Abstract: To prevent a decrease in detection accuracy of an obstacle that occurs when an obstacle detection distance of an infrared beam at the center is set longer than an infrared beam of at least one of the left or the right, an obstacle detection device for a vehicle which detects an obstacle in front includes an effective-range control part 19 which controls the maximum effective distance of obstacle detection. The effective-range control part 19 extends the maximum effective distance of the second emitting-and-receiving parts 11b, 11c disposed on at least one of the left or the right from an initial value L1 to an extended value L2, when the first emitting-and-receiving part 11a at the center detects an obstacle 5.

Abstract: An abutment member having an abutment section abutting a work stand on which a workpiece to which an arm performs work is placed is provided on a front surface of a robot body.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a status of a component of a device are provided. An example method includes triggering an action of a component of a device, and responsively receiving information associated with the action of the component from a sensor. The method further includes a computing system having a processor and a memory comparing the information with calibration data and determining a status of the component based on the comparison. In some examples, the calibration data may include information derived from data received from a pool of one or more devices utilizing same or similar components as the component. The determined status may include information associated with a performance of the component with respect to performances of same or similar components of the pool of devices. In one example, the device may self-calibrate the component based on the status.

Abstract: A destination setting unit (901) receives setting of a destination by the user when a route from a present position to the destination is guided. A user specifying unit (902) judges whether the user who sets the destination is the user who performs program recording reservation. When the user is judged to be the user who performs program recording reservation, a keyword extracting unit (903) extracts a keyword for use in performing program recording reservation based on the destination. A keyword display unit (904) presents the user with the extracted keyword. A keyword selecting unit (905) receives selection, by the user, of the presented keyword. A program selecting unit (906) selects a program associated with the keyword. A program reservation unit (907) reserves recording of the selected program.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a base, a zoom module, a wide-angle module, and a telemeter module. The wide-angle module captures a background image. The telemeter module detects a distance between a target to be captured and the image capture device. The zoom module is rotatably disposed on the base, and the wide-angle module and the telemeter module are rotatably disposed on the zoom module. The zoom module adjusts focus to capture the target according to the distance and captures a main image. The image capture device combines the main images captured by the zoom module and the background images captured by the wide-angle module to form a series of combination images.

Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning robot includes identifying, using a controller, a location of an object on a floor surface away from the robot, and issuing a first drive command from the controller to a drive system of the robot to drive the robot across the floor surface to clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object. The method also includes determining whether the object persists on the floor surface, and when the object persists, driving across the floor surface to re-clean the floor surface at the identified location of the object.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing a robot interaction service utilizing a location-based service of a mobile communication terminal. The system for providing a robot interaction service utilizing location information of a mobile communication terminal, includes: a mobile communication terminal for performing a mobile communication service through a wireless communication network, measuring a current location thereof and transmitting the measured location information to a predetermined robot terminal through a communication network; and a robot terminal for receiving the location information from the mobile communication terminal, determining a robot behavior based on the received location information, and controlling the operation thereof according to the determination result.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for receiving user commands for a remote cleaning robot and sending the user commands to the remote cleaning robot, the remote cleaning robot including a drive motor and a cleaning motor, includes displaying a user interface including a control area, and within the control area: a user-manipulable launch control group including a plurality of control elements, the launch control group having a deferred launch control state and an immediate launch control state; at least one user-manipulable cleaning strategy control element having a primary cleaning strategy control state and an alternative cleaning strategy control state; and a physical recall control group including a plurality of control elements, the physical recall control group having an immediate recall control state and a remote audible locator control state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a submersible pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) having both cleaning and scrubbing structures. The PCV includes spaced wheels and wheel covers over the wheels include scrubbing elements. The PCV also includes a cleaning brush which dislodges particulates and facilitates the particulates being sucked into the intakes and then a filtering member. In one exemplary embodiment, the PCV includes wheel covers that have embedded scrubbing elements. In another exemplary embodiment, the scrubbing elements extend from the wheel covers and have a plurality of circular members.

