Abstract: A foldable saw is provided in which a latch mechanism for latching and securing a freely foldable saw blade body in its use position can be produced and assembled very easily with a minimum number of components on the basis of an idea different from the conventional ideas and that exerts a favorable latching effect. The foldable saw 1 includes, on a saw handle body 20, a latch body 10 made of spring wire and including a coil section 11, a stop pin section 12, a latch section 13, and an operation section 15. The saw handle body 20 includes at least a seating recess 23, a pin hole 24, and a receiving groove 22. The latch body 10 is configured, in the state of being attached to the saw handle body 20, such that the latch section 13 located in front of the coil section 11 enters into the receiving groove 22 by spring bias, and that the latch section 13 retreats against the spring bias in response to an operation of the operation section 15 located in the rear of the coil section 11.

Abstract: A saw stand includes a table having a saw support surface, a plurality of legs pivotally coupled to the table, the legs movable relative to the table to define a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration of the saw stand, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latch element movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch mechanism is configured to inhibit movement of each of the legs relative to the table when the latch element is in the latched position and the saw stand is in the third configuration.

Abstract: A mechanics creeper that is strapped to the user using a back pack type harness. The present technology pertains to equipment for a mechanic. Also, the type of wheels used allows it to roll through debris without obstruction. In particular, but not by way of limitation, the present technology provides systems for mechanics to easily do work underneath a vehicle or machine using a mechanics creeper. Furthermore, embodiments of the present technology allow for a mechanics creeper that is easy for a user to transport and store.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a smart grabbing device including: a controller, a container configured to accommodate articles, a grabber configured to grab the articles, and a movable mover. The mover is at a bottom of the container; the grabber is on the container; and both of the grabber and the mover are electrically coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to, control the mover to drive the smart grabbing device to move to a target position, and control the grabber to grab a target article and place the target article in the container.

Abstract: An automated pick and place apparatus includes a robotic arm having at least three degrees of freedom. An end effector is mounted to the robotic arm and includes a gripping device for gripping a target object. An actuator actuates the gripping device. An object alignment device is mounted to the robotic arm. The object alignment device includes a body having a base and an end face opposite the base. An alignment projection is slidingly received by the body within an opening and extending outwardly beyond the end face. The alignment projection has an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. A sensor detects when the alignment projection is in the retracted configuration and provides a signal to a processor.

Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot having a main shaft gear attached to a rotary shaft of a drive unit, a first countershaft gear meshing with the main shaft gear, a second countershaft gear meshing with the main shaft gear, and a third countershaft gear meshing with the main shaft gear. A number of teeth of the main shaft gear, a number of teeth of the first countershaft gear, a number of teeth of the second countershaft gear, and a number of teeth of the third countershaft gear are integers having no greatest common divisor other than 1.

Abstract: A robot limb has at least one carbon nanotube wire or conductors with a carbon nanotube-based structure. The wire can function simultaneously as a control cable and a conductor of electrical current.

Abstract: To provide an expansion device and a movable body including a mechanism for quick deformation. An expansion device includes a main body and a limb portion attached to the main body, in which the limb portion includes a main link connected to the main body via a joint, an end link provided at a front end of the limb portion, at least one or more limb joints that are interposed between the main link and the end link and connect the main link and the end link, and a linear member of which both ends couple an end at the front end side of the limb portion of the end link and the main body and are retractable to one or both of the end link and the main body.

