Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for time calibration. The method can include, in responses to receiving sensing data which indicates a deviation of a tool from an object to be operated by a robot with the tool, triggering the robot to perform a plurality of transformations. Each transformation causing the tool to contact the object at a reference position; determining joint positions of a joint of the robot holding the tool or the object after the plurality of transformations; and determining a position relationship between the tool and the robot at least partially based on the joint positions and the reference position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and a method for operating a pair of twistlocks and an associated robot. The apparatus comprises a first component adapted to clamp a first twistlock to allow the clamped first twistlock to be removed from a container; and a second component arranged adjacent to the first component and adapted to clamp a second twistlock to allow the clamped second twistlock to be removed from a container; or receive the first twistlock released from the first component to allow the first component to clamp the second twistlock. With the first and second components, the pair of twistlocks, especially mid-type twistlocks, can be operated more quickly with less operation steps. In this way, the operation efficiency for operating the mid-type twistlocks can be significantly improved with lower costs.

Abstract: Robot arm link (100) comprises a body made of non-metallic material, a transmission cable (102) made of conducive material and embedded within the body (101), and at least one connector (103) arranged on the body (101) and coupled to the transmission cable (102), each connector (103) adapted to be electrically connected to a connector (1031) of a further robot arm link (1001) of a same specification, a sensor (301), or a power source (302) of the robot (200). By embedding the transmission cable (102) within the non-metallic material to form the robot arm link (100), there is no need to consider how to route the cable (102) and thus the difficulty of cable routing design can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the efficiency of robot assembly and maintenance can be increased accordingly. In addition, the cables (102) arranged in the robot arm links (101) are not easily damaged, thereby increasing the service life of the robot.

Abstract: Method for determining a lock type of a lock device. In the method, a group of raw data of a group of lock devices is collected from a group of sensors respectively. Here the group of lock devices are respectively mounted to an object at a group of positions, and the group of lock devices belong to at least one lock type of a plurality of lock types. A group of probability distributions are obtained based on the group of raw data. Here a probability distribution in the group of probability distributions is associated with a lock device in the group of lock devices and probabilities of lock types to which the lock device belongs. A lock type of the lock device is determined based on the group of probability distributions.

Abstract: Methods and devices for diagnosing a robot. The method includes obtaining a first signal generated by a rotating component of the robot during operation of the robot. The first signal includes motion information of the rotating component. The first signal is preprocessed to filter out a part of the motion information in the first signal. The preprocessed first signal or spectrum information about the preprocessed first signal is sent to a server for diagnosing the robotU. A second signal is received from the server, wherein the second signal includes diagnostic information indicating whether a sub-component of the rotating component has a failure.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for determining a position of a tracking device. The tracking device includes a vision sensor and an inertial sensor. A first position of the tracking device in relative to a reference marker is obtained based on an image of the reference marker that is collected by the vison sensor. A second position of the tracking device in relative to the first position is obtained by the inertial sensor after a movement of the tracking device. A position of the tracking device in relative to the reference marker is determined based on the first and second positions.

Abstract: A housing for a plastic gearbox and associated plastic gearbox and a robot. The housing includes a body including an inner engaging portion circumferentially arranged on an inner surface of the body, the inner engaging portion adapted to be engaged with a transmission assembly of the plastic gearbox; and an adjusting mechanism arranged around the body and operable to squeeze the body inwardly to reduce an inner diameter of the body. By using the adjusting mechanism to squeeze the body of the housing inwardly, the fit error between the inner engaging portion and the transmission assembly can be compensated in an efficient way. Furthermore, the adjusting mechanism is a part of the housing and thus the body of the housing which is made of plastic does not need to be too thick, which makes injection molding easier and manufacturing precision improved.

Abstract: A brake apparatus, a motor, and a robot. The brake apparatus includes a first ring connected to a shaft and being rotatable together with the shaft. Wherein the first ring includes a first set of magnets. The brake apparatus also includes a second ring, which is spaced apart from the first ring by a gap, and includes a second set of magnets, the second set of magnets being magnetically coupled to the first set of magnets such that the second ring tends to rotate along with the first ring. The brake apparatus includes a first member connected to the second ring and being rotatable together with the second ring; and a second member being switchable between a first state and a second state. An impact force will not be transmitted to the shaft when the shaft is rotating, and thus a damping effect can be achieved during braking.

