Certain aspects relate to systems with robotically controllable field generators and applications thereof. In one application, a robotic medical system, comprising a first robotic arm coupled to an electromagnetic (EM) field generator configured to generate an EM field, an EM sensor, and a processor. The processor may be configured to transmit a command to the first robotic arm to cause movement of the EM field generator along a robotic trajectory while the EM sensor remains at a location. An EM sensor trajectory of the EM sensor within the EM field corresponding to a period of time in which the EM field generator moved along the robotic trajectory may be detected. The robotic trajectory and the EM sensor trajectory may be analyzed to determine a difference between the robotic trajectory and the EM sensor trajectory; and EM distortion at the location may be detected comparing the difference and a threshold.

A cable conveying apparatus including a first feed robot configured to feed a box containing cable, a first transfer robot configured to take the cable out of the box fed by the first feed robot and insert the cable into a pallet, and a scanner placed in a path of one of the first feed robot, the first transfer robot, and the box, the scanner being configured to acquire information about the cable.

A robot with a noncontact sensor is configured to: perform the predetermined motion in a state where the moving object does not enter, and thereby store, for each of a plurality of measurement points set in a movable range of the robot, an output value of the noncontact sensor as a reference output value in advance, and stop the predetermined motion when the output value of the noncontact sensor changes from the reference output value at the measurement point closest to a current operating position of the robot by a first threshold value or larger when the robot is performing the predetermined motion in a state where the moving object could possibly enter and the current operating position of the robot is in a range in which it is necessary to determine an entering state of the moving object.

This invention relates to a robot, more particularly to a child-sized expressive humanoid robot, with realistic, but simplified features, even more particularly to the hand of such a robot, where the hand comprises a magnet and an RFID sensor and optionally a FSR sensor to enable object interaction between a user and the robot.

A pier maintenance system and a structural maintenance system are provided. The pier maintenance system is configured to maintain elongate members of the pier (e.g. piles). The pier maintenance system includes a delivery module, configured to navigate between the elongate members; and a maintenance module, coupled to the delivery module, and configured to navigate along the elongate members, to maintain the pier.

Inspection robots with a payload engagement device are described. An example inspection robot may have a housing, a drive module, having at least one wheel and a motor, where the drive module is operatively coupled to the housing. The example inspection robot may also have a payload coupled to the drive module, where the payload includes a sensor mounted to the payload, and a payload engagement device operationally coupled to the drive module and the payload, where the payload engagement device applies a selected downward force on the payload.

Inspection robots with a payload engagement device are described. An example inspection robot may have a housing, a drive module, having at least one wheel and a motor, where a sled is coupled to the payload, the sled having a sensor mounted thereon, and a payload engagement device interposed between the drive module and the payload and structured to regulate an engagement of the sled with an inspection surface.

A two wheeled throwable robot comprises an elongate chassis with two ends, a motor at each end, drive wheels connected to the motors, and a tail extending from the elongate chassis. The throwable robot includes an enable/disable arrangement comprising a pair of magnets generating a magnetic field and a magnetic field sensor positioned in proximity to the pair of magnets. The sensor is activated upon the occurrence of a specific modification of the magnetic field. The throwable robot may include a key member formed of a material to modify the magnetic field to enable the robot.

The present invention relates to gripping tongs, particularly pneumatically operated gripping tongs. The gripping tongs comprise a housing in which a preferably pneumatically operable linear drive is formed. A first and a second gripper jaw movable relative to each other and relative to the housing, in particular pivotably mounted, are further provided. To be able to detect whether a workpiece (object to be gripped) has been effectively gripped, particularly in the case of miniature gripping tongs of this type, the invention provides for one of the two gripper jaws of the gripping tongs to itself be designed as a sensor and thereby serve to emit a corresponding signal when the gripper jaws of the gripping tongs have gripped a workpiece and/or when the gripping tongs are in their closed state.

Provided are a tool exchange device and a tool exchange system that enable management of a coupling state according to a tool to be fixed. A tool exchange device including a male member to be detachably attached to an apparatus side and a female member to be detachably attached to a tool side includes: a proximity sensor provided in the male member; and a target provided in the female member, the target corresponding to the proximity sensor, and the target is provided in the female member in such a manner that a distance between the target and the proximity sensor in a state in which the male member and the female member are coupled together is adjustable.