Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and systems for implementing a function for an application using a middleware on a computer. An exemplary method may include initializing an application node in the middleware corresponding to the application, the initializing comprising binding the function to the application node and associating the application node with a cryptor, connecting the middleware to a remote device through a transport layer using the cryptor, publishing a message to invoke the function from the application node, through the middleware, to the cryptor, and communicating with the remote device to invoke the function, using the cryptor, based on the message.

Abstract: A control system for a neck mechanism includes a perception system configured to track movement of an object, and a perception control system that controls a rotary motor to yaw a platform and controls a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator that is in parallel with the first linear actuator to pitch and roll the platform according to a target position of the platform. The perception system tracks movement of the object by estimating its position and pose in 3D space and the platform is moved according to a vision-based position and pose estimation result.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of an anomaly within a component includes a motorized apparatus configured to move around the component. The system also includes an excitation device and a camera mounted to the motorized apparatus. The excitation device is configured to emit an excitation signal toward the component to cause the anomaly within the component to generate a detectable reactionary thermal signal in response to the excitation signal. The camera is configured to capture thermal images of the component. The thermal images include the detectable reactionary thermal signal and indicate the presence of the anomaly within the component. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the excitation device and the camera. The controller is configured to receive and analyze the thermal images to detect the presence of the anomaly within the component.

Abstract: A mobile robot control method includes: acquiring a first image that is captured by a camera on a robot when the robot is in a desired pose; acquiring a second image that is captured by the camera on the robot when the robot is in a current pose; extracting multiple pairs of matching feature points from the first image and the second image, and projecting the extracted feature points onto a virtual unitary sphere to obtain multiple projection feature points, wherein a center of the virtual unitary sphere is coincident with an optical center of coordinates of the camera; acquiring an invariant image feature and a rotation vector feature based on the multiple projection feature points, and controlling the robot to move until the robot is in the desired pose according to the invariant image feature and the rotation vector feature.

Abstract: A control system includes a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements. The task manager selects and assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to a first robotic machine that has a first set of capabilities and operates according to a first mode of operation. The task manager selects and assigns a second sequence of sub-tasks to a second robotic machine that has a second set of capabilities and operates according to a second mode of operation. The task manager selects the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and the first mode of operation of the first robotic machine, and selects the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities and the second mode of operation.

Abstract: ETA (estimated time of arrival) calculation for a mobile machine is disclosed. The ETA of the mobile machine to a destination is calculated by obtaining a current pose of the mobile machine, obtaining a global path from the current pose of the mobile machine to the destination, obtaining a local path, calculating a dynamic ETA for each pair of the consecutive poses in the local path and summing the calculated dynamic ETAs, calculating a baseline ETA for each pair of consecutive poses from a pose in the global path that is closest to the last pose in the local path to the last pose in the global path and summing the calculated baseline ETAs, and obtaining a total ETA to the destination based on the dynamic ETA and the baseline ETA.

Abstract: A mobile robot control method includes: acquiring a first image that is captured by a camera on a robot when the robot is in a desired pose; acquiring a second image that is captured by the camera on the robot when the robot is in a current pose; extracting multiple pairs of matching feature points from the first image and the second image, and projecting the extracted feature points onto a virtual unitary sphere to obtain multiple projection feature points, wherein a center of the virtual unitary sphere is coincident with an optical center of coordinates of the camera; acquiring an invariant image feature and a rotation vector feature based on the multiple projection feature points, and controlling the robot to move until the robot is in the desired pose according to the invariant image feature and the rotation vector feature.

Abstract: Collision avoidance for a mobile machine having a plurality of sensors is disclosed. The mobile machine is avoided from colliding with a collision object by fusing sensor data received from the plurality of sensors to obtain a plurality of data points corresponding to the collision object, calculating a closed-form solution of a distance between the mobile machine and each of the plurality of data points, calculating a maximum allowed velocity of the mobile machine based on the shortest distance between the mobile machine and the plurality of data points and a current velocity of the mobile machine, and controlling the mobile machine to move according to the maximum allowed velocity.

Abstract: A motion trajectory planning method for a robotic manipulator having a visual inspection system, includes: in response to a command instruction, obtaining environmental data collected by the visual inspection system; determining an initial DS model motion trajectory of the robotic manipulator according to the command instruction, the environmental data, and a preset teaching motion DS model library, wherein the teaching motion DS model library includes at least one DS model motion trajectory generated based on human teaching activities; and at least based on a result of determining whether there is an obstacle, whose pose is on the initial DS model motion trajectory, in a first object included in the environmental data, correcting the initial DS model motion trajectory to obtain a desired motion trajectory of the robotic manipulator.

