Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof. Such packages and systems may be used in a logistics network to the increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of processing packages having, at least in part, a non-fixed geometry.

A system and method for operating a robotic system to place objects into containers that have support walls is disclosed. The robotic system may detect an unexpected condition associated with a container during or before a real-time operation. Accordingly, the robotic system may dynamically adjust an existing packing plan based on detecting the unexpected condition.

A fabrication assembly for automated metal fabrication on an elongate metal workpiece includes: a track; a set of rotator assemblies on one side of the track configured to rotate a received workpiece; at least one fabrication robot movable along the track and configured to perform metal fabrication on the workpiece received by the set of rotator assemblies within a fabrication operational range; a set of trolleys movable along the same track and configured to receive the workpiece thereon, the fabrication assembly being configured to transfer the workpiece between the set of trolleys and the set of rotator assemblies in a horizontal direction transverse to the track within a workpiece transfer range that overlaps with the fabrication operational range. To accommodate the overlap, the at least one fabrication robot may be movable to outside the workpiece transfer range, and the set of trolleys may be movable to outside the fabrication operational range.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for controlled motion of a tool. In one embodiment, the device can support a tool needed to perform an activity requiring a highly-precise, stable motion, while also accommodating a person's hand for the purposes of moving the tool. In another embodiment, the device of the present invention allows for rotational motion of a tool independently of the directive motion of the tool. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to the design of a force transducer useful in a cooperative robot. The device and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for microsurgery or other tasks that are typically performed using cooperative robotics.

A robot and a method for sewing an object. The robot includes a robotic arm configured to hold a needle. The needle is tied with a thread. The robot includes a controller configured to move the needle, wherein the object includes a flexible outer surface and pre-stitches formed on the outer surface. Each of the pre-stitches includes a thread section including a top side and an opposite bottom side facing the outer surface. The controller is configured to perform a sewing operation by causing the needle to go across the thread section along a path defined between the bottom side of the thread section and the outer surface of the object.

Embodiments of present disclosure relate to a robot and a method for adjusting sewn threads. The robot includes a robotic arm configured to hold an adjusting tool, and a controller configured to cause the adjusting tool to partially go across a thread section along a path defined between a bottom side of the thread section and an outer surface of an object. The sewn threads have a first end fixed to the object and a second end, a plural of stitches formed across a sewing zone on the object between the first end and the second end, and each stitch has the thread section including a top side and the opposite bottom side. Then the adjusting tool moves upward away from the outer surface so as to adjust pitches between the stitches.

A robot slider position setting device sets a position of a robot slider that moves while being loaded with a robot that performs predetermined work on a workpiece by using a tool provided at a distal end of the robot. The robot slider position setting device includes an interference-region-information storage unit that stores interference region information indicating an interference region with which the robot interferes in a predetermined ambient environment, an approaching-direction determination unit that determines a direction of an arm of the robot as an arm approaching direction such that the direction does not overlap the interference region by fixing a wrist rotation center of the robot in a state where the tool is in an orientation according to a predetermined working position, and a position determination unit that determines the position of the robot slider based on the arm approaching direction determined by the approaching-direction determination unit.