A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve when a pressure cap, coupled to the sleeve proximate the inlet, is in an open position. The method additionally comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge. The method also comprises selectively causing an automated coupler to automatically sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inside the sleeve and the pressure cap is in the closed position. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a first pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator.

A coating system includes coating robots configured to coat a vehicle, and an operation robot. The operation robot includes a first arm configured to turn around a first axis; a second arm configured to turn around a second axis parallel to the first axis; a third arm configured to turn around a third axis parallel to the first axis; a fourth arm configured to turn around a fourth axis perpendicular to the first axis; a fifth arm configured to turn around a fifth axis parallel to the fourth axis; and a tip jig is supported at the fifth arm and is configured to turn around a sixth axis. The sixth axis is selectively parallel to the fifth axis or perpendicular to a plane which includes the fourth axis and the fifth axis.

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve while a pressure cap is in an open position. The method also comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge and to sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through the pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator. Additionally, the method comprises moving the pressure cap into the open position to provide sufficient clearance sufficient for removal of the cartridge from the sleeve through the inlet of the sleeve.

A control apparatus includes a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control a robot supporting a dispenser, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a movement velocity of a landing point where a discharge substance discharged from a discharge port of the dispenser to an object lands on the object, wherein the movement velocity is used for controlling a discharge amount of the discharge substance.

A robotic vehicle, in particular for spraying insulation material, comprises a chassis (110), at least two driven wheels (122) having a common axis of rotation, and a wheel connecting member (151) which connects the two wheels (122). The wheel connecting member (151) is connected to the chassis by a pivotal connection which allows the wheel connecting member to pivot with respect to the chassis about a pivoting axis transverse to the common axis of rotation of the wheels. The wheel connecting member (151) may be removably mounted to the chassis (110).

Systems and methods for dispensing a liquid or viscous material onto a substrate are disclosed herein. One exemplary method of positioning an applicator of a dispensing system to apply a liquid or viscous material to an electronic substrate includes generating a two-dimensional image of the electronic substrate using a camera communicatively connected to the dispensing system. Based on the two-dimensional image of the electronic substrate, a first set of one or more sub-regions of the electronic substrate having one or more components that protrude above the surface of the electronic substrate is identified. The method further includes using height information relating to the one or more sub-regions having the one or more components to determine a control program for the dispensing system to position the applicator relative to the electronic substrate and dispense the liquid or viscous material onto the electronic substrate.

An automated insulation application system that includes a robotic arm and an insulation end effector coupled at a distal end of the robotic arm, the insulation end effector configured to apply insulation material to a target surface. The system can further include a computing device executing a computational planner that: generates instructions for driving the insulation end effector and robotic arm to perform at least one insulation application task that includes applying insulation material via the insulation end effector to a target surface, the generating based at least in part on obtained target surface data; and drives the end effector and robotic arm to perform the at least one insulation application task.

A robotic apparatus for painting a workpiece includes a redundant axis robot for use in a robotic painting system. The redundant axis of rotation provides the robot arm additional flexibility in avoiding obstacles and reaching an interior of the workpiece to apply paint thereto. The robotic apparatus could be a seven-axis robot arm or a five-axis parallel link panel opener robot arm for opening and/or closing the panel. The robot arms are mounted on at least one vertically oriented column adjacent a path of travel of the workpiece through a painting booth and the robot arms can be mounted on a common base.

An automated drywalling system for applying joint compound or plaster to drywall pieces. The system includes a robotic arm and a mudding end effector coupled at a distal end of the robotic arm, the mudding end effector configured to apply joint compound or plaster to a target surface. The system can further include a computing device executing a computational planner that: generates instructions for driving the mudding end effector and robotic arm to perform at least one mudding task that includes applying joint compound or plaster, via the mudding the end effector, to one or more joints between a plurality of drywall pieces, the generating based at least in part on obtained target surface data; and drives the end effector and robotic arm to perform the at least one mudding task.

A portable work module includes a combination of prismatic and revolute joints for positioning and orienting a robotic end effector for performing a task within confined space. For example, the portable work module may include telescoping arm integrated with wrist having a plurality of degrees of freedom with respect to telescoping arm. The portable work module includes an insert that is secured with respect to an access port of confined space, said access port serving as a reference location for calculating the position of the robotic end effector within confined space. The portable work module is configured to have a compacted configuration for insertion into confined space, and an extended configuration for performing tasks within confined space. In some examples, the portable work module is modular, such that the robotic end effector or other components may be selectively removed and replaced.