Abstract: An artificial muscle system includes a collapsible skeleton, a flexible skin, and a muscle actuation mechanism. The collapsible skeleton is contained inside a volume defined, at least in part, by the flexible skin. The flexible skin and the collapsible skeleton are configured for the flexible skin to provide a pulling force on the collapsible skeleton when a pressure difference exists between the inside of the sealed volume and a surrounding environment to change at least one of the dimensions and thus geometry of the collapsible skeleton. The muscle actuation mechanism includes at least one of the following to deploy or contract the collapsible skeleton: (a) a fluid displacing, releasing, or capturing mechanism configured to increase or decrease fluid pressure inside the sealed volume; and (b) a heating or cooling element configured to change the temperature of fluid in the sealed volume.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining and utilizing human corrections to robot actions. In some implementations, in response to determining a human correction of a robot action, a correction instance is generated that includes sensor data, captured by one or more sensors of the robot, that is relevant to the corrected action. The correction instance can further include determined incorrect parameter(s) utilized in performing the robot action and/or correction information that is based on the human correction. The correction instance can be utilized to generate training example(s) for training one or model(s), such as neural network model(s), corresponding to those used in determining the incorrect parameter(s). In various implementations, the training is based on correction instances from multiple robots. After a revised version of a model is generated, the revised version can thereafter be utilized by one or more of the multiple robots.

Abstract: A method for training a controller to control a robotic system includes: receiving a neural network of an original controller for the robotic system based on origin data samples from an origin domain and labels in a label space, the neural network including encoder and classifier parameters, the neural network being trained to: map an input data sample from the origin domain to a feature vector in a feature space using the encoder parameters; and assign a label of the label space to the input data sample using the feature vector based on the classifier parameters; updating the encoder parameters to minimize a dissimilarity, in the feature space, between: origin feature vectors computed from the origin data samples; and target feature vectors computed from target data samples from a target domain; and updating the controller with the updated encoder parameters to control the robotic system in the target domain.

Abstract: A system for teaching a robot includes a wearable device having a plurality of sensors for sensing signals representing at least one movement, orientation, position, force, and torque of any part of a user's body applied on a target. The system further includes a processing device configured to receive the sensed signals, the processing device further configured to store the sensed signals defining as data of teaching commands, a controller for controlling a robot receives the data of teaching commands and operates the robot according to the received data of teaching commands, an object sensor to detect position and orientation of an object as a workpiece of the robot, and a visual input device communicatively coupled to at least one of the processing device and the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an sweeping control method, comprising the following steps of detecting whether a foreground object is an obstacle or not according to the extracted foreground object features; marking an area, located by the foreground object, as an obstacle point if a detection result is that the foreground object is the obstacle, and resetting a second sweeping path for avoiding the obstacle point; and further determining a first conditional probability of the foreground object being the obstacle according to the extracted scene features and foreground object features if the detection result is that whether the foreground object is the obstacle or not cannot be determined, determining the foreground object to be the obstacle if the first conditional probability is larger than a preset threshold value, marking the area, located by the foreground object, as the obstacle point, and resetting the second sweeping path for avoiding the obstacle point.

Abstract: A robot system including a robot body and a control device. The robot body includes wrist elements at a distal end of an arm; a wired wire body connected to an end effector fixed to the third wrist element. The control-device includes an angle calculation unit that calculates, in a Cartesian coordinate system of which the origin is the wire-body outlet and which has one coordinate axis extending in a direction along the first axis, angles of straight lines connecting the wire-body outlet and specific points of the wire body, with the straight lines projected onto a plane perpendicular to the coordinate axis, about the coordinate axis, with reference to a position where a load acting on the wire body is the least; and a determination unit that determines whether the absolute values of the angles calculated by the angle calculation unit have exceeded predetermined angle thresholds.

Abstract: A robot control device includes the following: a main control unit; a servo control unit, which receives a position command ?c from the main control unit; and a bending correction block (24), which corrects the bending of the reduction gear connected to the servo motor. The bending correction block (24) includes the following: a first position-correction-value calculation means (63), which finds a first position-command correction value ?sgc based on the position command ?c; and a second position-command-correction-value calculation means (64), which finds a second position-command correction value ?skc based on the interference torque ?a. The servo control unit drives the servo motor based on a new position command obtained by adding the first position-command correction value ?sgc and the second position-command correction value ?skc to the position command ?c.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a feeder system for fulfilling lockbox pick-up requests are provided. A feeder system includes a network interface configured to communicate with a computing system associated with a provider of lockbox services and at least one robotic device. Each robotic device includes at least one secure compartment configured to hold one or more items associated with a lockbox pick-up request. The feeder system further includes a processing circuit including a processor and a memory. The memory is structured to store instructions that are executable by the processor and cause the processing circuit to receive, by the network interface, instructions for fulfilling the lockbox pick-up request and control the at least one robotic device to fulfill the lockbox pick-up request based on the instructions.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes a receiving unit that receives a request for providing a service, a notifying unit that notifies a client that the request is received by performing an operation oriented toward the client who has made the request, a moving unit that moves toward a user designated as a receiver of the service in accordance with the request, and a providing unit that provides the service.

