A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.

A bulk workpiece picking system is configured by including: a robot which is provided with an electromagnetic hand capable of magnetically attracting a metal workpiece; a determination section which determines whether or not the workpiece is magnetically attracted by the electromagnetic hand; and a magnetic force control section which controls the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand, the magnetic force control section being configured such that: before it is determined by the determination section that the magnetic attraction is performed; the magnetic force control section sets a magnitude of the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand so that the electromagnetic hand can suspend one workpiece and cannot suspend two workpieces; and then, after it is determined by the determination section that the magnetic attraction is performed, the magnetic force control section increases the magnetic force of the electromagnetic hand.

A computer positions an object using a computer-controlled positioning device. The computer is operatively associated with the positioning device via a control interface. The positioning device has a substantially-hollow interior chamber. The computer identifies a selected object located at a primary location within the interior chamber and having a primary orientation with respect thereto. The computer identifies a first array of elements constructed and arranged to generate contact-free support forces sufficient to maintain the selected object at the primary location. The computer identifies a second array of elements constructed and arranged to provide contact-free interaction forces sufficient to move the selected object within the interior chamber. The computer interacts with the selected object, using the control interface to adjust at least one of either the supporting forces and the interaction forces, to place the selected object into at least one of a secondary location or a secondary orientation.

A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.

An approach relates to manipulation of tools or instruments in the performance of a task by a robot. In accordance with this approach, sensor data is acquired and processed to identify a subset of instruments initially susceptible to manipulation. The instruments are then manipulated in the performance of the task based on the processed sensor data.

An imaging system captures images of a work surface having articles of cutlery distributed thereon. An end effector, such as a magnetic end effector, may be used to grasp articles of cutlery and place them in a designated location according to the type of the article of cutlery as determined using an image of the work surface and machine vision. A type of articles of cutlery may be classified based on the image such as according to category (knife, fork, spoon), size, or brand. Multiple articles of cutlery occluding one another may be dealt with by stirring or grasping multiple items and releasing them on a separate work surface in order to disperse them. Whether the end effector is grasping multiple articles of cutlery may be determined by capturing an image of the end effector. Machine vision may determine whether an article of cutlery is contaminated or damaged.

An apparatus and system for launching and/or capturing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus includes a moving substrate having an electromagnetic end effector and a UAV with a metallic strike plate to be attracted to the end effector when the electromagnet is activated. The system includes a movable robotic arm having a free end and a secured end; an electromagnetic end effector connected proximate to the free end of the robotic arm; a UAV with a metallic strike to be attracted and held to the electromagnetic end effector when the electromagnetic end effector is active; trajectory software configured to control a location of the free end of the robotic arm; and a control module for receiving input data, analyzing the data and using the trajectory software to control the location of and activate or deactivate the electromagnetic end effector. Also described are methods for launching and capturing the UAV.

At least one magnetic medium is loaded into a cavity of a build piece. The build piece is created by an additive manufacturing process. The magnetic medium is magnetically moved in the cavity.

Systems and methods for determining item manipulation strategies using magnetic manipulation are described herein. For example, item information describing properties of an item may be accessed. The item information may indicate that the item includes a magnetic patch. Using this item information, a manipulation strategy for manipulating the item may be determined. The manipulation strategy may include a strategy for manipulating the item using one or more end effectors of a robotic manipulator. The manipulation strategy may be provided to the robotic manipulator for manipulation of the item by magnetically coupling an end effector of the one or more end effectors with the magnetic patch connected to the item.

The disclosed approach relates to manipulation of tools or instruments in the performance of a task by a robot. In accordance with this approach, sensor data is acquired and processed to identify a subset of instruments initially susceptible to manipulation. The instruments are then manipulated in the performance of the task based on the processed sensor data.