Robotic drummers include voice coil actuators that are coupled to linear-to-rotary motion convertors to produce drumstick rotations so as to strike a drum head. Such rotations can be triggered via a microprocessor using stored performance data, by a user with a mouse, trackpad, joystick, or other user input device. Performances are enhanced by driving the VCA with drive signals have random variations associated with strike timing, amplitude, location, and speed. Multiple strikes are provided by reducing, eliminating, or reversing drumstick rotation with a corresponding drive signal upon detection of drumstick contact with the drum head.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A system and method for using a probe assembly to apply a desired force to a target surface. The method includes moving the probe assembly into an approach position, the approach position being a predetermined distance from the target surface. The probe assembly is then moved from the approach position to the target surface pursuant to a soft landing procedure. The soft landing procedure includes determining that the probe assembly has moved into soft contact with the target surface. The method further includes applying, subsequent to establishment of the soft contact between the probe assembly and the target surface, force to the probe assembly until an applied force on the target surface reaches the desired force. The applied force may then be monitored based upon an output of a load cell responsive to a force exerted by the probe assembly.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide proportional integral derivative control (PID) using multiple actuators. In one embodiment, a process includes providing a PID controller in communication with a primary actuator and a secondary actuator, the primary actuator and the secondary actuator coupled to a handler, such as a robotic arm for manipulating an object. The process further includes receiving position feedback and a specified trajectory for the handler, and generating a dynamic feedforward force command and a position correction command for the handler based on the position feedback and the specified trajectory. The process further includes providing, from the PID controller, the dynamic feedforward force command to the secondary actuator and the position correction command to the primary actuator.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide proportional integral derivative control (PID) using multiple actuators. In one embodiment, a process includes providing a PID controller in communication with a primary actuator and a secondary actuator, the primary actuator and the secondary actuator coupled to a handler. The process further includes receiving position feedback and a specified trajectory for the handler, and generating a dynamic feedforward force command and a position correction command for the handler based on the position feedback and the specified trajectory. The process further includes providing, from the PID controller, the dynamic feedforward force command to the secondary actuator and the position correction command to the primary actuator.

An article pickup apparatus configured so as to measure surface positions of articles randomly piled on the three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional measurement instrument to acquire position information of three-dimensional points, determine a connected set made by connecting three-dimensional points present in the vicinity of each other among the three-dimensional points, and identify a position and posture of an article based on the position information of three-dimensional points belonging to the connected set. The posture of the article is identified by calculating a main component direction of the connected set by applying main component analysis to the three-dimensional points belonging to the connected set and identifying the posture of the article based on the main component direction.

The present teachings provide a method of controlling a remote vehicle having an end effector and an image sensing device. The method includes obtaining an image of an object with the image sensing device, determining a ray from a focal point of the image to the object based on the obtained image, positioning the end effector of the remote vehicle to align with the determined ray, and moving the end effector along the determined ray to approach the object.

Automatic teat treatment method and apparatus for treatment operations on teats of an animal using a robot apparatus. The method includes initiating automatic detection of spatial teat positions and registering the spatial positions of the detected teats; and deriving a dedicated treating action effective to move the treating device through a dedicated path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and carrying out treatment by moving the treating device through the dedicated path. When not all of the spatial positions are detected, then the method registers the spatial position of each detected teat and derives an adapted treating action effective to move the treating device through an adapted path defined by the registered spatial teat positions and by approximated spatial locations. When no teat spatial positions have been detected, the method derives a default treating action effective to move the treating device through a default treating path.

Semi-closed control or fully closed control is selected as a control system for a joint using a motor configured to drive a joint of a robot arm via a reduction gear, an input-side encoder, and an output-side encoder, the semi-closed control being control in which an output of the input-side encoder is used, the fully closed control being control in which an output of the output-side encoder is used. A test run is performed plural times in which the robot arm is caused to perform a specific operation while semi-closed control is being performed on the joint, and semi-closed control or fully closed control is selected using outputs of the output-side encoder obtained in the test runs or in accordance with the content of a task that the robot arm is to be caused to perform.

Automated assembly systems and methods are configured to automatically insert components into grommets. The systems include a component insertion sub-system configured to insert first components into first cavities of a first grommet, an imaging sub-system configured to acquire images of the first grommet, and a grommet shift determination sub-system in communication with the component insertion sub-system and the imaging sub-system. The grommet shift determination sub-system is configured to compare at least two images of the first grommet acquired by the imaging sub-system to determine distance changes between the first cavities in response to one or more of the first components being inserted into one or more of the first cavities, and generate an insertion map that accounts for the distance changes.