Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

Techniques for flexible, on-site additive manufacturing of components or portions thereof for transport structures are disclosed. An automated assembly system for a transport structure may include a plurality of automated constructors to assemble the transport structure. In one aspect, the assembly system may span the full vertically integrated production process, from powder production to recycling. At least some of the automated constructors are able to move in an automated fashion between the station under the guidance of a control system. A first of the automated constructors may include a 3-D printer to print at least a portion of a component and to transfer the component to a second one of the automated constructors for installation during the assembly of the transport structure. The automated constructors may also be adapted to perform a variety of different tasks utilizing sensors for enabling machine-learning.

A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.

Provided is a conveyance robot replacement apparatus used for replacing a conveyance robot installed in an atmosphere conveyance chamber of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in order to convey a substrate. The conveyance robot replacement apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to determine a position of the conveyance robot replacement apparatus with respect to the atmospheric conveyance chamber, a holding unit configured to suspend the conveyance robot to be supported, a guide portion configured to guide advancing and retreating into and from the atmospheric conveyance chamber of the holding unit by being engaged with the positioning unit, a position adjustment unit configured move the holding unit in each of the longitudinal direction, the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction to adjust a position of the holding unit, and a connecting component connectable to the holding unit as well as the conveyance robot.

A workpiece simulation part estimates the amount of movement of the workpiece from drive information and estimates the current position of the workpiece by adding the amount of movement to the previous position of the workpiece, the drive information being generated for, among at least one actuator, an actuator that is assumed to constrain the workpiece under the constraint conditions. A sensor simulation part uses the current position of the workpiece to generate sensor simulation information. An input/output switching part transmits the drive information to the workpiece simulation part and transmits the sensor simulation information as alternate information of the sensor information to the control-program execution part.

A control system for mechanical equipment is provided with: a manual operation mechanism provided with a minimum required number of operation switches and a mechanical equipment identification signal transmission unit for transmitting a mechanical equipment identification signal that identifies mechanical equipment; an operation assistance terminal in which the mechanical equipment identification signal received from the transmission unit is used as a basis to display a manual operation assistance screen including a manually operated device selection section and a control content display section that displays control content assigned to the operation switches of the manual operation mechanism for a selected manually operated device; and a control device that connects the control unit of an identified control target device and the operation switches of the manual operation mechanism by receiving a control target device switching signal identified by operation of the manually operated device selection section.

In one example, an intersection of a first path and a second path may be determined. The first path may be associated with a first mobile drive unit and the second path may be associated with a second mobile drive unit. A plurality of velocity sets may be determined based on the intersection. A velocity set may be selected from the plurality of velocity sets. The velocity set may include velocity values that correspond to the first mobile drive unit and the second mobile drive unit. The selected velocity set may be provided to at least one of the first mobile drive unit or the second mobile drive unit.

Systems, methods and computer-readable media for automating the restocking of shelves process by sending a notification when a product on a shelf has reached, or will reach, an undesired level of emptiness. This is determined using imaging sensors, such as cameras, which can calculate how full or empty a respective shelf is and predict when the shelf will need to be restocked. When the restocking time arrives, the notification can be sent to automated systems, which automatically cause new products to be stocked on the shelf via a pneumatic pipe system.

The present invention provides an automated modular system and method for production of biopolymers including DNA and RNA. The system and method automates the complete production process for biopolymers. Modular equipment is provided for performing production steps with the individual modules arrange in a linear array. Each module includes a control system and can be rack mounted. One side of the array of modules provides connections for power, gas, vacuum and reagents and is accessible to technicians. On the other side of the array of modules a robotic transport system is provided for transporting materials between module interfaces. The elimination of the requirement for human intervention at multiple steps in the production process significantly decreases the costs of biopolymer production and reduces unnecessary complexity and sources of quality variation.

A communication system facilitates a closed loop, two-way communication network between machines at a worksite and a remote processing facility. A management and control system receives operations data and generates recommended adjustments to the worksite operations. A manager system provides manager outputs over the communication network to adjust operations of the machines at the worksite based on the recommended adjustments.