Abstract: Robotic picking devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The disclosed methods may involve executing an imagery analysis procedure to identify a feature of interest of an item, wherein the feature of interest may affect a picking device's ability to perform a picking operation, and generating a grasping plan executable by the picking device, wherein the grasping plan accommodates the feature of interest so that the picking device is able to perform the picking operation.

Abstract: Robotic picking devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The methods described herein may involve determining that a picking device is unable to grasp an item and then performing, using a perturbation mechanism, a perturbation operation to perturb the item so that the picking device is more likely to grasp the item by executing a subsequent grasp attempt.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for determining whether a container is empty in the context of robotic picking solutions. The system includes a plurality of sensors configured to gather container data regarding a container at a first location, wherein the container data includes at least two of weight data related to the container, depth data related to the container, and color sensor data related to the container, and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory to provide a sensor fusion module configured to process the received container data to determine whether the container is empty.

Abstract: Robotic picking devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The disclosed methods may involve executing an imagery analysis procedure to identify a feature of interest of an item, wherein the feature of interest may affect a picking device's ability to perform a picking operation, and generating a grasping plan executable by the picking device, wherein the grasping plan accommodates the feature of interest so that the picking device is able to perform the picking operation.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for determining whether a container is empty in the context of robotic picking solutions. The system includes a plurality of sensors configured to gather container data regarding a container at a first location, wherein the container data includes at least two of weight data related to the container, depth data related to the container, and color sensor data related to the container, and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory to provide a sensor fusion module configured to process the received container data to determine whether the container is empty.

Abstract: Robotic picking devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The methods described herein may involve determining that a picking device is unable to grasp an item and then performing, using a perturbation mechanism, a perturbation operation to perturb the item so that the picking device is more likely to grasp the item by executing a subsequent grasp attempt.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.