Abstract: An angle detection apparatus includes a magnetic sensing element, a magnetic field generator, and a yoke. The magnetic field generator is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the magnetic sensing element and generates a magnetic field. The yoke is disposed in a magnetic-field influence region and is rotatable together with the magnetic field generator. The magnetic-field influence region is a region that lies between the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensing element in a rotation axis direction along the rotation axis, and that is to be influenced by the magnetic field.

Abstract: A picking system has a plurality of transport modules having a transport means for transporting goods and includes a plurality of transport lines comprising at least one of the transport modules. The transport lines include a first transport line for transporting goods along a transport route, a second transport line for temporarily storing the goods, and a third transport line for transporting shipping containers of the goods along the transport route. A transport module for picks takes out the goods transported from the first transport line. The transport module for picks can perform a first operation for accommodating the goods transported from the first transport line in the shipping containers, a second operation for placing the goods transported from the first transport line onto the second transport line, and a third operation for taking out the goods from the second transport line and accommodating the goods in the shipping containers.

Abstract: An indicator related to work performed through a plurality of hierarchical processes is predicted efficiently with high accuracy. The information processing device stores sample data in association with each parameter representing work, the sample data including an indicator generated by execution of lower-level simulation based on a lower-level model set for a lower-level process, and the information processing device predicts an indicator related to predicted work by performing higher-level simulation using the sample data associated with a parameter similar to a parameter representing the predicted work, the higher-level simulation being based on a higher-level model which is set for a higher-level process. If sample data associated with a parameter similar to the parameter representing the predicted work is not stored, the information processing device complements sample data by performing lower-level simulation and performs higher-level simulation using the complemented sample data.

Abstract: An autonomous system including a plurality of autonomous bodies, each of the autonomous bodies includes a situation grasping unit that grasps situation, an operation determining unit that determines an operation based on the grasped situation, and an operation executing unit that executes the determined operation, the plurality of autonomous bodies included in the autonomous body system includes one or more first autonomous bodies and two or more second autonomous bodies, situation grasped by the situation grasping unit of the first autonomous body includes situation of the second autonomous body, the situation grasped by the situation grasping unit of the second autonomous body includes a result of an operation executed by the operation executing unit of the first autonomous body, and the operation determining unit of the second autonomous body determines an operation based on the result of the operation executed by the operation executing unit of the first autonomous body.

Abstract: An autonomous system including a plurality of autonomous bodies, each of the autonomous bodies includes a situation grasping unit that grasps situation, an operation determining unit that determines an operation based on the grasped situation, and an operation executing unit that executes the determined operation, the plurality of autonomous bodies included in the autonomous body system includes one or more first autonomous bodies and two or more second autonomous bodies, situation grasped by the situation grasping unit of the first autonomous body includes situation of the second autonomous body, the situation grasped by the situation grasping unit of the second autonomous body includes a result of an operation executed by the operation executing unit of the first autonomous body, and the operation determining unit of the second autonomous body determines an operation based on the result of the operation executed by the operation executing unit of the first autonomous body.

Abstract: A robot is provided. A measurement unit measures an object in a space. An own-position estimation unit calculates an own position of a mobile unit moving through the space by matching measurement data acquired by the measurement unit with map data representing information about the object in the space. A classification unit acquires class-based measurement data obtained by classifying the measurement data into at least two predetermined classes. A class-based own-position estimation unit estimates an own position of the mobile unit for each of the at least two predetermined classes by matching a class-based map having a position of the objects recorded therein for each class with the class-based measurement data. An integration unit configured to integrate the own positions estimated for the respective at least two predetermined classes. A control unit controls the mobile unit based on information from the integration unit.

Abstract: The invention notifies a robot controller of the need to re-create map data. A robot control system (1) includes a robot (2) that moves along a path while detecting obstacles, and a robot control terminal (3) that records map data (321) and specifies the path of said robot (2), whereby said robot (2) uses lasers to make measurements while in motion and sends the results as sensor data (324) to said robot control terminal (3), which uses said sensor data to generate simulated sensor data (325) along the future path of said robot, and if the proportion of sections for which simulated sensor data and said map data (321) do not coincide exceeds a threshold value, the user is notified of a reconstruction of said map data (321).

Abstract: The possibilities of collision of a mobile robot with objects can be reduced significantly in actual robot movements. In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an autonomous mobile robot system including a mobile robot and a computing system. The mobile robot includes: a sensing section for measuring surrounding conditions of the mobile robot; a position-posture estimating section for estimating position-posture data from sensing data obtained by the sensing section and an environmental map; and a robot moving section for controlling movements of the mobile robot according to movement control data determined from the position-posture data thus estimated and movement route data.

Abstract: A robot is provided. A measurement unit measures an object in a space. An own-position estimation unit calculates an own position of a mobile unit moving through the space by matching measurement data acquired by the measurement unit with map data representing information about the object in the space. A classification unit acquires class-based measurement data obtained by classifying the measurement data into at least two predetermined classes. A class-based own-position estimation unit estimates an own position of the mobile unit for each of the at least two predetermined classes by matching a class-based map having a position of the objects recorded therein for each class with the class-based measurement data. An integration unit configured to integrate the own positions estimated for the respective at least two predetermined classes. A control unit controls the mobile unit based on information from the integration unit.

Abstract: A technology is provided that easily acquires the location where an article is placed and then moves to that location, even in cases where the article was originally placed in a location shielded from GPS radio wave, and subsequently moved to another location. Marks and RFID tags are affixed to a movable tray. A transfer robot includes a camera, a reader, and a sensor. The transfer robot detects the tray location from the location of a region in an image photographed by the camera that matches mark information. Furthermore, the reader in the transfer robot detects the tray location from the intensity of a radio wave whose information, when read, matches an ID retained in the RFID tag. The transfer robot moves with the camera and the reader, detecting the tray that is the target destination.