Abstract: A balance control apparatus of a robot and a control method thereof. The balance control method of the robot, which has a plurality of legs and an upper body, includes detecting pose angles of the upper body and angles of the plurality of joint units, acquiring a current capture point and a current hip height based on the pose angles and the angles of the plurality of joint units, calculating a capture point error by comparing the current capture point with a target capture point, calculating a hip height error by comparing the current hip height with a target hip height, calculating compensation forces based on the capture point error and the hip height error, calculating a target torque based on the calculated compensation forces, and outputting the calculated target torque to the plurality of joint units to control balance of the robot.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a status of a component of a device are provided. An example method includes triggering an action of a component of a device, and responsively receiving information associated with the action of the component from a sensor. The method further includes a computing system having a processor and a memory comparing the information with calibration data and determining a status of the component based on the comparison. In some examples, the calibration data may include information derived from data received from a pool of one or more devices utilizing same or similar components as the component. The determined status may include information associated with a performance of the component with respect to performances of same or similar components of the pool of devices. In one example, the device may self-calibrate the component based on the status.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile robot system is provided. The method includes at a mobile robot, transmitting a signal while traveling in a traveling region, at a beacon, receiving the signal transmitted from the mobile robot over 360 degrees and determining whether the mobile robot has approached the beacon, at the beacon, transmitting a response signal to the mobile robot if the mobile robot has approached the beacon, and at the mobile robot, performing avoidance navigation to prevent collision with the beacon when the mobile robot receives the response signal of the beacon.

Abstract: A motor control device includes a power converter, a velocity controller, and a certain-position stop controller. The power converter outputs a driving current on the basis of an input torque command. The velocity controller generates a calculated torque command on the basis of a difference between a velocity represented by a velocity command and a motor velocity. The certain-position stop controller performs position control by, after first detecting a reference position of a motor during velocity control, generating a position command for positioning the motor from the reference position to a target stop position at a torque of a torque schedule, generating the velocity command on the basis of a difference between a position represented by the position command and the motor position, and outputting a value resulting from adding a torque feedforward command generated on the basis of the torque schedule to the calculated torque command.

Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body, a light transmitting unit, an image sensor, a base, a rotation drive unit, a tilting unit, and a tilting drive unit. The light transmitting unit emits light. The light emitted from the light transmitting unit and reflected or scattered is formed on the image sensor. The base supports the light transmitting unit and the image sensor and is rotatably disposed in the main body. The rotation drive unit rotates the base. The tilting unit tilts the light transmitting unit and the image sensor.

Abstract: A machine-controlled method can include an electronic device display visually presenting to a user a digital character, multiple vector cutters positioned over corresponding portions of the digital character, and at least one joint option feature positioned within overlapping sub-portions of at least two vector cutters. The method can also include the display visually presenting a movement of the digital character based on the vector cutters and joint option feature.

Abstract: A robot controller controls a robot during a fall to reduce the damage to the robot upon impact. The robot controller causes the robot to achieve a tripod-like posture having three contact points (e.g., two hands and one foot) so that the robot motion in arrested with its center of mass (CoM) high above the ground. This prevents a large impact caused by the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy during the fall. The optimal locations of the three contacts are learned through a machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inverted pendulum-type moving body having a pair of wheels suspended from the moving body, using a floor as a traveling plane, and is provided on the same plane vertical to its travelling direction, a driving mechanism for rotating these wheels, posture measurement means for measuring an inclination angular velocity of its upper body that a straight line connecting a center-of-gravity position of a body of the moving body and an axle of the one pair of wheels makes with a vertical direction, and a mechanism control part for maintaining an inverted state of the moving body by controlling the driving mechanism, by having a velocity planning device for performing a movement plan so that the upper body angular velocity and the upper body angle may be in a relationship of quadratic function when a velocity change is needed.

