Abstract: A multi-axis robotic platform for studying neuromechanics comprises a bottom plate, a middle plate, and a top plate is disclosed herein. The middle plate is movably coupled between the bottom plate and the top plate. The top plate comprises a support surface for receiving an ankle. A first actuator is disposed upon the bottom plate and is connected to the middle plate via a first coupling such that a shaft of the first actuator rotates the middle plate along a dorsiflexion-plantarflexion (DP) axis of the ankle. A second actuator is disposed upon the middle plate and is connected to the top plate via a second coupling such that a shaft of the second actuator rotates the top plate along an inversion-eversion (IE) axis of the ankle. The multi-axis robotic platform can analyze ankle impedance and reflex characteristics in two degrees-of-freedom (DP movement and IE movement) during postural and locomotion tasks.

Abstract: A method for teaching an industrial robot to pick parts includes the steps of: placing a reference part on a picking surface; providing a reference image including information about the reference part; placing a gripping tool of the industrial robot in relation to the reference part so that the gripping tool is in a grasp configuration in relation to the reference part; and storing the grasp configuration. The reference image is a 2D image from below. When the reference part is resting on a known plane a 2D image taken from below is enough for defining the position of the same.

Abstract: A robot controller comprising a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to controls a robot including an arm capable of moving at least one of a target object and a discharger capable of discharging a discharge object to the target object, wherein the processor is configured to use a first position based on a jig removably attached to the discharger to generate teaching information on a position of the arm.

Abstract: An automated kitchen assistant system inspects a food preparation area in the kitchen environment using a novel sensor combination. The combination of sensors includes an Infrared (IR) camera that generates IR image data and at least one secondary sensor that generates secondary image data. The IR image data and secondary image data are processed to obtain combined image data. A trained convolutional neural network is employed to automatically compute an output based on the combined image data. The output includes information about the identity and the location of the food item. The output may further be utilized to command a robotic arm, kitchen worker, or otherwise assist in food preparation. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A bi-spin multi-joint robot comprises an upper arm, a lower arm protruding forward and a wrist. The lower arm, which connects to the upper arm, is located at the right side of the upper arm. The wrist, which connects to the lower arm, is located at the right side of the tail end of the lower arm. In detail, the lower arm not only connects to the upper arm through the first transverse spindle but also connects to the wrist through the second transverse spindle. The upper arm is provided with a clearance space at the right side in order to enable the lower arm to rotate around the first transverse spindle in the clearance space, the first transverse spindle is assembled at the tail end of the upper arm, and the second transverse spindle is assembled at the tail end of the lower arm.

Abstract: An automated assembly station includes a mobile platform for holding a first workpiece, a robot having a moveable arm, and a controller. The moveable arm includes a load cell and a gripper that is adapted to grasp a second workpiece. The robot is operable to use the moveable arm and gripper to insert the second workpiece into a locked position on a mating part of the first workpiece. The load cell is operable to measure an amount of insertion force used to insert the second workpiece into the locked position. The controller is configured to record the insertion force and trigger an alarm in response to the insertion force exceeding a predesignated threshold insertion force.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by comprising: a pair of worm shafts, which are arranged in parallel with each other so as to have gear directions that are opposite to each other, and which are configured to be rotated in the same direction by a driving means; a following shaft that crosses the middle of the pair of worm shafts in the perpendicular direction; a pair of ring gears fixedly installed on the following shaft so as to face each other from both sides of the worm shafts; a worm wheel, which engages with the outer side of each worm shaft, and which has shaft gears formed on both sides thereof, respectively, such that the shaft gears engage with the ring gears; and a rotating member connected to the following shaft such that a rotating force, which is in a speed-reduced sate, is output.

Abstract: A system for managing process automation with a macro bot is provided. By allowing for modifications to RPA bot behavior without changing the code of the RPA bots and providing for an efficient querying and reporting function, the system addresses a number of computer technology-centric challenges. The system allows the entity to push updates to bot behavior through a rules database without individually reconfiguring each bot. This ensures that the functionality of the bots may be updated for future entity needs and objectives while minimizing bot downtime. Furthermore, providing updates without changing the code of the bots allows the system to increase computing efficiency by reducing the demands on computer resources associated with applying a system-wide update, such as processing power, memory space, storage space, cache space, electric power, and networking bandwidth.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot controller, a teach pendant including an orthogonal jog operation section, and an information display device. The robot controller sets positions on a robot coordinate system through which a hand tip section of a robot can pass as sampling points, and notifies the information display device of the positions of the sampling points and determination result information of whether or not the sampling points are within a range of motion of the hand tip section, and whether or not the sampling points are in the vicinity of a singularity. The information display device generates a graphical image that visually distinguishes the portion of the range of motion of the hand tip section, the portion near the singularities, etc., using the positions of the sampling points and the determination result information, and overlays the graphical image on an image of the robot.

