A method for controlling a robotic device based on observed object locations includes obtaining a group of observations of an object type in an environment based on identifying one or more first objects associated with the object type over a period of time in the environment. The method also includes localizing the object type in the environment based on a location cluster comprising a group of nodes. Each node in the group of nodes associated with one observation of the group of observations. The method further includes generating a cost map indicating a probability distribution of the object type in relation to the localized object type in the environment. The method still further includes controlling the robotic device to perform an action in the environment based on the cost map and a map of the environment.

Robots, including robot arms, can interface with other modules to affect the world surrounding the robot. However, designing modules from scratch when human analogues exist is not efficient. In an embodiment, a mechanical tool, converted from human use, to be used by robots includes a monolithic adaptor having two interface components. The two interface components include a first interface component cabal be of mating with an actuated mechanism on the robot side, the second interface capable of clamping to an existing utensil. In such a way, utensils that are intended for humans can be adapted for robots and robotic arms.

In an embodiment, a method includes identifying a force and torque for a robot to accomplish a task and identifying context of a portion of a movement plan indicating motion of the robot to perform the task. Based on the identified force, torque, and context, a context specific torque is determined for at least one aspect of the robot while the robot executes the portion of the movement plan. In turn, a control signal is generated for the at least one aspect of the robot to operate in accordance with the determined context specific torque.

Current technologies allow a robot to acquire a tool only if the tool is in a set known location, such as in a rack. In an embodiment, a method and corresponding system, can determine the previously unknown pose of a tool freely placed in an environment. The method can then calculate a trajectory that allows for a robot to move from its current position to the tool and attach with the tool. In such a way, tools can be located and used by a robot when placed at any location in an environment.

A problem with current food service robots is making the robots safe to work around food. A solution provided by the present disclosure is a food-safe tool switcher and corresponding tool. The tool switcher can mate with a variety of tools, which can be molded or 3D printed out of food-safe materials into a single-part, instead of constructed modularly. This provides for easier cleaning.

A robot control method includes: the first control instruction of the robot is obtained; the behavior blueprint corresponding to the first control instruction is determined, the behavior blueprint including the plurality of blueprint nodes connected according to the target sequence; and the preset functions corresponding to the blueprint nodes are executed according to the target sequence. The preset functions corresponding to the blueprint nodes may include the atomic API ability, the meta skill and the task skill. The atomic API ability is used for characterizing a specific function executed by the robot through a component, the meta skill is used for characterizing a function of an execution unit of the robot, the task skill is used for characterizing a function of user-oriented execution of a target task by the robot, the robot includes one or a plurality of execution units, and each execution unit includes one or more components.

A method for human-robot collaboration including: acquiring visual temporal data of a human partner to a robot; determining, using a generative module, predicted future visual temporal data in response to the visual temporal data, the visual temporal data including current visual temporal data and previous visual temporal data; and determining, using a discriminative module, a vector of probabilities indicating the likelihood that a future action of the human partner belongs to each class among a set of classes being considered in response to at least the future visual temporal data and the visual temporal data.

A mobile robot of the present disclosure includes: a traveling unit configured to move a main body; a lidar sensor configured to acquire terrain information outside the main body; a camera sensor configured to acquire an image outside the main body; and a controller configured to fuse the image and a detection signal of the lidar sensor to select a front edge for the next movement and set a target location of the next movement at the front edge to perform mapping travelling. Therefore, in a situation where there is no map, the mobile robot can provide an accurate map with a minimum speed change when travelling while drawing the map.

A robotic mount is configured to move an entertainment element such as a video display, a video projector, a video projector screen or a camera. The robotic mount is moveable in multiple degrees of freedom, whereby the associated entertainment element is moveable in three-dimensional space. In one embodiment, a system of entertainment elements are made to move and operate in synchronicity with each other, such as to move a single camera via multiple robotic mounts to one or more positions or along one or more paths.

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes at least one processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to identify a task corresponding to a task execution instruction acquired by an input device of the electronic device, identify user information corresponding to the task, identify a target spot of the electronic device for executing the task, based on the task and the user information, with respect to a position of a user corresponding to the identified user information, and control a driving circuit of the electronic device to move the electronic device to the identified target spot.