A bulk workpiece picking system is configured by including: a robot which is provided with an electromagnetic hand capable of magnetically attracting a metal workpiece; a determination section which determines whether or not the workpiece is magnetically attracted by the electromagnetic hand; and a magnetic force control section which controls the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand, the magnetic force control section being configured such that: before it is determined by the determination section that the magnetic attraction is performed; the magnetic force control section sets a magnitude of the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand so that the electromagnetic hand can suspend one workpiece and cannot suspend two workpieces; and then, after it is determined by the determination section that the magnetic attraction is performed, the magnetic force control section increases the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand.

An apparatus and system for launching and/or capturing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus includes a moving substrate having an electromagnetic end effector and a UAV with a metallic strike plate to be attracted to the end effector when the electromagnet is activated. The system includes a movable robotic arm having a free end and a secured end; an electromagnetic end effector connected proximate to the free end of the robotic arm; a UAV with a metallic strike to be attracted and held to the electromagnetic end effector when the electromagnetic end effector is active; trajectory software configured to control a location of the free end of the robotic arm; and a control module for receiving input data, analyzing the data and using the trajectory software to control the location of and activate or deactivate the electromagnetic end effector. Also described are methods for launching and capturing the UAV.

Example dish manipulation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a robotic actuator includes at least one magnet. The robotic actuator is configured to manipulate, using magnetic attraction, an article of magnetic dishware. A processing system electrically coupled to the robotic actuator is configured to generate commands for positioning the robotic actuator in three-dimensional space.

A robot system includes a robot, an attraction pad, a sensor, and a controller. The robot includes a hand whose orientation is changeable. The attraction pad is attached to the hand, attracts a workpiece, and holds the workpiece. The sensor is attached to the hand, includes a detection surface, and detects contact between the detection surface and the workpiece. The controller can determine whether the workpiece has been brought into surface contact with the detection surface based on a result of detection made by the sensor and changes the orientation of the hand, until the workpiece makes surface contact with the detection surface, and then makes the attraction pad hold the workpiece.

A manufacturing matrix can include a plurality of work cells. The manufacturing matrix can include a plurality of robotic arms disposed in the plurality of work cells to produce a construction product. The manufacturing matrix can include a storage location to store inventory including at least one of the material, the tool, the subassembly of the construction product, or a completed construction product. The manufacturing matrix can include a transportation system to move the inventory within the manufacturing matrix. The manufacturing matrix can include a data processing system communicably coupled with the plurality of robotic arms and the transportation system. The data processing system can provide a first instruction to a first robotic arm cell and a second instruction to a second robotic arm of the second work cell.