Provided are a control device, a control method, and a control program capable of realizing natural interaction between a human and a robot like between humans. A control device according to an embodiment includes a slip detection unit (15, 104) and a control unit (10). The slip detection unit detects a slip of a target object gripped by a grip portion. The control unit controls a gripping force with which the grip portion grips the target object based on the slip detected by the slip detection unit. The control unit estimates an external force applied to the target object gripped by the grip portion based on the slip detected by the slip detection unit, and controls the gripping force based on the estimated external force.

The present disclosure relates to a support device capable of supporting an object with a more appropriate supporting force. A support device includes an elastic body that comes into contact with a supported object on at least a part of a surface of the elastic body, the surface having a plurality of curvatures different from each other, and a detection unit that detects information regarding a shear force of a portion of the surface of the elastic body, the portion being in contact with the object. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a support device, a gripping device, an electronic device, a robot, a support system, a gripping system, and the like.

A tactile sensor includes a transmitting unit including a first surface that is capable of coming into contact with a gripping target object and a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface, an imaging unit that is capable of imaging an image of an object present on a first surface side of the transmitting unit from a second surface side, and a reflecting unit arranged on the second surface side of the transmitting unit and configured to reflect light from at least a part of a region of the transmitting unit and guide the light into an imaging view angle of the imaging unit.

An item picking system configured to pick items from a collection region for placing said items into an item container, the system comprising a robotic arm. One or more end effectors coupled to the robotic arm for holding and manipulating an item, wherein at least one of the end effectors comprises a contact pressure sensing assembly including a piezoresistive sensor configured to obtain piezoresistive signals indicative of contact pressure between said sensor and an item held by said end effector. Signal processing circuitry configured to process the piezoresistive signals, the signal processing circuitry comprising a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the sensor to receive the piezoresistive signals therefrom. A second input terminal arranged to receive a calibration signal and an output terminal for providing a difference signal based on the two input signals, wherein, for each piezoresistive signal provided to the differential amplifier, the system is configured to control the calibration signal provided to the second input terminal of the differential amplifier to be within a selected range from said piezoresistive signal. A control unit coupled to the output terminal of the differential amplifier, wherein the control unit is configured to control operation of the robotic arm based on the difference signals from the differential amplifier.

A slip detecting device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of contact parts having different slipping characteristics when an object (600) in contact with the plurality of regions is slipping; and a sensor that detects a pressure distribution of each of the plurality of contact parts. By employing the plurality of contact parts having different slipping characteristics when the object (600) in contact with the plurality of regions, a timing at which a whole slip occurs is different between the plurality of contact parts, and thus a state of a partial slip in which a part of the object (600) is slipping is able to be detected, so that it is possible to detect a slip of the object (600) with high accuracy.

An artificial fingertip sliding tactile sensor includes a PVDF film, a rubber fingertip, a filling liquid, a sealing plug, a hydraulic sensor, a housing, an inner framework, and strain gauges. The rubber fingertip is a hemispherical cavity. The PVDF film is attached to the outside of the rubber fingertip. The sealing plug seals the rubber fingertip, and the hydraulic sensor is installed at the bottom of the sealing plug. The main body of the housing is a rigid cylindrical structure. The top of the housing is provided with a circular opening, and the bottom of the housing is a flange-like structure. Four circular through holes are uniformly distributed on the flange-like structure. The inner framework includes a cylindrical head, a vertical strain rod and a base. The strain gauges are respectively attached on four sides of the vertical strain rod and adjacent to the base.

Object manipulation in warehouses and logistics facilities is a challenging task because of the unstructured environment. The unstructured environment can have items/objects with different form factors, weight, shape, and size. Traditionally, multiple robots have been used to handle for specific task to be performed by an individual robot which requires high floor. This leads to higher cost and infrastructure. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gripper apparatus that addresses a single gripper design handling multiple parcels, wherein the apparatus consists of cm′ fingers parallel to each other and can be independently controlled through actuators, each finger has a force sensors feedback and also actuators which are controlled with force. Each finger comprises a linear slider for actuation for gripping objects and wherein bottom fingers are moved to provide enough gravity support. Further, apparatus comprises bellows attached to each finger end for grasping object using pneumatic grasping mechanism.

A tool control system may include: a tactile sensor configured to, when a tool holds a target object and slides the target object downward across the tool, obtain tactile sensing data from the tool; one or more memories configured to store a target velocity and computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured execute the computer-readable instructions to: receive the tactile sensing data from the tactile sensor; estimate a velocity of the target object based on the tactile sensing data, by using one or more neural networks that are trained based on a training image of an sample object captured while the sample object is sliding down; and generate a control parameter of the tool based on the estimated velocity and the target velocity.

An artificial fingertip sliding tactile sensor includes a PVDF film, a rubber fingertip, a filling liquid, a sealing plug, a hydraulic sensor, a housing, an inner framework, and strain gauges. The rubber fingertip is a hemispherical cavity. The PVDF film is attached to the outside of the rubber fingertip. The sealing plug seals the rubber fingertip, and the hydraulic sensor is installed at the bottom of the sealing plug. The main body of the housing is a rigid cylindrical structure. The top of the housing is provided with a circular opening, and the bottom of the housing is a flange-like structure. Four circular through holes are uniformly distributed on the flange-like structure. The inner framework includes a cylindrical head, a vertical strain rod and a base. The strain gauges are respectively attached on four sides of the vertical strain rod and adjacent to the base.

The invention relates to a gripping device (1) and a method for the monitored movement of objects (2), preferably sheet metals, comprising a system control (3) configured for processing object data (31) and controlling a gripping module (4), wherein the gripping module (4) has at least two gripping jaws (5) formed to cooperate with one another, which form an intermediate receiving space (6) for receiving at least parts of an object (2) to be monitored and transported, and the gripping jaws (5) are formed such that, by applying a pre-definable clamping force (7), at least a friction-type connection between the gripping jaws (5) and at least parts of the object (2) is made possible, whereby the object (2) is movable, and at least one sensor element (8) for collecting object data (31) of the object (2) to be moved and monitored, wherein the at least one sensor element (8) is arranged on at least one gripping jaw (5) with its sensor region (9) facing the receiving space (6), and is formed such that it detects, by means of at least temporary collection of the object data (31), a relative movement and/or relative velocity (26) of the object (2) with respect to at least one of the gripping jaws (5).