Abstract: Methods and devices for diagnosing a robot. A method includes obtaining a spectrum of a motion signal generated by a rotating component of the robot during operation of the robot. A frequency amplitude of a sub-component of the rotating component is determined from the spectrum, based on a physical characteristic and a speed of the sub-component. A failure of the sub-component is detected by comparing the frequency amplitude with a threshold amplitude.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and a method for operating a pair of twistlocks and an associated robot. The apparatus comprises a first component adapted to clamp a first twistlock to allow the clamped first twistlock to be removed from a container; and a second component arranged adjacent to the first component and adapted to clamp a second twistlock to allow the clamped second twistlock to be removed from a container; or receive the first twistlock released from the first component to allow the first component to clamp the second twistlock. With the first and second components, the pair of twistlocks, especially mid-type twistlocks, can be operated more quickly with less operation steps. In this way, the operation efficiency for operating the mid-type twistlocks can be significantly improved with lower costs.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for handling twistlocks configured to lock a container onto a vehicle. The apparatus includes a gripper configured to grip one of the twistlocks to be mounted onto or dismounted from a corner fitting of a container. Further, the apparatus has a visual sensor configured to capture a first image of the corner fitting when the vehicle is moving in a twistlock handling station. The apparatus includes a control unit configured to obtain, from the visual sensor, the first image; make some determinations based on the first image; and send a handling position such that the gripper moves to the handling position to handle the one of the twistlocks during the moving of the vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for calibrating a laser displacement sensor for use with a robot. The apparatus comprises an auxiliary object arranged in a work space of the robot or held by the robot and comprising a planar surface adapted to be detected by the laser displacement sensor; and a controller configured to: determine a characteristic point on the planar surface of the auxiliary object based on a detection result from the laser displacement sensor; cause the laser displacement sensor to point at the characteristic point for plural times with the same angle and different distances to obtain an orientation of the laser displacement sensor; and cause the laser displacement sensor to point at the characteristic point for plural times with different angles and the same distance to obtain a relative position relationship between the laser displacement sensor and the robot.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for managing a path of a robot system. The systems include comprises an arm which has a joint for rotating the arm. In the methods, a real path of a tip of the robot system is obtained during directing a movement of the tip to follow an ideal path. A path deviation is identified between the real path and the ideal path. A transmission error of the joint is determined based on the path deviation and kinematic data associated with the movement and a plurality of rotations of the joint respectively at a plurality of time points during the movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining oil leakage of a gearbox and an associated robot. The apparatus includes a base arranged between the gearbox and a motor coupled to the gearbox. The base can be made of a oil-absorbing material such that a volume of the base changes when the base contacts oil. The apparatus also includes a signal generator coupled to the base and configured to cause an electrical signal or a change in a physical property of the signal generator in response to a change in the volume of the base. The apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the signal generator and configured to detect the electrical signal or the change in the physical property and to determine the oil leakage in response to a detection of the electrical signal or the change in the physical property.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for time calibration. The method can include, in responses to receiving sensing data which indicates a deviation of a tool from an object to be operated by a robot with the tool, triggering the robot to perform a plurality of transformations. Each transformation causing the tool to contact the object at a reference position; determining joint positions of a joint of the robot holding the tool or the object after the plurality of transformations; and determining a position relationship between the tool and the robot at least partially based on the joint positions and the reference position.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a surface condition of an object. The apparatus comprises a light source, a reflective face and an imaging device. The imaging device is configured to receive reflected light emanating from the reflective face. The reflective face is oriented at a first acute angle relative to an optical axis of the imaging device, such that a projection area of a virtual image of a surface formed via the reflective face is greater than a projection area of the surface on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for calibrating a laser displacement sensor for use with a robot. The apparatus comprises an auxiliary object arranged in a work space of the robot or held by the robot and comprising a planar surface adapted to be detected by the laser displacement sensor; and a controller configured to: determine a characteristic point on the planar surface of the auxiliary object based on a detection result from the laser displacement sensor; cause the laser displacement sensor to point at the characteristic point for plural times with the same angle and different distances to obtain an orientation of the laser displacement sensor; and cause the laser displacement sensor to point at the characteristic point for plural times with different angles and the same distance to obtain a relative position relationship between the laser displacement sensor and the robot.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for determining an object location of an object. In the method, a group of measurement locations for a group of feature marks in the object are collected from a group of sensors, respectively. A group of estimation locations are obtained for the group of feature marks based on the object location and a group of offsets between the group of estimation locations and the object location, respectively. An error function is generated based on the group of measurement locations and the group of estimation locations. The object location is determined based on the error function. With these embodiments, performance and accuracy for determining the object location may be greatly increased.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for mounting an O-ring to a work piece. The apparatus comprises a guiding component comprising a frustum portion arranged coaxially with a groove formed on an end surface of the work piece for receiving the O-ring, a large end face of the frustum portion arranged adjacent to the end surface; and an operation component adapted to drive the guiding component to rotate back and forth about a central axis of the guiding component, wherein a diameter of the large end face is substantially same as an inner diameter of the O-ring to allow the O-ring surrounding and eccentric to the frustum portion to slide into the groove with a rotation of the guiding component.

Abstract: Robot arm link (100) comprises a body made of non-metallic material, a transmission cable (102) made of conducive material and embedded within the body (101), and at least one connector (103) arranged on the body (101) and coupled to the transmission cable (102), each connector (103) adapted to be electrically connected to a connector (1031) of a further robot arm link (1001) of a same specification, a sensor (301), or a power source (302) of the robot (200). By embedding the transmission cable (102) within the non-metallic material to form the robot arm link (100), there is no need to consider how to route the cable (102) and thus the difficulty of cable routing design can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the efficiency of robot assembly and maintenance can be increased accordingly. In addition, the cables (102) arranged in the robot arm links (101) are not easily damaged, thereby increasing the service life of the robot.