Abstract: Provided are a change detecting unit (12) for detecting a change in a position of a work object from an image acquired by an image input device (2), a finger motion detecting unit (13) for detecting motion of fingers of a worker from the image acquired by the image input device (2), a work content estimating unit (15) for estimating work content of the worker with respect to the work object from the motion of the fingers detected by the finger motion detecting unit (13), and a control program generating unit (16) for generating a control program of a robot (30) for reproducing the work content and conveyance of the work object from the work content estimated by the work content estimating unit (15) and the change in the position of the work object detected by the change detecting unit (12).

Abstract: A direct teaching method of a robot includes specifying one of a plurality of robot arms as a master arm and specifying as a slave arm at least one of the robot arms which is other than the master arm; causing the slave arm to operate cooperatively with the master arm so that relative positions and postures of a wrist part of the master arm and a wrist part of the slave arm become a predetermined relation, while a teaching person is directly applying a force to an arbitrary location of the master arm including a tool, to move the master arm to a desired teaching position; and storing position information of at least one of the master arm and the slave arm at a time point when the master arm has reached the desired teaching position.

Abstract: Provided is a teaching position correction device including a vision sensor attached to a tip end of an arm of a robot; a measurement unit measuring a three-dimensional position of the tip end of the robot when the sensor is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to each of reference points provided on an object or a holding device and not arranged on one straight line; and a calculation unit calculating relative positions of the reference points based on the measured three-dimensional position while the sensor is translated, where a teaching point position in an operation program of the robot is corrected in such a way that a change in relative positions of the robot and the holding device is compensated for, based on the relative positions of the reference points calculated before and after relocation of at least one of the robot and the holding device.

Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator and a robot control unit are disclosed, wherein the manipulator includes a plurality of joints that are moved under the control of the control unit, and the control unit includes a storage medium including program code for controlling the motions of the robot when executed by the control unit. The control unit is configured to automatically select which part of the program code to be executed next based on the position of the robot. A method for controlling the robot is also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to robotic point capture and motion control. A robotic device may synchronize one or more robotic device axes with one or more axes of a handheld control device. The robotic device may establish a connection between a robotic device and the handheld control device, wherein the robotic device is capable of moving along the one or more robotic device axes. The robotic device may receive a control signal comprising an indication to transition to a point in space along travel path, wherein the travel path is based on information relating to one or more locations and one or more orientations of the handheld control device. The robotic device may cause to transition an end effector of the robotic device to the point in space based on the indication in the control signal.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling the execution of a physical process. The technique includes receiving, as input to a machine learning model that is configured to adapt a simulation of the physical process executing in a virtual environment to a physical world, simulated output for controlling how the physical process performs a task in the virtual environment and real-world data collected from the physical process performing the task in the physical world. The technique also includes performing, by the machine learning model, one or more operations on the simulated output and the real-world data to generate augmented output. The technique further includes transmitting the augmented output to the physical process to control how the physical process performs the task in the physical world.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting errors in a manipulator system, wherein the manipulator system comprises at least one manipulator and is controlled by means of at least one manipulator program, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: ?providing at least one manipulator program, wherein the manipulator program comprises several operations; ?combining at least two of the operations to form at least one operation structure; ?defining at least one placement point (AP1, AP2), wherein the at least one placement point (AP1, AP2) forms the start andor the end of an operation structure (310); ?providing at least one reaction structure (320) and assigning the reaction structure (320) to an operation structure (310), wherein tlte at least one reaction structure (320) contains reaction operations (R1 to Rn), upon the execution of which, the manipulator program controls the manipulator system such that it is passed into a system state which corresponds to a placement point (AP1, AP2); ?ex

Abstract: An arrangement for determining the movement of a machine to be secured after safety directed emergency signal, wherein the arrangement has a sensor module and a trigger module, wherein the sensor module is subsequently and releasably fastenable to the machine, and wherein the sensor module comprises: at least one sensor for detecting movement data describing the movement, a first trigger interface for the reception of a trigger signal that includes the point in time of the emergency signal, and a recording unit that is configured to store and/or output at least some of the movement data from the time period between the point in time of the emergency signal and the reaching of a safe state of the machine, and wherein the trigger module is configured for generating and/or receiving the safety directed emergency signal for the machine to be secured.

