A robotic system may include a movable gantry robot, and a nozzle assembly movably coupled to the overhead beam of the gantry robot. The gantry robot may include an overhead beam extending between, and supported by, at least two side members slidably mounted on a pair of rails. The nozzle assembly may be coupled to the overhead beam of the gantry robot, and may be configured to extrude material through an outlet. The robotic system may further include a position controller configured to control position and movement of the gantry robot and the nozzle assembly.

Robotic systems for automated construction

Methods and systems for treating movement disorders are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment can include determining that the movement disorder affects the patient's gait, oral functioning, and/or other functioning, and applying electrical stimulation proximate to the interhemispheric fissure, the Sylvian fissure, or between the two fissures, respectively. In another embodiment, the method can include selecting at least one neural process from among a plurality of processes sequentially carried out by a patient to cause a muscle movement in the patient (e.g., a planning process, an initiation process, and an execution process), and applying electrical stimulation to a location of the patient's brain associated with the at least one neural process.

Systems and methods for selecting stimulation sites and applying treatment, including treatment of symptoms of Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders, and/or drug side effects

Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.

Object Pickup Strategies for a Robotic Device

A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.

Robotic carton unloader

Methods and systems for distributing remote assistance to facilitate robotic object manipulation are provided herein. Regions of a model of objects in an environment of a robotic manipulator may be determined, where each region corresponds to a different subset of objects with which the robotic manipulator is configured to perform a respective task. Certain tasks may be identified, and a priority queue of requests for remote assistance associated with the identified tasks may be determined based on expected times at which the robotic manipulator will perform the identified tasks. At least one remote assistor device may then be requested, according to the priority queue, to provide remote assistance with the identified tasks. The robotic manipulator may then be caused to perform the identified tasks based on responses to the requesting, received from the at least one remote assistor device, that indicate how to perform the identified tasks.

Methods and systems for distributing remote assistance to facilitate robotic object manipulation

The valve has a magnetic or magnetisable body (2) movable in a guide (1) away from a seating (3) by a magnetic actuator (20,21). The seating is protected by a layer of elastomer in the shape of a cone fitted to the underside of the body. The valve is used in a machining table (10) with a surface against which a workpiece is held by a suction device (12). Ducts (13,14) for vacuum or compressed air extend through the table under the valve seatings, with which they are in communication.

Gas control valve with magnetic body and elastomerically sealed seating

The device has a housing (16) and a plunger (18) protruding from the housing, where the plunger is guided in a relocatable manner and has a suction area (24) at an end of the plunger, which protrudes from the housing. The suction area is connected with a negative pressure source, where the plunger is continuously fixed in a displacing direction and in three positions. The plunger is lockable or fixable in the housing, and the suction area is flexibly supported in a free end of the plunger.

Work piece gripping and retaining device, has plunger protruding from housing and guided in relocatable manner, where plunger is lockable or fixable in housing, and suction area is flexibly supported in free end of plunger

The invention relates to a vacuum tightening system comprising a supporting base and a modular suction device for tightening a work piece. According to the invention, the modular suction device and the work piece can be tightened by means of a vacuum circuit in which the vacuum pressure is increased for tightening the work piece.

Vacuum tightening system

A vacuum gripper for suctioning work pieces, having a vacuum connection, a flexible suction body and a suction body holder, where the side of the suction body facing the work piece has a sealing lip bounding a vacuum chamber, and the vacuum chamber is connected to the vacuum connection. The suction body has a contact surface abutting the work pieces with prevailing vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The contact surface is provided with elements, where the elements are have a rod or pin-shaped configuration and form a microstructure.

Suction grip arm

Vacuum manipulation apparatus includes a lifting hose coupled to a vacuum-generating unit. The lifting hose incorporates a suction gripping device having a suction end adapted for placement against an object to be grasped and lifted. The device includes a flow opening plate adapted to be opened for preventing an abrupt rise of the gripping device upon unintentional release of the grasped object against gravitational forces. In a non-grasping mode, a retractable, spring-loaded push rod extends from the suction end of the device. The push rod retracts whenever the suction gripping device engages a grasped object. A blocking arm attached to the push rod engages the flow opening plate to hold the plate normally closed during the grasping mode. When suction is broken between the grasped object and the suction end of the gripping device, the push rod extends from the device, however, opening the flow opening plate to admit airflow.

Kurt Schmalz

Papers

Gas control valve with magnetic body and elastomerically sealed seating

Work piece gripping and retaining device, has plunger protruding from housing and guided in relocatable manner, where plunger is lockable or fixable in housing, and suction area is flexibly supported in free end of plunger

Vacuum tightening system

Suction grip arm

Vacuum manipulation apparatus