Abstract: Tactile sensing apparatus for detecting a tactile sense with an object to-be-handled, comprising a plurality of pressure sensing devices, a processor which processes outputs of the pressure sensing devices, and a touch device which contacts with the respective pressure sensing devices in common, whereby information items on a pressure sense, a viscosity sense and a slip sense are simultaneously detected with the outputs of the pressure sensing devices which vary depending upon a direction and a magnitude of a force acting on the touch device.

Abstract: A pressure sense recognition control system having at least one pressure sensor module for detecting the two-dimensional distribution of the component forces in the three directions in the rectangular coordinate system of a force applied to the pressure receiving surface of the pressure sensor modules. The pressure sensor module has at least one pressure sensor cell having a pressure sensing member made of single crystal silicon, and a plurality of diffusion type strain gauges provided on the surfaces of the pressure sensing member which are substantially perpendicular to the pressure receiving surface and for detecting the three component forces applied to the pressure surfaces in response to the changes of an output of a bridge composed of the strain gauges. These members are mounted on an object, the drive of which is to be controlled.

Abstract: A multi-layered tactile sensing skin is provided for a robotic arm or the like. The skin includes adjacent layers of electrically insulative film having opposed contiguous surfaces. An electrically conductive carbon based compound is applied uniformly to one of the surfaces, while the other surface is selectively coated with silver oxide to form a series of pairs of first and second electrically conductive regions separated from one another by a dielectric gap. The carbon based conductor bridges the gap betwen the conductive regions in each pair, permitting flow of electrical current between the regions. The current flow increases with an increase in pressure over the interface between the layers of film, and the amperage increase can be utilized to trigger a signal to the robot power supply, to decelerate, stop or reverse arm movement.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling conical thread packages includes a sensing device which senses the orientation in which the package arrives on a main conveyor to a juncture with an accumulating auxiliary conveyor, and a manipulating device capable of gripping the package and reorienting it if needed to obtain the desired orientation of the package on the auxiliary conveyor. A removing device may be provided to engage a group of the packages accumulated with the desired orientation on the auxiliary conveyor and to transfer such group to a receiving conveyor in such a manner that the packages are deposited in the container in respective layers with orientations which are the same in each layer but opposite in directly superimposed layers.

Abstract: A tactile sensing device for use in robotics and medical prosthetics includes a transparent sheet-like element and a second resilient sheet-like element positioned adjacent the first transparent element. A light detection and imaging means is positioned to observe the interface between the two elements. A light source is provided to illuminate the interior of one of the two elements. Any object pressing against the resilient element deforms the same into contact with the transparent element. Areas of contact caused by the pressing object produce a lighted area that can be detected by the light detecting means. The output from the light detecting means may be processed by a computer and an image of the contact area produced by the pressing object can be displayed on a monitor or processed to operate an electro-mechanical control.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing tactile feedback information to the operator of a remotely operated manipulator assembly, such as a robot arm, by mechanically coupling a vibration sensitive transducer to said assembly and audibly reproducing the transducer output for operator listening. The use of an accelerometer as a vibration sensitive transducer is disclosed as well as techniques for cancelling environmental noise.

Abstract: An artificial hand comprises a palm member and thumb and finger members movable towards and away from one another by an actuator. A cosmesis covering the actuator has a touch sensor in a cavity of the cosmesis that deforms on contact with an object. The cavity is connected via a conduit with a microphone that picks up pressure waves resulting from stick/slip motion of the object along the surface of the cosmesis. The distance between the thumb and finger members is determined by a position sensor, and muscle sensor means responsive to contraction of first and second muscle groups supplies position and control signals in first and second channels.

Abstract: A slip sensor and method of sensing slip for object supporting structure such as a manipulator which includes a pair of relatively movable jaws having opposing jaw faces between which an object may be gripped are shown. At least one thermistor is located at the face of the object supporting structure, which thermistor is intimately engageable with the supported object. The thermistor is maintained at a substantially constant temperature, above ambient temperature, by the passage of current therethrough. The temperature of the gripped object adjacent the thermistor is raised to the above-ambient temperature by heat conduction thereto from the thermistor. With slippage of the gripped object between the jaws, the thermistor is exposed to another portion of the object which is at a different temperature than the temperature of the thermistor whereby the resistance of the thermistor changes.

Abstract: A tactile load sensing transducer for providing a continuous electrical readout indicative of the contact and the location of the load on a load receiving plate substantially simply supported by a plurality of reaction supports on the member. Each reaction support includes a member having a preferably integrally formed connecting portion of reduced transverse section so as to be substantially incapable of resisting moments generated by load plate deflection. Each support preferably has a generally "L" shaped configuration with the preferably integrally formed plate connecting portion formed adjacent the free end of one leg of the "L" so as to create bending strains in the support. Strain gages are provided on each support to sense the bending strains therein and, the gages on each support are connected in a common Wheatstone bridge to provide an indication of the reaction load on the support.