Abstract: A robotic system is proposed whereby the system comprises drivers which integrate the power switches and communications electronics for communicating over power lines or wirelessly or over another shared communications channel. In a robotic system comprising such drivers, one or more central controllers communicate with at least one actuator driver across a communications channel, wherein the communications channel is subject to interference caused by an actuator, and wherein at least one of the communication and the operation of the actuators is modified in anticipation of interference occurring such that reliable communication can be assured.

Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a robot system including a part feeder having a container that accommodates a part and a plurality of vibration actuators for vibrating the container, and a robot having an end effector for picking up a part from the container, the apparatus comprising: a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control the part feeder and the robot, wherein the processor is configured to select one or more control commands from a plurality of control commands respectively including control parameters of the plurality of vibration actuators and transmits the selected control command to the part feeder for causing the part feeder to perform an operation according to the selected control command.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a telepresence to a remote user are disclosed. A data connection between a headgear device in a first location and a display device in a second location is established. A first input device communicatively coupled to the headgear device collects at least one of first video data and first audio data. At least one of the first video data and the first audio data is transmitted to the display device. At least one of the first video data and the first audio data is output on the display device. In response to outputting at least one of the first video data and the first audio data, at least one of haptic data and second audio data is collected by at least a second input device. The at least one of the haptic data and the second audio data is transmitted to the headgear device.

Abstract: There is provided a robot hand that grips and positions a work with a certain gripping force, and that rapidly conveys the work to execute assembling after gripping the work.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for inspecting a clearance size between a hole and an object inserted in the hole, includes: controlling a robot arm so that the robot arm performs a predetermined motion to move the object inserted in the hole; monitoring a response to the predetermined motion from the hole and the object; and calculating information on the clearance size between the hole and the object using the response to the predetermined motion.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an autonomous localization and navigation equipment which has the following advantages. The autonomous localization and navigation equipment is highly modularized, which greatly reduces the coupling degree with the host equipment, so the equipment is convenient to be integrated to the existing host equipment and it is flexibly expandable. Thus, the host equipment such as a robot etc. has a more concise and clear system constitution, thereby greatly reducing the development difficulty and developing time of the host equipment having the autonomous localization and navigation equipment 1. Moreover, as a result of the high degree of modularization of the autonomous localization and navigation equipment, it is possible to miniaturize the host equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a robotic system with at least one robotic arm and a control unit, which is designed so that it can preset at least one predefined operation that can be carried out by the robotic system. In addition, the robotic system comprises at least one input device attached to the robotic arm which is designed so that the predefined operations of the robotic system can be parameterized by means of the input device. In this case, the input device is designed so that it can provide a user-directed feedback to a user of the robotic system when setting the execution of operations, the logical sequence of the operations and/or parameterizing the predefined operations for the robotic system.

Abstract: An operating device for controlling or programming a manipulator with six degrees of freedom that can be controlled independently from one another. The operating device includes three input arrangements which are each configured to specify a movement of the manipulator along an x-axis, y-axis or z-axis of the manipulator, and to specify a rotation of the manipulator about the x-axis, y-axis or z-axis of the manipulator. The three input arrangements are thereby respectively aligned along one of three main axes of the operating device.

Abstract: Living in the Northwest it is nearly impossible to own land and not wage war against invasive blackberries and brush. While attempting to fight this battle with a regular single blade trimmer attachment, it dawned on me that the real trouble is that a single cut only detaches the plant from its base, but leaves it suspended in neighboring brush. My invention with its multiple planes of bladelets turns the brush immediately to mulch for easy raking or to leave as mulch.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a novel cutting device useful for cutting asphalt shingles and other roofing products.

Abstract: System and method for improving the shaving experience by providing improved visibility of the skin shaving area. A digital camera is integrated with the electric shaver for close image capturing of shaving area, and displaying it on a display unit. The display unit can be integral part of the electric shaver casing, or housed in a separated device which receives the image via a communication channel. The communication channel can be wireless (using radio, audio or light) or wired, such as dedicated cabling or using powerline communication. A light source is used to better illuminate the shaving area. Video compression and digital image processing techniques are used for providing for improved shaving results. The wired communication medium can simultaneously be used also for carrying power from the electric shaver assembly to the display unit, or from the display unit to the electric shaver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suction-free clipper comprising a handle (2) with a built-in hair collector (3) located below the cutting system (6) which, during use, collects at least some of the cut hair.

