The control device 1A mainly includes a determination means 15A, an abstract state setting means 16A, and a sequence generation means 17A. The determination means 15A determines, based on at least one of environment information relating to environment observed in a workspace of a controlled device to be controlled, state information relating to a state of the controlled device, and stored information that is stored information relating to the objective task to be executed by the controlled device, whether or not the objective task can be completed. The abstract state setting means 16A sets, when determined that the objective task cannot be completed, an abstract state in the workspace based on at least one of the environment information or the stored information. The sequence generation means 17A generates, based on the abstract state and the objective task, a sequence of subtasks to be executed by the controlled device.

Robots are deployed for handling different tasks in various field of applications. For the robots to function, task planning is required to be done. During the task planning, goal setting is done, as well as actions to be executed for corresponding to each goal are decided. Traditionally, this is carried out first and then the robots start executing the task plan, thereby failing to capture any change in the environment the robots operate, post the task plan generation. Disclosed herein is a method and system for robotic task planning in which a task plan is generated and is executed. However if the task execution fails due to change in any of the parameters/factors, then the system dynamically invokes an adaptation and re-planning mechanism which either updates the already generated task plan (by capturing the change) or generates a new task plan, which the robot can execute to achieve the goal.

A programming assistance apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry generates a first display data to be displayed in a first input area in which to input, for each of a plurality of task groups including a plurality of tasks, a first condition under which at least one robot executes the tasks. The circuitry generates a second display data to be displayed in a second input area in which to input a second condition for an execution order of the plurality of task groups. The circuitry sets the first condition based on an input into the first input area. The circuitry sets the second condition based on an input into the second input area. The circuitry generates, based on the first condition and the second condition, a motion program for causing the at least one robot to execute the plurality of task groups.

Robots are deployed for handling different tasks in various field of applications. For the robots to function, task planning is required to be done. During the task planning, goal setting is done, as well as actions to be executed for corresponding to each goal are decided. Traditionally, this is carried out first and then the robots start executing the task plan, thereby failing to capture any change in the environment the robots operate, post the task plan generation. Disclosed herein is a method and system for robotic task planning in which a task plan is generated and is executed. However if the task execution fails due to change in any of the parameters/factors, then the system dynamically invokes an adaptation and re-planning mechanism which either updates the already generated task plan (by capturing the change) or generates a new task plan, which the robot can execute to achieve the goal.

The technology provides for a robotic control system implemented on a distributed system, which may include at least one processor on a cloud computing system and at least one processor on a robot. For instance, configuration data for a plurality of controllers of the robot may be received and the plurality of controllers may be deployed on the distributed system. For example, a first controller may be deployed on the cloud while a second controller may be deployed on the robot. The system may include a cloud database and a robot database. Both databases may store configuration data and current states of the first controller and the second controller, and may be synchronized. Workload for the first controller and the second controller may both be controlled based on the configuration data and the current states of the first controller and the second controller.

Some examples include a method of operating a robot including receiving a task assignment for the robot, initiating a sequence of operations associated with the robot performing the task assignment, sensing an interruption event to the sequence of operations at a first location of the robot, interrupting the sequence of operations, referencing a database of assistant resources, determining available assistant resources from the database of assistant resources, selecting an available assistant resource from the database to assist with resolving the interruption event at the first location, transmitting a communication requesting assistance to the selected available assistant resource to assist at the first location, sensing when the interruption event has been resolved, and resuming the sequence of operations from the interruption event.

A programming assistance apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry generates a first display data to be displayed in a first input area in which to input, for each of a plurality of task groups including a plurality of tasks, a first condition under which at least one robot executes the tasks. The circuitry generates a second display data to be displayed in a second input area in which to input a second condition for an execution order of the plurality of task groups. The circuitry sets the first condition based on an input into the first input area. The circuitry sets the second condition based on an input into the second input area. The circuitry generates, based on the first condition and the second condition, a motion program for causing the at least one robot to execute the plurality of task groups.

The control device 1A mainly includes a determination means 15A, an abstract state setting means 16A, and a sequence generation means 17A. The determination means 15A determines, based on at least one of environment information relating to environment observed in a workspace of a controlled device to be controlled, state information relating to a state of the controlled device, and stored information that is stored information relating to the objective task to be executed by the controlled device, whether or not the objective task can be completed. The abstract state setting means 16A sets, when determined that the objective task cannot be completed, an abstract state in the workspace based on at least one of the environment information or the stored information. The sequence generation means 17A generates, based on the abstract state and the objective task, a sequence of subtasks to be executed by the controlled device.