A handling device according to an embodiment has an arm, a holder, a storage, and a controller. The arm includes at least one joint. The holder is attached to the arm and is configured to hold an object. The storage stores a function map including at least one of information about holdable positions of the holder and information about possible postures of the holder. The detector is configured to detect information about the object. The controller is configured to generate holdable candidate points on the basis of the information detected by the detector, to search the function map for a position in an environment in which the object is present, the position being associated with the generated holdable candidate points, and to determine a holding posture of the holder on the basis of the searched position. The function map associates a manipulability with each position in the environment in which the object is present. The manipulability is a parameter calculated from at least one joint angle of the holder.

A computing system including a communication interface and a processing circuit. The communication interface communicates with a robot and a camera having a field of view. The processing circuit performs obtaining image information based on objects within the field of view and determines a first template matching score which indicates a degree of match between the image information and an model template. The processing circuit further determines image edge information based on the image information and determines a second template matching score which indicates a degree of match between the image edge information and a template. The processing circuit additional determines an overall template matching score based on the first template matching score and the second template matching score.

An automated modular plant growing system includes a rack structure with primary guiding tracks and secondary guiding tracks transverse to each other, and upper guiding tracks in parallel and above the primary guiding tracks. The automated modular plant growing system also includes a plurality of mobile modules detachably connected to the upper guiding tracks and to a nutrient solution supply system.

The information processing device 1A mainly includes a logical formula conversion unit 322A, a constraint condition information acquisition unit 323A, and a constraint condition addition unit 324A. The logical formula conversion unit 322A is configured to convert an objective task, which is a task to be performed by a robot, into a logical formula that is based on a temporal logic. The constraint condition information acquisition unit 323A is configured to acquire constraint condition information I2 indicative of a constraint condition to be satisfied in performing the objective task. The constraint condition addition unit 324A is configured to generate a target logical formula Ltag that is a logical formula obtained by adding a proposition indicative of the constraint condition to the logical formula generated by the logical formula conversion unit 322A.

According to an embodiment, a picking system having a holder, a controller, and a sensor is provided. The holder holds the object. The controller controls a motion of the holder. The sensor acquires information of the object. A failure detector of the controller detects a failure in a generation of the holding operation plan or a failure in a holding operation on the object by the holder. A determiner of the controller performs a first retry determination of deciding an operation for a retry in a case in which the failure detector detects the failure in the generation of the holding operation plan, and performing a second retry determination of deciding an operation for a retry in a case in which the failure detector detects the failure in a pickup of the object by the holder, the second retry determination being different from the first retry determination.

A system for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpieces includes a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to one or more such non-identical workpieces, the system reconfiguring the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece. A method for inspecting each workpiece of a plurality of non-identical workpiece includes providing a controller in control communication with the instruments of the system, and a ruleset corresponding to each such non-identical workpiece, the controller causing reconfiguration of the inspection instruments to customize part tending operations for each such non-identical workpiece.

Illustrative embodiments improve holding of a workpiece in an industrial process by placing the workpiece on or in a workpiece interface of a workholder and, prior to securing the workpiece on or in the workholder, vibrating the workpiece interface to settle the workpiece onto or into the workpiece interface. The act of vibrating the workpiece interface is separate and distinct from an act of securing the workpiece to the workpiece interface, and the vibration from the act of vibrating the workpiece interface is separate and distinct from vibration that may occur incidental to the act of securing the workpiece to the workpiece interface. Some embodiments of a workholder include a vibration actuator distinct from a workpiece interface actuator that opens and closes the workpiece interface. Some embodiments of workpiece interface include a set of one or more tapered guides to guide a workpiece onto the workpiece interface.

A dual-manipulator control method is configured to be used in a dual-manipulator control system including a first manipulator, a second manipulator, and a central control module. The first manipulator and the second manipulator are controlled by the central control module, and the central control module is configured to execute the dual-manipulator control method. The dual-manipulator control method includes: generating a first instruction sequence to control the first manipulator and a second instruction sequence to control the second manipulator; and controlling the first manipulator and the second manipulator based on the first instruction sequence and the second instruction sequence. Thus, the working efficiency is improved.

According to one embodiment, a picking system includes a picking robot and a control device. The picking robot transfers an object from a first space to a second space by using a robot hand. The control device controls the picking robot. When a first measurement result related to a shape of the object in the first space when viewed along a first direction is acquired, the control device performs a first calculation of calculating a position candidate for placing the object in the second space based on the first measurement result. When a second measurement result related to a shape of the object when viewed along a second direction is acquired, the control device performs a second calculation of calculating a position of the robot hand when placing the object in the second space based on the second measurement result and the position candidate.

A method and system for programming picking and placing of a workpiece is provided. Embodiments may include associating a workpiece with an end effector that is attached to a robot and scanning the workpiece while the workpiece is associated with the end effector. Embodiments may also include determining a pose of the workpiece relative to the robot, based upon, at least in part, the scanning.