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.

The disclosure includes a method and a robot for projecting the one or more graphics on the surface of a user environment. The method may include determining robot velocity data describing one or more of an angular velocity and a linear velocity of the robot. The method may include determining graphical data describing one or more graphics for projection on the surface of a user environment based on the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the robot. The one or more graphics may include one or more arrows describing a past behavior of the robot and a pending behavior of the robot. The method may include projecting the one or more graphics on the surface of the user environment so that a user present in the user environment with the robot may have access to information describing the past and pending behavior of the robot.

A communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a robot control device, a programmable logic controller for establishing communication with the robot control device, and a communication setting device that is loaded with a configuration file to define communication parameters used in the communication. The communication setting device sets the communication parameters to the programmable logic controller. The robot control device includes a file output unit for outputting the configuration file depending on an internal state of the robot control device.

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.

A robot system is provided and includes a robot body that performs predetermined work together with a user, and a control device that controls the robot body. The control device selects, in accordance with special information of the user, an action to be performed by the robot body during the predetermined work.

Device coordinated robotic control technology is described. A network of robotic devices is established. An anthropomorphic motion is sensed from an operator. One or more signals are generated that are representative of at least a portion of the anthropomorphic motion. The one or more signals are converted into a collective set of commands to actuate the network of robotic devices. The collective set of commands is functionally equivalent to the anthropomorphic motion.

User-initiated break-away clutching includes a robotic system having a joint, a brake or drive unit coupled to the joint, and a control system coupled with the brake or drive unit. The control system is configured to determine a first manual effort applied to the joint; inhibit, using the brake or drive unit, manual articulation of the joint in response to the first manual effort being below an articulation threshold; facilitate, using the brake or drive unit, the manual articulation of the joint in response to the first manual effort exceeding the articulation threshold; and inhibit, using the brake or drive unit, further manual articulation of the joint in response to a determination that a speed of the manual articulation of the joint is below a speed threshold.

A system for cognitive assistance in aircraft assembly includes a system to monitor an aircraft assembly process and acquire physical and physiological data on a human worker performing assembly operations. A cognitive model of the human worker on a data-processing device is coupled to the monitoring system to receive acquired physical and physiological data of the human worker, the cognitive model configured to provide state information on the human worker and prognostic data on expected behavior of the human worker during the aircraft assembly process. The state information and the prognostic data are continuously updated during the aircraft assembly process. A system control is coupled to the monitoring system and the cognitive model to assess current state of the aircraft assembly process based on the monitored aircraft assembly process, the state information of the of the human worker and the prognostic data of the cognitive model.

Break-away clutching includes a robotic system having a processor and a robotic structure with a plurality of joints, a plurality of linkages coupled by the plurality of joints, and a drive system or a brake system for facilitating or inhibiting motion of the robotic structure. The processor is configured to inhibit, using the drive system or brake system, manual articulation of the robotic structure in response to a first manual effort applied to the robotic structure being below an articulation threshold; facilitate, using the drive system or brake system, the manual articulation of the robotic structure in response to a second manual effort applied to the robotic structure exceeding the articulation threshold; and inhibit, using the drive system or brake system, further manual articulation of the robotic structure in response to a determination that a speed of the manual articulation of the robotic structure has fallen below a speed threshold.

The present disclosure describes robots and tele-operation systems where a select control paradigm is selected from a plurality of control paradigms based on an identity of an operator, role of an operator, or expected tasks to be performed by the robot. Generic robots can be operated in accordance with any of the plurality of control paradigms, such that any of said generic robots can serve a role or act as an assistant to an operator by selection of an appropriate control paradigm. Control paradigms can be operator specific, or specific to a faction or role which an operator fits in, or specific to a set of tasks to be performed by the robot. The present disclosure also describes feedback mechanisms by which a robot or tele-operator system receive operator feedback and update a control paradigm, to gradually improve the control paradigm over time.