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.

Consistent connection strategies for coupling accessories to a robot can help achieve certain objectives, e.g., to tolerate and correct misalignment during coupling of the accessory. In some embodiments, the connection strategy may enable certain accessories to connect to certain sides of a robot. When connected, an accessory may be rigid in yaw, lateral motion, and fore/aft motion, while remaining unconstrained in roll and pitch as well as vertical motion. A sensor may enable detection of the accessory, and a mechanical fuse may release the accessory when a force threshold is exceeded. A mechanical coupler of an accessory may include two connectors, each of which includes a receiving area configured to receive a pin on the robot and a latch configured to retain the pin within the receiving area. The pins (and the receiving areas) may be differently sized, and may be differently arranged.

Example implementations may relate to a computing device configured to operate a robotic system. In particular, the device receives input data that is generated by a hand-holdable controller including a knob, where the knob includes touch sensors arranged to detect touch on surfaces of the knob. Based on the input data, the device detects that the controller is within a first threshold distance from a first component of the robotic system and responsively operates the first component of the robotic system based on the input data. The device then receives subsequent input data that is generated by the controller. Based on the subsequent input data, the device subsequently detects that the controller is within a second threshold distance from a second component of the robotic system and responsively operates the second component of the robotic system based on the subsequent input data.

A controller includes a control unit which stops a transfer mechanism in a case where the value of a deterioration indication parameter has exceeded a preset threshold, and determines whether or not an event in which the value of the deterioration indication parameter has exceeded the preset threshold is attributed to deterioration of the transfer mechanism which has progressed over time based on a change pattern of time series data of the value of the deterioration indication parameter, and causes the transfer mechanism to operate at a reduced operation speed, in a case where the control unit determines that the event in which the value of the deterioration indication parameter has exceeded the preset threshold is attributed to the deterioration of the transfer mechanism which has progressed over time.

A robotic device includes a kinematic chain of a plurality of components, movable relative to each other; a sensor device configured to capture a force and/or moment exerted on at least one of the mobile components; a control device configured to control a movement of the at least one of the mobile components, in the direction of the force that is exerted, as a function of the force captured by the control device and/or of the moment captured by the control device; and a first capture device coupled to the control device and provided for the purpose of contactlessly capturing an operating action of an operator. In a normal operating mode, the control device is configured to specify a mobility of at least one of the mobile components as a function of the captured operating action, improving accuracy and reliability of the device in interaction with a human operator.

A robotic device includes a kinematic chain of a plurality of components, movable relative to each other; a sensor device configured to capture a force and/or moment exerted on at least one of the mobile components; a control device configured to control a movement of the at least one of the mobile components, in the direction of the force that is exerted, as a function of the force captured by the control device and/or of the moment captured by the control device; and a first capture device coupled to the control device and provided for the purpose of contactlessly capturing an operating action of an operator. In a normal operating mode, the control device is configured to specify a mobility of at least one of the mobile components as a function of the captured operating action, improving accuracy and reliability of the device in interaction with a human operator.

A sensorized covering, prearranged for covering at least part of a movable structure of an automated device. The sensorized covering is useful for sensing an actual impact or anticipating an imminent impact to the automated device. The sensorized covering includes one or more covering modules wherein each covering module may include contact sensors and/or proximity sensors, a loading bearing structure and/or controls. The individual sensorized modules may be independently connected or controlled, or connected together and collectively controlled. Examples of the automated device my include a movable robots or an automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

A robot system with a hand-guiding function is disclosed. The robot system selects the hand-guiding function or non-hand-guiding function of an enable device by a mode option mechanism during the operation of a teach mode or an automatic mode. When selecting the hand-guiding function, the enable device has both the enabling and the hand-guiding function to easily hand-guiding the robot to operate.

A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.

A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.