Abstract: A proximity sensing apparatus is provided. The proximity sensing apparatus includes an encoded signal transmission unit, an interference signal transmission unit and a reception unit. The encoded signal transmission unit transmits an encoded signal, and the interference signal transmission unit transmits an interference signal. The interference signal interferes with the encoded signal to generate an interfered signal. The reception unit receives a sensing signal and outputs the sensing signal to a signal processing unit. The sensing signal is either the interfered signal or the encoded signal. The signal processing unit is electrically connected to the reception unit, and determines whether the sensing signal matches the encoded signal. The signal processing unit further outputs a proximity signal when the sensing signal does not match the encoded signal.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optimizing and maintaining cyclic biped locomotion of a robot on an object. The approach includes simulating trajectories of the robot in contact with the object. During each trajectory, the robot maintains balance on the object, while using the object for locomotion. The approach further includes determining, based on the simulated trajectories, an initial state of a cyclic gait of the robot such that the simulated trajectory of the robot starting from the initial state substantially returns to the initial state at an end of one cycle of the cyclic gait. In addition, the approach includes sending joint angles and joint velocities of the initial state to a set of joint controllers of the robot to cause a leg of the robot to achieve the initial state so the robot moves through one or more cycles of the cyclic gait.

Abstract: A method of navigating an autonomous coverage robot between bounded areas includes positioning a navigation beacon in a gateway between adjoining first and second bounded areas. The beacon configured to transmit a gateway marking emission across the gateway. In some example, the navigation beacon may also transmit a proximity emission laterally about the beacon, where the robot avoids cleaning the migration within the proximity emission. The method also includes placing the coverage robot within the first bounded area. The robot autonomously traverses the first bounded area in a cleaning mode and upon encountering the gateway marking emission in the gateway, the robot remains in the first bounded area, thereby avoiding the robot migration into the second area. Upon termination of the cleaning mode in the first area, the robot autonomously initiates a migration mode to move through the gateway, past the beacon, into the second bounded area.

Abstract: A cleaning robot that includes a drive motor; a housing that encloses the drive motor; a brushing element; and a transmission coupled between the brushing element and the drive motor, the transmission is arranged to convert a rotary movement induced by the drive motor to a combination of (a) a rotary movement of the brushing element about a brushing element axis, and (b) a reciprocal movement of the brushing element in parallel to the brushing element axis.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a mobile robot having leg locomotion mechanisms for traveling and walking and work mechanisms both connected to a body, actuators for driving them, and a controller for controlling the operation of the locomotion mechanisms and work mechanisms by supplying the actuators with a control value calculated by multiplying a deviation between a detected value and a desired value by a gain and to control operation of a speech input/output unit to recognize a human voice inputted through a microphone and utter a generated response to the human voice from a speaker, the controller calculates the gain of the control value to be supplied to at least one of the actuators at a minimum value when controlling only the operation of the speech input/output unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a walking robot which controls balance using an ankle when the robot walks, and a method of controlling balance thereof. In a method of determining an angle of an ankle joint without solving a complicated dynamic equation such that the robot stays balanced so as not to fall, an angle of the ground is fixed as a reference angle for balance control of the robot such that the robot stably walks while maintaining the same balance control performance even when the ground is inclined. When the robot moves slowly or quickly, the robot may maintain balance. Since the robot stays balanced using the ankle of a stance leg even when the ground is inclined, the method is simple and is applied to a robot having joints with 6 degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for planning a path for an autonomous walking humanoid robot that takes an autonomous walking step using environment map information, the method comprising: an initialization step of initializing path input information of the autonomous walking humanoid robot using origin information, destination information, and the environment map information; an input information conversion step of forming a virtual robot including information on the virtual robot obtained by considering the radius and the radius of gyration of the autonomous walking humanoid robot based on the initialized path input information; a path generation step of generating a path of the virtual robot using the virtual robot information, the origin information S, the destination information G, and the environment map information; and an output information conversion step of converting the path of the autonomous walking humanoid robot based on the virtual robot path generated in the path generation step.