Abstract: A machine tool system is disclosed which can shorten time required for generating a robot program even for a machine tool user who has no experience in using a robot. A machine tool controller includes an operation panel and an interactive program generator, and sets an operation parameter of the robot using a template screen prepared for each stylized operation of the robot. The interactive program generator generates a robot preprogram using the set operation parameter, reads the robot preprogram during execution of a machine tool program, and transfers the program to a robot preprocessor. The robot preprocessor interprets the robot preprogram and outputs a control command to a robot controller.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an anti-collision detection method for sweeping robots, which includes following steps. Step 1: preparing a sweeping robot provided with a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope; skipping to step 2 when the sweeping robot is in a linear motion state and collides with an object; skipping to step 3 when the sweeping robot is on an external bumpy road; and skipping to step 4 when the sweeping robot is in a rotating motion state and blocked by an obstacle.

Abstract: A switchgear or controlgear with unmanned operation and maintenance includes: an equipment safety system that includes a steering and control system for calculating a action radius of a robot system. An acting area in an internal space of the switchgear or controlgear is divided into virtual zones. Each action in each virtual zone is precalculated predictively as a micro simulation in which actual sensor data are considered before an intended action is triggered.

Abstract: A robot control method includes: storing at least a part of shape information about a robot including a tool attached to a tip and about a peripheral object located on the periphery of the robot; calculating a change in the distance between the robot and the peripheral object, based on the shape information, at each operation position when operating the robot according to a teaching program; and performing control to decrease a speed set in the teaching program only if the calculated distance is changing in a decreasing direction.

Abstract: A robotic system and method for aligning a target to an equipped vehicle for calibration of a sensor on the equipped vehicle includes a vehicle support stand upon which an equipped vehicle is disposed in an established known position for calibration of the sensor, and a robotic manipulator having a multi-axis robotic arm configured to moveably hold a target. The robotic manipulator is configured to position the target into a calibration position relative to the sensor on the equipped vehicle by longitudinal movement of the robotic manipulator relative to the vehicle support stand and by movement of the robotic arm based on the established known position of the equipped vehicle on the vehicle support stand whereby the sensor is able to be calibrated using the target.

Abstract: Systems and methods for AI assisted reconfigurable, fixtureless manufacturing is disclosed. The invention eliminates geometry-setting tools (hard points, pins and nets—traditionally known as 3-2-1 fixturing schemes) and to replace the physical geometry setting with virtual datums driven by learning AI algorithms. A first type of part and a second type of part may be located by a machine vision system and moved by material handling devices and robots to locations within an assembly area. The parts may be aligned with one another and the alignment may be checked by the machine vision system which is configured to locate datums, in the form of features, of the parts and compare such datums to stored virtual datums. The parts may be joined while being held by the material handling devices or robots to form a subassembly in a fixtureless fashion. The material handling devices are able to grasp a number of different types of parts so that a number of different types of subassemblies are capable of being assembled.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic device includes monitor an action of an operator of the robotic device. The method also includes inferring an intended target based on the monitored action. The method further includes determining an intended action for the intended target. The method still further includes controlling the robotic device to perform the intended action.

