A robot application development system and method includes a robot application unit that determines a robot application, which defines the industrial robot in a robot workspace. An input interface receives robot application information. An object data interface receives work piece information. A gripper finger design unit determines a gripper finger design. The robot application unit determines the robot application using the robot application information. The gripper finger design unit determines the gripper finger design using the work piece information and the robot application information.

Exemplary embodiments relate to user-assisted robotic control systems, user interfaces for remote control of robotic systems, vision systems in robotic control systems, and modular grippers for use by robotic systems. The systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media instructions described interact with and control robotic systems, in particular pick and place systems using soft robotic actuators to grasp, move and release target objects.

A device and method for automated computer controlled manufacture of assemblies composed of discrete linked product segments includes reciprocating product segment grippers having surface features engageable with the product segments, at least one robotic manipulating device whereby the product segments may be engaged by the product segment grippers.

A compliant end effector includes a robot mounting bracket and a component support member. The component support member includes a side surface and a top surface. A component clamping system includes a first clamp member operable to move toward the side surface of the component support member and a second clamp member operable to move toward the top surface of the component support member. A controller is operatively connected to the clamping system. The controller is configured to engage the first and second clamp members as the component gripping and manipulating system is in a set position and release the first clamp member and the second clamp member allowing a portion of a component held by the component clamping system to move with one or more degrees of freedom when the component gripping and manipulating system is moving to the set position.

Exemplary embodiments relate to applications for soft robotic actuators in the manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation industries, among others. Methods and systems are disclosed for fixing target objects and/or receptacles using soft robotic actuators, for positioning target objects and/or receptacles, and/or for diverting or sorting objects. By using soft robotic actuators to perform the fixing, positioning, and/or diverting, objects of different sizes and configurations may be manipulated on the same processing line, without the need to reconfigure the line or install new hardware when a new object is received.

Robotic gripping devices and methods for performing a picking operation. The methods described herein may involve positioning a gripping device with respect to an item to be grasped and then executing a first picking operation using the gripping device to obtain a grasp on the item. The methods may then involve executing at least two of a force detection procedure to detect a force applied to a portion of the gripping device, a grasping space detection procedure to detect an item in grasping range of the gripping device, a pressure detection procedure configured to detect pressure in an airflow path, and an item load detection procedure to detect force in a mechanical load path of the gripping device.

A control device includes a control section configured to control a robot on the basis of first information concerning positions and sequential numbers for drawing a linear object around a first object. The first information is received by a receiving section and displayed on a display section.

Exemplary embodiments relate to user-assisted robotic control systems, user interfaces for remote control of robotic systems, vision systems in robotic control systems, and modular grippers for use by robotic systems. The systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media instructions described interact with and control robotic systems, in particular pick and place systems using soft robotic actuators to grasp, move and release target objects.

In order to provide an improved method and device to facilitate the teach-in of gripper positions, it is suggested that the positions be automatically detected. The procedure shall include: starting a teach-in process, detecting the position and the direction of movement of the actuating element on its path with a sensor, performing gripping movements from one position to another and stopping the gripper in each of the positions, storing the position of the actuating element when the gripper stops and storing the direction of movement from which this position was approached as the associated direction of movement, stopping the teach-in process when as many different positions with the associated movement directions have been stored as there are gripper positions, assigning of the gripper positions to the three positions from the stored positions and the stored, associated movement directions.

A method for estimating a mechanical degradation of a machine comprises using a drive unit of the machine to move a movable component of the machine during an evaluation period. A drive parameter is measured during the evaluation period to set up a set of input data. A cluster analysis is performed by a processor on the input data and a degradation value for the machine is determined by the processor depending on a result of the cluster analysis.