The end effector device includes an end effector including a palm and a plurality of fingers, a drive device, a position shift direction determination unit and a position shift correction unit. Each finger includes a tactile sensor unit capable of detecting external forces in at least three axial directions. The position shift direction determination unit determines in which direction the object being grasped is position-shifted with respect to the fitting recess based on a detection result detected by the tactile sensor unit in a case where at least one of the external forces detected by the tactile sensor unit is a specified value or more. The position shift correction unit moves the palm in a direction opposite to a position shift direction of the object being grasped determined by the position shift direction determination unit.

Methods and systems for training a robotic manipulator. The system may include one or more sensor devices and a robotic manipulator for executing an item grasping strategy to grasp an item. The system may further evaluate the item grasping strategy to determine whether the strategy was successful.

A force sensor includes a first member, a second member, an intermediate member, a first elastic structure that couples the first member and the intermediate member, a second elastic structure that couples the second member and the intermediate member, and a displacement detector that measures displacements of the first member and the second member. It is possible to provide a force sensor that has high detection precision and that is compact.

A hydraulic control circuit operable to selectively hydraulically link first and second hydraulic actuators and to bypass that hydraulic link.

An improved method and apparatus for automatically picking a fruit is described. During the clamping stage, the movement of the fingers is controlled such that a specific maximum clamping force is not exceeded. In addition, during at least a part of the removal stage, the mutual position of the fingers is controlled by the drive such that their mutual distance does not increase.

A system and method of operation of a robotic system including: receiving a sensor reading associated with a target object; generating a base plan for performing a task on the target object, wherein generating the base plan includes determining a grip point and one or more grip patterns associated with the grip point for gripping the target object based on a location of the grip point relative to a designated area, a task location, and another target object; implementing the base plan for performing the task by operating an actuation unit and one or more suction grippers according to a grip pattern rank, to generate an established grip on the target object, wherein the established grip is at a grip pattern location associated with the grip patterns; measuring the established grip; comparing the established grip to a force threshold; and re-gripping the target object based on the established grip falling below the force threshold.

Provided is a tele-operated forceps-driver variable stiffness master device including a master member to generate an input displacement signal generated by pressing with a user's finger, and a slave member to operate based on the input displacement signal, measure operation information, calculate a gripping force based on the operation information, and provide the master member with at least one of a stiffness change command signal or a force feedback based on the calculated gripping force.

Waveguides, such as light guides, made entirely of elastomeric material or with indents on an outer surface are disclosed. These improved waveguides can be used in scissors, soft robotics, or displays. For example, the waveguides can be used in a strain sensor, a curvature sensor, or a force sensor. In an instance, the waveguide can be used in a hand prosthetic. Sensors that use the disclosed waveguides and methods of manufacturing waveguides also are disclosed.

Provided are systems, devices, and methods for sensing location and forces. A robotic effector comprising a skin and a core can have a plurality of electrodes integrated in the skin and/or core. Upon interaction with a target object, the robotic effector may determine a total force and/or a location of the force by the target object on the robotic effector. Sensitivity and dynamic range of the robotic effector may improve by changing various configurations.

Systems and methods for estimating deformation and field of contact forces are described. A method includes generating a reference configuration including reference points in space. The reference configuration corresponds to an initial shape of a membrane prior to contact with the manipuland. The method further includes receiving raw data from a TOF device. The raw data includes points in space measured by the TOF device and indicating deformation of the membrane due to contact with the manipuland. The method further includes determining deformation of the membrane that best approximates a current configuration in a least squares sense while satisfying a discrete physical model enforced as a linear constraint that corresponds to a linearized physical model of the deformation that is discretized with an FEM, linearizing the relationship, and estimating deformation and field of contact forces by solving a least squares formulation with physical constraints cast as a sparse quadratic program.