Abstract: A robot hand operation device through which an operator inputs an operation instruction to move a robot hand including at least three fingers includes: a main body portion held by the operator; and joysticks each being corresponded with each of the fingers of the robot hand to be operated and provided in the main body portion in a number that is the same as that of the fingers. When the operator operates each of the joysticks, the operation instruction to move the finger corresponded with the each of the joysticks is inputted, and when the operator does not operate each of the joysticks, the operation instruction to move the finger corresponded with the each of the joysticks is not inputted.

Abstract: A design unit and a computer-implemented method for calculating a design data set for designing a part-specific gripping tool for gripping parts that have to be transported from or to a processing machine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing part parameters for at least one part which is to be gripped with the part-specific gripping tool and executing a design algorithm which designs the part-specific gripping tool from the part parameters provided and thereby outputs a gripping tool data set as a result.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system and method of storing articles to and retrieving articles from at least one stacked storage rack that is configured to store articles double deep in each storage location with one article at a front position and another article at a back position behind the one article includes a robot having an end of arm tool (EOAT). The EOAT has a platform and an extendable article manipulator. The platform is sized to support at least two articles. The robotic arm selectively positions the end of arm tool to retrieve articles from front and back storage positions of said at least one stacked storage rack and storing at least one of the articles from the platform to a front or back storage position after the robot rotates the EOAT about a generally vertical axis.

Abstract: Utilization of user interface inputs, from remote client devices, in controlling robot(s) in an environment. Implementations relate to generating training instances based on object manipulation parameters, defined by instances of user interface input(s), and training machine learning model(s) to predict the object manipulation parameter(s). Those implementations can subsequently utilize the trained machine learning model(s) to reduce a quantity of instances that input(s) from remote client device(s) are solicited in performing a given set of robotic manipulations and/or to reduce the extent of input(s) from remote client device(s) in performing a given set of robotic operations. Implementations are additionally or alternatively related to mitigating idle time of robot(s) through the utilization of vision data that captures object(s), to be manipulated by a robot, prior to the object(s) being transported to a robot workspace within which the robot can reach and manipulate the object.

Abstract: A soft joint gripper based on 4D printing comprises a palm body and five soft finger units connected with the palm body; each soft finger unit is provided with two soft finger joints and two finger bones; the finger bones are made of 3D printing resin; the soft finger joints are two symmetrical double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuators; the double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuator is made of a 4D printing liquid crystal elastomer and a polyimide electrothermal film, and the bending angle of each double-layer thin-film soft finger joint actuator is changed by energization or heating stimulation; and the double-layer film soft finger joint actuator is used to control the soft finger unit to perform reversible bending motion. Accurate control of the soft joint gripper can be realized.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to robotic devices and artificial intelligence. More specifically, some embodiments relate to a robotic device for picking items from a bin and perturbing items in a bin. The robotic device may include one or more picking elements and one or more perturbation elements for disturbing a present arrangement of items in the bin. In an exemplary embodiment, a perturbation element comprises a compressed air valve. In some implementations, the robotic device may also include one or more computer-vision systems. Based on image data from the one or more computer-vision systems, a strategy for picking up items from the bin is determined. When no strategies with high probability of success exist, the robotic device may perturb the contents of the bin to create new available pick-up points.

Abstract: Systems and methods for process tending with a robot arm are presented. The system comprises a robot arm and robot arm control system mounted on a self-driving vehicle, and a server in communication with the vehicle and/or robot arm control system. The vehicle has a vehicle control system for storing a map and receiving a waypoint based on a process location provided by the server. The robot arm control system stores at programs that is executable by the robot arm. The vehicle control system autonomously navigates the vehicle to the waypoint based on the map, and the robot arm control system selects a target program from the stored programs based on the process location and/or a process identifier.

Abstract: A control method and an apparatus for a controller, and a storage medium and a controller. The control method comprises: determining the current state of the controller, the current state comprising a current top surface, and/or an action method based on the current top surface; determining, according to the preconfigured correspondences between set states and set control modes, a set control mode corresponding to a set state that is the same as the current state in the correspondences as a current control mode; and sending a control command of the current control mode to a target control device. The problem of a cumbersome operation in controlling the temperature and the humidity of an air conditioner by means of a remote-control unit can be solved, and the effect of improving the convenience in operation is achieved.

