A robot system for human-robot collaboration is disclosed that includes one or more proximity sensing elements disposed on the movable parts of the robot, joint position sensing sensors, and a safety control module connects the proximity sensing element and joint position sensing sensors and monitors the speed of the robot and the proximity distance to the objects and stop the robot safely when speed exceed the set limit. The safety control module switches the safety status of the robot when a set proximity distance threshold is triggered. Then, multiple embodiments of the safety status triggered by proximity sensing are introduced for different processes of the human-robot collaboration, includes separation monitoring, force limiting for bumping, and manipulation of the robot. Furthermore, embodiments of utilizing different types of sensors to implement the proximity sensing elements are also disclosed.

A robot cell useful for robot demonstrations. The robot cell includes a base frame having an outer casing and a working surface having a through opening. A multi-axis demonstration robot is mounted to a stand within the base and may selectively be raised through the through opening to a demonstration position above the working surface or a storage position below the working surface and concealed within the base frame outer casing. A protective screen is positioned outside the working surface and base frame and is selectively raised and lowered to respectively surround the working surface and robot during demonstrations and lowered around the base frame during non-use. The base may include one or more retractable drawers for storage of cell control units or a robot controller. When in a storage or non-demonstration position, the cell is transportable and compact taking a minimum amount of space.

There is provided a control device to protect an actuator through a simple configuration in a case where a power transmission mechanism receives external force, the control device including a comparison section and a driving force control section. The comparison section compares a first rotation position and a second rotation position with each other. The first rotation position is a rotation position of an input shaft of a power transmission mechanism, and the second rotation position is a rotation position of an output shaft of the power transmission mechanism. The driving force control section controls driving force of an actuator that drives the input shaft on the basis of a difference between the first rotation position and the second rotation position. This configuration allows the actuator to be protected through a simple configuration in a case where the power transmission mechanism receives external force.

A controller is configured to operate a robot arm at a speed that is equal to or lower than a first maximum speed in a high-speed operation region, and operate the robot arm at a speed that is equal to or lower than a second maximum speed lower than the first maximum speed in a low-speed operation region, and change a collision detection sensitivity between the high-speed operation region and the low-speed operation region so that the collision detection sensitivity in the high-speed operation region becomes lower than the collision detection sensitivity in the low-speed operation region.

A control system for a compliant robotic system including at least two compliant robots having actuator packs, the control system including: an individual local control system associated with each actuator pack, the local control system providing control signals to the actuator causing movement within the robots, an overall control system controlling the overall motion of robots when proximate within a workspace, the overall control signal providing signals to the actuators associated with the robots, so as to cause linked movement of the continuum arm robots, and wherein each individual control system is provided with a clock synchronized with the other, and wherein the overall control system is provided with a redundancy control system that limits the motion of the compliant robots within certain degrees of freedom, so that the motion of the at least two complaint robots does not conflict when operating under the overall control system.

Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace - where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace - may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

In one embodiment, a selectable-rate spring comprises a flexure bar connected to a rotatable shaft, the flexure bar having at least one arched portion. The selectable-rate spring also includes at least one rotational contactor connectable to a link member, wherein the rotational contactor rotates about an axis while maintaining contact with the arched portion of the flexure bar. As the rotational contactor rotates, it changes the connection stiffness between the rotatable shaft and the link member.

A robot with an impact buffering member on the surface of a robot arm for alleviating the impact when the arm contacts an object; and a contact detection unit for detecting a contact between the robot arm and object. The unit has a soft porous member on the front surface side of the impact buffering member and softer than the member; a housing member including the soft porous member and formed of a flexible material; a fluid discharge pipe for discharging a fluid inside the housing member when the object makes contact so the volume of the housing member decreases; and a volume change detection portion for detecting a change in volume of the housing member by utilizing the discharged fluid. It is possible to secure sufficient safety in a cooperative work between a person and a robot or the like, even when the person contacts the robot arm.

A robot with an impact buffering member on the surface of a robot arm for alleviating the impact when the arm contacts an object; and a contact detection unit for detecting a contact between the robot arm and object. The unit has a soft porous member on the front surface side of the impact buffering member and softer than the member; a housing member including the soft porous member and formed of a flexible material; a fluid discharge pipe for discharging a fluid inside the housing member when the object makes contact so the volume of the housing member decreases; and a volume change detection portion for detecting a change in volume of the housing member by utilizing the discharged fluid. It is possible to secure sufficient safety in a cooperative work between a person and a robot or the like, even when the person contacts the robot arm.

Apparatus and methods for navigation of a robotic device configured to operate in an environment comprising objects and/or persons. Location of objects and/or persons may changed prior and/or during operation of the robot. In one embodiment, a bistatic sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver may be spatially displaced from the transmitter. The transmitter may project a pattern on a surface in the direction of robot movement. In one variant, the pattern comprises an encoded portion and an information portion. The information portion may be used to communicate information related to robot movement to one or more persons. The encoded portion may be used to determine presence of one or more object in the path of the robot. The receiver may sample a reflected pattern and compare it with the transmitted pattern. Based on a similarity measure breaching a threshold, indication of object present may be produced.