Abstract: An image processing apparatus for searching for a feature point by use of a depth image and a method thereof are provided. The image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a three-dimensional image having depth information, a feature point extraction unit configured to obtain a designated point from an object image extracted from the depth image to obtain a feature point that is located at a substantially farthest distance from the designated point, and to obtain other feature points that are located at substantially farthest distances from feature points that are previously obtained as well as the designated point. The apparatus includes a control unit configured to control the input unit and the feature point extraction unit so that time in estimating a structure of the object is reduced, and a recognition result is enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for pose recognition, the method for pose recognition including generating a model of a human body in a virtual space, predicting a next pose of the model of the human body based on a state vector having an angle and an angular velocity of each part of the human body as a state variable, predicting a depth image about the predicted pose, and recognizing a pose of a human in a depth image captured in practice, based on a similarity between the predicted depth image and the depth image captured in practice, wherein the next pose is predicted based on the state vector having an angular velocity as a state variable, thereby reducing the number of pose samples to be generated and improving the pose recognition speed.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplifier block array, upper and lower memory cell arrays and a sense amplifier controller. The bit line sense amplifier block array senses and amplifies data of a memory cell array. The upper and the lower memory cell arrays are respectively connected to upper and lower sides of the bit line sense amplifier block array and store the data in the memory cell array. The sense amplifier controller selectively connects one of the upper and lower memory cell arrays to the bit line sense amplifier block array in response to an active command, and releases the connection when a corresponding one of the upper and lower memory cell arrays are not selected but overdriven.

Abstract: A robot joint driving apparatus is smoothly operated without generation of backlash. A robot includes the robot joint driving apparatus. The robot joint driving apparatus includes an internal gear having a ring shape, a main pulley arranged at the center of the internal gear and connected to a power source, first and second pinion gears provided at both sides of the main pulley and engaged with the internal gear, first and second pulleys respectively fastened to the first and second pinion gears, first and second belts respectively connecting the main pulley and the first and second pulleys, and tension adjustment units to adjust tensions of the first and second belts.

Abstract: A manipulator and a method of generating the shortest path along which the manipulator moves to grip an object without collision with the object models a target object and a gripper into a spherical shape, measures a current position of the gripper and a position of the target object and a target position of the gripper, calculates an arc-shaped path in a two-dimensional plane along which the gripper needs to move by calculating an included angle of a triangle consisting of the position of the object and the current position and target position of the gripper, transforms the arc-shaped path in the two-dimensional plane into an arc-shaped path in a three-dimensional space using a transform matrix consisting of the position of the object and the current position and target position of the gripper, thereby automatically generating the shortest path of the manipulator.

Abstract: A humanoid robot to naturally imitate various motions and gestures of humans and a shoulder joint assembly thereof is disclosed. The humanoid robot includes a first shoulder joint device disposed between a body and an arm of the robot, to move the arm. The entire first shoulder joint device is movable relative to the body. For this, a second shoulder joint device may be installed between the body and the first shoulder joint device to move the first shoulder joint device.

Abstract: A refresh control circuit for a semiconductor memory device includes a refresh controller configured to control the number of times a refresh signal is enabled during one refresh period in response to a refresh mode entering signal which indicates the start of a refresh mode, and a mode determination signal having refresh mode information, a refresh counter configured to output a row address for a refresh operation by counting the refresh signal in response to an active signal enabled in an active mode, and a row address decoder configured to decode the row address to generate a row address selection signal for sequentially accessing word lines within a cell array.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a refresh counter for counting a refresh signal and outputting a refresh address in response to an active mode signal enabled in an active mode, an external address input buffer for buffering an external address to output an internal address in response to a mode selection signal enabled in an external address refresh mode, an address selector for outputting the refresh address from the refresh counter as a selection row address in a normal refresh mode and outputting the internal address from the external address input buffer as the selection row address in the external address refresh mode in response to the refresh signal and the mode selection signal, and a row address decoder for generating a row address selection signal for sequentially accessing word lines by decoding the selection row address.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compliant joint achieving passive compliance. The compliant joint includes a housing and a rotating member mutually rotatably provided; and a cam provided between the housing and the rotating member, and connected to the housing and the rotating member respectively. The cam is connected to the rotating member to rotate together with the rotation of the rotating member, or be independent of the rotating member so as to move in the axial direction of the rotating member separately from the rotating member. The cam is connected to the housing such that the cam can maintain the connection with the housing when external force below a designated value is applied to the rotating member, and release the connection with the housing in the case that external force more than the designated value is applied to the rotating member.

Abstract: A method of controlling an intelligent system using an artificial mark and method for employing the same. The intelligent system includes: an image pickup unit which obtains an image taken for a driving place; a main control unit which calculates a projective invariant of an artificial mark detected from an image taken for a driving place and analyzes the position of the intelligent system using global location information of the detected artificial mark in the driving place obtained by the calculated projective invariant and location information between the intelligent system and the detected artificial mark; and a driving control unit which controls driving of the intelligent system according to the position information of the intelligent system analyzed in the main control unit.

Abstract: A robot and a control method thereof which execute grasp planning of hands of the robot separately from motion planning of arms of the robot so as to apply a result of the grasp planning of the hands of the robot to the motion planning of the arms of the robot, and thus more rapidly, naturally and stably grasp an object in a grasp manner suited to a desired working purpose and judge whether or not grasping is executable prior to the motion planning of the arms of the robot, thereby more stably grasping the object.

