A vacuum cup damage detection system detects vacuum cup damage or absence in a robot singulator including a vacuum-based end effector with one or more vacuum cups. The system generally comprises a plate and a control subsystem. The plate provides a potential point of engagement for the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector when the robot singulator is moved to a predetermined position in which, if present, at least one of the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector is in contact with the plate. The control subsystem includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain readings indicative of the engagement of the one or more vacuum cups with the plate or lack thereof; and a controller configured to determine whether any one of the vacuum cups is damaged or missing based on the readings obtained by the one or more sensors.

Systems and methods for designing, testing, and validating a robotic system for space are provided. A system includes: a robotic manipulator; a dynamic system emulator configured to simulate a motion behaviour response of a first space robotic system based on forces and moments measured by the first robotic manipulator during physical interaction of the first robotic manipulator with a second robotic manipulator emulating motion behaviour of a second space robotic system; an arm controller configured to generate a manipulator tip reference trajectory command based on the motion behaviour response simulated by the dynamic system emulator and provide the manipulator tip reference trajectory command to the robotic manipulator; and an arm mechanism in the robotic manipulator configured to track a trajectory based on the manipulator tip reference trajectory command, such that the robotic manipulator emulates motion behaviour of the first space robotic system.

Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. A manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.

Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. In an example, a manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.

A differential joint device for a robot includes a first shaft extending in a first direction, a second shaft connected to the first shaft and extending in a second direction vertical to the first direction, a first friction wheel rotatably disposed on one side of the first shaft, a second friction wheel rotatably disposed on another side of the first shaft, a third friction wheel rotatably disposed at one end of the second shaft, the third friction wheel being in contact with the first friction wheel and the second friction wheel, a pitch output encoder disposed to detect a rotation angle of the first shaft, a roll output encoder disposed to detect a rotation angle of the third friction wheel, a first driver configured to rotate the first friction wheel, and a second driver configured to rotate the second friction wheel.

A joint includes a joint housing, a first fixing element and a second fixing element. The first fixing element is rotatably connected to the joint housing and has a first fixing portion. The second fixing element is fixed to the joint housing and has a second fixing portion. The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion respectively have matching structures.

A construction robot (10), in particular for performance of building construction work, including a manipulator (18), a changeover interface (21) arranged on the manipulator (18) and configured for releasable arrangement of at least one element, in particular a tool (24) and/or a component to be processed, on the manipulator (18). A test device (104) which is configured for quality testing of the changeover interface (21), safety risks on use of the construction robot (10) can be minimized.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to an intelligence module for a robotic pick-and-place system. As the intelligence module identifies the next pick for the robotic gripper, data is logged and presented to a user. The user can evaluate why the system decided to select a particular target object, and adjust parameters of the system (such as filtering and sorting rules, gripper opening amounts, etc.) to achieve desired outcomes and/or load balancing. The system may optionally simulate proposed changes to estimate how the changes would affect system throughput and display projected and historical throughput on an analytics interface so that the user can evaluate the effects of their proposed changes.

A differential joint device for a robot includes a first shaft extending in a first direction, a second shaft connected to the first shaft and extending in a second direction vertical to the first direction, a first friction wheel rotatably disposed on one side of the first shaft, a second friction wheel rotatably disposed on another side of the first shaft, a third friction wheel rotatably disposed at one end of the second shaft, the third friction wheel being in contact with the first friction wheel and the second friction wheel, a pitch output encoder disposed to detect a rotation angle of the first shaft, a roll output encoder disposed to detect a rotation angle of the third friction wheel, a first driver configured to rotate the first friction wheel, and a second driver configured to rotate the second friction wheel.