A controller of a robot turns over a workpiece into a second state by causing a first end effector to execute a holding operation of holding a first portion in a first state, causing the first robot arm to execute, after the holding operation, a lifting operation of lifting the first end effector such that a second sheet surface separates from a turnover station, causing the first robot arm to execute, after the lifting operation, a lowering operation of lowering the first end effector with a first sheet surface facing downward, and causing the first end effector to execute, before completion of the lowering operation and after the holding operation, a rotary operation of rotating about a first rotation axis in a direction of raising a first end portion.

An abnormality detection method for detecting an abnormality of an encoder provided for a robot includes: obtaining corrected position information according to commanded position information output from a controller that designates the rotational position of a motor and an output signal output from the encoder; and, determining, after comparing the corrected position information with the detected position information according to the output signal output from the encoder, the abnormality of the encoder, if there is a difference greater than or equal to a predetermined value between the corrected position information and the detected position information. The controller removes a vibration component of the robot corresponding to the weight of an attachment load from the commanded position information and compensates for a time delay to obtain the corrected position information.

A control method of a robot includes: causing a first robot arm provided in the robot and a second robot arm provided in the robot to move a first end effector of the first robot arm and a second end effector of the second robot arm such that the first end effector and the second end effector are arranged on both sides of a placed plate-shaped object; causing the first robot arm to move the first end effector toward a first end portion of the plate-shaped object, and causing the first end effector to grip the first end portion; and causing the first robot arm to move the first end effector toward a destination position, and causing the first end effector to place the plate-shaped object at the destination position.

A method and system for controlling at least one effector trajectory for at least one effector of a robot for solving a predefined task are proposed. A graph of postures is acquired, and at least one of a contact constraint topology and an object constraint topology are accordingly modified. A set of constraint equations based on at least one of the modified contact constraint topology and the modified object constraint topology are generated. Constraint relaxation is performed on the generated set of constraint equations to generate a task description including the relaxed set of constraint equations. The effector trajectory is generated by applying a trajectory generation algorithm on the generated task description. An inverse kinematics algorithm is performed on the generated effector trajectory for generating a control signal, and the effector is controlled to execute the effector trajectory based on the generated control signal.

A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for planning by work volumes to avoid conflicts. One of the methods includes receiving a process definition graph for a robot that includes action nodes, wherein the action nodes include (1) transition nodes that represent a motion to be taken by the robot from a respective start location to an end location and (2) task nodes that represent a particular task to be performed by the robot at a particular task location. An initial modified process definition graph that ignores one or more conflicts between respective transition nodes as well as one or more conflicts between respective transition nodes and task nodes is generated from the process definition graph. A refined process definition graph that ignores conflicts between transition nodes and recognizes conflicts between transition nodes and task nodes is generated from the initial modified process definition graph.

A robot system includes a robot including an arm, a control section configured to control operation of the robot, a gripping section coupled to the arm and configured to grip a cable, at one end of which a connector is provided, and a detecting section configured to detect contact of the gripping section and the connector. The control section causes the gripping section to perform first gripping for gripping the cable to restrict movement of the cable in a thickness direction of the cable, moves the gripping section toward the connector in a state in which the first gripping is performed, stops the movement of the gripping section based on a detection result of the detecting section, and causes the gripping section to perform second gripping for gripping the connector.

A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.

A holding device includes: a first suction structure that sucks a main member; and a first grasping structure that is arranged adjacent to the first suction structure in a direction intersecting with a first direction and grasps a first auxiliary member. The first suction structure is directed so as to suck the main member located in the first direction, and the first grasping structure is directed so as to grasp the first auxiliary member located in the first direction.

A holding device that holds a plate-shaped member having flexibility includes: a first suction structure that sucks the plate-shaped member; a second suction structure that sucks the plate-shaped member and is turnable and movable; a turning device that turns the second suction structure and a moving device that moves the second suction structure. When the first suction structure and the second suction structure suck and hold the plate-shaped member, the turning device twists the plate-shaped member by turning the second suction structure such that the second suction structure is directed in a direction different from the first suction structure, and the moving device bends the plate-shaped member by moving the second suction structure such that the second suction structure retreats relative to a direction along which the first suction structure and the second suction structure are located.