Boston Dynamics

Abstract The invention includes a screw actuator. The screw actuator includes a screw having a screw shaft and a screw nut. The screw shaft defines a first longitudinal axis along its length. The screw nut at least partially surrounds the screw shaft. The screw actuator includes a motor having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is mechanically coupled to the screw shaft. The stator at least partially surrounds the rotor. The screw actuator includes a first rigid member having a length dimension oriented along the first longitudinal axis. The screw actuator includes a second rigid member mechanically constrained relative to the first rigid member. The second rigid member is configured to move along a direction of the first longitudinal axis.

Abstract Methods and apparatus for localizing a robot in an environment are provided. The method comprises determining, for a first configuration of the robot at a first time, first sensor data that is not occluded by a portion of the robot, determining, for a second configuration of the robot at a second time, second sensor data that is not occluded by a portion of the robot, determining first overlapping data corresponding to second sensor data that overlaps the first sensor data when the robot is in the first configuration, and localizing the robot in the environment based on the first overlapping data and the second overlapping data.

Abstract An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.

Abstract A method of grasping and/or placing multiple objects by a gripper of a mobile robot. The multi-grasp method includes determining one or more candidate groups of objects to grasp by the suction-based gripper of the mobile robot, each of the one or more candidate groups of objects including a plurality of objects, determining a grasp quality score for each of the one or more candidate groups of objects, and grasping, by the suction-based gripper of the mobile robot, all objects in a candidate group of objects based, at least in part, on the grasp quality score. The multi-place method includes determining an allowed width associated with the conveyor, selecting a multi-place technique based, at least in part, on the allowed width and a dimension of the multiple grasped objects, and controlling the mobile robot to place the multiple grasped objects on the conveyor based on the selected multi-place technique.

Abstract Methods and apparatus for operating a mobile robot in a loading dock environment are provided. The method comprises capturing, by a camera system of the mobile robot, at least one image of the loading dock environment, and processing, by at least one hardware processor of the mobile robot, the at least one image using a machine learning model trained to identify one or more features of the loading dock environment.

Abstract Disclosed herein are systems and methods directed to an industrial robot that can perform mobile manipulation (e.g., dexterous mobile manipulation). A robotic arm may be capable of precise control when reaching into tight spaces, may be robust to impacts and collisions, and/or may limit the mass of the robotic arm to reduce the load on the battery and increase runtime. A robotic arm may include differently configured proximal joints and/or distal joints. Proximal joints may be designed to promote modularity and may include separate functional units, such as modular actuators, encoder, bearings, and/or clutches. Distal joints may be designed to promote integration and may include offset actuators to enable a through-bore for the internal routing of vacuum, power, and signal connections.

Abstract A computer-implemented method, executed by data processing hardware of a robot, includes receiving a three-dimensional point cloud of sensor data for a space within an environment about the robot. The method includes receiving a selection input indicating a user-selection of a target object represented in an image corresponding to the space. The target object is for grasping by an end-effector of a robotic manipulator of the robot. The method includes generating a grasp region for the end-effector of the robotic manipulator by projecting a plurality of rays from the selected target object of the image onto the three-dimensional point cloud of sensor data. The method includes determining a grasp geometry for the robotic manipulator to grasp the target object within the grasp region. The method includes instructing the end-effector of the robotic manipulator to grasp the target object within the grasp region based on the grasp geometry.

Abstract A computer-implemented method includes generating a joint-torque-limit model for the articulated arm based on allowable joint torque sets corresponding to a base pose of the base. The method also include receiving a first requested joint torque set for a first arm pose of the articulated arm and determining, using the joint-torque-limit model, an optimized joint torque set corresponding to the first requested joint torque set. The method also includes receiving a second requested joint torque set for a second arm pose of the articulated arm and generating an adjusted joint torque set by adjusting the second requested joint torque set based on the optimized joint torque set. The method also includes sending the adjusted joint torque set to the articulated arm.