A testing system configured to determine at least one physical characteristic of a work piece. The testing system includes an effector frame having an effector interface configured for coupling with a manipulator assembly. The effector frame includes at least one torque sensor. A ballast bracket is configured for coupling between the at least one torque sensor and the work piece. The ballast bracket includes a sensor interface coupled with the at least one torque sensor, and at least one work piece latch configured for coupling with the work piece. A movable ballast assembly is coupled with the ballast bracket, and includes a counter ballast movably coupled with the ballast bracket and movable relative to the at least one torque sensor. A ballast actuator coupled with the counter ballast is configured to move the counter ballast relative to the at least one torque sensor.

A testing system configured to determine at least one physical characteristic of a work piece. The testing system includes an effector frame having an effector interface configured for coupling with a manipulator assembly. The effector frame includes at least one torque sensor. A ballast bracket is configured for coupling between the at least one torque sensor and the work piece. The ballast bracket includes a sensor interface coupled with the at least one torque sensor, and at least one work piece latch configured for coupling with the work piece. A movable ballast assembly is coupled with the ballast bracket, and includes a counter ballast movably coupled with the ballast bracket and movable relative to the at least one torque sensor. A ballast actuator coupled with the counter ballast is configured to move the counter ballast relative to the at least one torque sensor.

There is provided a robot hand that grips and positions a work with a certain gripping force, and that rapidly conveys the work to execute assembling after gripping the work.

A robot hand is provided and includes a robot hand control unit that has at least three gripping fingers on a base and controls the robot hand, a plurality of drive mechanisms that brings the three gripping fingers independently close to or separate from each other, a plurality of drive control units that individually controls each of a plurality of drive sources of the plurality of drive mechanisms, and a distribution control unit that is disposed on the base and distributes an instruction value from the robot hand control unit to the plurality of drive control units associated with the plurality of gripping fingers. At least one of the gripping fingers includes an integrally formed drive source and drive control unit.

A manipulator is provided. The manipulator includes a gripper, a depth sensor, a force sensor configured to sense an external force acting on the gripper; a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to: control the gripper to grasp an object, acquire first information on the object based on a first sensing value obtained by the force sensor while grasping the object, control the gripper such that a first area of the object comes into contact with a surface on which the object is to be placed, acquire location information on a contact area between the first area and the surface, acquire a rotation direction to rotate the object based on the location information and the first information on the object, control the gripper to rotate the object in the rotation direction around the contact area, and based on a second area of the object being in contact with the surface, control the gripper to release the object.

A method for machining a workpiece includes using a multi-axis robot to lift a tool head from a magazine. The robot attaches the tool head to an end of a drill tube. The drill tube is then rotated and longitudinally translated to machine the workpiece. The tool head is withdrawn from the machined workpiece longitudinally by moving the drill tube. The robot is used to disconnect the tool head, replace the disconnected tool head into a magazine and withdraw a different tool head from the magazine for attachment to the drill tube.

Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

A gripper system having tentacles including a control system configured to receive operator data and sensor data. Compare stored object configurations associated with grips to identify a corresponding set of object configurations using a target object shape and a pose via sensor data and select an object configuration. Compare stored commands to identify sets of commands corresponding to the object configuration and select sets of commands. If a set of pickup actions are received, compare to the corresponding object configuration to identify a set of pickup actions using the received set of pickup actions, and select a set of pickup actions. Compare the sets of commands to identify a corresponding first set of commands corresponding to a set of pickup actions using the set of pickup actions and select the first set of commands. If the received set of pickup actions are absent, then select a second set of commands.

A robot system includes a robot, a force detector, and an end effector. When the robot is caused to execute a following operation, force control is performed based on a measurement value by the force detector. The following operation is an operation in which a first target object held by the end effector is inserted into a void included in a second target object or pulled out from the void while coming into contact with the second target. The adjustment method includes a measuring step for causing the robot to perform the following operation using candidate values of the force control parameters including a target force in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the insertion or the pull-out and obtaining a force measurement value, a parameter updating step for performing optimization processing using the force measurement value and obtaining new candidate values of the force control parameters, and a step of repeating the measuring step and the parameter updating step to determine force control parameters and outputting the force control parameters.

Methods and systems for assessing a robotic grasping technique. The system in accordance with various embodiments may include a warehouse management system for retrieving and storing items, a robotic manipulator for grasping an item, and analysis module configured to receive data regarding a first grasp attempt by the robotic manipulator and analyze the received data to determine whether the robotic manipulator successfully grasped the item.