It is an object to enable a grasping operation to be executed according to a state of an object. The invention provides an information processing apparatus which determines the grasping operation in a grasping unit for grasping the object. The information processing apparatus has: an obtaining unit for obtaining an image acquired by capturing the object; a recognizing unit for recognizing a state of the object from the image obtained by the obtaining unit; and a generating unit for generating information for allowing the grasping unit to execute the grasping operation on the basis of the object state recognized by the recognizing unit and conditions to execute the grasping operation.

An end-effector of a programmable motion device is disclosed. The end-effector includes a body that provides an open interior, the open interior being coupled to a vacuum source, and the body including a contact surface for contacting an object to be grasped by the end effector. The contact surface is at least partially defining an aperture, and the body includes a flexible portion that permits at least a portion of the contact surface to be drawn at least partially into the open interior of the body when a flow of air drawn by the vacuum source through the aperture is reduced due to the aperture being at least partially blocked.

An end-effector for a programmable motion device is disclosed. The end effector includes a body that includes a contact portion, said body providing an open interior through which a vacuum may be provided to the contact portion, and the body includes at least one feature that is adapted to facilitate the contact portion to become substantially non-planar while grasping.

Provided is a suction device and a suction disc capable of obtaining suction force that can control generation or disappearance of suction force through formation or disappearance of magnetic field. A suction device (1A) has a suction disc (10) formed of an elastomer that is deformable by magnetic force, a support portion (20) configured to support the suction disc (10) such that the suction disc can be deformed and a suction disc deforming element (30) configured to deform the elastomer by magnetic force.

A foam vacuum gripper device comprising at least a vacuum gripper body and at least one foam layer arranged on a bottom surface of the vacuum gripper body, at least the foam layer is secured to the vacuum gripper body by way of a magnetic attraction between the bottom surface of the vacuum gripper body and the foam layer.

Systems and methods of clearing clogs in nibs used for vacuum retrieval of dispensable units are described. For example, a system may include a container having a side surface, a base, and a protrusion. To facilitate dislodging debris from the nib, the nib may be positioned into contact with a protrusion in a volume at least partially defined by the side surface and the base. Further, or instead, because the contact between the nib and the protrusion occurs within the volume, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may increase the likelihood of collecting debris that has been removed from the nib.

Described herein is a suction-type gripping device including a suction-cup and configured for handling a component, for example a sheet-metal component for a motor vehicle. The device includes a plurality of pins that can slide with respect to the suction cup. The pins define a variable-geometry bed configured for reproducing the geometry of the component to be handled.

A vacuum gripper sealing element allows a vacuum gripper to suitably conform to irregular surface topology without compromising vacuum conditions. The sealing element utilizes a compressible sealing element which at least partially encapsulates an elastic sealing element. Upon being pressed against an object surface, the compressible sealing element will conform within and around macroscopic peaks, valleys and other irregular physical features. While conforming to macro-scale features, the compressible sealing element applies pressure isotropically upon the encapsulated elastic sealing element, which elastically conforms to micro-scale features while pressed thereagainst. The elastic sealing element has a fluid-filled interior that is surrounded by an elastic outer layer. While under pressure against an irregular surface topology, the fluid-filled interior displaces so as to redistribute internal forces, conforming the elastic outer layer to the micro-scale features of the object surface.

An apparatus includes a bellows and a lip. The bellows defines an interior cavity. The lip is coupled to the bellows such that the lip is concentric with the bellows. The lip extends away from the bellows in a radial direction and in a vertical direction such that the lip forms a cup shape. The bellows and the lip define a passage from the lip through the interior cavity. The lip includes a rib on an outer surface of the lip such that the rib extends along the outer surface of the lip and away from the bellows in the radial direction and in the vertical direction.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.