The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.

Systems and methods for manipulating deformable objects using air are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for manipulating a deformable object, the system includes a first robot arm having a first gripper, a second robot arm having a second gripper, a blower robot arm having an air pump, and one or more processors programmed to control the first robot arm and the second robot arm to grasp the deformable object using the first gripper and the second gripper, respectively, and to control the blower robot arm to perform a plurality of blowing actions onto the deformable object until an objective is satisfied.

A robot system includes a robot including an arm, a control section configured to control operation of the robot, a gripping section coupled to the arm and configured to grip a cable, at one end of which a connector is provided, and a detecting section configured to detect contact of the gripping section and the connector. The control section causes the gripping section to perform first gripping for gripping the cable to restrict movement of the cable in a thickness direction of the cable, moves the gripping section toward the connector in a state in which the first gripping is performed, stops the movement of the gripping section based on a detection result of the detecting section, and causes the gripping section to perform second gripping for gripping the connector.

An end effector (400) for a robotic arm, the end effector (400) comprising: two pipe engaging jaws (404), each jaw comprising an inner contour configured for engaging a pipe section, wherein at least one jaw (404) is a fixed jaw; wherein the end effector (400) is configured to restrict radial movement of the pipe section while permitting axial movement.

Systems and methods for clearing a top drive from an operational area of the mast such that operations may be performed along the rail without interference from the top drive. Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for arranging the top drive in a parked configuration outside of, or generally behind, the mast. A guide rail may be arranged within an operational area of a mast and may have a pair of interchangeable rail sections, each of which may be configured for arrangement in either an operating configuration, where the rail section may be positioned within the operational area of the mast to form part of the rail, or a parked configuration, where the rail section may be positioned outside of the operational area. Each interchangeable rail section may be pivotable about an axis and may be arranged on a pivotable gate of the mast.

A robot system includes a robot including an arm, a control section configured to control operation of the robot, a gripping section coupled to the arm and configured to grip a cable, at one end of which a connector is provided, and a detecting section configured to detect contact of the gripping section and the connector. The control section causes the gripping section to perform first gripping for gripping the cable to restrict movement of the cable in a thickness direction of the cable, moves the gripping section toward the connector in a state in which the first gripping is performed, stops the movement of the gripping section based on a detection result of the detecting section, and causes the gripping section to perform second gripping for gripping the connector.

A control device for a production module that has a settings management module for detecting restrictions for operating settings of the production module and for producing corresponding restriction data records is provided. A data memory is provided for the purpose of storing a local restriction table containing a multiplicity of restriction data records. A balancing module is used to iteratively read in first restriction data records in a corresponding restriction table of a first adjacent production module, to iteratively build the local restriction table on the basis of the first restriction data records which have been read in and to iteratively forward second restriction data records in the local restriction table to a second adjacent production module. A control module is also provided for the purpose of setting an operating setting according to a restriction data record which identifies this operating setting.

Systems and methods for clearing a top drive from an operational area of the mast such that operations may be performed along the rail without interference from the top drive. Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for arranging the top drive in a parked configuration outside of, or generally behind, the mast. A guide rail may be arranged within an operational area of a mast and may have a pair of interchangeable rail sections, each of which may be configured for arrangement in either an operating configuration, where the rail section may be positioned within the operational area of the mast to form part of the rail, or a parked configuration, where the rail section may be positioned outside of the operational area. Each interchangeable rail section may be pivotable about an axis and may be arranged on a pivotable gate of the mast.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.

Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (10); a first member (30) (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool (38) both coupled to the first robot (10); a second robot (12); and a second member (52) coupled to the second robot (12); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members (30, 52) against opposite sides of a part to be drilled (2, 100) (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part (2, 100) and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (2, 100); and the first member (30) and the drilling tool (38) are arranged such that the drilling tool (38) may drill into the portion of the part (2, 100) of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part (2, 100) pressed against by the first member (30). The robots (10, 12) may be robotic arms.