An end effector system is disclosed for a robotic system that includes a primary acquisition system that includes a primary end effector, and a secondary retention system that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the primary acquisition system, wherein at least a portion of the primary acquisition system may be drawn up within at least a portion of the secondary retention system such that the primary end effector system may be used to select an object from a plurality of objects, and the secondary retention system may be used to secure the object for rapid transport to an output destination.

The gripper module includes a base plate having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; a driver disposed on a base plate to generate a driving power; a gripper transporter disposed on the base plate so as to be connected to the driver, and coupled to the driver and a gripper configured to grip a transport target carrier to linearly transport the gripper between a gripping position and a release position in the first direction; and a vibration absorber connected to the gripper transporter to block an external shock or an external vibration from being transmitted to the gripper.

A manufacturing method includes locking a material to be cut against a cutting bed, stabilizing the material against the cutting bed, and cutting the material.

A robot machining system including: a robot in which a hand is attached to a distal end of an arm thereof; a force sensor provided in one of the robot and the machining device and detecting a force acting therebetween when a workpiece is being machined; and a control device that controls the robot or the machining device according to the detected force, wherein one of the machining device and the hand is provided with guide surfaces that extend along a direction in which the machining device and the hand are relatively moved when the workpiece is machined; the other of the machining device and the hand is provided with guided portions that are brought into contact with the guide surfaces when the workpiece is machined; and the control device performs control for maintaining a contact state between the guide surfaces and the guided portions during machining of the workpiece.

This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.

A method for detaching or installing a rotor blade from or to a hub of a wind turbine includes positioning the rotor blade toward a ground location between a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position. The method also includes mounting a mechanical arm to an uptower location of the wind turbine. Further, the mechanical arm includes a torqueing tool at a distal end thereof. Thus, the method also includes removing or installing, via the torqueing tool, each of the plurality of hub fasteners so as to detach or attach the rotor blade from or to the hub.

An end effector system is disclosed for a robotic system that includes a primary acquisition system that includes a primary end effector, and a secondary retention system that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the primary acquisition system, wherein at least a portion of the primary acquisition system may be drawn up within at least a portion of the secondary retention system such that the primary end effector system may be used to select an object from a plurality of objects, and the secondary retention system may be used to secure the object for rapid transport to an output destination.

A robot system provided with: a conveying apparatus; a robot that performs processing on an article being conveyed; a camera that captures images of the article being conveyed; a conveying-velocity calculating portion that calculates at least one of a position of the article on the conveying apparatus and a velocity at which the article is conveyed by the conveying apparatus on the basis of the plurality of images captured by the camera; and a control unit that controls the robot on the basis of at least one of the position and the conveying velocity. The control unit determines whether or not the article is present in the images, and, in the case in which the article is absent, controls the robot on the basis of at least one of the position and the conveying velocity calculated by the conveying-velocity calculating portion immediately therebefore.

Apparatus and methods that can be used to stabilize the distal end of an arm (and an end effector attached thereto) of an automated extended-reach tool-equipped assembly. Stabilization is provided by three or more stabilizers, each comprising a stationary part and a movable part. Each stationary part has a fixed location relative to the end effector; each movable part is translatably coupled to a respective stationary part and comprises a contactor disposed at a distal end of the movable part. When the stabilizers are actuated, the contactors are translated toward and into contact with the surface of the workpiece and then locked in place to stabilize the distal end of the arm and the end effector. During tool operation, the stabilizers reduce oscillation of the end effector (and all structure fixedly coupled thereto).

A tool attachment (200) for a robotic manipulator (100), includes a housing (202), an input shaft (208) configured to be engaged by an end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100), an output shaft (210), and a tool (214) coupled to the output shaft (210). The housing (202) includes at least one slot or at least one projection for preventing relative rotational movement between the housing (202) and a housing of the robotic manipulator (100). Upon engagement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) with the input shaft (208), the tool attachment (200) is retained on the robotic manipulator (100), and rotational movement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) acts to rotate said input shaft (208) and drive said tool (214).