Kindred Systems Inc.

Ocado Innovation Limited

David Gabriel Hallock

Thomas John Hummel

Jun Jeong

Bryan Whittington

James Sterling Bergstra

Kevin George

Sara Wojciechowski

Nicholas Keyes

Petr Lipay

Adrian Martin

Hugo Seize

Adam Rizkalla

Nicolas Bergeron

George Babu

Douglas Ian Fulop

Neil Isaac

Jinendra Raja Jain

Bryan Tripp

Gaurav Paruthi

Youssef Zaky

Nicolas Keyes

A robotic system includes a robotic manipulator having one or more contact pads. The contact pads have features therein that are detectable to determine or measure a degree to which they have worn down. Such features may include fluorescent materials, colorful materials, and/or RFID tags. A robotic environment may include one or more sensors to detect such features, and may be configured to generate a signal indicating that one or more contact pads are in need of maintenance.

Robotic grippiing system with contact-sensitive pads

A system for singulating objects includes a bin for receiving a collection of objects, a robotic manipulator for grasping objects from the bin, a scale for measuring a weight of the grasped objects, and a computer system for comparing measured weights to acceptable weight ranges to detect double picks. Methods include determining acceptable weight ranges by weighing a plurality of objects.

Multiple object detection

Techniques for controlling a robotic gripping system that utilizes vacuum suction and finger grasping, are disclosed. The vacuum suction and finger grasping are actuated based on a dynamic collision model. The dynamic collision model is used to generate collision scenes of a surrounding environment. The collision scenes are used to determine possible collisions in a motion path, which are used to selectively actuate the vacuum suction and/or finger grasping.

System and method for robotic gripping utilizing dynamic collision modeling for vacuum suction and finger control

A robotic manipulator includes a first stage, a second stage, a third stage, and an actuator that actuates movement of the second stage with respect to the first stage. Movement of the second stage with respect to the first stage passively drives movement of the third stage with respect to the second stage. In some embodiments, the passive driving is achieved using one or more cables. In other embodiments, the passive driving is achieved using rack and pinion components. The robotic manipulator may further include additional stages, wherein movement of preceding stages passively drives movement of succeeding stages.

Nested linear stroke multipliers for robot manipulators

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of robotic grasping systems, and in particular to an active robotic manipulator that includes a passive grasping component so that the robotic manipulator can grasp a wide variety of objects and simultaneously provide soft grasping features which reduce the risk of damage to objects.

Systems and methods for a passive grasping surface on an active grasping robotic manipulator

Underactuated robotic manipulators may include a plurality of links rotatably or rigidly coupled to one another at a plurality of joints. The links may include driven links that are driven to grasp an object to be held, driving links that are actuated by an actuator to drive movement of the driven links, and a plurality of connecting links that couple the driving links to the driven links. Such manipulators may include a plurality of driven links and associated touch points, and a plurality of independent degrees of freedom, and be driven by a single actuator, making them underactuated.

Under-actuated robotic manipulators

The present disclosure generally relates to a robotic control system and method that utilizes active perception to gather the relevant information related to a robot, a robotic environment, and objects within the environment, and allows the robot to focus computational resources where needed, such as for manipulating an object. The present disclosure also enables viewing and analyzing objects from different distances and viewpoints, providing a rich visual experience from which the robot can learn abstract representations of the environment. Inspired by the primate visual-motor system, the present disclosure leverages the benefits of active perception to accomplish manipulation tasks using human-like hand-eye coordination.

Systems and methods for active perception and coordination between robotic vision systems and manipulators

Detection and measurement of wear of robotic manipulator touch points

A robotic manipulator system includes a first robotic manipulator and a second robotic manipulator configured to grasp an object. The first robotic manipulator grasps the object a first time and moves the object to the second robotic manipulator. The second robotic manipulator then grasps the object and the first robotic manipulator readjusts its position relative to the object before grasping the object a second time. One or both of the robotic manipulators then move the object a new location before releasing the object at the new location.

Robot manipulator system and methods for providing supplemental securement of objects

The present disclosure generally relates to a robotic gripping system and method that utilizes vacuum suction and finger grasping, wherein the suction and grasping are actuated based on a dynamic collision model. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to generating collision scenes of a surrounding environment which is used to determine possible collisions in a motion path, and which is used to selectively actuate the vacuum suction and/or finger grasping.

Systems, devices, articles, and methods for the partition of a plurality of items. A system including at least one processor, a frame, an end-effector coupled to the frame, and a plurality of reception spaces proximate to the end-effector. Coupled to the at least one processor is the end-effector, and a storage device storing processor-executable instructions which cause the at least one processor to direct the end-effector partition a plurality of items into two or more defined parts per a defined partition for the plurality of items. The end-effector places the plurality of items in the plurality of reception spaces. Item(s) for a respective part of the two or more defined parts are placed in a respective reception space, and may be transferred to a respective container. A method of operation of a system including at least one processor and a robot substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Systems, devices, articles and methods for the partition of items

An end-effector may be summarized substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Systems, devices, articles, and methods for stow verification

Systems and methods for identifying an object being extracted from or moved among a plurality of objects in a designated area, the plurality of objects equipped with transponders that emit a reply signal encoding an identifier. A set of antennas proximately located to the designated area are controlled to emit interrogation signals that cause the transponders to emit the reply signal in response. Sets of information are obtained regarding the reply signals received by the set of antennas, the reply signals including an indication of a signal characteristic and an identifier particular to the type of the object. The sets of information are analyzed to identify an identifier of the object being extracted based on fluctuations in the signal characteristic relative to the plurality of objects. One or more operations may be performed involving the object based on identification of the identifier.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

David Gabriel Hallock