Abstract: A novel razor cartridge includes at least one non-cutting element disposed anywhere within a blade array between a guard and a cap and/or in a blade position of a frame providing skin/hair management. This non-cutting element allows the fine-tuning of parameters such as blade-skin contact, hair orientation, blade spans and rinse-through gaps in manners that improve shaving comfort, closeness, efficiency, and/or rinse-ability. The non-cutting element may include projections, fin-like elements, comb-like features having teeth, exfoliation or lubricating capabilities. By having a fixed non-cutting element disposed midway in a blade array, a multi-stage cartridge is provided with a middle control point with potentially different functionality before and after the non-cutting element. The non-cutting element is not attached to another blade in the blade array though it may be manufactured as a modified blade support, attached to a blade support, or as part of the frame or the clips.

Abstract: A shaving cartridge with a housing, having a primary guard at a front of the housing and a secondary cap at a rear of the housing. A bridge member having a primary cap surface and a secondary guard surface is positioned between the primary guard and the secondary cap. The bridge member has a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending transverse to the cutting edge of the first blade and defining a plurality of openings. A first blade has a cutting edge. The first blade is mounted to the housing between the primary guard and the primary cap surface. A second blade having a cutting edge extending in the same direction as the cutting edge of the first blade is mounted to the housing between the secondary guard surface and the secondary cap. A width of the bridge member is about 2.5 mm to about 4 mm.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an annular knife with a sensor for determining the cutting depth and a method for determining the cutting depth. When trimming meat such as at abattoirs a customer may require a fat layer of a given thickness, however the natural fat layer of animals vat between different carcasses and within the individual carcass/meat piece. By determining the fat layer thickness and variation hereof of a meat piece before trimming the meat piece an operator may be presented with such information and be able to remove tit in different areas to obtain the required thickness. The trimming may be performed with a system calculating in real unit how much fat is to be removed when some fat has already been removed by an operator.

Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism for changing a blade housing diameter between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The split blade housing includes an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The split includes a radial split section and an angled split section adjacent the inner wall. The mounting section includes first and second body portions on opposite sides of the split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between closed and open positions to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: A knife guard having a multi-step locking mechanism is disclosed. Specifically, a knife guard comprising an elongated sheath, a first fastener, and a first movable flap is disclosed. The elongated sheath defines a first cavity for a knife blade and has a first opening in communication with the first cavity. The first fastener is secured to the sheath body. The first movable flap extends from the sheath body and is movable over the first opening for partially covering the first opening. The first movable flap has a distal end connectable to the first fastener for forming a multi-step lock.

Abstract: The present invention is a rolled paper cutting device and method which safely and easily cuts a variable length sheet of paper from rolled paper, including an adjustable holder for controlling the rolled paper, and a paper cutting blade embedded within a safety slot, the safety slot protecting a user from a blade related injury.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing panels made of foamed plastic material includes a supporting framework for a device for feeding a plate-like element to be cut to at least one cutting station and a device for unloading the plate-like element cut into panels from the cutting station. The cutting station includes a supporting structure for at least one cutting wire that forms, along its own extension, a cutting portion designed to contact the plate-like element to be cut, a component for the relative motion of the cutting portion with respect to the plate-like element to be cut, there being also, upstream of each cutting station, an incision station having at least one first incision blade adapted to provide, at at least one face of the plate-like element to be cut, a respective incision at the region designed to be contacted by the cutting portion of the cutting wire.

Abstract: A triggering system includes a source lead, a ground lead, primary and secondary actuation circuits, and a serializing switch. Both the primary and second actuation circuits are connected to the source lead and the serializing switch has first and second positions. In a first position, the serializing switch connects the primary and secondary actuation circuit in parallel for actuating primary and secondary cartridge activated devices. In a second position, the serializing switch connects the secondary actuation circuit in series with the primary actuation circuit for verifying that the actuation circuits can reliably actuate both cartridge activated devices.

Abstract: The rotating shaped blade for cutting slides from a product strand is only configured over a portion of its outer edge as a circular segment that extends about the rotation axis and which represents the cutting edge so that on the one hand side the cutting edge has a constant width radial distance from a circular segment shaped functional edge of the stop plate over an entire extension of the circular segment, and on the other hand side immediately after releasing the strand cross section by the blade a forward movement of the product strand can be performed up to the stop plate until the radial front edge of the blade has reached the strand cross section again.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for processing food products, comprising the following steps: multi-track slicing of food products into individual food portions on a plurality of production tracks; detecting at least one feature of a food portion during and/or after slicing; multi-track conveying of the food portions on separate production tracks; moving the food portions 34 from a plurality of production tracks onto a reduced number of output tracks and/or moving them between different tracks and/or grouping them. According to the present disclosure, the position of the individual food portions is tracked by means of a controller, so that, for each food portion 16 which has been moved onto the output track, it will be known on which production track said food portion 16 has been produced. The disclosure further relates to a food processing system.

