A vehicle to collect and transport flat articles; the vehicle being configured to transport at least 500 kg; the vehicle comprises a frame having at least one support device, which is configured to receive a plurality of flat articles; a first moving device, which is configured to move said vehicle; at least one holding device, which is configured to hold, grab and release at least one flat ceramic article; and a moving assembly to move at least one of either the holding device or said support device relative to the other one along at least one moving trajectory, which is at least partially vertical.

A board manufacturing system includes an autonomous mobile cart configured to transport an object used in board work devices of a mounting line, a robot arm provided on the autonomous mobile cart and configured to transport the object used in the board work devices to the board work devices, and a controller provided in the autonomous mobile cart and configured or programmed to control driving of the robot arm. The controller is configured or programmed to control the driving of the robot arm such that the robot arm transports the object used in the board work devices into and out of the board work devices within a movable range of a working unit in the board work devices in a plan view.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media are provided for determining: 1) sensor parameters for sensors of a robot and 2) model parameters of a dynamic model of the robot. The sensor parameters and model parameters are determined based on applying, as values for known variables of a system equation of the robot, sensor readings and position values for each of a plurality of instances of a traversal of the robot along a trajectory. The system equation of the robot is a dynamic model for the robot that includes sensor models substituted for one or more corresponding variables of the dynamic model. The system equation includes unknown variables representing unknown sensor biases for the sensors of the robot and unknown model parameters of the dynamic model of the robot. Solutions to the unknown variables are generated and utilized to determine the sensor parameters and the model parameters.

An example system includes a vehicle and a sensor connected to the vehicle. The system may receive a predetermined path for the vehicle to follow. The system may also receive a plurality of objectives, associated with a corresponding set of sensor data, for which to collect sensor data. The system may determine, for each of the plurality of objectives, a portion of the environment for the sensor to scan to acquire the corresponding set of sensor data. The system may determine, based on the portion of the environment determined for each of the plurality of objectives, a sensor trajectory through which to move the sensor. The system may cause the sensor to move through the determined sensor trajectory and scan portions of the environment corresponding to the determined sensor trajectory as the vehicle moves along the predetermined path.

A modular cargo storage system (CSS) is described for use on a base platform of a modular autonomous bot apparatus that transports an item being shipped. The modular CSS includes a set of folding structural walls, an interlocking alignment interface on at least one of the walls, and a modular component power and data transport bus. The walls at least partially enclose a payload area above the base platform. The interlocking alignment interface has a set of latches and a locking handle coupled to the set of latches that actuates the latches to interlock with the base platform. The power and data transport bus have top and bottom side modular component electronics interfaces where each interface has a power conduit outlet and a command and data communication interface.

A movable gantry system is described. In an example, the movable gantry system is configured to interface with jigs of different types or sizes and/or with different positions of a same jig and/or to perform operations on different parts mounted in such jigs. To do so, the movable gantry system includes an end effector, a gantry, and a computing system. The end effector is mounted within the gantry and provides at least rotational movement to perform operations on a part. The gantry is movable and interfaces with a jig holding the part. Further, the gantry provides translational movement to the end effector. The computing system identifies the gantry and the part and controls the gantry and the end effector, thereby facilitating the operations on the part.

A mobile robotic device includes a mobile base and a mast fixed relative to the mobile base. The mast includes a carved-out portion. The mobile robotic device further includes a three-dimensional (3D) lidar sensor mounted in the carved-out portion of the mast and fixed relative to the mast such that a vertical field of view of the 3D lidar sensor is angled downward toward an area in front of the mobile robotic device.

Methods and apparatuses for detecting one or more objects (e.g., dropped objects) by a robotic device are described. The method comprises receiving a distance-based point cloud including a plurality of points in three dimensions, filtering the distance-based point cloud to remove points from the plurality of points based on at least one known surface in an environment of the robotic device to produce a filtered distance-based point cloud, clustering points in the filtered distance-based point cloud to produce a set of point clusters, and detecting one or more objects based, at least in part, on the set of point clusters.

A virtual bumper configured to protect a component of a robotic device from damage is provided. The virtual bumper comprises a plurality of distance sensors arranged on the robotic device and at least one computing device configured to receive distance measurement signals from the plurality of distance sensors, detect, based on the received distance measurement signals, at least one object in a motion path of the component, and control the robot to change one or more operations of the robot to avoid a collision between the component and the at least one object.

Production system including a rail extending horizontally, and an articulated robot that is self-travelable along the rail parallel to an extending direction of the rail. The robot includes a carriage having at least one operating shaft configured to be driven by a servomotor and to self-travel along the rail, a slider projecting toward the rail from the carriage and configured to releasably engage with the rail, a robotic arm supported by the carriage and having at least one operating shaft driven by a servomotor and constitutes a joint, an end effector provided to a tip-end of the robotic arm, and a control unit inside the carriage configured to control the operating shafts of the robotic arm and the carriage so a control point defined in the robotic arm or the end effector reaches a target position by a collaboration of the operating shafts of the robotic arm and the carriage.