A method of transporting an object using a system comprising a plurality of robots. The method comprises one or more robots of the plurality of robots arranging themselves to each exert a respective transporting force on the object. Each of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies a transport criterion while arranged to exert the respective transporting force on the object. If all of the one or more robots satisfy the transport criterion, the one or more robots exert the respective transporting forces on the object to transport the object towards a destination. At least one of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies the transport criterion based on observations of other robots of the plurality of robots within its vicinity.

A robotic machine assembly includes a movable robotic arm configured to perform an assigned task that involves moving toward, engaging, and manipulating a target object of a vehicle. The assembly also includes a communication circuit configured to receive manipulation parameters for the target object from a remote database. The manipulation parameters are specific to at least one of the vehicle or a vehicle class in which the vehicle belongs. The assembly also includes one or more processors configured to generate a task performance plan for the robotic arm based on the manipulation parameters. The task performance plan includes prescribed forces to be exerted by the robotic arm on the target object to manipulate the target object. The one or more processors also are configured to drive movement of the robotic arm during performance of the assigned task according to the task performance plan.

A robot control system includes circuitry configured to: acquire velocity of a robot in a working space in which the robot processes a workpiece based on a force control axis and a position control axis, the velocity being along the force control axis; select an equivalent mass matrix representing a relationship between acceleration and force in the working space, based on the acquired velocity, from a first equivalent mass matrix corresponding to the velocity being zero and a second equivalent mass matrix corresponding to the velocity not being zero; and generate a control signal for controlling the robot based on the selected equivalent mass matrix.

A method for controlling movement of a robot having a plurality of links connected by rotatably driven joints includes the steps of: a) defining a target speed vector of a reference point of the robot in Cartesian space; b) determining rotation speeds ({dot over (q)}.sub.ref) of the joints which minimize a weighted sum, the weighted sum having for summands i) a discrepancy (∥{dot over (x)}.sub.ref.sup.k−J{dot over (q)}.sub.ref.sup.k∥.sub.W.sub.x) between the target speed vector ({dot over (x)}.sub.ref) and an actual speed vector ({dot over (x)}.sub.act) calculated from actual rotation speeds of the joints; and ii) a rate of change $\left(\frac{1}{T_S}{.Math.{\stackrel{.}{q}}_{\mathrm{ref}}^k-{\stackrel{.}{q}}_{\mathrm{ref}}^{k-1}.Math.}_{W_a}\right)$
of the target rotation speeds; and c) setting the rotation speeds ({dot over (q)}.sub.ref) determined in step (b) as target rotation speeds of the joints.

A method for controlling movement of a robot having a plurality of links connected by rotatably driven joints includes the steps of: a) defining a target speed vector of a reference point of the robot in Cartesian space; b) determining rotation speeds ({dot over (q)}.sub.ref) of the joints which minimize a weighted sum, the weighted sum having for summands i) a discrepancy (∥{dot over (x)}.sub.ref.sup.k−J{dot over (q)}.sub.ref.sup.k∥.sub.W.sub.x) between the target speed vector ({dot over (x)}.sub.ref) and an actual speed vector ({dot over (x)}.sub.act) calculated from actual rotation speeds of the joints; and ii) a rate of change

[00001]$\left(\frac{1}{T_S}.Math.{.Math.{\stackrel{.}{q}}_{\mathrm{ref}}^k-{\stackrel{.}{q}}_{\mathrm{ref}}^{k-1}.Math.}_{W_a}\right)$

of the target rotation speeds; and c) setting the rotation speeds ({dot over (q)}.sub.ref) determined in step (b) as target rotation speeds of the joints.

A method of transporting an object using a system comprising a plurality of robots. The method comprises one or more robots of the plurality of robots arranging themselves to each exert a respective transporting force on the object. Each of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies a transport criterion while arranged to exert the respective transporting force on the object. If all of the one or more robots satisfy the transport criterion, the one or more robots exert the respective transporting forces on the object to transport the object towards a destination. At least one of the one or more robots evaluates whether it satisfies the transport criterion based on observations of other robots of the plurality of robots within its vicinity.

A robotic machine assembly includes a movable robotic arm configured to perform an assigned task that involves moving toward, engaging, and manipulating a target object of a vehicle. The assembly also includes a communication circuit configured to receive manipulation parameters for the target object from a remote database. The manipulation parameters are specific to at least one of the vehicle or a vehicle class in which the vehicle belongs. The assembly also includes one or more processors configured to generate a task performance plan for the robotic arm based on the manipulation parameters. The task performance plan includes prescribed forces to be exerted by the robotic arm on the target object to manipulate the target object. The one or more processors also are configured to drive movement of the robotic arm during performance of the assigned task according to the task performance plan.

In order to stabilize control of a driving section, a robot control apparatus includes a control section that acquires a driving position of the driving section that drives a robot and an operation force that is a force operating on the robot, and performs first control of the driving section based on the driving position and second control of the driving section based on the operation force; and a changing section that changes a size of servo stiffness of the robot that is realized by the control of the control section.

A robot system includes an end effector, a robot arm, and a controller. The end effector includes a pressure roller and a linear motion mechanism. The linear motion mechanism is configured to move the pressure roller with respect to a pressed surface. The robot arm is configured to support the end effector. The controller is configured to control the linear motion mechanism to move the pressure roller to make a pressing force of the pressure roller against the pressed surface approximately uniform.