An automatic implement attachment and detachment system having a ground utility robot a sensor, a computer processor, an artificial intelligence processing unit for learning, and a computer memory where the system also includes a quick hitch attachment apparatus having a body securable to the ground utility robot, at least one mateable connection part, and an implement having a connection member where the implement attachment system is configured to automatically attach and detach the implement to and from the ground utility robot.

A method for transporting a plurality of articles with a transportation container that can be carried in a transport container of one of a plurality of robots. The plurality of articles is placed in the transportation container. The transportation container is placed in a pickup location at a first location. A robot is navigated to the first location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the pickup location to the transport container of the robot. The robot is navigated over an outdoor transportation network to a second location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the transport container to a recipient location at the second location.

A system for delivering an article from a first location to a second location with a robot having a closeable transport container for housing the article during transport. A closeable recipient container is provided at the second location for receiving the article. At least one computer configured to navigate the robot over an outdoor transportation network between locations is provided. The robot has a robot article transport mechanism controlled by the at least one computer for removing the article from the transport container and the recipient container has a recipient article transport mechanism for moving the article inside the recipient container.

A computer-implemented robot pickup method including receiving a request from a user to pick up an article at a first location. A robot having a closeable transport container is navigated to the first location. The robot opens the closeable transport container and moves the article inside the closeable transport container at the first location, and navigates over an outdoor transportation network from the first location to the second location to deliver the article to the second location.

A computer-implemented robot delivery method including receiving a request from a user to pick up an article. A robot having a transport container is directed to the first location to receive the article. The robot navigates over an outdoor transportation network from the first location to a second location. The robot removes the article from the transport container and delivers the article to a recipient container at the second location. The recipient container moves the article inside the recipient container.

A computer-implemented method including receiving a request from a user to deliver an article from a first location to a second location. The request includes an image of a second location and an indicator on the image identifying a precise delivery location for the article. The indicator on the image is registered to a precise location on a three-dimensional virtual model to obtain a three-dimensional delivery location. A robot is directed to pick up the article at the first location and navigated over an outdoor transportation network from the first location to the second location. The robot delivers the article free of human assistance to the three-dimensional delivery location.

Embodiments described herein may relate to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigating to a target in order to provide medical support. An illustrative method involves a UAV (a) determining an approximate target location associated with a target, (b) using a first navigation process to navigate the UAV to the approximate target location, where the first navigation process generates flight-control signals based on the approximate target location, (c) making a determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, and (d) in response to the determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, using a second navigation process to navigate the UAV to the target, wherein the second navigation process generates flight-control signals based on real-time localization of the target.

A system and methods for operating a multi-robot system (MRS) are disclosed. An example method can include receiving at least one transportation task; determining an optimal path for executing the at least one transportation task based at least in part on: (i) one or more transportation task parameters, (ii) a shared global critic function accessible to the first robot and the at least one additional robot, and (iii) a local critic function unique to the first robot; and executing the at least one transportation task in accordance with the determined optimal path.

A system and methods for operating a multi-robot system (MRS) are disclosed. An example method can include receiving at least one transportation task; determining an optimal path for executing the at least one transportation task based at least in part on: (i) one or more transportation task parameters, (ii) a shared global critic function accessible to the first robot and the at least one additional robot, and (iii) a local critic function unique to the first robot; and executing the at least one transportation task in accordance with the determined optimal path.

Provided are a distributed robot-based object movement system and an object movement method using the same. The distributed robot-based object movement system includes a first robot that moves to a reference location where a target object is located, and acquires path information for moving the target object from the reference location to a predetermined destination location, and a second robot that moves to the reference location, provides a driving force for lifting the target object, and drives according to the path information while lifting the target object.