The present invention provides a system for moving an object within an environment, wherein the system includes: one or more modular wheels configured to move the object, wherein the one or more modular wheels include: a body configured to be attached to the object; a wheel; a drive configured to rotate the wheel; a sensor mounted to the body; and, one or more processing devices configured to control the one or more modular wheels in accordance with signals from the sensor to thereby rotate the wheel and move the object.

A component supply device includes a hopper, a conveyance robot, a pick-up stand, and a discharge stand. A temporary placement position at which the component is temporarily placed on the tray is disposed on a straight line connecting a supply position at which the component is supplied to the conveyance robot in the hopper and a hand-over position at which the component is delivered from the conveyance robot on the discharge stand. The discharge stand includes a posture changer that changes a posture of the component conveyed by the conveyance robot.

A component supply device includes a hopper, a conveyance robot, a pick-up stand, and a discharge stand. A temporary placement position at which the component is temporarily placed on the tray is disposed on a straight line connecting a supply position at which the component is supplied to the conveyance robot in the hopper and a hand-over position at which the component is delivered from the conveyance robot on the discharge stand. The discharge stand includes a posture changer that changes a posture of the component conveyed by the conveyance robot.

One variation of a method for managing virtual shopping lists includes: dispatching robotic systems, deployed in store, to autonomously scan inventory structures within this store; deriving current stock conditions of this store based on scan data recorded by these robotic systems; initializing a virtual shopping list for a user; in response to receipt of selection of a first product, from a population of products, isolating a subset of stores, in the set of stores in the geographic region, associated with current stock conditions indicating presence of the first product and products previously added to the virtual shopping list; in response to the subset of stores including at least one store, adding a first identifier of the first product to the virtual shopping list; and specifying a particular store, in the subset of stores, for fulfillment of a set of products on the virtual shopping list.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for preparing a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the method includes a robotic arm, a sensor configured to generate information indicative of a location of the robotic arm, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the information from the sensor, determine that the robotic arm is located at a first position in which a first axis associated with the robotic arm is not in alignment with a second axis associated with a port installed in a patient, and provide a command to move the robotic arm to a second position in which the first axis associated with the robotic arm is in alignment with the second axis.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for preparing a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the method includes a robotic arm, a sensor configured to generate information indicative of a location of the robotic arm, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the information from the sensor, determine that the robotic arm is located at a first position in which a first axis associated with the robotic arm is not in alignment with a second axis associated with a port installed in a patient, and provide a command to move the robotic arm to a second position in which the first axis associated with the robotic arm is in alignment with the second axis.

The articulated-arm robot has a robot arm with an arm element movable via a joint and a sensor for continuously measuring a status parameter of the joint. The articulated-arm robot also has an optical signaling device arranged on the robot arm in spatial assignment to the joint and an assessment device for continuously assessing the measured status parameter in a joint-specific manner and for controlling the signaling device on the basis of the assessment result.

The articulated-arm robot has a robot arm with an arm element movable via a joint and a sensor for continuously measuring a status parameter of the joint. The articulated-arm robot also has an optical signaling device arranged on the robot arm in spatial assignment to the joint and an assessment device for continuously assessing the measured status parameter in a joint-specific manner and for controlling the signaling device on the basis of the assessment result.

A virtualization system implemented within a cloud server enables the simulation of robot structure and behavior in a virtual environment. The simulated robots are controlled by clients remote from the cloud server, enabling human operators or autonomous robot control programs running on the clients to control the movement and behavior of the simulated robots within the virtual environment. Data describing interactions between robots, the virtual environment, and objects can be recorded for use in future robot design. The virtualization system can include robot templates, enabling users to quickly select and customize a robot to be simulated, and further enabling users to update and re-customize the robot in real-time during the simulation. The virtualization system can re-simulate a portion of the robot simulation when an intervention by a human operator is detected, positioning robots, people, and objects within the virtual environment based on the detected intervention.

A virtualization system implemented within a cloud server enables the simulation of robot structure and behavior in a virtual environment. The simulated robots are controlled by clients remote from the cloud server, enabling human operators or autonomous robot control programs running on the clients to control the movement and behavior of the simulated robots within the virtual environment. Data describing interactions between robots, the virtual environment, and objects can be recorded for use in future robot design. The virtualization system can include robot templates, enabling users to quickly select and customize a robot to be simulated, and further enabling users to update and re-customize the robot in real-time during the simulation. The virtualization system can re-simulate a portion of the robot simulation when an intervention by a human operator is detected, positioning robots, people, and objects within the virtual environment based on the detected intervention.