Abstract: An article transfer device includes: a robot hand transferring an article gripped by a gripping unit; and a control unit controlling operation of the robot hand so as to insert the gripping unit into an article region where the article is disposed, grip the article, and transfer the gripped article to a transfer destination. The control unit controls the operation of the robot hand such that the gripping unit is closed and a predetermined amount of the article is gripped after opening-closing operation for opening the gripping unit after temporarily closing the gripping unit is executed at least once.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a dish, comprising: inserting a tapered finger between said dish which is stacked together with another dish; gripping said dish using an end effector having at least two fingers, wherein the distance of separation between said two fingers is configurable; moving said end effector to a plurality of locations using a first rotary arm connected to a second rotary arm, wherein said second rotary arm is connected to said end effector, and said first and second rotary arms rotate about axes that are parallel to each other; moving said first rotary arm at two or more heights using a height arm connected to said first rotary arm, whereby said robot can pick up, hold and drop off said dish.

Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

Abstract: A gripper assembly includes a base having a hollow area extending in a first direction, at least three grippers arranged along a circumference of the base, the at least three grippers configured to be rotatable about respective rotational axes extending in the first direction, and a first power transmitter configured to rotate the at least three grippers at the same time in a first rotational direction about the respective rotational axes.

Abstract: A robot including: a robot body that includes an arm having a longitudinal axis, and at least one joint; and a proximity sensor unit that detects an object approaching the arm of the robot body. The proximity sensor unit includes: a support member that is fixed to the arm of the robot body and that is disposed, at such a position as to extend across the joint of the robot body, so as to be away from a surface of the arm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm; and a plurality of proximity sensors that are attached to the support member.

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: An attaching mechanism includes a fastening member, a first member, a second member including an insertion portion through which the fastening member passes, and a third member configured to enable the fastening member to pass through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a first position, and engage with the fastening member and disable the fastening member from passing through the insertion portion when the third member is located at a second position. When the third member is located at the second position, and the fastening member is moved toward a predetermined direction, the third member is pressed by the fastening member toward the predetermined direction, and the second member is attached to the first member.

Abstract: A collision-detection device for a gripper system of a handling device, with at least two gripping jaws arranged on a flange plate, detects collisions between the gripper system and an object. The device includes a safety device configured to lock the collision-detection device to the gripper system and/or dampen the collision-detection device with the gripper system. The safety device is configured to receive from the flange a change in force and/or a change in torque generated by contact between the gripping jaws and the object. The device further includes a sensor configured to detect a change in distance which exceeds a predetermined permissible change in distance between the flange plate and a reference, the change in distance resulting from the at least one of the change in force and the change in torque.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus to estimate a position of a distal end of a movable unit with a reduced processing load, the information processing including a position computer that computes, on the basis of first positional information obtained from reading of a projected marker by a first visual sensor and second positional information including positional information obtained from reading of the marker by a second visual sensor that moves relative to the first visual sensor, a position of a movable unit in which the second visual sensor is disposed. This makes it possible to estimate the position of the distal end of the movable unit with a reduced processing load.

Abstract: An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.

Abstract: A jointed mechanism including a segment coupled to a joint; and an elongated component coupled to the segment, where applying a pulling force to the elongated component rotates the segment around the joint, elastically deforming the elongated component; wherein the elastic deformation generates an elongated component elastic force sufficient to rotate the segment, in an opposite direction, in absence of the pulling force.

Abstract: A supply of metal parts are electroplated by progressively transferring the parts with a computer controlled robot into a series of open top tanks containing solutions. The tanks have submerged metal fixtures which temporarily support the parts, and each fixture in the electroplating tank is individually connected to a direct current power source through a corresponding timer switch controlled by the computer so that each part is plated for a precise time period independently of the time the part remains in the plating solution. Each fixture is coated with an insulation material and has a base with metal contact with a removable fixture member having limited metal line contact with the supporting part. A plurality of electroplating lines each include the above components, and common tanks in the lines receive an electroplating solution recirculated through a common filter and service tank where the solution is heated and controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods adapted to calibrate a robot gripper to a camera. The method includes providing a robot with a coupled moveable gripper, providing one or more cameras, providing a target scene having one or more fixed target points, moving the gripper and capturing images of the target scene at two or more imaging locations, recording positions in the gripper coordinate system for each of the imaging locations, recording images in a camera coordinate system, and processing the images and positions to determine a gripper-to-camera transformation between the gripper coordinate system and the camera coordinate system. The transformation may be accomplished by nonlinear least-squares minimization, such as the Levenberg-Marquardt method. Robot calibration apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm, a force sensor, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the robot art. The control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at uniform speed. It is preferable that the control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at the uniform speed and the amplitude of a detection value of the force sensor is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: A robotic arm is mounted on a personal mobility device, such as a wheelchair, scooter or the like, and is controlled with a user input interface, also mounted on the personal mobility device. The user input interface has a grip operable by the user to move in a plurality of orthogonal directions, both spatially and angularly, having articulating arms supporting a housing with a pivot member.

