A method of processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an input conveyance system by which input bins of objects may be provided to a processing station that includes the programmable motion device that includes an end effector, perceiving at the processing station identifying indicia representative of an identity of a plurality of objects at an input area of the input conveyance system, grasping the an acquired object using the end effector, moving the acquired object toward an identified processing container using the programmable motion device, the identified processing container being associated with the identifying indicia and said identified processing container being provided as one of a plurality of processing containers at the processing station, and providing an output conveyance system in communication with the processing station, by which processing containers that contain processed objects may be provided.

A box handling system is disclosed for use in an object processing system. The box handling system includes a box tray including a recessed area for receiving a box, and the recessed area includes a plurality of floor and edge portions for receiving the box that contains objects to be processed.

A dynamic movement analytics system is disclosed that includes a programmable motion device including an end-effector, and a perception transfer system for receiving an object from the end-effector and for moving the object toward any of a plurality of destination containers. The perception transfer system includes at least one perception system for providing perception data regarding any of weight, shape, pose authority, position authority or identity information regarding the object as it is moved toward the any of the plurality of destination containers.

A sortation system is disclosed that includes a programmable motion device including an end effector, a perception system for recognizing any of the identity, location, and orientation of an object presented in a plurality of objects, a grasp selection system for selecting a grasp location on the object, the grasp location being chosen to provide a secure grasp of the object by the end effector to permit the object to be moved from the plurality of objects to one of a plurality of destination locations, and a motion planning system for providing a motion path for the transport of the object when grasped by the end effector from the plurality of objects to the one of the plurality of destination locations, wherein the motion path is chosen to provide a path from the plurality of objects to the one of the plurality of destination locations.

A sortation system is disclosed that includes a programmable motion device including an end effector, a perception system for recognizing any of the identity, location, and orientation of an object presented in a plurality of objects, a grasp selection system for selecting a grasp location on the object, the grasp location being chosen to provide a secure grasp of the object by the end effector to permit the object to be moved from the plurality of objects to one of a plurality of destination locations, and a motion planning system for providing a motion path for the transport of the object when grasped by the end effector from the plurality of objects to the one of the plurality of destination locations, wherein the motion path is chosen to provide a path from the plurality of objects to the one of the plurality of destination locations.

A work robot sequentially holds multiple workpieces supplied to a supply area and moves the held workpieces to a work area. The work robot includes an image-capturing device configured to capture images of the multiple workpieces supplied to the supply area in random orientations and positions, an image processing device configured to recognize multiple workpiece regions from the images captured by the image-capturing device, obtain an area and a position of each of the recognized multiple workpiece regions, and obtain a distance between each workpiece region and the work area or the work robot, and a control device configured to determine a holding order of the workpiece based on the areas of the multiple workpiece regions and the distance between each workpiece region and the work area or the work robot as obtained by the image processing device.

A control method includes: deriving an approach location at which the end effector grips an operation object; deriving a scan location for scanning an identifier of the operation object; and based on the approach location and the scan location, creating or deriving a control sequence to instruct the robot to execute the control sequence. The control sequence includes (1) gripping the operation object from a start location; (2) scanning an identifier of the operation object with a scanner located between the start location and a task location; (3) temporarily releasing the operation object from the end effector and regripping the operation object by the end effector to be shifted, at a shift location, when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and (4) moving the operation object to the task location.

A temporary-storage system that includes a temporary-storage belt, a control unit and signalling means. The temporary-storage belt comprises a plurality of regularly distributed sensors. During a loading phase, the control unit receives information coming from at least one of the sensors when an object is deposited on the temporary-storage belt and records a trace of the deposition of the object in association with a reference to each of the sensors activated by the deposition. During an unloading phase, the control unit determines a sequence of removal of the objects and, for each object to be removed, identifies the sensors referenced, transmits to the signalling means signalling information identifying the position of the object, and receives information coming from at least one of the sensors when the object is removed.

Robotic picking devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The disclosed methods may involve executing an imagery analysis procedure to identify a feature of interest of an item, wherein the feature of interest may affect a picking device's ability to perform a picking operation, and generating a grasping plan executable by the picking device, wherein the grasping plan accommodates the feature of interest so that the picking device is able to perform the picking operation.

A machine system includes a transport control section which controls transport of a workpiece based on a transport deceleration line provided upstream of an operation limit line of a machine in a direction of travel of the workpiece and a transport acceleration line provided upstream of the transport deceleration line, wherein the transport control section reduces a transport speed of the workpiece when the workpiece passes through the transport deceleration line in an incomplete operation state and increases the transport speed of the workpiece after the operation on the workpiece present between the operation limit line and the transport acceleration line has completed.