Abstract: A manipulator having a grasping mechanism for grasping an object and an arm mechanism for lifting the grasped object, is disclosed. A weight detector is provided which detects a force that the top of the arm mechanism receives in the gravitational direction when the grasped object is being lifted. In order to find the minimum grasping force sufficient to lift the object, a grasp detector is provided for detecting, from the output of the weight detector, that the object cannot be lifted up with the present grasping force and a desired grasping force selector for selecting successively a desired value of grasping force starting from a predetermined minimum desired value until it is detected that the object is lifted. A grasping force control circuit controls the grasping force to the selected desired value.

Abstract: A load plate is rigidly supported by a central pedestal strain gaged for bending about a central axis. In one embodiment, the pedestal is mounted to the center of a yoke bar supported by two legs strain gaged for comprehensive loads only the sum of which is indicative of the magnitude of the plate load. The legs are supported by base webs strain gaged for bending about a central axis orthogonal to the axis of pedestal bending. The output of the bending strain gages enables determination of the coordinates of the load location on the plate from the central axis axes.In a second embodiment, the pedestal is supported by a block rigidly attached to the end of a cantilevered member extending at right angles from the pedestal. The cantilever member is strain gaged at two longitudinal stations for reading the differential of the bending strain to thereby determine the shear loading, or plate tactile load.

Abstract: A resilient gripper pad stores deformation energy just before the gripped object starts to slip, then rapidly accelerates as it suddenly releases the energy in the springback to rest position. An accelerometer in the resilient pad (corrected for ambient acceleration by differentiation with a nearby second accelerometer) provides information by which the control computer of a closed loop robot system mandates the manipulation of objects by controlled slipping. Controlled transitions of gripping (releasing) action evoked by the control computer provide related sequences of grip (slide) events, with one or more slip (pad chatter) events intervening at the threshold. Prior to the slide, there is an instant when the gripped object starts to slip on a slip pad on one digit of the gripper, but remains frictionally gripped by a resilient pad on the opposing digit. During this instant, the resilient pad deforms downward because of gravity on the gripped object.

Abstract: An electronic circuit adapted to receive conditioned force signals from a three-axes load cell mounted on the arm of a robot and provide a stop signal for use by a controller of the robot. The circuit compares the sum of the absolute value of the forces with a variable reference signal. A force trip relay and a masking relay are connected in parallel to provide the stop signal when both the resulting sum is greater in value than the reference signal and the robot is in an operating condition in which high forces do not normally occur.

Abstract: Machine operations are performed by a robot at a plurality of locations on a workpiece based on off-line data. The off-line data is corrected based on two levels of workpiece/robot alignment. First the robot determines the orientation of a fixture to which the workpiece is mounted by "touching-off" on known reference points (touchblocks) on the fixture. Coordinate data for the location of local features on the workpiece is corrected based on the first level of alignment and the positions of the local features are then sensed to provide a coordinate transformation for subsequent application to nominal machine operation location coordinates. The local features may be preassembly rivets and provide for individualized robot response on a workpiece-by-workpiece basis.

Abstract: A movable part of a robot, such as the fingers of the robot hand, are provided with an array of tactile elements mounted on a substrate. Each element includes a magnetic dipole embedded in a compliant medium on one side of the substrate and a magnetic sensor on the other side of the substrate. The dipole and sensor are in parallel planes. A force or torque deforms the compliant medium and displaces the magnetic dipoles with respect to the sensor. The sensor detects the change in magnetic field and produces an electrical signal which is used to control the robot. Magnetoresistive sensors are preferred. To detect torque, each element illustratively includes four sensors arranged at 90.degree. to one another and a magnetic dipole oriented at 45.degree. to each sensor.

Abstract: Contact pressure between the surface of the sensor and the surface of a second object can be measured by a change in capacitance across compressible cells, which comprise the active elements of the sensor. The design allows for the accurate measurement of different pressures at different locations in the area of contact (spatial discrimination), and can be used over a wide range of pressure. As a passive device, it requires external modulation and detection.

Abstract: A light weight servo controlled robot gripper is disclosed. A plastic body houses one or more threaded drive shafts which are powered by a direct current motor. Attached to the shafts are finger mounting blocks which support removable fingers and which can be driven both closer to and further away from a fixed point by the motor. Integral with at least one mounting block is a force transducer which monitors the load exerted on the finger through a pivot and lever action of a mounting bracket provided adjacent to the load cell. Since the transducer is in the block rather than the fingertip, fingers are readily interchangable without reinstrumentation. A limit switch, located above one of the finger mounting blocks, is used to determine coarse finger position, and an optical shaft encoder provides precise position information allowing the gripper to be utilized for a variety of position as well as force servoing tasks.

Abstract: A robot "touches off" on the orthagonal touchblock faces of a workpiece holding fixture and the coordinate of the touches along axes nominally normal to the faces provide significant data from which a coordinate transformation indicative of the orientation and location of the touchblocks in the robot frame of reference can be determined. The coordinate transformation is subsequently applied to workpiece coordinates indicative of the location and orientation of the workpiece and/or points thereon.