Abstract: A refresh control circuit for a semiconductor memory device includes a refresh controller configured to control the number of times a refresh signal is enabled during one refresh period in response to a refresh mode entering signal which indicates the start of a refresh mode, and a mode determination signal having refresh mode information, a refresh counter configured to output a row address for a refresh operation by counting the refresh signal in response to an active signal enabled in an active mode, and a row address decoder configured to decode the row address to generate a row address selection signal for sequentially accessing word lines within a cell array.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a refresh counter for counting a refresh signal and outputting a refresh address in response to an active mode signal enabled in an active mode, an external address input buffer for buffering an external address to output an internal address in response to a mode selection signal enabled in an external address refresh mode, an address selector for outputting the refresh address from the refresh counter as a selection row address in a normal refresh mode and outputting the internal address from the external address input buffer as the selection row address in the external address refresh mode in response to the refresh signal and the mode selection signal, and a row address decoder for generating a row address selection signal for sequentially accessing word lines by decoding the selection row address.

Abstract: A method for planning the robot path includes forming a shape space that includes a start point, a goal point, and obstacle information so as to generate a moving path of the robot, generating one or more moving paths of the robot within the shape space, and storing the generated moving paths in a database, selecting a specific path that has a minimum operation range of the robot and a minimum constraint caused by the obstacle from among the stored moving paths, and planning the selected path, enabling the robot to perform motion along the planned path, and pre-planning a path for a next motion of the robot while the robot performs the motion. The apparatus or method for planning the robot path can reduce a time from an end time of one motion to the start time of the next motion, thereby performing a smooth motion.

Abstract: A robot and a control method thereof. The control method includes generating and storing plural grasping motions corresponding to data of a target object, selecting a grasping motion corresponding to a grasping purpose of the target object among the plural grasping motions, generating a path of arms corresponding to the selected grasping motion, calculating torques to track the path of the arms, and outputting the torques toward the arms so as to perform movement of the arms and grasping of the target object. The grasping motion path corresponding to the grasping purpose is generated and the path of arms is generated, thereby reducing overall calculation time during grasping of the target object to increase calculating efficiency, minimizing generation of the path of the arms, and allowing an arm path calculating process to be performed at the late stage of a grasping control process to improve grasping performance.

Abstract: A robot control method and apparatus estimates an error based on information of an object obtained using a motor drive current sensor, a force sensor or a tactile sensor mounted at a robot hand and information of the object obtained using an optical sensor and compensates for the error. The robot control method and apparatus includes measuring information of an object using an optical sensor or calculating information of the object input by a user, moving a robot hand to the object based on the information of the object, controlling the thumb and fingers of the robot hand to contact the object based on the information of the object, determining whether the thumb and fingers have contacted the object through a motor drive current sensor, a force sensor or a tactile sensor, and grasping the object depending upon whether the thumb and the fingers have contacted the object.

Abstract: A robot and a control method thereof. The robot has plural robot arms, each having at least one joint unit and a hand, and the control method includes dividing an object into target and feasible grasp regions and storing grasp policies respectively corresponding to the grasp regions, sensing respective orientations of the object, the at least one joint unit, and an obstacle, judging whether or not grasping of the target grasp region is feasible after sensing the orientations, generating a grasp route using the grasp policy for the target grasp region, upon judging that grasping of the target grasp region is feasible, and generating a grasp route using the grasp policy for one of the feasible grasp regions, upon judging that grasping of the target grasp region is not feasible, and controlling the at least one joint unit and the hand to trace the generated grasp route.

Abstract: A robot and a control method thereof. The robot has plural robot arms, each having at least one joint unit and a hand, and the control method includes calculating in advance and storing a plurality of grasp poses to generate grasp routes, sensing respective orientations of an object, the robot arms, and an obstacle, selecting one grasp pose from among the plurality of grasp poses by judging a movable angle range of the at least one joint unit, whether or not the object collides with the obstacle, and self-collision between the robot hands based on the sensed respective orientations, and generating grasp routes using the selected grasp pose. In the control method, the plurality of feasible grasp poses is calculated in advance and then stored, thereby rapidly and stably performing grasping of the object.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplifier block array, upper and lower memory cell arrays and a sense amplifier controller. The bit line sense amplifier block array senses and amplifies data of a memory cell array. The upper and the lower memory cell arrays are respectively connected to upper and lower sides of the bit line sense amplifier block array and store the data in the memory cell array. The sense amplifier controller selectively connects one of the upper and lower memory cell arrays to the bit line sense amplifier block array in response to an active command, and releases the connection when a corresponding one of the upper and lower memory cell arrays are not selected but overdriven.

Abstract: A compliant joint capable of achieving passive compliance for a robot in order to prevent an injury to a human by collision with the robot. The compliant joint includes a housing, a cam member rotatably mounted in the housing, a roller spring device mounted to the cam member to be compressed and extended, a guiding member formed in the housing to guide compression and extension of the roller spring device in accordance with rotation of the cam member, and a receiving recess formed at the guiding member to engage the housing and the cam member with each other by receiving the roller spring device and release the engagement by separating from the roller spring device. Accordingly, robustness of the robot can be maintained when an impact less than a predetermined magnitude is applied, while being suddenly decreased when an impact greater than the magnitude is applied.