Abstract: A calibration method for a laser processing robot, including: fixing a jig that includes a target-site to a base of the laser processing robot; placing a laser processing tool at a position where a laser beam is scanned with respect to the target-site, the laser processing tool having a function for two-dimensionally scanning the laser beam and a function for receiving the laser beam reflected at an object and for measuring a distance to the object; measuring distances to respective portions of the target-site by scanning the laser beam; calculating a coordinate transformation function for converting a position and orientation of the target-site, which is obtained based on the measured distances to the respective portions of the target-site, into an actual position and orientation of the target-site; and correcting a tool-center-point of the laser processing tool by the coordinate transformation function.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an object handling device includes a base, a manipulator, a first camera, a sensor, a manipulator control unit and a calibration unit. The manipulator is arranged on the base, and includes a movable part and an effector that is arranged on the movable part and acts on an object. The first camera and the sensor are arranged on the manipulator. The manipulator control unit controls the manipulator so that the movable part is moved to a position corresponding to a directed value. The calibration processing unit acquires a first error in a first direction based on an image photographed by the first camera, acquire a second error in a second direction intersecting with the first direction based on a detection result obtained by the sensor, and acquire a directed calibration value with respect to the directed value based on the first error and the second error.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a tactile information estimation apparatus may include one or more memories and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to input at least first visual information of an object acquired by a visual sensor to a model. The model is generated based on visual information and tactile information linked to the visual information. The one or more processors are configured to extract, based on the model, a feature amount relating to tactile information of the object.

Abstract: A communication robot includes: an operation part; and a communication arbitration unit configured to exhibit a robot mode for autonomously operating the operation part by applying a first operational criterion and an avatar mode for operating the operation part based on an operation instruction sent from a remote operator by applying a second operational criterion to arbitrate communication among three parties, that is, the robot mode, the avatar mode, and a service user.

Abstract: A dialogue apparatus includes a display unit, a first dialogue control unit configured to display a first character on the display unit and simulate a speech function of an external communication robot capable of having a dialogue to conduct the dialogue with a user, a second dialogue control unit configured to display a second character on the display unit and conduct the dialogue so as to mediate the dialogue between the user and the first dialogue control unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the external communication robot, dialogue information about the dialogue conducted by the first dialogue control unit and the second dialogue control unit.

Abstract: An intelligent cleaning robot is provided by the present application, to clean dust on a surface of a photovoltaic cell assembly and lower a labor cost, and a walking posture of the intelligent cleaning robot may be adjusted according to needs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a moving robot including: a voice input unit configured to receive a voice input of a user; a first display capable of receiving a touch input; a second display larger than the first display; and a controller configured to perform control such that a screen to be displayed in response to the voice input or the touch input is displayed on at least one of the first display or the second display based on a type and an amount of information included in the screen, and accordingly, it is possible to provide information and services more effectively using the two displays.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a robot control unit that controls a robot having a robot distal end portion pivoting about respective axes of a distal end first axis and a distal end second axis, and a display control unit that displays a window containing a first operation part for pivoting the robot distal end portion about the distal end first axis using the robot control unit and a second operation part for pivoting the robot distal end portion about the distal end second axis using the robot control unit. In the window, a control mode can be switched between a first control mode of enabling operations by the first operation part and the second operation part and a second control mode of enabling the operation by the first operation part and disabling the operation by the second operation part.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot main body, a sensor that detects a magnitude of an external force applied to the robot main body, a control unit that controls the robot main body, a reference value storage unit that stores a value of an external force detected by the sensor as a reference external force value in an operating state where only the weight of the robot main body and the load handled by the robot main body act on the robot main body, a determination unit that, during operation of the robot main body, determines that an external force other than the weight of the robot main body and the load acts on the robot main body when an absolute value of a difference between a value of an external force detected by the sensor and the stored reference external force value is larger than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: When a first condition that a time in which magnitude of a first detection force detected by a force detection unit is larger than a first force threshold value continued for a time longer than zero and shorter than a first time threshold value is satisfied in teaching, a movable unit is moved in a predetermined amount in a direction according to a direction of the first detection force. When a second condition that magnitude of a second detection force detected by the force detection unit is larger than a second force threshold value that is larger than the first force threshold value is satisfied during movement of an end effector, the movable unit is decelerated or stopped.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: The soft bodied structures and systems for controlling such devices are described herein. The soft bodied structures can move from a first position to a second position by an earthworm-like motion. The system can include connecting to a first contact point of the surface using a surface attachment. The medial region can include one or more spacer regions. The medial actuators can be actuated to expand the exterior medial surface at the spacer regions, thus moving the unattached end portion forward. The device can then attach to a second contact point using the surface attachment and the end portion actuator of the unattached end portion. Then, the surface attachment of the first attached end portion can detach. The medial actuators and the spacer regions can then relax, followed by detaching the surface attachment of the second attached end portion.

