The present disclosure provides a cleaning system and a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning system includes a cleaning apparatus and a robot. The robot includes at least one robot arm. The cleaning apparatus includes at least one adaptor mechanism and a cleaning mechanism. The adaptor mechanism connects the cleaning mechanism to the robot arm. By controlling robot arms of the robot, the cleaning mechanism of the cleaning apparatus performs cleaning operations for platforms. The cleaning system achieves continuous and efficient cleaning effects, and operates object cleaning in diverse manners.

A tool changer in accordance with the present disclosure comprises: a housing fastened to a manipulator of a robot, wherein the housing is a non-magnetic material; a bar-shaped magnet disposed in the housing; a motor configured to rotate the magnet on a rotation shaft perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the magnet; and a core configured to derive a path of a magnetic flux by the magnet. The core comprises: a pair of first poles facing both poles of the magnet, when the magnet rotates to be elongated in a first direction; a bridge configured to connect the pair of the first poles and disposed in the housing, wherein the bridge is a magnetic material; a pair of second poles facing the both poles of the magnet, when the magnet rotates to be elongated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a pair of terminals connected to the second poles and facing a magnetic body disposed outside the housing.

A robotic tool changer system through magnetic coupling force and all-round mechanical locking includes a first coupling unit, a plurality of second coupling units, and a plurality of tool changer grippers. The first coupling unit is fixed to a robot arm. The first coupling unit includes a first locking unit and a first magnetic unit. Each second coupling unit is detachably connected to one of the tool changer grippers and includes a second locking unit and a second magnetic unit. When the first coupling unit is moved to approach one of the second coupling units at a predetermined distance, the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit are coupled to each other by a magnetic coupling force, then the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit are fixed to each other through all-round mechanical locking of the first locking unit and the second locking unit.

Systems and methods of a robotic arm coupling for connecting a tool with a robotic arm are disclosed. In an embodiment, the robotic arm coupling includes: a mounting interface for mounting the robotic arm coupling on a robotic arm; a coupler interface on which differently actuated tools are releasably and interchangeably coupled; a fluid inlet port connected to an external fluid source to receive a pneumatic fluid; a plurality of interface fluid ports; at least one valve in fluid a communication with the fluid inlet port and settable to at least a first and a second operating state; and a suction device configured to apply a fluid suction pressure to an interface fluid port when a fluid pressure is provided to the suction device.

A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.

The present disclosure generally relates to pick and place robotic systems. An exemplary system for orienting an object comprises: a scanner configured to detect a label on the object; an upper conveyor belt; a flipping conveyor belt located at an end of the upper conveyor belt, wherein the upper conveyor belt is configured to transport the object toward the flipping conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a first orientation or position, rotate and exert a frictional force on the object to reorient the object while the object is in contact with the upper conveyor belt, wherein the flipping conveyor belt is configured to, in a second orientation or position, allow the object to drop off the end of the upper conveyor belt.

A tool changer is included in a manipulator of a robot and selectively fastens to a tool by a magnetic force. The tool changer may include a housing; an inner core embedded in the housing; a coil wound around the inner core, wherein a current is applied to the coil; a pair of connecting cores connected to both ends of the inner core, protruding from the housing to the tool, and inserted into a connecting groove of the tool; a switch configured to regulate the current applied to the coil; and a controller configured to open or close the switch according to a set frequency.

A tool system including a housing fastened to a tool, the housing being formed of a non-magnetic material, a magnet module embedded in the housing, a pair of mounting grooves in the housing and located below the magnet module, a changer body provided on a manipulator, the changer body being formed a non-magnetic material, a metal bar mounted on the changer body, a pair of terminals provided at both ends of the metal bar, the pair of terminals being formed of magnetic material, the pair of terminals facing the magnet module, a fixing bar outside the housing, the fixing bar being formed of a magnetic material, and a pair of mounting pins extending vertically from both ends of the fixing bar, the pair of mounting pins being formed of magnetic materials, and the pair of mounting pins are inserted into the pair of mounting grooves is provided.

A storage system configured to house a plurality of containers housing inventory items includes support members, a first set of parallel rails to support a mobile, manipulator robot, and a fluid supply line having a plurality of valves disposed within the fluid supply line. Each of the valves having a closed condition in which the supply line is in fluid isolation from an outside environment and an open condition in which the supply line is in fluid communication with the environment such that the supply line is configured to supply fluid to a mobile, manipulator robot. Mobile, manipulator robots for retrieving inventory items stored within the containers and retrieval methods are also disclosed herein.

A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.