Abstract: The hand of a robot is moved from an instant position P.sub.1 to a first command position P.sub.2 to grip one of the workpiece W.sub.1,W.sub.2,W.sub.3 placed at the first command position and conveys the same to a second command position P.sub.3. A sensor is contacted by the workpiece when the hand takes an intermediate position Px on its way from the instant position P.sub.1 to the first command position P.sub.2, the robot control system stops the hand without delay or after travel of the hand over a predetermined distance and, after the travel of the hand over a predetermined deceleration distance, stops the hand. The hand is then moved from the stopping position to the second command position P.sub.3 neglecting the remaining stroke or movement between the stopping position and the first command position.

Abstract: A hand of a robot is moved from an instant position P.sub.1 to a first command position P.sub.2 to grip one of the workpieces W.sub.1, W.sub.2, W.sub.3 placed at the first command position and conveys the same to a second command position P.sub.3. As a sensor is contacted by the workpiece when the hand takes an intermediate position Px, on its way from the instant position P.sub.1 to the first command position P.sub.2, the robot control system decelerates the hand without delay or after a travel of the hand over a predetermined distance and, after travel of the hand over a predetermined deceleration distance, stops the hand. The hand is then moved from the stopping position to the second command position P.sub.3 neglecting the remaining stroke or movement between the stopping position and the first command position.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an industrial robot (10) having a lifting or gripping arm (16) is provided with electrical switch means (44) whereby if a work piece extends too far into the lifting or gripping portion the machine is automatically turned off. In accordance with another feature of the invention, shear means (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) are provided in the lifting or gripping arms (30, 32) whereby if one or both arms abut an obstruction with sufficient force, the arm will shear off causing only minimal damage to the robot and protecting valuable gear mechanisms and control apparatus.

Abstract: A tactile sensor (100) comprises a printed circuit board (102) having a plurality of spaced apart, electrically conductive foils (104) thereon, each coupled to a decoder (106) which selectively applies a voltage individually thereto. The foils are separated from each other by each of a plurality of upraised insulative portions (116) each comprised of a layer of photoresist material. An anisotropically electrically conductive rubber pad (107) having alternating electrically conductive and nonconductive strips (108, 110) overlies the substrate so that the conductive strips are supported in spaced relationship from the conductive foils by the upraised photoresist layers. Each conductive strip is coupled to a multiplexer (115). Upon the application of a force against the rubber sheet, the conductive strips are deformed into electrical contact with the conductive foils on the substrate.

Abstract: A device is provided through which a set of information concerning tactile interaction between a manipulator and an object to be recognized is provided to the user. Several configurations are described, based on the piezo- and pyro-electric (ferroelectric) properties of polymeric materials, such as the polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF.sub.2 or PVDF), different polypeptides and copolymers of PVF.sub.2 and TrFE. By arraying in a proper way various sensing layers, each featured by different sensory capabilities, a laminated sensor structure is obtained, able to provide a set of tactile information. The multilayered structure of the proposed device is inspired to that of the human skin, which includes superficial (epidermal) and deep (dermal) sensors.

Abstract: An automated pipe handling system is provided to increase safety and to minimize the number of workmen required in the coupling and uncoupling of pipe stands. The system includes a programmable controller for monitoring and/or controlling devices which remove and add pipe stands to a drill column. A number of transducers are operatively connected to the controlled devices for communication with the programmable controller for use in verifying that the controlled devices have properly performed their programmed tasks. The controlled devices include upper and lower arm assemblies for use in engaging and moving the uncoupled pipe stands to a storage position. The controlled devices further include a finger board assembly and a set-back assembly. The finger board assembly moves and retains the upper portions of the pipe stands while a drill rig floor of a derrick supports their lower portions.

Abstract: A tactile sensing system is provided which consists of essentially four components including a touch surface having a plurality of mechanically and electrically isolated sensitive sites, transducer means associated with each of the sensitive sites for converting a mechanical response to an electrical signal, first signal processing means for scanning the signals produced by the transducer means and converting such signals to digital format, and second signal processing means including a computer for interpreting and displaying the data. The system of this invention is capable of providing high contrast, high normal load resolution, moderate spatial resolution and high sensitivity to determine such mechanical contact parameters as presence, pressure, pressure pattern, texture, hardness and topography of an object contacting the touch surface. In addition, separate means are included enabling the system to detect the location, magnitude and direction of shear forces applied to the touch surface.

Abstract: A robotic height sensor employs the defocussing of a spot of light to detect the motion of a probe contacting a reference object. The defocussing changes the electrical output of a photodetector which output is used to control a height drive mechanism. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intentional weakened portion of a shaft is provided for permitting limited lateral freedom of the shaft to accommodate minor irregularities in a workpiece.