This robot controller causes a robot to follow a target, while a transfer device moves the target, by using a detection result obtained by a movement-amount detecting device that detects the amount by which the transfer device moves the target. When the value of any one of the speed, the acceleration, and the jerk of the target calculated based on the detection result obtained by the movement-amount detecting device or the pattern of the speed, the acceleration, and the jerk deviates from the predetermined reference, the robot controller performs predetermined reporting or stops the robot.

A computing system including a processing circuit in communication with a camera having a field of view, The processing circuit obtains image information based on the objects in the field of view and defines a minimum viable region for a target open corner. Potential minimum viable regions are defined by identifying candidate edges of an object and determining potential intersection points based on the candidate edges. The minimum viable region may then be identified and validated from the potential minimum viable regions.

A method and system for obtaining an identifier from an item is disclosed. The method includes autonomously operate a robotic structure to move an item along a predetermined path from a source location to a destination location, and autonomously operating the robotic structure to place the item at the destination location based at least in part on the plan. The item comprises one or more identifiers, and in response to a determination that at least one of the one or more identifiers was not obtained by one or more sensors, an active measure is performed to cause the one or more sensors to obtain the at least one identifier that was not obtained. The predetermined path corresponds to a path along which the item is moved from the source location to the destination location. The predetermined path is planned so that the item is moved within a threshold range of the one or more sensors while the item is moved along the predetermined path.

According to one embodiment, a picking system includes a picking robot and a control device. The picking robot transfers an object from a first space to a second space by using a robot hand. The control device controls the picking robot. When a first measurement result related to a shape of the object in the first space when viewed along a first direction is acquired, the control device performs a first calculation of calculating a position candidate for placing the object in the second space based on the first measurement result. When a second measurement result related to a shape of the object when viewed along a second direction is acquired, the control device performs a second calculation of calculating a position of the robot hand when placing the object in the second space based on the second measurement result and the position candidate.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

A robot system is provided with a three-dimensional sensor which acquires three-dimensional information of an object, and a robot which includes a gripping device for gripping an object. The robot system uses first three-dimensional information which relates to a state before an object is taken out and second three-dimensional information which relates to a state after an object is taken out as the basis to acquire three-dimensional shape information of an object, and uses the three-dimensional shape information of the object as the basis to calculate a position and posture of the robot when an object is placed at a target site.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

The present disclosure provides a control method of a robotic system. The control method includes: deriving an approach location at which the end effector grips an operation object; deriving a scan location for scanning an identifier of the operation object; and based on the approach location and the scan location, creating or deriving a control sequence to instruct the robot to execute the control sequence. The control sequence includes (1) gripping the operation object from a start location; (2) scanning an identifier of the operation object with a scanner located between the start location and a task location; (3) temporarily releasing the operation object from the end effector and regripping the operation object by the end effector to be shifted, at a shift location, when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and (4) moving the operation object to the task location.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a robot, the method including usage of a behavior tree architecture for tasks performed by the robot. The present invention also relates to a system comprising a data processing means adapted to carry out the method, wherein the system preferably comprises a robot. The present invention also relates to a use of a behavior tree architecture for programming, supervision, introspection and/or debugging.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.