Abstract: A power-assisted folding knife, including: a blade holder; a blade arranged in the blade holder; a handle rotatably connected to the blade holder; a locking mechanism for locking the blade holder in an unfolded position and/or a folded position; the power-assisted folding knife further includes a power-assisting mechanism connected to the blade holder and the handle, for providing assisting power when unfolding a power-assisted folding knife. The power-assisted folding knife uses an assisting mechanism for providing assisting power when unfolding a folding knife, so as to facilitate easier unfolding of the folding knife and to allow single hand operation; the blade holder can be locked in an unfolded position and/or a folded position to ensure safe use of the power-assisted folding knife.

Abstract: Hairdressing scissors include a pair of blade bodies each having a blade portion, a middle portion, and a handle portion in turn from a tip side. The handle portion includes first and second press-formed bodies each in the shape of a flat plate and facing each other along an axial center of a pivot to extend parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction of the blade body; and cylindrical collars and first and second resin materials configured to bridge the first and second press-formed bodies. The first press-formed body includes an extension portion extending toward an associated middle portion further than the second press-formed body to be connected to the associated middle portion, and the second press-formed body is spaced apart from the associated middle portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an attachment comb (70), particularly a skin protecting comb, for a blade set (22) of a cutting head (20) of a hair cutting appliance (10), the attachment comb (70) comprising a supporting frame (72), a plurality of comb teeth (74) that are arranged in a series (82, 84) and that define a skin contact zone at a top side (124) thereof, wherein the teeth (74) extend from the supporting frame (72) and comprise rounded tips (116, 118) at frontal ends thereof, wherein the teeth (74) are non-uniform along the series (82, 84) and comprise two outer lateral teeth (76) that define lateral ends of the series (82, 84), and central teeth (78) arranged therebetween, and wherein at the lateral teeth (76) a lateral teeth tip radius (Rtl) is present that is greater than a tip radius (Rtc) of the central teeth (78). The disclosure further relates to a cutting head (20) and to a hair cutting appliance (10).

Abstract: A back and body hair cutting device has: a hair cutting part; and an elongate handle part. The handle part may be sized to permit a user to remotely manipulate the hair cutting part into contact with all areas of a back of the user. The hair cutting part may be a multidirectional cutting device, for example if the hair cutting part has a multi-directional motorized blade that is structured to define a plurality of directions of skin travel and configured to cut hair when advanced over a skin surface in each of the plurality of directions of skin travel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stationary blade (66, 166) for a blade set of a hair cutting appliance, the stationary blade (66, 166) comprising a top wall (76, 176), a bottom wall (78, 178), and a guide slot (80, 180) formed therebetween to accommodate a movable blade (68, 168), a plurality of stationary blade teeth (74, 174) each having a frontal end (100, 200), wherein the top wall (76, 176) and the bottom wall (78, 178) are mutually joined at the frontal ends (100, 200), wherein the top wall (76, 176) and the bottom wall (78, 178) are, at least at the frontal ends (100, 200), made from sheet metal material, and wherein, at the frontal ends (100, 200), two or more sheet metal folded edges (106, 108; 206, 208, 210) are present. The present disclosure further relates to a blade set (64, 164) and to methods of manufacturing a stationary blade (66, 166) and a blade set (64, 164) for a hair cutting appliance (10).

