A robot for legged locomotion incorporating passive dynamics with touchdown and takeoff control and method.

Methods and systems are described for employee time entry using an automation and security system. An apparatus for employee time entry includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to request employee login at a control panel of an automation and security system at initiation of the employee's work shift, request employee logout at the control panel at completion of the employee's work shift, and collect data related to at least one of employee work hours, shift frequency, and employee cost.

A method of accommodating a payload and determining a working environment in a robotic system is disclosed. The method is directed to using a motor current measurement taken at the axis motors of a robotic system to calculate various parameters including payload balance, mass, moment of inertia, friction force and traction force. This measurement is based on the known relationship between motor current and motor torque.

A method and a portable device controls output of a display unit to display information accurately and clearly regardless of a background image. Disclosed is an arrangement for calculating a difference between an arbitrary expression value of an arbitrary screen configuration element to be displayed on a given area of the background image and an actual expression value of the given area of the background image. Each expression value includes at least one of a color and lightness. The arrangement automatically selects the expression value of the screen configuration element based on the calculation result. The screen configuration element is displayed at the given area of the background image based on the selected arbitrary expression value.

A method and apparatus are presented for automatically fabricating arbitrary materials and objects from raw components, using a combination of simple chemical, electrical, and mechanical operations. The invention will automatically generate machine control instructions for controlling automated fabrication devices and equipment from simple instructions in natural language. The invention also allows the sharing, remote execution, scheduling, and automatic ingredient ordering for such instructions to allow the creation of new materials and professional object fabrication with little or no human intervention.

A soft package includes a package body made of a soft deformable material, and a plurality of rigid gripping components disposed at periphery or corners of the package body. Each of the rigid gripping components includes a rigid ring structure configured to be gripped by a robot device. A robot system may be used to process the soft package, by controlling a computer vision system of the robot system to capture images of the soft package, processing the images of the soft package to recognize the locations of the rigid gripping components, and controlling the robot devices of the robot system to grasp the rigid gripping components.

A method for simulating a chemical process. A process simulator is provided having a processor configured to execute a process model for simulating the chemical process using a flowsheet having a flowsheet topology. The flowsheet topology defines a flow of the chemical process including unit operations connected by fixed process stream connections. The process simulator represents each of the unit operations on the display with several user selectable unit operation options (operation options) that each have its own stored specification parameters. The user is allowed to select at least a first specific set of the operation options. The process simulator generates the flowsheet topology customized with the first specific set of the operation options. A graphical display presentation is generated on the display showing the flowsheet topology customized with the first specific set of the operation options.

A method for providing an estimate for a defined building control system comprises displaying on a user interface a plurality of areas in which the defined building control system would be installed. Pluralities of subsystems are associated with the plurality of areas and include at least one typical subsystem that is associated with a defined plurality of building automation components in a database. The method further comprises displaying on the user interface the typical subsystem in association with the plurality of areas. A number of instances of the typical subsystem that are associated with the plurality of areas are also displayed on the user interface. A cost estimate is generated for the defined building control system based at least in part on the number of instances of the typical subsystem.

A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.

A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.