Devices, systems, and methods for providing increased range of movement of the end effector of a manipulator arm having a plurality of joints with redundant degrees of freedom. Methods include defining a position-based constraint within a joint space defined by the at least one joint, determining a movement of the joints along the constraint within a null-space and driving the joints according to a calculated movement to effect the commanded movement while providing an increased end effector range of movement, particularly as one or more joints approach a respective joint limit within the joint space.

A robot includes: a communicator; a driver configured to drive the robot; at least one memory configured to store at least one instruction; and at least one processor configured to execute the at least one instruction to: receive first driving data from an external device in communication with the robot through the communicator and store the first driving data in the memory, control the driver to perform an operation based on the first driving data, identify, based on an error in communication connection between the robot and the external device occurring, second driving data received by the robot from the external device within a threshold period based on a point in time at which the error in communication connection occurs, wherein the second driving data matches with at least a portion of the first driving data, identify third driving data that is at least a portion of the first driving data and is consecutive to the portion of the first driving data that matches with the second driving data, and control the driver to perform an operation after the point in time at which the error in communication connection between the robot and the external device occurs based on the third driving data.

A controller for robot arms and the like having mechanical singularities identities paths near the singularities and modifies those paths to avoid excessive joint movement according to a minimization of tool orientation deviation to produce alternative paths that minimize changes in the tool orientation such as can affect application such as welding, sealant application, coating and the like.

A method for monitoring a kinematically redundant robot includes detecting joint forces acting in the joints of the robot, determining an external work force between a robot-permanent reference point and an environment based on the detected joint forces, determining a further monitoring variable that is at least substantially independent of an external force acting on the robot-permanent reference point based on the detected joint forces, and monitoring the determined external work force and the determined further monitoring variable.

The disclosure relates to a robot, for example for patient positioning, comprising a robot arm with a plurality of robot elements, which are connected to one another by means of shaft units. The shaft units define a respective at least one movement axis of the robot arm. The robot arm comprises a first end region, which permits an arrangement in a surrounding area of the robot, and a second end region, on which an end effector can be arranged. A first shaft unit arranged after the first end region defines a first rotational axis of the robot arm. The robot arm can be arranged in the surrounding area by means of the first end region in such a way that the first rotational axis runs at an angle transverse to the surrounding area.

A robot system comprising, an imaging unit, a robot, and a robot control device that causes the robot to have a plurality of pieces of conversion information which convert first information which represents a position and posture of a target object in an imaging unit coordinate system representing a position and posture on an image captured by the imaging unit to second information representing a position and posture of the target object in a first coordinate system, to select one conversion information, as a target conversion information, out of the plurality of pieces of conversion information, and to perform a predetermined work based on the selected conversion information.

A jointed mechanism includes a passive pendulum system attached to and suspended from the multi-axis robot. The system includes one or more position sensors configured to measure a joint angle on the pendulum system, at least one arm, and an end-effector attached to a distal end of the pendulum system. A controller implements a method to selectively control motion of the robot in a plurality of control modes. The control modes include a Cooperative Mode and an Autonomous Mode. The controller is configured to detect contact with the end-effector when operating in the Autonomous Mode, and to automatically initiate a control action in response to the contact. The pendulum system may be a parallelogram arrangement.

Various approaches to solve for inverse kinematics may be used for teleoperation of a surgical robotic system. In one approach, an iterative solver solves for the linear component of motion independently from solving for the angular component of motion. One solver may be used to solve for both together. In another approach, all limits (e.g., position, velocity, and acceleration) are handled in one solution. Where a limit is reached, the limit is used as a bound in the intermediate solution, allowing solution even where a bound is reached. In another approach, a ratio of limits of position are used to create a slow-down region near the bounds to more naturally control motion. In yet another approach, the medical-based teleoperation uses a bounded Gauss-Siedel solver, such as with successive-over-relaxation.

Systems and a method for teaching a robot in reaching a given target location. The system and method include receiving inputs on a representation of a given target location to be reached by the robot. A check is made whether the given target location is singular. If the given target location is non-singular, the teaching of the robot is effected by associating with the given target location a selected configuration. If the given target is singular, the teaching of the robot is effected by associating with the given target location an assigned joint-values solution.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a robotic system. The system may include a robot configured to receive an initial constrained approach for performing a robot task. The system may further include a graphical user interface in communication with the robot. The graphical user interface may be configured to allow a user to interact with the robot to determine an allowable range of robot poses associated with the robot task. The allowable range of robot poses may include fewer constraints than the initial constrained approach. The allowable range of poses may be based upon, at least in part, one or more degrees of symmetry associated with a workpiece associated with the robot task or an end effector associated with the robot. The system may also include a processor configured to communicate the allowable range of robot poses to the robot.