Abstract: A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet of web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, and a feed station. A tensioning station is disposed between the supply of web material and the drawing station to maintain the tension of the web material at a pre-determined tension. A web accumulation station is between the drawing station and the feed station to provide a slackened length of web material within an acceptable range of slack between the drawing station and the feed station. The supply of web material is disposed on a spool which rotates about a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft has a braking mechanism which protrudes from the shaft to generate a frictional force against the spool.

Abstract: Blade guards for table saws are disclosed. The blade guards can be used in a configuration where the guard holds a work piece against a work surface. This may be thought of as blade guards with hold-down capability. The blade guards also include splitters and anti-kickback assemblies. The anti-kickback assemblies include anti-kickback pawls that can be in an operable configuration or a disabled configuration.

Abstract: A multifunction cutting tool guide which includes a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, with the base plate top surface including connection points for connecting a power tool to the base plate top surface. A track extends longitudinally along the bottom surface of the base plate for use in guided cuts. The track is defined by first and second spaced walls with at least one of the walls being movable with respect to the other wall to accommodate various sized straight edges. The base also includes a laterally extending channel adapted to mount on a straight edge for rip cuts.

Abstract: A method for constructing a lower section of a sawmill carriage assembly comprises holding structural components between a pair of metal plates, and affixing the plates and the structural components together. The structural components may include wheels that guide the sawhead in linear movement along a track on a sawmill bed, to which the carriage base is attached. The structural components may also include a track cleaning system disposed between the metal plates. The track cleaning system maintains optimal track conditions.

Abstract: A fastener delivery system for transporting and dispensing fasteners comprises a source of pressurized air, a dispenser configured for dispensing each of the fasteners into a workpiece, a first pathway providing a first passageway for the fasteners to pass through, and a second pathway providing a second passageway for the fasteners to pass through. Each of the first pathway and the second pathway is placed in selective fluid communication with the source of pressurized air to blow one of the fasteners disposed in the first pathway or the second pathway towards the dispenser. The dispenser includes a toggle feature for alternatingly receiving the fasteners from each of the first pathway and the second pathway. Each of the pathways includes an air brake mechanism for decelerating each of the fasteners as each of the fasteners approaches the dispenser.

Abstract: A table saw includes a table, a saw unit movably coupled underneath the table, a riving knife extending through the table, and a quick-release assembly selectively coupling the riving knife to the table. The quick-release assembly includes a mounting plate coupled to the table and a clamping plate movable relative to the mounting plate between a clamping position, in which the riving knife is clamped between the mounting plate and the clamping plate to secure the riving knife to the table, and a release position, in which the riving knife is releasable from the table. The quick-release assembly further includes a pin coupled for movement with the clamping plate and a handle pivotably coupled to the pin. The pin has a cam portion engageable with the saw unit. The clamping plate is movable between the clamping positon and the release position in response to pivoting movement of the handle.

Abstract: Table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. Table saw components, mounting systems for table saws, and table saw attachments are also disclosed. One embodiment may include a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface so that a base portion of a riving knife or splitter can be placed between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally parallel to the first and second clamp surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods to thermally treat wood (e.g., flat-grain timber) to produce wood with enhanced color and/or weathering properties.

Abstract: A method for producing wood material boards with reduced emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including: a) producing woodchips from suitable timbers; b) heat-treating at least one portion of the woodchips at a temperature between 150° C. and 300° C. for a period of 1 to 5 hours; c) crushing the wood chips that are not heat-treated and at least one portion of the heat-treated woodchips by machining in order to obtain wood shavings or by solubilizing in order to obtain wood fibers; d) gluing the wood shavings or wood fibers with at least one binding agent; e) applying the glued wood shavings onto a transport belt while forming a multi-layered shavings cake or applying the glued wood fibers onto a transport belt while forming a single-layer fiber cake; and f) compressing the shavings cake or the fiber cake to form a wood material board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a wood-based board, a wood-based board as use of a liquid coating composition comprising at least one particulate filler material and at least one binder for in-line coating of wood-based boards.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for manufacturing wood products with acoustic dampening properties. A noise-dampening polymer is introduced in-line in the manufacturing process to achieve higher acoustic performance. The polymer can be a viscoelastic polymer which is added during blending of the lignocellulosic strands prior to mat formation, or sprayed or otherwise coated on the lignocellulosic strands during mat formation, prior to formation of any boards or panels.