A robot shares a work space with a person, to perform an operation. The robot includes a shock-absorbing member which covers the periphery of at least a base part of a working tool attached to an robot arm, a detector which is provided for the robot arm, to detect an external force input via the shock-absorbing member, and a robot control device which stops the robot when determining, based on information of the detected external force, that the working tool collides with the person. The external force is transmitted from the working tool to the robot arm, and is detected by the detector.

A robot includes a robot arm, a force sensor, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the robot art. The control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at uniform speed. It is preferable that the control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at the uniform speed and the amplitude of a detection value of the force sensor is smaller than a threshold.

A method of robotic stepping includes determining a first step location error between a reference step location of a reference step path and a first potential step location of a first potential step path for a first leg of a robot, determining a first capture point error between a reference capture point location of the reference step path and a first potential capture point location of the first potential step path, determining a first score for the first potential step path based on the first step location error and the first capture point error, selecting the first potential step path based on comparing the first score for the first potential step path to a second score of a second potential step path, and instructing a movement of the first leg of the robot based on the first potential step path.

An automated device, in particular a robot, comprises: a movable structure; actuator means, for causing displacements of the movable structure; a control system, which includes a control unit and is able to control the actuator means; and a sensorized covering, which covers at least part of the movable structure and integrates sensor means that include at least one of contact sensor means and proximity sensor means.

The sensorized covering comprises a plurality of covering modules, each having a respective load-bearing structure of a predefined shape associated to which is at least one layer of elastically yielding material. The plurality of covering modules comprises one or more sensorized covering modules, which include respective sensor means. The load-bearing structure of at least some of the covering modules has electrical connector means associated thereto, for enabling separable electrical connection of at least two different covering modules that are adjacent to one another.

A wheel nut engagement checking system for a vehicle delivered by a conveyor includes: a moving member disposed at one side of the conveyor; a wheel lifting apparatus disposed on the moving member, and lifting a wheel of the vehicle from the conveyor to a predetermined height; a wheel nut torque checking apparatus provided on an arm of a robot disposed on the moving member, engaging a nut runner to a wheel nut of the wheel, and checking an engage torque of the wheel nut by rotating the nut runner; and a controller controlling a speed of the moving member, lifting the wheel to the predetermined height using the wheel lifting apparatus, moving the wheel nut torque checking apparatus using the robot so as to engage the nut runner to the wheel nut, and detecting an engage torque of the wheel nut by rotating the nut runner.

A moving robot is provided. The moving robot includes a body, first and second driving wheels configured to move the body, first and second caster wheels installed movably, first and second sensors configured to respectively detect a rotation angle of the first caster wheel and a rotation angle of the second caster wheel with respect to a predetermined direction axis, and a controller configured to control driving of a driving wheel according to the rotation angles. The controller calculates an average rotation angle by using the rotation angles detected by the first and second sensors and controls driving of the driving wheel by using the calculated average rotation angle.

A device for robotic direct lead-through teaching includes a robot, a replacing member and a lead-through teaching member. The robot has an operation member coupled with the replacing member. The lead-through teaching member mounted replaceably at the replacing member has a force sensor. The force sensor has six-axis load information. A path teaching is executed manually upon the operation member of the robot so as to store coordinate information. In additional, a method for robotic direct lead-through teaching is also provided.

A mobile robot that includes a robot body, a drive system having one or more wheels supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, and a riser having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the riser disposed on the robot body. The robot also includes a head disposed on the distal end of the riser. The head includes a display and a camera disposed adjacent the display.

A tactile fur sensing system and a method of operating thereof allow early detection of an impending contact with an object. A plurality of filaments or threads are positioned on a zone or area of a surface of robotic device in a cost-effective manner. One or more sensors are configured to detect electrical resistance and/or displacement of the plurality of filaments or threads. A processor determines that there is contact with an object based on the detected electrical resistance and/or displacement. The detection of electrical resistance can be based on adjustable baseline values and/or adjustable threshold values. A plurality of nubs may alternatively or in addition be positioned on a surface area. Each nub has an outer cast or protection layer defining a cavity therein. At least a portion of a sensor for detecting resistance and/or displacement is positioned within the cavity of the nub.

Example implementations may relate to optimization of observer robot locations. In particular, a control system may detect an event that indicates desired relocation of observer robots within a worksite. Each such observer robot may have respective sensor(s) configured to provide information related to respective positions of a plurality of target objects within the worksite. Responsively, the control system may (i) determine observer robot locations within the worksite at which one or more of the respective sensors are each capable of providing information related to respective positions of one or more of the plurality of target objects and (ii) determine a respectively intended level of positional accuracy for at least two respective target objects. Based on the respectively intended levels of positional accuracy, the control system may select one or more of the observer robot locations and may direct one or more observer robots to relocate to the selected locations.