A LIDAR device is positioned on a crane and is moved along a track to collect 3D image data of the area below the crane. The resulting image data is sent to a computing device that applies or more filtering algorithms to the image data and searches for known image shapes therein through a comparison of the image data and one or more 3D object models based on known shapes or geometric primitives. If an object is identified in the image data and is determined to be accessible, position information for that object may be sent to a device configured to control movement of the crane to grab/pick up the object.

Apparatuses, methods and systems for dynamically retrieving objects are disclosed herein. In one example, a retrieval apparatus is provided. The example retrieval apparatus comprises: at least one moveable arm mechanism configured to engage a surface of at least one of a plurality of objects; at least one sensing element configured to obtain sensor data describing locations and characteristics of the plurality of objects as the retrieval apparatus traverses an environment associated with the plurality of objects; and a controller component in electronic communication with the at least one arm mechanism and the at least one sensing element, wherein the controller component is configured to modify operational data based at least in part on the sensor data.

An adaptive manipulation apparatus and method are provided. The adaptive manipulation method includes steps of providing a mobile manipulation apparatus comprising a manipulator, a sensor and a processor for a manipulation of an object placed on a carrier having a plurality of markers spaced apart from each other, the sensor detecting the plurality of markers to obtain a run time marker information, the processor, according to the base-case motion plan, generating a run time motion plan, wherein the run time motion plan comprises a plurality of second pose-aware actions, and the plurality of second pose-aware actions are modified from the plurality of first pose-aware actions according to the run time marker information, and the processor further executing the run time motion plan for controlling the manipulator to manipulate the object.

A conveyor system includes a first robot singulator, a second robot singulator, and a picking area from which parcels of a bulk flow of parcels can be engaged and transferred by the first robot singulator or the second robot singulator. The conveyor system further includes a first place conveyor positioned downstream of the picking area and configured to receive parcels transferred by the first robot singulator. The conveyor system further includes a second place conveyor positioned downstream of the picking area and the first place conveyor, the second place conveyor configured to receive parcels transferred by the second robot singulator and to receive parcels from the first place conveyor. A buffering conveyor is positioned between the first place conveyor and the second place conveyor for regulating a rate at which parcels offloaded by the first place conveyor are transferred to the second place conveyor.

Provided is a robot system. The robot system includes a guide rail, a slider configured to move along the guide rail, a first source disposed the slider to move together with the slider, a rotation arm configured to rotate by the first driving source, and a vehicle service robot installed the rotation arm to move by the rotation arm.

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit acquiring a first image and a second image, the first image being an image of a target area in an initial state, the second image being an image of the target area where a first object conveyed from a supply area is placed, an estimation unit estimating one or more second areas in the target area, based on a feature of a first area estimated using the first image and the second image, the first area being where the first object is placed, the one or more second areas each being an area where an object in the supply area can be placed and being different from the first area. A control unit controls a robot to convey a second object different from the first object from the supply area to any of the one or more second areas.

Control systems for industrial machinery (e.g., robots) or other devices such as medical devices utilize a safety processor (SP) designed for integration into safety applications and computational components that are not necessarily safety-rated. The SP monitors performance of the non-safety computational components, including latency checks and verification of identical outputs. One or more sensors send data to the non-safety computational components for sophisticated processing and analysis that the SP cannot not perform, but the results of this processing are sent to the SP, which then generates safety-rated signals to the machinery or device being controlled by the SP. As a result, the system may qualify for a safety rating despite the ability to perform complex operations beyond the scope of safety-rated components.

A suction transfer device suction-holds a bag-like article with a suction component and moves the suction component suction-holding the article to thereby transfer the article. The suction component has a negative pressure chamber, one or more suction openings, and a first surface. The negative pressure chamber forms a negative pressure space inside when a negative pressure generator is driven. The suction openings communicate with the negative pressure chamber. The first surface is disposed around the suction openings and opposes an article subjected to suction. An area of the first surface is from 0.5 times to 2 times an area of a sucked surface, which opposes the first surface, of the article subjected to suction.

A method for automatically transferring spouted pouches provides a simple, efficient approach for automatically loading spouted pouches from a container to a belt conveyor. And, an automatic pouch transferring assembly is also provided.

Pre-plating systems and related methods are disclosed. A pre-plating system includes a press, an infeed robot configured to deliver a structural member to the press, and an outfeed robot configured to remove the structural member from the press. The press is configured to secure a plate to the structural member while the structural member is held in position by at least one of the infeed robot or the outfeed robot. A pre-plating system includes a press, a transfer pedestal, a plate picking robot, and a press loading robot. The plate picking robot is configured to pick a plate from a container and position the plate on the transfer pedestal. The press loading robot is configured to transfer the plate to the press. The press is configured to press the plate into a structural member positioned within the press.