A method and system for optimizing the pose of a picking tool with respect to at least one previously selected item in a topmost layer of target items to be picked from a transport structure are provided. The method includes the step of generating all legal poses of the picking tool with respect to the configuration of items on the topmost layer in which the picking tool subtends the at least one previously selected item. The method also includes selecting the picking tool pose for picking the at least one previously selected item based on the generated legal poses.

A measurement system includes a multi-axis robot, a measurement unit coupled to the multi-axis robot, and a data processing apparatus, wherein the measurement unit includes one or more imaging devices movable with respect to a reference position of the multi-axis robot, and a position specification device for specifying a position of one or more of the imaging devices with respect to the reference position, wherein the data processing apparatus includes an acquisition part for acquiring a plurality of pieces of captured image data generated by having one or more of the imaging devices capture images at two or more positions, and a measurement part for measuring a distance between the plurality of feature points in a workpiece on the basis of a position of the feature point of the workpiece included in the plurality of pieces of captured image data.

A robot climbing control method is disclosed. The method obtains an RGB color image and a depth image of stairs, extracts an outline of a target object of a target step on the stairs from the RGB color image, determines relative position information of the robot and the target step according to the depth image and the outline of the target object, and controls the robot to climb the target step according to the relative position information. The embodiment of the present disclosure allows the robot to effectively adjust postures and forward directions on any size of and non-standardized stairs and avoids the deviation of the walking direction, thereby improving the effectiveness and safety of the stair climbing of the robot.

The present invention provides an unmanned transfer robot system including: an unmanned transfer vehicle capable of traveling on a road surface between a plurality of work stations; a robot that is mounted on the unmanned transfer vehicle; a sensor that is mounted on the robot and that detects a condition of the road surface; and a control unit that controls the robot and the unmanned transfer vehicle. Within an operation range of the robot, the sensor is disposed at a position where the sensor can detect a condition of the road surface in the periphery of the unmanned transfer vehicle, and the control unit controls the unmanned transfer vehicle on the basis of the condition of the road surface acquired by the sensor.

A robotic pack station is disclosed. The robotic pack station automates the transfer of items from a tote or bin to a shipping container such as a box in a warehouse, storage or sales facility. The robotic pack station includes system and method components, and includes a work cell with a robotic arm, machine vision or sensing system, a conveyor and pack platform. Imaging of the contents of the tote with a scan tunnel and connectivity with a sorter device allows for the operation of multiple robotic pack stations, each with a specialized function such as a small box line, a medium box line, and the like.

A robotic system for dynamic controlling the movement of a mobile robot is presented. The robotic system includes a multi-level transport system arranged in an xyz-space. The multi-level transport system includes a plurality of magnetic tracks configured to allow movement of the mobile robot in at least one direction in the xy-plane. The multi-level transport system further includes a plurality of transfer mechanisms configured to change the direction of the mobile robot in the xy-plane, and to allow the movement of the mobile robot in a direction along the z-axis, each transfer mechanism defining a transfer node in the multi-level transport system. The robotic system further includes a control system configured to dynamically control the movement of the mobile robot in the x,y,z direction at one or more transfer nodes of the multi-level transport system, by dynamically activating a corresponding magnetic track or a corresponding transfer mechanism.

A harvesting device includes a harvesting unit that harvests an object to be harvested, a harvesting unit moving unit that moves the harvesting unit to an appropriate position for harvesting the object to be harvested, a main body on which the harvesting unit and the harvesting unit moving unit are provided, a main body moving unit that moves the main body, and a controller. The controller executes a first step of determining whether or not one or more obstacles interfere with the harvesting unit when the harvesting unit is positioned at the appropriate position, a second step of determining whether or not the one or the plurality of obstacles interfere with the harvesting unit-moving unit when the harvesting unit is positioned at the appropriate position when it is determined that the interference does not occur in the first step, and a third step of causing the harvesting unit to harvest the object to be harvested when it is determined that the interference does not occur in the second step.

The technology is directed to training a system to generate pick instructions. A teleoperator system may receive data corresponding to a robot attempting a picking task including picking an item of an identified product type from a container. The data may include imagery of an end effector of the robot after the attempted picking task. The teleoperator system may display the imagery on a display and an input indicating whether the picking task was successfully or unsuccessfully performed by the robot may be received. The data may be labeled based on the input and transmitted to a processor for training a learning algorithm for use in generating future pick instructions.

A food preparation system arranged in a kitchen includes a gantry fixed with the kitchen, at least one robot arm having an end effector supported on a base in the kitchen, where the base is movably mounted on the gantry, defining a reaching distance of the robot from the end effector to the base, along a travel path of the base on the gantry, a storage container arranged in the kitchen, within the reaching distance of the at least one robot arm, and configured for storing a food item, at least one ingredient distribution device arranged in the kitchen, within the reaching distance of the at least one robot arm, and configured for dispensing at least one ingredient on the food item, and an oven arranged in the kitchen, within the reaching distance of the at least one robot arm, and configured for baking the food item.

A robot control system includes: a selector configured to perform a selection of a task object from among a plurality of workpieces by using a first vision sensor; and an operation control section configured to control a robot to perform a task on the task object by using a tool. The selection and the task are executed simultaneously and in parallel, the selector transmits the information of the selected task object to the operation control section before the task, and the operation control section controls the robot based on the transmitted information of the task object.