Abstract: The invention notifies a robot controller of the need to re-create map data. A robot control system (1) includes a robot (2) that moves along a path while detecting obstacles, and a robot control terminal (3) that records map data (321) and specifies the path of said robot (2), whereby said robot (2) uses lasers to make measurements while in motion and sends the results as sensor data (324) to said robot control terminal (3) which uses said sensor data to generate simulated sensor data (325) along the future path of said robot, and if the proportion of sections for which simulated sensor data and said map data (321) do not coincide exceeds a threshold value, the user is notified of a reconstruction of said map data (321).

Abstract: A system recognizes an arrangement of an object and counts the number of objects, comprising: a sensor for measuring a distance between the sensor and an object; a moving mechanism for moving the sensor; and a computer that is connected with the sensor and includes an object information database, an object arrangement database; a sensor data integrating section; and the sensor an object comparison calculator adapted to create an object model based on the data.

Abstract: The system includes a mobile apparatus that moves after receiving an input of a path. The system has a path-setting unit for setting the path of a mobile apparatus according to the inputted path, a measuring unit for measuring an environment in which the mobile apparatus exists, an extracting unit for extracting an object existence region in the environment according to the values measured by the measuring unit, a judging unit that judges the validity of the path according to (1) the path set by the path setting unit and (2) the object existence region extracted by the extracting unit, a position determining unit that determines a target position to which the mobile apparatus is to move by selecting it from the portions of the path judged as valid, and a movement controller for controlling the mobile apparatus to move to the target position.

Abstract: An information collection system is provided, which can automatically calculate an operation or a travel path of a tag reader for collecting information of an RF tag. The information collection system of the present invention moves, in a movable area of a two-dimensional map, the tag reader along a surface of an object by referring to a three-dimensional map to emit radio waves while moving an information collection robot, records, upon reception of tag ID from the RF tag, a position of the information collection robot at the time as a data acquisition position, and calculates a path passing through data acquisition positions of all the recorded data as a moving sequence in a movable area of the information collection robot.

Abstract: An environment map generating apparatus is provided. The environment map generating apparatus includes: a storage unit, a cross-sectional image generating unit, a model processing unit, an obtaining unit and an environment map generating unit. The storage unit stores a model of an obstacle. The cross-sectional image generating unit generates a cross-sectional image of a model of an obstacle at a predetermined height from a reference plane in an environment. The model processing unit generates a cross-sectional image-appended model by superimposing the cross-sectional image onto the model of the obstacle. The obtaining unit obtains an obstacle map at the predetermined height from the reference plane in the environment. The environment map generating unit generates an environment map where the cross-sectional image-appended model is superimposed in a semitransparent state onto the corresponding obstacle in the obstacle map.

Abstract: Provided is an image input device which includes a laser range finder and a camera, and is capable of automatically calibrating the laser range finder and the camera at an appropriate timing without using special equipment. The image input device includes the laser range finder which measures distance information of an object by using invisible light and the camera which measures color information of the object. In order to detect a calibration error between the laser range finder and the camera, an invisible light filter which blocks visible light and transmits invisible light is automatically attached to a lens of the camera by a switching operation between two kinds of lenses. By the camera to which the invisible light filter is being attached, a pattern of the invisible light projected onto the object from the laser range finder is photographed as a visible image.

Abstract: A system recognizes an arrangement of an object and counts the number of objects, comprising: a sensor for measuring a distance between the sensor and an object; a moving mechanism for moving the sensor; and a computer that is connected with the sensor and includes an object information database, an object arrangement database; a sensor data integrating section; and the sensor an object comparison calculator adapted to create an object model based on the data.

Abstract: The possibilities of collision of a mobile robot with objects can be reduced significantly in actual robot movements. In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an autonomous mobile robot system including a mobile robot and a computing system. The mobile robot includes: a sensing section for measuring surrounding conditions of the mobile robot; a position-posture estimating section for estimating position-posture data from sensing data obtained by the sensing section and an environmental map; and a robot moving section for controlling movements of the mobile robot according to movement control data determined from the position-posture data thus estimated and movement route data.

Abstract: An environment map generating apparatus is provided. The environment map generating apparatus includes: a storage unit, a cross-sectional image generating unit, a model processing unit, an obtaining unit and an environment map generating unit. The storage unit stores a model of an obstacle. The cross-sectional image generating unit generates a cross-sectional image of a model of an obstacle at a predetermined height from a reference plane in an environment. The model processing unit generates a cross-sectional image-appended model by superimposing the cross-sectional image onto the model of the obstacle. The obtaining unit obtains an obstacle map at the predetermined height from the reference plane in the environment. The environment map generating unit generates an environment map where the cross-sectional image-appended model is superimposed in a semitransparent state onto the corresponding obstacle in the obstacle map.

Abstract: In a robot system constructed by a superior controller and a robot, it is necessary to carry out a high-speed computation in a system which simultaneously generate a map together with identifying a posture of the robot, there is a problem that the robot system becomes expensive because a computing load becomes enlarged, and it is an object to reduce the computing load. In order to achieve the object, there is provided a robot system constructed by a controller having a map data and a mobile robot, in which the robot is provided with a distance sensor measuring a plurality of distances with respect to a peripheral object, and an identifying apparatus identifying a position and an angle of the robot by collating with the map data, and the controller is provided with a map generating apparatus generating or updating the map data on the basis of the position and the angle of the robot, and the measured distance with respect to the object.