Abstract:
Methods and systems for determining and modeling admissible gripper forces are described. An example method may involve receiving data representative of a plurality of trajectories along which a robotic manipulator, while gripping one or more physical objects, previously moved the one or more objects without dropping the one or more objects. The method may also involve determining set of force vectors corresponding to the trajectories. The method may also involve determining a three-dimensional virtual model of the set, where boundaries of the model represent constraints on magnitudes of forces that are applied in a given direction to perform the trajectories. The method may then involve determining one or more subsequent trajectories that correspond to a subsequent set of force vectors that are within the boundaries of the model and along which the robotic manipulator can move a subsequent physical object at particular accelerations without dropping the subsequent object.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for determining depth information using a combination of stereo and structured-light processing are provided. An example method involves receiving a plurality of images captured with at least two optical sensors, and determining a first depth estimate for at least one surface based on corresponding features between a first image and a second image. Further, the method involves causing a texture projector to project a known texture pattern, and determining, based on the first depth estimate, at least one region of at least one image of the plurality of images within which to search for a particular portion of the known texture pattern. And the method involves determining points corresponding to the particular portion of the known texture pattern within the at least one region, and determining a second depth estimate for the at least one surface based on the determined points corresponding to the known texture pattern.
Abstract:
Example systems and methods may be used to determine a trajectory for moving an object using a robotic device. One example method includes determining a plurality of possible trajectories for moving an object with an end effector of a robotic manipulator based on a plurality of possible object measurements. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector. Alter causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector, the method may also include receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of one or more measurements of the object. Based on the received sensor data, the method may additionally include selecting a trajectory for moving the object from the plurality of possible trajectories. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to move the object through the selected trajectory.
Abstract:
Example embodiments may provide for control of a suction gripper with multiple suction cups. One example system includes a suction gripper and a control system. The suction gripper may include a vacuum pump, a plurality of suction cups coupled to the vacuum pump, and a plurality of sensors corresponding to the suction cups, where a sensor is positioned between the vacuum pump and a suction cup and measures a vacuum pressure of the suction cup. The control system may be configured to activate the vacuum pump to cause the suction gripper to apply suction to an object through one or more active suction cups, receive sensor data indicative of the vacuum pressure of the one or more active suction cups from the corresponding sensors, identify at least one suction cup to deactivate from the one or more active suction cups, and deactivate the at least one identified suction cup.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
An example suction gripper is disclosed that includes a contacting pillow including a plurality of particles inside a non-rigid membrane that allow the contacting pillow to conform to a shape of an object when the contacting pillow is pressed against the object, a plurality of suction cups arranged on the non-rigid membrane of the contacting pillow, and a vacuum system coupled to the contacting pillow and to the plurality of suction cups. The vacuum system may be configured to apply suction to the object through at least one of the plurality of suction cups that is in contact with the object when the contacting pillow is pressed against the object and increase stiffness of the contacting pillow by removing air between the plurality of particles inside the non-rigid membrane of the contacting pillow.
Abstract:
Example systems and methods may be used to determine a trajectory for moving an object using a robotic device. One example method includes determining a plurality of possible trajectories for moving an object with an end effector of a robotic manipulator based on a plurality of possible object measurements. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector. After causing the robotic manipulator to pick up the object with the end effector, the method may also include receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of one or more measurements of the object. Based on the received sensor data, the method may additionally include selecting a trajectory for moving the object from the plurality of possible trajectories. The method may further include causing the robotic manipulator to move the object through the selected trajectory.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for recognizing machine-readable information on three-dimensional (3D) objects are described. A robotic manipulator may move at least one physical object through a designated area in space. As the at least one physical object is being moved through the designated area, one or more optical sensors may determine a location of a machine-readable code on the at least one physical object and, based on the determined location, scan the machine-readable code so as to determine information associated with the at least one physical object encoded in the machine-readable code. Based on the information associated with the at least one physical object, a computing device may then determine a respective location in a physical environment of the robotic manipulator at which to place the at least one physical object. The robotic manipulator may then be directed to place the at least one physical object at the respective location.
Abstract:
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.