A wave energy converter and method for extracting energy from water waves maximizes the energy extraction per cycle by estimating an excitation force of heave wave motion on the buoy, computing a control force from the estimated excitation force using a dynamic model, and applying the computed control force to the buoy to extract energy from the heave wave motion. Analysis and numerical simulations demonstrate that the optimal control of a heave wave energy converter is, in general, in the form of a bang-singular-bang control; in which the optimal control at a given time can be either in the singular arc mode or in the bang-bang mode. The excitation force and its derivatives at the current time can be obtained through an estimator, for example, using measurements of pressures on the surface of the buoy in addition to measurements of the buoy position. A main advantage of this approximation method is the ease of obtaining accurate measurements for pressure on the buoy surface and for buoy position, compared to wave elevation measurements.

A robot apparatus includes a robot arm, an end effector provided in the robot arm and configured to hold a workpiece, and a controller configured to perform a control process for controlling the end effector to release the workpiece on a basis of a first torque acting on the end effector in a predetermined direction in a state in which the end effector is holding the workpiece.

The controller acquires a force applied to a manipulator of a robot, to generate, based on the acquired data, force state data containing information related to the force applied to the manipulator and control command adjustment data indicating an adjustment behavior of a control command related to the manipulator as state data, thereby executing, based on the generated state data, a process of machine learning related to the adjustment behavior of the control command related to the manipulator.

The present disclosure provides a navigation method and system which does not require a remotely located tracking system, or additional targets or other devices to be installed on the patient or object being tracked. The system uses one flexible component in physical contact with the patient/object and measures relative position as a function of forces that are generated by the flexing component as it is bent. The system translates forces into navigational commands for a robot, other manipulator, or for human manual navigation. A method for transforming a pre-planned motion pathway into a sequence of forces for this mode of navigation is also described. This system is also applicable in the field of manufacturing robotics, where the locations of objects or assemblies may not be precisely known or constant. The method and system disclosed herein can be used to maintain known position of an object/assembly or to navigate movement of a robot relative to an object/assembly as in the case of machining.

The controller acquires a force applied to a manipulator of a robot, to generate, based on the acquired data, force state data containing information related to the force applied to the manipulator and control command adjustment data indicating an adjustment behavior of a control command related to the manipulator as state data, thereby executing, based on the generated state data, a process of machine learning related to the adjustment behavior of the control command related to the manipulator.

A wave energy converter and method for extracting energy from water waves maximizes the energy extraction per cycle by estimating an excitation force of heave wave motion on the buoy, computing a control force from the estimated excitation force using a dynamic model, and applying the computed control force to the buoy to extract energy from the heave wave motion. Analysis and numerical simulations demonstrate that the optimal control of a heave wave energy converter is, in general, in the form of a bang-singular-bang control; in which the optimal control at a given time can be either in the singular arc mode or in the bang-bang mode. The excitation force and its derivatives at the current time can be obtained through an estimator, for example, using measurements of pressures on the surface of the buoy in addition to measurements of the buoy position. A main advantage of this approximation method is the ease of obtaining accurate measurements for pressure on the buoy surface and for buoy position, compared to wave elevation measurements.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a controller of controlling a robot. The method comprising detecting a pattern of a series of external forces applied on a portion of at least one arm link of the robot; comparing the pattern with a predetermined pattern associated with the portion; and in accordance with a determination that the detected pattern matches the predetermined pattern, controlling the robot to perform an action corresponding to the predetermined pattern. By introducing a pattern of a series of external forces applied on a robot to control the robot, the control of the robot can be done more intuitively. In this way, some intermediate steps such as conversion of view angle and instructions required to use the HMI-based methods are omitted, thereby improving efficiency or reliability of the robot.

The present disclosure provides a navigation method and system which does not require a remotely located tracking system, or additional targets or other devices to be installed on the patient or object being tracked. The system uses one flexible component in physical contact with the patient/object and measures relative position as a function of forces that are generated by the flexing component as it is bent. The system translates forces into navigational commands for a robot, other manipulator, or for human manual navigation. A method for transforming a pre-planned motion pathway into a sequence of forces for this mode of navigation is also described. This system is also applicable in the field of manufacturing robotics, where the locations of objects or assemblies may not be precisely known or constant. The method and system disclosed herein can be used to maintain known position of an object/assembly or to navigate movement of a robot relative to an object/assembly as in the case of machining.

A robot apparatus includes a robot arm, an end effector provided in the robot arm and configured to hold a workpiece, and a controller configured to perform a control process for controlling the end effector to release the workpiece on a basis of a first torque acting on the end effector in a predetermined direction in a state in which the end effector is holding the workpiece.

In a method and system for operating a robot, at least one first direction, in which an external load acting on a reference is not reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads due to the vicinity to a singular position of the robot, is displayed as not being monitored on the basis of detected joint loads, and/or at least one second direction, in which an external load acting on the reference is reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads despite the vicinity to the singular position, is displayed as being monitorable on the basis of detected joint loads. Additionally or alternatively, at least one first direction is blocked if an external load acting on the reference in said direction is not reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads due to the vicinity to a singular position of the robot, and if at least one direction is blocked and multiple joints of the robot are simultaneously actuated, a monitoring process is carried out on the basis of detected joint loads for an external load acting on the reference in at least one second direction, in which an external load acting on the reference is reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads despite the vicinity to the singular position.