Abstract: A system for turning over a vehicle frame defining openings and having a longitudinal center axis includes first and second robots each having an end effector. Each end effector has a pair of oppositely-positioned locator pins, at least one of which is selectively moveable toward the other. A controller is used to control the positioning of the frame via the robots and end effector by executing method instructions to cause the robots to align the locator pins of the end effectors with the openings of the frame, and to insert the aligned locator pins into the openings toward the center axis from outside of the vehicle frame. The robots lift the frame from a first conveyor, with weight of the vehicle frame born by the locator pins during the lift. The robots also rotate the frame about the center axis and lower the vehicle frame onto a second conveyor.

Abstract: A medical analysis method uses a medical analysis machine provided with a poly-articulated robot (70) comprising joints defining at least six axes of rotation (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6) and adapted for spacing and/or orienting a terminal member (66) according to six degrees of freedom, the terminal member bearing a grasping member (78) adapted for grasping a container (16). The medical analysis method comprises at least the succession of steps consisting of providing a container (16) containing a sample to be treated stemming from a human being or an animal, transferring said container (16) towards at least one treatment station of the medical analysis machine (100) by means of the poly-articulated robot, treating the sample in a treatment station, transferring the container towards a station for capturing images, and displaying the treatment results through a user interface.

Abstract: A robot hand includes a pair of bits and holds a microtube by causing the pair of bits to perform an opening-closing operation. The pair of bits has a lug that comes into contact with an outer peripheral surface of a container body or a cap portion of the microtube, and a rectangular recess in which parts of the cap portion and a flange of the microtube are inserted while the lug is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the microtube. The rectangular recess includes surfaces between which the cap portion and the flange are disposed. The pair of bits is closed while a corner of the rectangular recess is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container body to retain the microtube in an orientation different from that in the state in which the cap portion is inserted in the rectangular recess.

Abstract: A compliant underactuated grasper includes a palm base and two fingers. Each of the fingers comprises: a proximal phalanx; a distal phalanx; a compliant flexure joint connecting the distal phalanx to the proximal phalanx; and a pin joint connecting the proximal phalanx to the palm base, the pin joint constraining angular movement of the proximal phalanx relative to the palm base to rotation about a pin pivot axis. The grasper further includes at least one actuator to move the fingers. The grasper has fewer actuators than degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Robots may manipulate objects based on sensor input about the objects and/or the environment in conjunction with data structures representing primitive tasks and, in some embodiments, objects and/or locations associated therewith. The data structures may be created by instantiating respective prototypes during training by a human trainer.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions. In some embodiments, the user interface includes a wrist cuff that, when grasped by the user, switches the robot into zero-force gravity-compensated mode.

Abstract: A compliant underactuated grasper includes a base and a plurality of fingers. At least one of the plurality of fingers includes: a proximal phalanx; a proximal joint connecting the proximal phalanx to the base; a distal phalanx; a distal joint connecting the distal phalanx to the proximal phalanx; and a member for moving the phalanges. At least one of the proximal joint and the distal joint includes a flexure joint having a first compliance in a first direction and a second compliance in a second direction, the second compliance being stiffer than the first compliance. The distal phalanx includes: a rounded end face; and a lifting portion including a lifting edge adjacent the rounded end face. The member acts in parallel to the first direction. The grasper further includes at least one actuator associated with the member. The grasper has fewer actuators than degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A tendon-driven robotic gripper is disclosed for performing fingertip and enveloping grasps. One embodiment comprises two fingers, each with two links, and is actuated using a single active tendon. During unobstructed closing, the distal links remain parallel, creating exact fingertip grasps. Conversely, if the proximal links are stopped by contact with an object, the distal links start flexing, creating a stable enveloping grasp. The route of the active tendon and the parameters of the springs providing passive extension forces are optimized in order to achieve this behavior. An additional passive tendon is disclosed that may be used as a constraint preventing the gripper from entering undesirable parts of the joint workspace. A method for optimizing the dimensions of the links in order to achieve enveloping grasps of a large range of objects is disclosed and applied to a set of common household objects.

Abstract: A robot system according to the embodiments includes a robot that includes a hand including a gripping mechanism that grips a thin plate-shaped work and an arm that moves the hand, and a robot control apparatus that controls the robot. The robot control apparatus, when causing the robot to transfer the work at a predetermined work transfer position by controlling the robot, performs a presence/absence confirmation of the work by operating the gripping mechanism while causing the hand to retract after the hand reaches the work transfer position.

