A robot hand, and a robot hand control method and program are provided that are capable of performing an assembly task at high speed while alleviating shock between a gripped object (20) and an assembly target object (22). A robot hand (100) includes a hand (12), a displacement sensor (14), an estimation section, and a controller (16). The hand (12) includes an anti-slip mechanism at a contact portion with the gripped object (20) and a mechanism capable of anisotropic movement in three degrees of freedom under external force. The displacement sensor (14) is configured to detect a displacement amount of the hand (12) when an external force has been applied to the hand (12) from a state of mechanical equilibrium existing prior to application of the external force. Based on the displacement amount detected by the sensor, the estimation section is configured to estimate position-orientation-displacement amounts of the gripped object (20) when the gripped object (20) is being assembled to an assembly target object (22). The controller (16) includes a control section configured to control the hand (12) based on the position/orientation-displacement amounts of the gripped object as estimated by the estimation section so as to assemble the gripped object (20) to the assembly target object (22).

A robotic system configured to use a multi-mode end effector is disclosed. In various embodiments, a grasp strategy is determined for a robot to grasp an object in a workspace, wherein the determined grasp strategy is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of grasping modes of operation of a multi-mode robotic end effector associated with the robot. A command to grasp the object using the multi-mode robotic end effector in the grasping mode of operation associated with the determined grasp strategy is sent to the robot.

A multi-mode robotic end effector is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multi-mode robotic end effector includes a first set of structures configured to grasp objects in a first mode of operation; a retraction mechanism configured to retract the first set of structures to a stowed position associated with a second mode of operation in response to a retraction command; and a second set of structures configured to grasp objects in a second mode of operation.

An adaptable end effector useful to accommodate a wide variety of components, component geometries and variations in component geometries. In one example, the end effector includes a movable arm and at least three fingers each having a gripping tool for engagement of the component with variable and/or programmable holding force preventing relative movement.

An adaptable end effector useful to accommodate a wide variety of components, component geometries and variations in component geometries. In one example, the end effector includes a movable arm and at least three fingers each having a gripping tool for engagement of the component with variable and/or programmable holding force preventing relative movement.

A workpiece mounting system mounts a sunroof member to an inner panel of a body. The workpiece mounting system is provided with a first robot, a second robot, and a control device for controlling the first and second robots. The control device performs a step of calculating as positional information the position of the sunroof member and the position of the inner panel by a CCD camera of the first robot, a step of holding and conveying the sunroof member by the first robot on the basis of the positional information and positioning the sunroof member relative to the inner panel, a step of temporarily fixing the sunroof member to the inner panel by the first robot, and a step of finally fixing the sunroof member to the inner panel by the second robot on the basis of the already calculated positional information.