A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a structure. The apparatus may comprise the end effector and a sensor system. The end effector may be configured to perform an operation on the structure. The sensor system may have a plurality of sensors extending outward from the end effector.

In an optical components automatic alignment robot, a motorized target moves closer or further from a digital camera being tested or assembled. A light sensor is used to automatically calibrate an ultraviolet (UV) or other light source used for curing adhesive. An automatic surface finder is used to accurately and repeatably find a surface on which adhesive is to be dispensed.

Sensory processing of visual, auditory, and other sensor information (e.g., visual imagery, LIDAR, RADAR) is conventionally based on stovepiped, or isolated processing, with little interactions between modules. Biological systems, on the other hand, fuse multi-sensory information to identify nearby objects of interest more quickly, more efficiently, and with higher signal-to-noise ratios. Similarly, examples of the OpenSense technology disclosed herein use neurally inspired processing to identify and locate objects in a robot's environment. This enables the robot to navigate its environment more quickly and with lower computational and power requirements.

Systems and methods for a robotic system capable of carrying out operations in a hazardous or confined space. The system comprises a manipulator arm, a plinth, a trolley, an end effector, and a control system. The plinth and trolley each comprise one or more locking pawls for securing the system to mounting levels along a length of the manipulator arm. The system is capable of maneuvering between mounting points in an inch-worm-like fashion. Motion starts from a fixed position where both the trolley and plinth locking pawls are secured to a first mounting level along the length of the manipulator arm. The trolley locking pawls are then released and the trolley runs along the manipulator and secures locking pawls to a second mounting level along the length of the manipulator arm. The plinth locking pawls are then released and the plinth is drawn to the second mounting level along the length of the manipulator arm where it is secured via locking pawls. When both the plinth and trolley are secured, operations can be carried out.

Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.

A robot system includes: at least one supporting unit, on which a person is placeable; a robot including a plurality of multi-jointed arms, each of which has a plurality of degrees of freedom, and at least one base provided with the plurality of multi-jointed arms; and at least one type of equipment mountable to the plurality of multi-jointed arms. The robot performs at least two nursing/medical actions on the person by operating the at least one type of equipment.

A system to remove scale prior to well completion is inserted into a marine riser section, the system comprising a robotic crawler comprising a motive assembly sized to fit within an interior of the marine riser section and a predetermined set of attachments, operatively connected to the motive assembly, which are useful for conducting a predetermined set of marine riser interior cleaning and inspection operations while deployed within the marine riser. A first attachment of the predetermined set of attachments is used to clean an interior of the marine riser; at a first predetermined time, a second attachment of the predetermined set of attachments is used to perform a predetermined set of inspections of the interior of the marine riser section. At a second predetermined time, effluent resulting from the cleaning may be removed.

Technical objective is to provide an in-pipe inspection robot for inspecting interior of a pipe, which can exert repulsive force to the pipe when the linear actuator is driven. To this purpose, the in-pipe inspection robot, which is moved inside the pipe to inspect the interior of the pipe, includes a linear actuator which is extendably and contractably driven, and a braking unit configured to fix a rear end of the linear actuator to an inner wall of the pipe and release a front end of the linear actuator from a fixed state, when the linear actuator is being extended, and release the rear end of the linear actuator from the fixed state and fix the front end of the linear actuator to the inner wall of the pipe, when the linear actuator is being contracted.

A leak check system is provided, which supplies air to inspection target space that an object to be inspected has and checks leak based on a pressure change of inspection target space. System includes pedestal, robotic arm including plurality of arm bodies serially coupled from pedestal, robot control device configured to control operation of robotic arm, air supply hand, having air discharge part connected to object to be inspected to discharge air into inspection target space, and attachably and detachably attached to a tip-end part of robotic arm, air supply source, air supply pipe configured to lead air from air supply source to air discharge part, pressure sensor, provided to air supply pipe, and configured to send detected pressure data to robot control device, and air supply mechanism of which supply of air from air supply source to air discharge part is controlled by robot control device.

According to one embodiment, a robot device includes a robot and a station part. The robot is inserted into a gap between an outer peripheral surface of a first part of a first member and a second member surrounding the outer peripheral surface. The first member includes the first part and a second part. A step is formed between the first part and the second part. The station part includes an elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism lowers the robot onto the outer peripheral surface of the first member on a lower stage side of the step, and raises the robot from the outer peripheral surface.