actuator assembly having an actuator and a guide member, the first robotic arm being moveably supported by the carrier support assembly, and the first robotic arm undergoing inclined displacement in a sloped vertical degree of freedom within a given range of motion along the guide member, and relative to the ground surface.