Abstract: A method for extracting intended torque for a wearable robot includes a motor torque calculating step, a link rotation calculating step and an intended torque calculating step. In the motor torque calculating step, motor torque is calculated from the angular velocity of rotation of the motor. In the link rotation calculating step, the angular velocity of rotation of the link is calculated. In the intended torque calculating step, the motor torque and the angular velocity of rotation of the link are substituted into a disturbance observer, and an estimated value of the intended torque applied by a wearer is calculated.

Abstract: A robot controller includes a force control unit that outputs a correction value of a target track of a robot based on a detected sensor value acquired from a force sensor, a target value output unit that obtains a target value by performing correction processing on the target track based on the correction value and outputs the obtained target value, and a robot control unit that performs feedback control of the robot based on the target value. Further, the force control unit performs first force control when an external force direction indicated by the detected sensor value is a first direction, and performs second force control different from the first force control when the external force direction is a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus has an actuator including a link having a plurality of joints and a plurality of motors for actuating the joints, and a controller for controlling the actuator. The controller controls the motors with a control torque m_?_cntrl calculated according to the equation: m_?_cntrl=M·(I?mEff)?1·(dd?_cntrl?mEff·dd?_cntrl—p)+C_cmpn from a target angular acceleration dd?_cntrl, a preceding target angular acceleration dd?_cntrl_p, a displaceable member torque response matrix Eff, an inertial matrix M, and a dynamic corrective force C_cmpn.

Abstract: A robot and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The robot derives a maximum dynamic performance capability using a specification of an actuator of the robot. The control method includes forming a first bell-shaped velocity profile in response to a start time and an end time of a motion of the robot, calculating a value of an objective function having a limited condition according to the bell-shaped velocity profile, and driving a joint in response to a second bell-shaped velocity profile that minimizes the objective function having the limited condition.

Abstract: Proposed is a monitoring device for monitoring and/or sensing predefined positions of a robotic device (5) having at least two axes of motion. The monitoring device comprises at least two sensors (15, 16), the first (15) of which is defined to sense a horizontal position and/or rotative position of the main support (9) and the second sensor (16) a defined horizontal position of the robotic arm (11). The monitoring device comprises furthermore sensor active faces (17a, 18a, 18b) arranged selectively for the first sensor (15) arranged in the horizontal motion zone and/or swiveling zone of the robotic device (5).

Abstract: A method includes determining whether a robot is walking and a direction in which the robot is walking; measuring an amount of time taken for a sole of a foot of the robot to step on the ground; calculating an imaginary reaction force applied to the sole using a trigonometric function having, as a period, the measured amount of time taken for the sole to step on the ground; and applying the calculated imaginary reaction force to a Jacobian transposed matrix and converting the imaginary reaction force into a drive torque for a lower extremity joint of the robot.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple stepper motors with a single micro-controller output set uses a demultiplexer to split a single micro-controller output set into individual control signals for a plurality of stepper motors.

Abstract: A telepresence robot uses a series of connectible modules and preferably includes a head module adapted to receive and cooperate with a third party telecommunication device that includes a display screen. The module design provides cost advantages with respect to shipping and storage while also allowing flexibility in robot configuration and specialized applications.

Abstract: A robot control device of a vertical articulated robot having seven axes and an offset structure includes: a storage unit which stores a condition of a status of the vertical articulated robot including a position of an elbow in the vertical articulated robot and control information for controlling the vertical articulated robot such that the condition is satisfied to match each other; an input unit to which the condition of the status of the vertical articulated robot including the position of the elbow is input; and a robot control unit which controls the vertical articulated robot such that the input condition is satisfied on the basis of the control information stored in the storage unit to match the same condition as the condition input to the input unit.

