Abstract: Robot positioning is facilitated by obtaining, for each time of a first sampling schedule, a respective indication of a pose of a camera system of a robot relative to a reference coordinate frame, the respective indication of the pose of the camera system being based on a comparison of multiple three-dimensional images of a scene of an environment, the obtaining providing a plurality of indications of poses of the camera system; obtaining, for each time of a second sampling schedule, a respective indication of a pose of the robot, the obtaining providing a plurality of indications of poses of the robot; and determining, using the plurality of indications of poses of the camera system and the plurality of indications of poses of the robot, an indication of the reference coordinate frame and an indication of a reference point of the camera system relative to pose of the robot.

Abstract: Automatic scanning and representing an environment with collision avoidance includes, for example, obtaining a first representation of the environment using a first scanning path, determining a second scanning path based on the first representation of the environment operable to avoid contact with the environment when obtaining a second representation of the environment, obtaining the second representation of the environment based on the second scanning path, and wherein the second representation of the environment is different from the first representation of the environment. The method may be employed in imaging and/or representing a rock wall having a plurality of spaced-apart holes for receiving charges for mining.

Abstract: A machine that has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. An interface at the control station allows an operator to select one or more virtual constraints on operation of the machine when the machine is performing a predetermined function. The virtual constraints are transmitted over the two way real-time communication link to the machine location. The machine has predetermined safety limits that are stored in a controlling device at the machine location. The stored predetermined safety limits are extracted and automatically mapped to the control station using the two way real-time communication link. The controlling device maps the predetermined safety limits to the virtual constraints.

Abstract: An electrical machine includes a stator and a rotor in magnetic communication with the stator. The stator and/or the rotor include a unitary structure having a plurality of laminations and a plurality of spacing structures integral with the plurality of laminations. Each lamination of the plurality of laminations is disposed adjacent to another lamination of the plurality of laminations. Each spacing structure of the plurality of spacing structures is disposed between adjacent laminations, and is constructed to space the adjacent laminations apart from each other.

Abstract: Technologies for calibrating a pan tilt unit with a robot include a robot controller to move a camera of the pan tilt unit about a first rotational axis of the pan tilt unit to at least three different first axis positions. The robot controller records a first set of positions of a monitored component of the robot in a frame of reference of the robot and a position of the camera in a frame of reference of the pan tilt unit during a period in which the monitored component is within a field of view of the camera for each of the at least three different first axis positions.

Abstract: A dummy tool is used to teach a robot the path the robot will follow to perform work on a workpiece to eliminate the possibility of damaging an actual tool during the training. The dummy tool provides the robot programmer an indication of potential collisions between the tool and the workpiece and other objects in the work cell when path is being taught. The dummy tool can have a detachable input/output device with a graphic user interface (GUI) that can communicate wirelessly with the robot controller. The dummy tool can also have a moveable camera attached thereto to track the relationship of the tool to objects in the work area.

Abstract: A robotic 3D printing system has a six degree of freedom (DOF) robot that holds the platform on which the 3D part is built on. The system uses the dexterity of the 6 DOF robot to move and rotate the platform relative to the 3D printing head, which deposits the material on the platform. The system allows the part build in 3D directly with a simple printing head and depositing the material along the gravity direction. The 3D printing head can be fixed relative to robot base, or moved in the X-Y plane with 2 or 3 DOF, or held by another robot or robots. The robot movement can be calibrated to improve the accuracy and efficiency for high precision 3D part printing.

Abstract: A system for generating a path to be followed by a robot used to perform a process on a workpiece has a computing device that has program code for operating the robot and obtaining information related to the workpiece and a vision system that scans the workpiece to obtain images thereof that are provided to the computing device. The computing device processes the images to obtain geometric information about the workpiece that the computing device uses in combination with process related reference parameters stored in the computing device to generate program code for a path to be followed by the robot to perform the process on the workpiece. The computing device also includes code configured to verify for quality the generated program code for the path to be followed by the robot to perform the process on the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for generating instructions for operating a robot to perform work on a workpiece has a 3D model or models of a robot scene that provides robot scene data. The system also has data of one or both hands of a gesture made with the one or both hands and a computation device that has program code configured to process the robot scene data and the gesture data to generate an instruction to operate the robot.

Abstract: A machine remotely located from a control station has at least one actuated mechanism. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that includes an instruction which when executed transfers control of the machine from the controller to the control station. The program code can have a task frame associated with the predetermined function performed by the machine with the task frame divided into a first set controlled by the controller and a second set controlled from the control station. The system can also have two or more remotely located control stations only one of which can control the machine at a given time.

Abstract: A machine has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that is configured to determine from data from one or more sensors at the machine location if an actual fault has occurred in the machine when the machine is performing its predetermined function and to determine for an actual fault one or more types for the fault and transmit the one or more fault types to the control station for analysis. The code in the controller is configured to be a preprogrammed trap routine specific to the machine function that is automatically executed when an error in machine operation is detected at the machine location. The controller also has a default trap routine that is executed when specific routine does not exist.

Abstract: A machine that has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. An interface at the control station allows an operator to select one or more virtual constraints on operation of the machine when the machine is performing a predetermined function. The virtual constraints are transmitted over the two way real-time communication link to the machine location. The machine has predetermined safety limits that are stored in a controlling device at the machine location. The stored predetermined safety limits are extracted and automatically mapped to the control station using the two way real-time communication link. The controlling device maps the predetermined safety limits to the virtual constraints.

Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.

Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.

Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.

Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.

Abstract: Vision based systems may select actions based on analysis of images to redistribute objects. Actions may include action type, action axis and/or action direction. Analysis may determine whether an object is accessible by a robot, whether an upper surface of a collection of objects meet a defined criteria and/or whether clusters of objects preclude access.

Abstract: Vision based systems may select actions based on analysis of images to redistribute objects. Actions may include action type, action axis and/or action direction. Analysis may determine whether an object is accessible by a robot, whether an upper surface of a collection of objects meet a defined criteria and/or whether clusters of objects preclude access.

Abstract: Robotic systems and methods employ at least some communications between peripheral controllers, for example vision controller, conveyor controller, camera controller and/or inspection controller, that is independent of a robot controller or robot motion controller. Such may include a parallel communications path.

Abstract: Briefly described, one embodiment determines pose of an object of interest at a run time by capturing a first image of a first structured light pattern projected onto a first local surface of the object of interest; determining a first run-time data set from the captured first image, wherein the first run-time data set corresponds to information determined from the first structured light pattern projected onto the first local surface; comparing the determined first run-time data set and a corresponding first reference data set, the first reference data set corresponding to an ideal pose of the first local surface on an ideally posed reference object; and determining at least one first degree of constraint that defines a first partial pose of the first local surface, the at least one first degree of constraint based upon the comparison of the first run-time data set with the corresponding first reference data set.