Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing robot plan online adjustment. A method includes receiving an initial plan for performing a particular task with a robot having a sensor. The initial plan defines an initial path having a plurality of waypoints. Each waypoint is associated with a target position and a target velocity. The method includes generating an alternative path from the initial path. Generating an alternative path includes generating a plurality of alternative paths including performing respective modifications to one or more waypoints in the initial plan, evaluating each alternative path according to a simulated total time duration required for the robot to traverse the alternative path, and selecting an alternative path having a total time duration that is less than a total time duration of the initial plan.

According to other embodiments, a method planning of motions to lift heavy objects using a robot system comprising a robot and an end effector, includes identifying data comprising (a) rigid bodies included in the robot and the end effector, (b) joints connecting the rigid bodies, and (c) torque limits for each of the joints. The torque limit for a joint indicates a maximum supported torque by a drive operating the joint. A motion path searching algorithm is applied to the input data to identify feasible robot paths. The motion path searching algorithm determines torque of each of joint when evaluating points for inclusion in a feasible robot path. An evaluated point is only included in a feasible robot path if the torque of each of the joints do not exceed the torque limits. At least one of the feasible robot paths is transferred to a controller associated with the robot.

A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.

A layout generation device includes: a waypoint registration unit, an arrangement generation unit, an arrangement evaluation unit, an arrangement extraction unit, a path determination unit, a path generation unit, an arrangement exclusion unit, and an arrangement evaluation update unit. The arrangement evaluation unit evaluates, as an evaluation value, an operation time of a robot without considering an obstacle for each of arrangements. The arrangement extraction unit extracts an arrangement having a best evaluation value from among the evaluated arrangements by the arrangement evaluation unit. The path determination unit determines whether or not an extracted arrangement extracted by the arrangement extraction unit needs to avoid an obstacle in terms of an operation of the robot via a waypoint.

A robot simulator includes a storage device that stores model information related to the robot and an obstacle in the vicinity of the robot, and an acquisition device that obtains first input information defining a start position and an end position of operation of the robot. A processing device generates a path for moving the distal end portion of the robot from the start position to the end position while avoiding collisions between the robot and the obstacle based on the first input information and the model information. The processing device also generates image data including an illustration of the obstacle and an index indicating a via-point of the path.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for robot plan online adjustment. A method includes receiving an initial plan for performing a particular task with a robot having a sensor. The initial plan defines an initial path having a plurality of waypoints and a footprint space for performing the particular task. The method includes receiving a sensor input from the sensor, and determining from the sensor input that the initial plan requires modification to complete the particular task. The method includes evaluating a plurality of alternative paths, including rejecting one or more alternative paths having any alternative waypoints that are outside the footprint space defined by the initial plan. The method includes selecting an alternative path having alternative waypoints that are all within the footprint space defined by the initial plan. The method includes following, by the robot, the alternative path.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing robot plan online adjustment. A method includes receiving an initial plan for performing a particular task with a robot having a sensor. The initial plan defines an initial path having a plurality of waypoints. Each waypoint is associated with a target position and a target velocity. The method includes generating an alternative path from the initial path. Generating an alternative path includes generating a plurality of alternative paths including performing respective modifications to one or more waypoints in the initial plan, evaluating each alternative path according to a simulated total time duration required for the robot to traverse the alternative path, and selecting an alternative path having a total time duration that is less than a total time duration of the initial plan.

A time-optimal trajectory generation method, for a robotic manipulator having a transport path with at least one path segment, comprising generating a forward time-optimal trajectory of the manipulator along the at least one path segment from a start point of the at least one path segment towards an end point of the at least one path segment, generating a reverse time-optimal trajectory of the manipulator along the at least one path segment from the end point towards the start point of the at least one path segment, and combining the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories to obtain a complete time-optimal trajectory, where the forward and reverse trajectories of the at least one path segment are blended together with a smoothing bridge joining the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories in a position-velocity reference frame with substantially no discontinuity between the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories.

A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.

According to other embodiments, a method planning of motions to lift heavy objects using a robot system comprising a robot and an end effector, includes identifying data comprising (a) rigid bodies included in the robot and the end effector, (b) joints connecting the rigid bodies, and (c) torque limits for each of the joints. The torque limit for a joint indicates a maximum supported torque by a drive operating the joint. A motion path searching algorithm is applied to the input data to identify feasible robot paths. The motion path searching algorithm determines torque of each of joint when evaluating points for inclusion in a feasible robot path. An evaluated point is only included in a feasible robot path if the torque of each of the joints do not exceed the torque limits. At least one of the feasible robot paths is transferred to a controller associated with the robot.