A robot control system according to an embodiment is a control system for a robot comprising an arm, the arm being capable of holding a tool while rotating the tool and capable of moving the tool in at least two-dimensional directions, the arm being equipped with a rotating mechanism provided for the tool. The robot control system comprises a load-acquiring unit and a control-signal-generating unit. The load-acquiring unit is configured to acquire a force measured by a force sensor configured to measure a force applied from the tool to the arm during profile copying performed on a machining object by moving the arm while a copying guide attached to the arm and a copying mold placed on the machining object are kept in contact with each other. The control-signal-generating unit is configured to automatically control the arm by generating a control signal for the arm in accordance with the force acquired by the load-acquiring unit and with control information for the arm regarding the profile copying, and by outputting the control signal to the arm.

Systems and methods are provided for inspection. One embodiment is a method for automatically measuring a hole. The method includes driving a fiber optic probe into the hole, determining a profile by scanning the hole via the fiber optic probe, and determining whether an interface gap exists at the hole based on the profile.

A system for placing objects on a surface. The system may include a base, a robotic arm coupled, at an end thereof, to the base, an end effector coupled to the other end of the robotic arm. The end effector may be configured for releaseably coupling to an object to be placed on the surface. The system may further include one or more sensor units on a sensor frame. The one or more sensor units may be configured for sensing a two-dimensional profile data including at least two two-dimensional profiles together comprising at least three boundary portions of the object to be placed and at least three boundary portions of objects on the surface. At least two of the three boundary portions of the object to be placed may be from substantially non-parallel sides. At least two of the three boundary portions of the objects on the surface may be from substantially non-parallel sides. The system may further include a processor configured to determine at least three degrees of freedom of the object to be placed with respect to the sensor frame and six degrees of freedom of the sensor frame with respect to the objects on the surface in a three-dimensional space for determining a current pose of the object to be placed with respect to the objects on the surface based on the two-dimensional profile data. Further, the system may be configured to place the object based on differences between the current pose and a desired pose of the object to be placed determined from a model of objects on the surface in the three-dimensional space.

An arrangement for automatically removing a strip of dark meat from a fish fillet has a conveying unit for transporting the fish fillet from an inlet to an outlet area in a transport direction along a transport path. Starting from the inlet area, successively along the transport path, are provided: a first means for detecting dark meat; a first cutting apparatus for removing a middle partial strip of dark meat; a means for opening up the fillet such that cut surfaces of a ventral-side partial and of a dorsal-side partial strip of dark meat point upwards; a cutting unit for removing the partial strips, the cutting unit comprising second and third cutting apparatuses for removing the ventral and dorsal-side partial strips. A control device is connected to the detecting means and the cutting apparatuses, and all cuts are based on information from the detecting means. A corresponding method is provided.

An autonomous robot for harvesting produce from a plant include a base, an arm coupled to the base, and an end-effector coupled to the arm. The end-effector includes one or more grippers, each having a first cutter, second cutter, and a compliant member between the first cutter and the second cutter. The first cutter is configured to cut a stem of the produce at a first location. The second cutter is configured to cut the stem of the produce at a second location. The compliant member is configured to plastically deform to hold the stem of the produce.

A fastener locating tool equipped with a sensor head having one or more probes and a method for operating such a tool for precisely locating a fastener that is hidden or buried under a thick coating applied on a surface of a structure. The fastener locating tool may be manually or automatically operated. The fastener locating tool includes a platform having a central opening, means for temporarily attaching the platform to a coated surface, and a sensor head that may be easily mechanically coupled to and then later decoupled from the platform. Optionally, the fastener locating tool also includes a multi-stage positioning system with X and Y stages which may be used to adjust the position of the sensor head. The sensor head includes at least one probe which generates electrical signals indicating the presence of a fastener beneath a coating when the probe is within a detection range.

A robotic unit for harvesting a fruit having a stem, the robot unit may include a vacuum unit that is configured to move the fruit, by applying vacuum, towards a cutting region; and a mechanical cutting unit that is configured to mechanically cut the stem following a positioning of the fruit into the cutting region.

An end effector includes a cutting mechanism, a gripping mechanism, and a pivot component. The cutting mechanism and the gripping mechanism are coupled to the pivot component. The cutting mechanism is coupled to a first portion of the pivot component and the gripping mechanism is coupled to a second portion of the pivot component.

The present disclosure relates to a punching cell for punching holes in workpieces, the cell comprising an industrial robot comprising a base, a wrist and at least four robot axes between the base and the wrist; a tooling comprising a frame to be detachably attached/mounted to the wrist axis of the industrial robot, an ultrasonic puncher tool mounted on the frame, a die mounted on the frame and aligned with the puncher, and a servomotor configured to drive the puncher tool towards the die; the cell further comprising a support fixture to position the workpiece to be punched, and a control unit to control the operation of the industrial robot to punch a hole in the workpiece.

The technology disclosed relates a robotic workstations and methods for cutting timber. The robotic saw workstation can achieve improved cutting of timber. In one configuration, the robotic saw workstation includes a robot manipulator capable of moving an end effector adapter plate to points in a three-dimensional work volume under programed control of a programmable robot controller executing stored instructions. A cutting head is affixed to the end effector adapter plate. The cutting head further includes a support structure; a rotatable shaft; a blade coupled to the rotatable shaft; and a motor coupled to the rotatable shaft for driving the blade. Configurations include multiple manipulators disposed to make multiple cuts in a log substantially contemporaneously, cutting heads implementing circular, band or chain sawing mechanisms, continuous or batch-feeding of logs into and out of the workstations.