Abstract: Robotic payloads are abstracted to provide a plug-and-play system in which mission specific capabilities are easily configured on a wide variety of robotic platforms. A robotic payload architecture is presented in which robotic functionalities are bifurcated into intrinsic capabilities, managed by a core module, and mission specific capabilities, addressed by mission payload module(s). By doing so the core modules manages a particular robotic platform's intrinsic functionalities while mission specific tasks are left to mission payloads. A mission specific robotic configuration can be compiled by adding multiple mission payload modules to the same platform managed by the same core module. In each case the mission payload module communicates with the core module for information about the platform on which it is being associated.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery for operating an operating machine, and magnetic sensors for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire through wheels driven by the prime movers to perform an operation using the operating machine and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, there is provided with a turn-back portion formed by bending the area wire at an appropriate position and again bending the area wire to return in a same direction with a predetermined space so as to divide the operating area into a plurality of parts and vehicle running is controlled to be prohibited from going across the turn-back portion.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for attending to an environmental condition by an electronic cleaning device. A computer receives one or more data signals from one or more sensors through a network, with each of the one or more sensors associated with a physical location. The computer determines that due to an environmental condition a signal strength of the one or more data signals received from the one or more sensors is out of a threshold value range. The computer determines an optimal route from a current location of the electronic cleaning device to the one or more physical locations of the one or more sensors associated with the one or more data signals experiencing signal strength out of the threshold value range.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses provide robotic explosive hazard detection. A robot intelligence kernel (RIK) includes a dynamic autonomy structure with two or more autonomy levels between operator intervention and robot initiative A mine sensor and processing module (ESPM) operating separately from the RIK perceives environmental variables indicative of a mine using subsurface perceptors. The ESPM processes mine information to determine a likelihood of a presence of a mine. A robot can autonomously modify behavior responsive to an indication of a detected mine. The behavior is modified between detection of mines, detailed scanning and characterization of the mine, developing mine indication parameters, and resuming detection. Real time messages are passed between the RIK and the ESPM. A combination of ESPM bound messages and RIK bound messages cause the robot platform to switch between modes including a calibration mode, the mine detection mode, and the mine characterization mode.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a gripping unit configured to grip a first component, a force sensor configured to detect, as detection values, a force and a moment acting on the gripping unit, a storing unit having stored therein contact states of the first component and a second component and transition information in association with each other, a selecting unit configured to discriminate, on the basis of the detection values, a contact state of the first component and the second component and select, on the basis of a result of the discrimination, the transition state stored in the storing unit, and a control unit configured to control the gripping unit on the basis of the transition information selected by the selecting unit.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.

Abstract: A computer program and a system for controlling walking of a mobile robot, notably a humanoid robot moving on two legs. Conventionally, control was guided by driving a zero moment point. Such driving was performed within a fixed coordinate system connected to a progression surface and assumed knowledge of the characteristics of said surface and the creation of a provisional trajectory. Such driving encountered significant limitations due to the nature of the progression surfaces on which walking can effectively be controlled and an obligation to have a perfect knowledge of their geometry; and also in respect to the necessary computing power, and the appearance of the walk which bore little resemblance to an actual human walk. The invention overcomes such limitations by providing a walk which includes a pseudo-free or ballistic phase, an impulse phase imparted by the heel of the robot, and a landing phase.

Abstract: A robotic arm module includes a chassis having at least one arm pod. At least one arm connected to the chassis is movable between a stowed position within the at least one arm pod and a deployed position extending from the at least one arm pod. Each arm has a gripping mechanism for gripping articles of work. An attachment structure is configured to allow a host robot to grip and manipulate the robotic arm module. An electrical interface is configured to receive electronic signals in response to a user moving remote manipulators. The electronic signals cause the at least one arm to mimic the movement of the user moving the remote manipulators.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot and a controlling method of the same. An entire movement region is divided into a plurality of regions, and a partial map is gradually made by using feature points of a plurality of images of the divided regions. Then, the map is compensated into a closed curved line, thereby making an entire map. Furthermore, when the mobile robot is positioned at a boundary of neighboring regions of the cleaning region, the boundary where a closed curved line is formed, the mobile robot compensates for its position based on a matching result between feature points included in the map, and feature points extracted from images captured during a cleaning process.