Abstract: A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user-guidable robot appendage provides haptic feedback to the user.

Abstract: A robotic arm includes: an arm having one or more joints; an arm securing unit provided at at least one of the one or more joints and configured to secure, by electrostatic adhesion, a positional relationship between two parts coupled by each of the at least one of the one or more joints; and a control unit configured to turn on and off the electrostatic adhesion of the arm securing unit.

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 mobile manipulation system comprising: a base; at least one mobility component mounted to said base for rendering said base mobile; a platform; at least one robotic manipulator arm mounted to said platform; and an elevator mechanism movably supporting said platform on said base.

Abstract: A robotic finger includes a shape-memory alloy and a shape-memory polymer connected to and adjacent to the shape-memory alloy. Heating the shape-memory polymer causes it to soften, heating the shape-memory alloy causes the alloy to bend in the direction of the shape-memory polymer to press the shape-memory polymer against an object to be grasped, and cooling the shape-memory polymer causes it to stiffen and to retain its shape. An opposing member is positioned to cooperate with the finger to grasp an object positioned between the finger and the opposing member. A selectively controllable heat source is capable of applying heat to the finger.

Abstract: A robot system according to an aspect of the present embodiment includes a robot (a first robot) and a controller. The robot has a robot hand (hand) equipped with one set of gripping claws that grips a tape member stuck on a workpiece to be processed. The controller instructs the robot to perform operation of peeling off the tape member while gripping the end of the tape member with the gripping claws.

Abstract: A workpiece mounting system which is highly versatile and can reduce a cycle time. A workpiece mounting system (1) mounts a sunroof member (3) to an inner panel (2A) of a body (2). The workpiece mounting system (1) is provided with a first robot (5), a second robot (6), and a control device (7) for controlling the first and second robots.

Abstract: A robot includes a gripping section and a main body section to which the pair of finger sections are attached, having one end sections of the pair of finger sections rotatably connected to each other around a first rotating shaft disposed at a position separate from the main body section, and adapted to open and close the pair of finger sections by swinging the other side of the pair of finger sections on a plane parallel to a mounting surface on which an object is mounted centered on the first rotating shaft to thereby grip the object, a moving device adapted to relatively move the object and the gripping section, and a control device adapted to control the moving device to move the gripping section relatively toward the object, and grip the object with the gripping section at at least three contact points.

Abstract: A gripping device (4) is attached to a robot arm (2). The gripping device (4) consists of a housing (6) and two gripping finger sockets (9,10) which can be displaced linearly with respect thereto. Each gripping finger socket (9, 10) is provided with an electric or pneumatic coupling for various gripping fingers (17, 27, 37) that can be connected. A rotating drive (13) is present between the gripping finger sockets (9, 10) on which a tool can be placed for releasing or attaching a fastening apparatus, such as a bolt. With this relatively simple construction, weights of several hundred kilos can be lifted and positioned accurately, for example in a processing machine.

Abstract: A robot controller includes an input unit that receives operation instruction information, a database that stores grasp pattern information, and a processing unit that performs control processing based on information from the input unit and information from the database, and the input unit receives first to N-th operation instructions as operation instruction information, the processing unit loads i-th grasp pattern information that enables execution of the i-th operation instruction and j-th grasp pattern information that enables execution of the j-th operation instruction as the next operation instruction to the i-th operation instruction from the database, and performs control processing based on the i-th grasp pattern information and the j-th grasp pattern information.

Abstract: A robot system according to an aspect of an embodiment includes a robot, a determination unit (work determination unit), a selection unit (chucking direction selection unit), and an instruction unit. The robot has a robot hand (hand) including three or more chuck jaws. The determination unit obtains information on a member formed including a substantially ring shape, and determines a state of the member. The selection unit selects whether to hold the member with the chuck jaws from an inner peripheral side or outer peripheral side based on the determination result of the determination unit. The instruction unit instructs the robot to perform operations of transporting the member while holding the member with the chuck jaws based on the selection result of the selection unit, and assembling a predetermined processed product using the member.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger sections are connected is provided.

Abstract: A machine for treatment and/or analysis of biological samples is provided. The machine includes a hinged arm to which a clamp for gripping a first biological sample holder is fixed. The clamp includes first and second arms able to move relative to each other along a gripping position between a first position of gripping the first biological sample holder, and a first position of releasing the biological sample holder. Each arm of the clamp includes a groove. When the first and second arms are in the first position of release, the first and second grooves are spaced away from each other along the gripping direction, and when the first and second arms are in the first gripping position, the first and second grooves are brought closer to each other along the gripping direction, so as to be able to receive lateral edges of and grip the first biological sample holder.