Abstract: A robotic assistant includes a base; an elevation mechanism positioned on the base; a display rotatably mounted on the elevation mechanism; a camera positioned on the display; and a control system that receives command instructions. In response to the command instructions, the control system is to detect movement of a face of the user in a vertical direction based on the images captured by the camera. In response to detection of the movement of the face of the user in the vertical direction, the control system is to rotate the display and actuate the elevation mechanism to the move the display up and down to allow the camera to face the face of the user during the movement of the face of the user in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A robotic hand includes a baseplate, a finger having multiple phalanges that are rotatably coupled to one another, a first of the phalanges having a first end rotatably coupled to the baseplate and a second end and a second of the phalanges rotatably coupled to the second end about an axis of rotation, an actuating mechanism mounted on the baseplate, the actuating mechanism configured to actuate rotation of the plurality of phalanges, and a tendon having opposite ends that are respectively attached to the second of the phalanges and the baseplate. The second of the phalanges has an engagement portion arranged around the axis of rotation, and the tendon is wrapped around a portion of the engagement portion to generate a force acting on the second end of the first of the phalanges, causing the first of the phalanges to rotate from a flexed state to an extended state.

Abstract: A robotic hand includes a baseplate, a finger having multiple phalanges that are rotatably coupled to one another, a first of the phalanges having a first end rotatably coupled to the baseplate and a second end and a second of the phalanges rotatably coupled to the second end about an axis of rotation, an actuating mechanism mounted on the baseplate, the actuating mechanism configured to actuate rotation of the plurality of phalanges, and a tendon having opposite ends that are respectively attached to the second of the phalanges and the baseplate. The second of the phalanges has an engagement portion arranged around the axis of rotation, and the tendon is wrapped around a portion of the engagement portion to generate a force acting on the second end of the first of the phalanges, causing the first of the phalanges to rotate from a flexed state to an extended state.

Abstract: A display stand includes a frame, an actuated rotary mechanism coupled to the frame, a counterweight coupled to the actuated rotary mechanism and movable in a vertical direction during rotation of the display about the axis of rotation, and an elevation mechanism. The actuated rotary mechanism includes a display holder that is configured to mount a display to the frame and rotate the display about an axis of rotation. The counterweight and the display are located at opposite sides of a vertical plane that passes through the axis of rotation such that a combined center of mass of the display, the display holder, and the counterweight lies on the vertical plane. The frame is coupled to the elevation mechanism, and the elevation mechanism is configured to move the frame up and down.

Abstract: A system includes a first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with a target object; a second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object; and a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks. The task manager can assign a first sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and a second sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities. The first and second robotic machines can coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.

Abstract: A mechanical arm includes a first link connectable to a surface, a second link, a third link, a fourth link, and a fifth link that are coupled to one another in series, and an end effector connectable to the fifth link. The end effector is rotatable about an axis of rotation same as an axis of rotation of the fourth link, and rotatable about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the fourth link. The first link, the second link, the third link, the fourth link, and the fifth link are collectively structured and configured to rotate such that the end effector is actuatable to a workspace under the surface.

Abstract: A robotic assistant includes a wheeled base, a storage unit including drawers, a foldable arm connected to a top of the storage unit and including an end of arm tooling (EOAT) connected to a distal end of the foldable arm, an elevation mechanism positioned on the wheeled base and used to move the storage unit up and down, and a control system that receives command instructions. In response to the command instructions, the control system is configured to move the wheeled base, open or close the one or more drawers, actuate movement of the foldable arm and the EOAT to pick up and place external objects from/to a determined location, and control the storage unit to move up/down.

Abstract: A robotic assistant includes a wheeled base, a storage unit including drawers, a foldable arm connected to a top of the storage unit and including an end of arm tooling (EOAT) connected to a distal end of the foldable arm, an elevation mechanism positioned on the wheeled base and used to move the storage unit up and down, and a control system that receives command instructions. In response to the command instructions, the control system is configured to move the wheeled base, open or close the one or more drawers, actuate movement of the foldable arm and the EOAT to pick up and place external objects from/to a determined location, and control the storage unit to move up/down.