This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.

There is provided an apparatus and method for extracting a biological sample from a sample container. The apparatus comprising: a holder arranged in use to support a sample container; an extractor moveable in use between a first position disengaged from the container when the container is supported by the holder and a second position engaged with the container when the container is supported by the holder, the extractor being arranged in use to obtain matter from the container when in the second position; and an imager arranged in use to capture an image of the extractor at the first position when the extractor is moved from the second position to the first position and to identify, based on analysis of the captured image, when sample is present outside the container.

A method of controlling a robot arm for performing coffee drip includes: an arrangement checking operation of checking an arrangement of a dripper, a coffee powder container, a cup, and a kettle; a coffee powder providing operation of, when the arrangement of the cup is sensed, gripping the coffee powder container and providing a coffee powder contained in the coffee powder container to the dripper, by using the robot arm; a dripping operation of, when the coffee powder is provided to the dripper, gripping the kettle and performing a drip operation using any one of a plurality of predetermined methods, by using the robot arm; and a discharging operation of, when the dripping operation is completed, gripping the cup and transferring the cup to a discharge position.

A retainer gripping device, configured to grip a retainer accommodating a set of cotters inside the retainer, includes a retainer gripping unit, a retainer supporting portion, and a cotter supporting portion. The retainer gripping unit is configured to grip the retainer. The retainer supporting portion is configured such that the retainer gripped by the retainer gripping unit is placed in a state in which the set of cotters are accommodated inside the retainer. The cotter supporting portion is configured to support lower end edge portions of the cotters accommodated inside the retainer in a state in which the lower end edge portions are lifted upward higher than a lower end edge portion of the retainer.

A workpiece conveying system is provided, which includes a workpiece including a workpiece main body, a cylindrical gripping part protruding from the workpiece main body, and an engaging plate attached to a tip-end surface of the gripping part, a chuck device including three jaws configured to grip the gripping part in radial directions of the gripping part, and a robot to which the chuck device is attached. The engaging plate includes an overhang part protruding from the gripping part along the tip-end surface of the gripping part, and an engaging slot, into which one of the three jaws fits, is formed in the overhang part.

Systems and methods for automated wire pickup using image-based robot guidance. The machine vision-based system includes: a robot arm; a tool head coupled to the distal end of the robot arm and including a wire gripper motor; a wire gripper movably coupled to the tool head and operatively coupled to the wire gripper motor; a wire holder configured for clamping a wire; cameras mounted to the distal end of the robot arm and having first and second fields of view which intersect in a volume of space that includes the tip of the wire gripper and the wire holder; and a computer system configured to control operation of the robot arm motors and wire gripper motor. More specifically, the computer system is configured for visually estimating the position and orientation of a contact-equipped wire being held by the wire holder and then generating robot guidance to enable automated pickup of the end section of the wire by the wire gripper.

A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. A system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

An apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a first passageway extending therethrough, a housing secured to the shaft, a cam buckle, and a flexible strap extending through the shaft and housing. The housing includes a buckle chamber, a chamber window, and a second passageway extending through the buckle chamber into communication with the first passageway. The cam buckle is secured within the buckle chamber, wherein the cam buckle includes a frame and a cam member pivotably secured to the frame. The cam member includes a gripping surface and a release button accessible through the chamber window. The strap includes a first end secured to a rigid member within the shaft or housing and an accessible second end. The strap forms a loop adjacent a distal end of the shaft for receiving an object, wherein pulling the strap causes the loop to tighten around the object.

A gripper provides for gripping labware having a variety of diameters and shapes. The gripper includes a support structure having a center axis, a motor, and a gripper stage. The gripper stage includes a plurality of blades, each of the blades having a first end through which a blade rotation axis extends, a second end that is circumferentially and radially moveable to rotate the blade about the blade rotation axis, and c) a center portion. A ring structure is coupled to the motor to rotate the ring structure around the center axis. The ring structure, as it rotates, moves the second end of each blade to rotate the blade about the blade rotation axis of the blade to shift the center portion towards the center axis to contact an outer portion of a vessel extending along the center axis.

A cable terminal end detection method includes a gripping step for gripping, using a hand including a first gripping section and a second gripping section disposed to be separated on an X axis and configured to open and close in a direction along a Z axis, a cable in two places separated in a longitudinal direction with the first gripping section and the second gripping section, a moving step for, in a state in which the cable is gripped by the hand, moving the cable to the first gripping section side in a direction along the X axis relatively to the hand, and a detecting step for detecting, with a tactile sensor disposed in the second gripping section to be in contact with the cable, that the cable has slipped out from the second gripping section and detecting that a terminal end of the cable is located between the first gripping section and the second gripping section.