Systems and methods for detecting pose and force against an object are provided. A method includes receiving a signal from a deformable sensor comprising data from a deformation region in a deformable membrane resulting from contact with the object utilizing an internal sensor disposed within an enclosure and having a field of view directed through a medium and toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The method also determines a pose of the object based on the deformation region of the deformable membrane. The method also determines an amount of force applied between the deformable membrane and the object is determined based on the deformation region of the deformable membrane.

A functional assembly for an industrial robot includes a safety cover which selectively covers an operative unit or robot end effector. The cover includes a fixed portion and a movable portion which selectively moves relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion selectively moves to cover or uncover a portion of the operative unit for the operative unit to function for its intended purpose. The operative unit can move in two directions orthogonal to the movement of the cover movable portion allowing the operative unit to travel or reach to the full footprint of the cover. The safety cover may include sensors to detect objects in close proximity to the safety cover to slow or stop the robot or functional assembly.

A robotic system includes a controller configured to obtain image data from one or more optical sensors and to determine one or more of a location and/or pose of a vehicle component based on the image data. The controller also is configured to determine a model of an external environment of the robotic system based on the image data and to determine tasks to be performed by components of the robotic system to perform maintenance on the vehicle component. The controller also is configured to assign the tasks to the components of the robotic system and to communicate control signals to the components of the robotic system to autonomously control the robotic system to perform the maintenance on the vehicle component.

Systems and methods for detecting contact between a link and an external object are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a robotic system, including a manipulatable link, a rigid shell configured to overlay the manipulatable link, and one or more sensors positioned between the rigid shell and the manipulatable link. The one or more sensors are configured to detect contact between the rigid shell and an external object.

A deformable sensor for detecting a pose and force associated with an object is provided. The deformable sensor includes a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to an upper portion of the housing, an enclosure defined by the housing and the deformable membrane and configured to be filled with a medium, a time-of-flight receiver positioned within the enclosure and a plurality of time-of-flight emitters arranged around the time-of-flight receiver within the enclosure. The plurality of time-of-flight emitters are configured to emit signals toward the deformable membrane at different times. The time-of-flight receiver is configured to receive signals reflected from the deformable membrane.

Devices, systems and methods for calibrating a deformable sensor are disclosed herein. A calibration device for calibrating a deformable sensor includes a frame, at least one actuator supported by the frame, where the at least one actuator comprises a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a probe portion, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the drive mechanism of the at least one actuator. The electronic control unit is configured to cause the drive mechanism to move the probe portion a predetermined position to form a predetermined contact surface defined by an end of the probe portion of the actuator.

A system for calibrating a deformable sensor is provided. The system includes a deformable sensor including a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to an upper portion of the housing, and an enclosure defined by the housing and the deformable member; an imaging sensor configured to capture an image of the deformable membrane of the deformable sensor; and a controller. The enclosure is configured to be filled with a medium. The controller is configured to: receive the image of the deformable membrane of the deformable sensor; determine whether a contour of the deformable membrane in the image of the deformable membrane of the deformable sensor corresponds to a predetermined contour; and adjust a volume of the medium in the enclosure of the deformable sensor in response to the determination that the contour of the deformable membrane is different from the predetermined contour.

Devices, systems, and methods for adjusting the high flex point of a deformable sensor are disclosed herein. A deformable sensor may include an enclosure comprising a housing and a deformable membrane coupled to an upper portion of the housing, where the enclosure is configured to be filled with a medium, a contact mechanism coupled to the housing and selectively adjustable such that adjusting a position of the contact mechanism causes a change in a location of a high flex point of the deformable membrane, and an internal sensor, disposed within the enclosure, having a field of view configured to be directed through the medium and toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane, where the internal sensor is configured to output a deformation region within the deformable membrane when placed in contact an object.

A holding apparatus, in particular a holding arm and/or tripod, for medical purposes, comprises a proximal end for attaching the holding apparatus to a base and a distal end for receiving an add-on device; at least one first and one second arm segment, where the first arm segment is connected to a first joint and the second arm segment is connected to a second joint, where each joint is releasable and lockable; an operating device for releasing and/or locking the respective joint for putting the holding apparatus into a desired pose; and a first display unit which is arranged on the first joint and a second display unit which is arranged on the second joint. The first and/or second display unit is configured to display at least one status of the holding apparatus and/or of an add-on device that is different from the releasing and/or locking of the respective joint. The invention further relates to a method.

The present invention relates to a robotic system having at least one robotic arm, a control unit for controlling the robotic arm and a robotic arm sensor system, wherein the controller and robotic arm sensor system are designed to respond to predetermined haptic gestures of the user acting on the robotic arm in such a way that the robotic system performs at least one predetermined operation associated with the haptic gesture.