Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

A low-profile, automated guided vehicle (AGV) performs surface treatments over large areas of a structure having limited access, such as an aircraft underbelly. The AGV includes a movable gantry provided with automated robot. The robot has interchangeable end effectors for carrying out the surface treatments. Travel of the AGV relative to structure is controlled by a ground guidance system.

A system, method, and apparatus for changing a set of old tools for a set of new tools may be presented. The system may comprise a crawler robot, a robotic arm, a tool changer, a vision system, and at least one of a tool rack or a storage area. The tool changer may be an end effector of the robotic arm. The tool changer may comprise a number of grippers and a number of movement assemblies. The number of grippers may perform at least one of moving a set of new tools to the crawler robot or removing the set of old tools from the crawler robot. The number of movement assemblies may be associated with the number of grippers. The vision system may be associated with at least one of the robotic arm and the tool changer.

Apparatus and methods for navigation of a robotic device configured to operate in an environment comprising objects and/or persons. Location of objects and/or persons may changed prior and/or during operation of the robot. In one embodiment, a bistatic sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver may be spatially displaced from the transmitter. The transmitter may project a pattern on a surface in the direction of robot movement. In one variant, the pattern comprises an encoded portion and an information portion. The information portion may be used to communicate information related to robot movement to one or more persons. The encoded portion may be used to determine presence of one or more object in the path of the robot. The receiver may sample a reflected pattern and compare it with the transmitted pattern. Based on a similarity measure breaching a threshold, indication of object present may be produced.

A positioning system that combines the use of real-time location system and a robotic total station into a single, transparent hybrid positioning system to locate one or multiple targets by one or multiple users.

In mobile robot that runs from first flat surface which is a magnetic body to second flat surface which is a magnetic body and intersects the first flat surface, the mobile robot includes a pair of driving wheels which is rotatably supported to robot body and includes permanent magnets on outer circumferential surfaces thereof; driving mechanism which drives the pair of driving wheels to be independently rotated; rear wheel which is rotatably supported to the robot body and includes permanent magnets on an outer circumferential surface thereof; distance sensor which acquires a distance to the second flat surface; and pressing out mechanisms which include pressing out members which are movable between contact position at which the pressing out member can be in contact with the first flat surface and retracted position at which the pressing out member is retracted from the first flat surface. The pressing out member is moved from the retracted position to the contact position to be in contact with the first flat surface by the pressing out mechanism, the driving wheels is separated from the first flat surface, and the driving wheels move from the first flat surface to the second flat surface, when the distance sensor detects that the driving wheels are in contact with the second flat surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to joint compounds for sealing exterior sheathing wallboards applied on the exterior of buildings. This invention also relates to a process of preparing such exterior joint compounds. The joint compounds of this invention comprise an aqueous emulsion system and provide water resistance comparable to the substrate on which they are applied, that is, the exterior sheathing wallboards.

An example implementation includes determining a force allocation for at least one foot of a legged robotic device, where the legged robotic device includes two feet coupled to two legs extending from a body of the legged robotic device. The implementation also includes determining a change in mass distribution of the legged robotic device, and based on the determined change in mass distribution, determining a force and a torque on the body of the legged robotic device with respect to a ground surface. The implementation also includes updating the determined force allocation for the at least one foot of the two feet based on the determined force and torque. The implementation also includes causing the at least one foot to act on the ground surface based on the updated force allocation.

One embodiment provides a pipe inspection robot, including: a chassis configured to traverse through an interior of a water or sewer pipe; a water quality probe comprising a first end that couples to the chassis and a sensing end distal thereto; an electric motor configured to reposition the sensing end of the water quality probe with respect to the chassis; said electric motor acting to move the sensing end of the water quality probe to reposition the sensing end proximate to fluid containing water located proximate to a bottom part of the chassis; the sensing end configured to contact the fluid containing water for contact sensing of water quality data. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A system to prevent depletion of a robotic energy source includes: a mobile robot; a server operably connected to the robot via a communication system, the server configured to manage the robot; a robotic energy source configured to provide energy to the robot; a controller operably connected to the robot, the controller operably connected to the server, the controller configured to control the robot, the controller further configured to monitor an energy level of the robot; and a charging station configured to operably connect to the energy source, the charging station further configured to replenish the energy source.