A multi-hole absorption tool includes an absorption surface including a plurality of absorption holes to which a seal is absorbed. Each of the plurality of absorption holes is classified so as to belong to at least one of a first region and a second region, and absorption holes belonging to the first region and absorption holes belonging to the second region are connected to different suction devices. The multi-hole absorption tool having this configuration can peel off the seal from a mount with no wrinkle in the seal, prevent positional displacement of the seal with respect to an object to which the seal is affixed, and affix the seal to the object.

An end-effector system is disclosed for use with a programmable motion device. The end-effector system includes an arm attachment portion for attachment to an arm of the programmable motion device, an end-effector attachment portion for attachment to an end-effector for grasping objects, a rotational shaft portion for rotational attachment to the arm attachment portion, said rotational shaft portion being coupled to the end-effector attachment portion at a distal end thereof, and a motor system providing rotation of the rotational shaft portion as well as the end-effector attachment portion with respect to the arm attachment portion.

An affordance is disclosed which allows a robot system to pick an expanded range of items using a single type of end effector, without requiring the use of different end effectors. The affordance includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is arranged to be grasped by an end effector of the robot system and the second layer is arranged to adhere to the item. A system having an affordance and a robot system with an end effector arranged to grasp at least one item from storage by way of the affordance is also disclosed.

Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.

A robotic arm is provided. The robotic arm includes a gripper. The gripper includes an elongated body; a semi-circular body includes a flat surface and a curved surface; a suction unit of a pre-defined shape operatively coupled to a center portion of the curved surface of the semi-circular body; an array of pins arranged around the suction unit, wherein each of the array of pins comprises a pin body and a pin head, wherein the head rests along the flat surface of the semi-circular body, wherein the pin body is extended along the curved surface of the semi-circular body. The array of pins is configured to take a shape of a target object to provide support for the target object during an operation of the robotic arm. The suction unit is configured to hold the target object in an inward direction during the operation of the robotic arm.

A feeder that feeds objects to be picked up by a robot, includes an object container unit having a first planar portion including a first planar surface in which the objects are thrown, and a groove portion including a plurality of grooves extending in a first direction from the first planar portion as seen from a normal direction in which a normal of the first planar surface extends, and a vibrator unit that applies vibration to the object container unit, wherein the vibrator unit has a first vibration mode in which the objects are moved in the first direction.

An object manipulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a memory and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: calculate, based on an image in which one or more objects to be grasped are contained, an evaluation value of a first behavior manner of grasping the one or more objects; generate information representing a second behavior manner based on the image and a plurality of evaluation values of the first behavior manner; and control actuation of grasping the object to be grasped in accordance with the information being generated.

A robot head for withdrawing and transferring glass containers between two different conveyor groups includes a series of gripping members for withdrawing the glass containers carried by a first conveyor and releasing the containers on a second conveyor, wherein the gripping members of the robot head withdraw together all the glass containers carried by the first conveyor when the movement of the conveyor is stopped so as to enable a withdrawal of the containers. The robot head further includes a mechanism for the movement and variation in position of the gripping members with respect to each other, wherein the mechanism moves the gripping members of the glass containers from a first distance corresponding to the extraction distance from the first conveyor to a second depositing distance of the containers on the second conveyor.

A pick and place method and apparatus thereof are provided. The pick and place method includes: providing at least one semiconductor element disposed on a source storage location; picking up the at least one semiconductor element from the source storage location; transferring the at least one semiconductor element to a temporary storage device according to a signal; positioning the at least one semiconductor element through the temporary storage device; and picking up the positioned semiconductor element from the temporary storage device and placing the positioned semiconductor element on a destination storage location.

A vacuum cup damage detection system detects vacuum cup damage or absence in a robot singulator including a vacuum-based end effector with one or more vacuum cups. The system generally comprises a plate and a control subsystem. The plate provides a potential point of engagement for the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector when the robot singulator is moved to a predetermined position in which, if present, at least one of the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector is in contact with the plate. The control subsystem includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain readings indicative of the engagement of the one or more vacuum cups with the plate or lack thereof; and a controller configured to determine whether any one of the vacuum cups is damaged or missing based on the readings obtained by the one or more sensors.