A robot-training system permits a user touch, click on or otherwise select items from a display projected in the actual workspace in order to define task goals and constraints for the robot. A planning procedure responds to task definitions and constraints, and creates a sequence of robot instructions implementing the defined tasks.

Robotic and/or surgical devices, systems, and methods include a robotic device. The robotic device includes a manipulator, a drive unit coupled to the manipulator, and a processor coupled with the drive unit. The processor is configured determine that a cannula is mounted to the manipulator and inhibit, using the drive unit, manual articulation of the manipulator in response to determining that the cannula is mounted to the manipulator. In some embodiments, the robotic device further includes a linkage. The processor is further configured to determine a manual effort against the manipulator; inhibit, using the drive unit, the manual articulation of the linkage in response to the manual effort being below an articulation threshold; and facilitate, using the drive unit and in response to not determining that the cannula is mounted to the manipulator, the manual articulation of the linkage in response to the manual effort exceeding the articulation threshold.

A robot control device includes a memory and a processor configured to acquire first environmental information regarding a surrounding environment of a robot, specify a first appropriate level associated with a first activity based on the first environmental information by referring to a control policy in which activity information on an activity which has been conducted by the robot, environmental information at a time of conduction of the activity, and appropriate level determined based on a reaction to the activity are associated with each other, and when the first appropriate level information of the first activity does not satisfy a specific condition, deter conduction of the first activity by the robot.

A wearable robot device includes a frame, a detector provided on the frame for collecting information on a force applied from a user, a controller for determining a required amount of torque necessary for an operation of the wearable robot device based on the information collected by the detector, and for determining a sound corresponding to the required amount of torque, and an output unit for outputting the determined sound.

Method for operating an assistance system based on an attribute space comprises: obtaining task information defining at least one target state to be achieved; obtaining initial state information defining an initial state of an autonomous device or a user, and of at least one object involved in achieving the target state; defining a planning problem based on the task information, the initial state information and attribute information related to the object; selecting an action or a sequence of actions to solve the planning problem; and outputting a control signal to a human-machine interface HMI or the autonomous device for achieving the target state; determining whether the action or sequence of actions achieves the target state, and, if not, decomposing the planning problem based on the attribute information to generate a decomposed planning problem; solving the decomposed planning problem; and outputting the control signal to the HMI or the autonomous device.

A robot system, and method for controlling it, for collaborative robot applications has a movable robot arm and a controller, wherein the controller is provided to control the movement of the distal end of the robot arm along a movement path according to at least a sequence of coordinate data and respective commands of a robot program and wherein the controller is provided to determine exact movement speed and course of the movement path between consecutive coordinates according to a set of parameters. At least two alternatively selectable sets of parameters are provided which both are related to a respective individual comfort level of a respective collaborative human worker.

Robotic and/or surgical devices, systems, and methods include kinematic linkage structures and associated control systems configured to facilitate preparation of the system for use. A set-up mode employs an intuitive user interface in which one or more joints of the kinematic linkage are initially held static by a brake or joint drive system. The user may articulate the joint(s) by manually pushing against the linkage with a force, torque, or the like that exceeds a manual articulation threshold. Articulation of the moving joints is facilitated by modifying the signals transmitted to the brake or drive system. The system may sense completion of the reconfiguration from a velocity of the joint(s) falling below a threshold, optionally for a desired dwell time. Embodiments of the invention can provide for manual movement of a platform supporting a plurality of surgical manipulators or the like without having to add additional input devices.

A system and method of instructing a device is disclosed. The system includes a signal source for providing at least one visual signal where the at least one visual signal is substantially indicative of at least one activity to be performed by the device. A visual signal capturing element captures the at least one visual signal and communicates the at least one visual signal to the device where the device interprets the at least one visual signal and performs the activity autonomously and without requiring any additional signals or other information from the signal source.

A controller includes control function circuits that are connected to each other and control a multi-axis control machine. Each of the control function circuits performs a respective control function upon receipt of a control signal from another control function circuit of the control function circuits, and the control signal corresponds to a predetermined interface standard determined from the control function.

Method includes executing a dynamic decision-making process that includes (a) receiving environmental data and (b) determining a fused ensemble based on the environmental data and a state parameters of a current state of a machine assembly. The fused ensemble includes communications from a system interface to the operator for the state parameters. The communications inform an operator about the state parameters and includes at least one of a visual signal, an audible signal, or a tactile signal from the system interface. The decision-making process also includes (c) communicating the fused ensemble to the operator through the system interface and (d) repeating (a)-(c) while the machine assembly is in the current state. The fused ensemble is configured to change based on changes in the environmental data.