An identification (ID) number setting method for a modular device that comprises a master building element and a plurality of slave building elements that are connected to the master building element, includes: disconnecting the slave building elements from the master building element; setting ID numbers of all of the slave building elements to be a preset ID number; and assigning new ID numbers to slave building elements of N tiers that are connected to one output interface of the master building element in an order from first tier to Nth tier, wherein the slave building elements of the first tier are slave building elements that are directly connected to the output interface, the slave building elements of the Nth tier are slave building elements that are indirectly connected to the output interface through slave building elements of a (N1)th tier, N is a natural number greater than 1.

A method includes receiving, from a camera disposed on a robotic device, a two-dimensional (2D) image of a body of an actor and determining, for each respective keypoint of a first subset of a plurality of keypoints, 2D coordinates of the respective keypoint within the 2D image. The plurality of keypoints represent body locations. Each respective keypoint of the first subset is visible in the 2D image. The method also includes determining a second subset of the plurality of keypoints. Each respective keypoint of the second subset is not visible in the 2D image. The method further includes determining, by way of a machine learning model, an extent of engagement of the actor with the robotic device based on (i) the 2D coordinates of keypoints of the first subset and (ii) for each respective keypoint of the second subset, an indicator that the respective keypoint is not visible.

The invention relates to a modular conveyor system, comprising multiple individual conveyor modules, wherein an individual conveyor module comprises at least one conveyor device, at least one power supply, at least one actuator for driving the conveyor device, an output unit for the control of the actuator and an integrated control unit, wherein the integrated control unit has a computing unit for processing information and a communications unit, and wherein the communications unit is designed to carry out the communication of the individual conveyor modules with a central control system, on the one hand, and/or the communication of the individual conveyor modules with one another, on the other hand, in such a way that the communication of the individual conveyor modules with one another is implemented at two logical communication levels. The invention further relates to a method for controlling modular conveyor systems.

A modular robot system includes N (N is an integer that is 2 or greater) cube-type unit robots, each of the N cube-type unit robots comprising: a housing in the shape of a regular hexahedron; a step motor installed in the housing; and a controller installed in the housing and for controlling the step motor. The housing has, on one surface thereof, a mounting groove in which a rotary body rotating by means of a rotating shaft of the step motor can be mounted, and, on the other surface of the housing, a connection groove in the same shape, so that by means of a connector to be mounted in the connection groove, connection to another cube-type unit robot is possible, and the housing has identification marks with different shapes from one another on the respective surfaces thereof.

A system and method for a self-contained modular manufacturing device having self-contained modular tools configured to collectively accomplish a specific task or function in a hierarchical control manner. In an embodiment, the modular device includes a housing that has a mount configured to engage a robotic arm or other form of maneuvering actuator (such a crane or gantry). The housing may provide a base by which additional modules may be mounted and coupled. The modular device also includes an interface configured to communicate with a remote master control system capable of control the robotic arm. The modular device also includes one or more other modules that are configured to accomplish a particular task or function. Such modules are sometimes called end-effectors and work in conjunction with each other to accomplish tasks and functions. In a self-contained modular manufacturing device, individual processors disposed in the housing may be configured to control the functional tools (e.g., each end-effector) independent of the overall manufacturing control system and pass control of the self-contained modular device between local controllers in a hierarchical manner.

Modular building blocks for building a robotic system, and the method of building the robotic system using the building blocks, are presented. The building block includes a chassis having a first end and a second end, a first connector positioned closer to the second end than the first end of the chassis, either a second connector or a rotational actuator positioned closer to the first end than the second end of the chassis and configured to couple with the first connector, a signal interface on a surface of the chassis, the signal interface including hardware and circuitry for transferring and receiving signals from and to the building block, and a power and control interface on the chassis for receiving power for the building block.

A method includes receiving, from a camera disposed on a robotic device, a two-dimensional (2D) image of a body of an actor and determining, for each respective keypoint of a first subset of a plurality of keypoints, 2D coordinates of the respective keypoint within the 2D image. The plurality of keypoints represent body locations. Each respective keypoint of the first subset is visible in the 2D image. The method also includes determining a second subset of the plurality of keypoints. Each respective keypoint of the second subset is not visible in the 2D image. The method further includes determining, by way of a machine learning model, an extent of engagement of the actor with the robotic device based on (i) the 2D coordinates of keypoints of the first subset and (ii) for each respective keypoint of the second subset, an indicator that the respective keypoint is not visible.

The invention concerns a robotic arm (1) with at least two arm modules (41, 42) which are moveable relative to one another and at least one manually operable input module (11) for generating control signals for the control of the robotic arm (1) on the basis of a user input. Both arm modules (41, 42) have a first interface (38, 40) onto which the input module (11) can be selectively mounted.

A robot assembly includes at least four load-bearing structural parts connected by joints between each two adjacent structural parts to form a chain, and a joint motor associated with each joint for the driven movement of the structural parts connected by the joint relative to each other. A control device is provided in one of the structural parts which is connected at both ends to an adjacent structural part via an associated joint. The control device is designed to control at least three of the joint motors, and the electrical connection of the control device to each of the joint motors necessary for the controlling process is provided by a separate control line dedicated to the associated joint motor.

A method and system for assembling a modular structure from components configured to be fitted together to create the modular structure in accordance with a construction plan. Each component includes: a communication interface; and an output interface configured to generate sensory signals. The components communicate, via the communication interface of each component, with a controller to establish an availability of the components for the modular structure. A target component is determined at the controller from the components based on the construction plan and the availability of the components. The target component is a starting component used for initiating creation of the modular structure in accordance with the construction plan. A first sensory signal indicating the target component to a user is generated by the output interface of the target component.