Abstract: A method of navigating a robot includes creating a robot navigation map using a map database required for navigation of the robot; and creating a path on which no obstacle is located in the map database using the created robot navigation map. Further, the method of navigating the robot includes primarily controlling the robot so that the robot travels along the created path; and secondarily controlling the robot so that the robot avoids an obstacle on the path.

Abstract: A method for verifying completion of a task is provided. In various embodiments, the method includes obtaining location coordinates of at least one location sensor within a work cell. The at least one sensor is affixed to a tool used to operate on a feature of a structure to be assembled, fabricated or inspected. The method additionally includes, generating a virtual object locus based on the location coordinates of the at least one location sensor. The virtual object locus corresponds to a computerized schematic of the structure to be assembled and represents of all possible locations of an object end of the tool within the work cell. The method further includes, identifying one of a plurality of candidate features as the most likely to be the feature operated on by the tool. The identification is based on a probability calculation for each of the candidate features that each respective candidate feature is the feature operated on by the tool.

Abstract: A rotary end effector for use for the high speed handling of workpieces, such as solar cells, is disclosed. The rotary end effector is capable of infinite rotation. The rotary end effector has a gripper bracket, capable of supporting a plurality of grippers, arranged in any configuration, such as a 4×1 linear array. Each gripper is in communication with a suction system, wherein, in some embodiments, each gripper can be selectively enabled and disabled. Provisions are also made to allow electrical components, such as proximity sensors, to be mounted on the rotating gripper bracket. In another embodiment, an end effector with multiple surfaces, each with a plurality of grippers, is used.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device is configured to move on a surface provided with a base station thereon, and is operated in one of a work state and return state. In the work state, the autonomous mobile device is operable to plot a movement route along which the autonomous mobile device moves, and is operable to adjust the movement route upon presence of an obstacle. In the return state, the autonomous mobile device is operable to plot a returning route on the surface from the current position to the base station, and to move along the returning route to the base station.

Abstract: A Robot includes a main body, a Portable device and a supporting structure. The supporting structure is disposed at the main body for detachably connecting the Portable device. The Portable device reads digital media data from the main body or the Portable device itself, and plays the digital media data as video. After the Portable device is detached from the supporting structure, the main body and the Portable device operate independently.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive surgical system includes a slave surgical instrument having a slave surgical instrument tip and a master grip. The slave surgical instrument tip has an alignment in a common frame of reference and the master grip, which is coupled to the slave surgical instrument, has an alignment in the common frame of reference. An alignment error, in the common frame of reference, is a difference in alignment between the alignment of the slave surgical instrument tip and the alignment of the master grip. A ratcheting system (i) coupled to the master grip to receive the alignment of the master grip and (ii) coupled to the slave surgical instrument, to control motion of the slave by continuously reducing the alignment error, as the master grip moves, without autonomous motion of the slave surgical instrument tip and without autonomous motion of the master grip.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device that moves while autonomously avoiding zones into which entry should be avoided even if no obstacle exists therein includes a laser range finder that acquires peripheral obstacle information, a storage unit that stores an environment map that shows an obstacle zone where an obstacle exists, and a no-entry zone map which shows a no-entry zone into which entry is prohibited, a self-location estimation unit that estimates the self-location of a host device by using the obstacle information acquired by the laser range finder and the environment map, and a travel control unit that controls the host device to autonomously travel to the destination by avoiding the obstacle zone and the no-entry zone based on the estimated self-location, the environment map, and the no-entry zone map.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a robot capable of recovering from a failure of one of a plurality of symmetrically structured modules, and a recovery method thereof. When a hardware or software failure occurs, the robot recovers by itself by replacing the failed module with another corresponding module. Accordingly, resources of the robot can be more efficiently utilized.