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relates to a multifunctional shaving razor that is a combination of different kind of razor blade holders, trimmer and dry shaving gel/after-shave lotion for providing a single device with all necessary grooming stuff and is easy to handle and cost efficient. The proposed multifunctional shaving razor 100 consists of triangular detachable blade holder adaptor 200, trimmer assembly 600 and shaving gel dispensing system 400 for providing multi-functionality of shaving, grooming and trimming in a single device. The proposed multifunctional shaving razor 100 can be used universally as it provides a complete solution of all shaving and grooming needs in a single device that is compact to carry from one place to another.

Abstract: A safety razor (100) comprising; a handle body (50) with a substantially flat end surface (52) and a side surface (58); and a cartridge (10) attached to the side surface, wherein: when the flat end surface (52) is in contact with a horizontal plane, the safety razor is in a stable position of rest, the flat end surface forming the safety razor's only region of contact with the plane and elevating the cartridge (10) above the plane.

Abstract: A fingertip shaver has a generally cylindrical shape and requires no extension or moving parts. The blade or multiple blades of the shaver are provided in a cartridge mounted within in an opening or recess formed in a flattened or truncated portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A razor blade including a substrate with a coating joined to the substrate defining a coated blade. The coated blade including a cutting edge being defined by a blade tip having a tip radius of from 50 to 350 angstroms. The coated blade having a pair of first facets extending from the blade tip and a pair of second facets extending from the respective first facets, a facet angle from 90° to 135°, a facet width from 0.38 micrometers to 0.65 micrometers a wedge angle from 5° to 30°, and a thickness of between 0.8 and 1.5 micrometers measured at a distance of 1 micrometer from the blade tip.

Abstract: A carpenter's finger sleeve assembly for protecting a carpenter's finger from being cut while scoring a surface includes a sleeve that is wearable on an end of an index finger. The sleeve is comprised of a cut resistant material to protect the end of the index finger from being cut. The sleeve is comprised of a friction inhibiting material to enhance the index finger's ability to slide along a surface. A panel is coupled to and extends laterally away from the sleeve and the panel is positioned against a blade of a knife when the sleeve is worn. In this way the panel can guide the blade along the surface for scoring the surface.

Abstract: A food cutting apparatus includes first and second guide panels spaced apart from each other at a preset distance, the first and second guide panels each having a plurality of cutting slots formed downwardly at regular interval, defining a plurality of cutting guide paths to guide a cutting knife there-through to cut food products placed between the guide panels into pieces; a cutting board placed between the first and second guide panels, the cutting board having a predetermined width configured to preset the distance of the first and second guide panels by abutting the first and second guide panels against two opposing side faces of the cutting board placed there-between, thereby, enabling the user to slice the placed food products into multiple pieces using a cutting knife introduced to the plural pairs of corresponding cutting slots of the first and second guide panels; and first and second guide posts coupled perpendicularly to the first and second guide so as to guide and position the first and second g

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting tires comprises a frame (1), an accommodation zone (2) intended to receive a tire (31) to be cut, lateral holding means (5, 6) for a tire, a detector (4) capable of detecting a central zone of a tire (31), blades (7) mounted to slide between a separated position of disengagement of the tread and a working position in which they penetrate into the sidewall (32) of a tire, and a control (9) ensuring that the blades (7) penetrate into the side walls (32) of the tire (31) only when they are above its tread (33). The lateral holding means (5, 6) comprise a vertically sliding jaw (6) capable of pressing against the bead (34) of a tire (31) and a part (5) with two branches (37) each bearing a wheel (38) capable of coming into contact with an inner surface (35) of the tread (33) of a tire, the jaw (6) and the part (5) being diametrically opposed relative to the inner circumference of a tire.

Abstract: Providing a method for manufacturing a screen protector comprised of a step of forming the first physical pattern on the screen protector; a step of preparing the web page which stores the electronic pattern corresponding to the first physical pattern; a step of indicating the display information that can display the web page on the screen protector with the characteristic that the first physical pattern is a kiss-cut pattern.

Abstract: An unlaid slabbing apparatus capable of profiling a roll of tissue material by determining the diameter, circumference, and weight of the roll. The slabbing apparatus calculates the amount of material to be removed based on operator input and predetermined parameters of weight, diameter, and density.