Due to a general shift in manufacturing paradigm from mass production towards mass customization, reconfigurable automation technologies, such as robots, are required. However, current industrial robot solutions are notoriously difficult to program, leading to high changeover times when new products are introduced by manufacturers. In order to compete on global markets, the factories of tomorrow nDue to a general shift in manufacturing paradigm from mass production towards mass customization, reconfigurable automation technologies, such as robots, are required. However, current industrial robot solutions are notoriously difficult to program, leading to high changeover times when new products are introduced by manufacturers. In order to compete on global markets, the factories of tomorrow n

Automated task planning for robots is usually implemented on a motion primitive domain, where the focus is on constructing meaningful, general motion primitives. In this work we propose planning on the higher abstraction level of robot skills. In this context, skills are general, functional blocks that contain both sensing and action, have a welldefined expected outcome and set of preconditions, a

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Vision Systems, ICVS 2015, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July 2015. The 48 papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 92 submissions. The paper are organized in topical sections on biological and cognitive vision; hardware-implemented and real-time vision systems; high-level vision; le

Purpose– The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the technology of autonomous mobile manipulation in a real world industrial manufacturing environment. The objective has been to obtain experience in the integration with existing equipment and determine key challenges in maturing the technology to a level of readiness suitable for industry. Despite much research within the topic of industriaPurpose– The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the technology of autonomous mobile manipulation in a real world industrial manufacturing environment. The objective has been to obtain experience in the integration with existing equipment and determine key challenges in maturing the technology to a level of readiness suitable for industry. Despite much research within the topic of industria

Cognitive robots, able to adapt their actions based on sensory information and the management of uncertainty, have begun to find their way into manufacturing settings. However, the full potential of these robots has not been fully exploited, largely due to the lack of vertical integration with existing IT infrastructures, such as the manufacturing execution system (MES), as part of a large-scale cCognitive robots, able to adapt their actions based on sensory information and the management of uncertainty, have begun to find their way into manufacturing settings. However, the full potential of these robots has not been fully exploited, largely due to the lack of vertical integration with existing IT infrastructures, such as the manufacturing execution system (MES), as part of a large-scale c

This book summarizes various approaches for the automatic detection of health threats to older patients at home living alone. The text begins by briefly describing those who would most benefit from healthcare supervision. The book then summarizes possible scenarios for monitoring an older patient at home, deriving the common functional requirements for monitoring technology. Next, the work identif

The automation of kitting tasks-collecting a set of parts for one particular car into a kit-has a huge impact in the automotive industry. It considerably increases the automation levels of tasks typically conducted by human workers. Collecting the parts involves picking up objects from pallets and bins as well as placing them in the respective compartments of the kitting box. In this paper, we pre

Delegating tasks from a human to a robot needs an efficient and easy-to-use communication pipeline between them - especially when inexperienced users are involved. This work presents a robotic system that is able to bridge this communication gap by exploiting 3D sensing for gesture recognition and real-time object segmentation. We visually extract an unknown object indicated by a human through a pDelegating tasks from a human to a robot needs an efficient and easy-to-use communication pipeline between them - especially when inexperienced users are involved. This work presents a robotic system that is able to bridge this communication gap by exploiting 3D sensing for gesture recognition and real-time object segmentation. We visually extract an unknown object indicated by a human through a p

3D pose estimation is a crucial element for enabling robots to work in industrial environment to perform tasks like bin-picking or depalletizing. Even though there exist various pose estimation algorithms, they usually deal with common daily objects applied in lab environments. However, coping with real-world industrial objects is a much harder challenge for most pose estimation techniques due to 3D pose estimation is a crucial element for enabling robots to work in industrial environment to perform tasks like bin-picking or depalletizing. Even though there exist various pose estimation algorithms, they usually deal with common daily objects applied in lab environments. However, coping with real-world industrial objects is a much harder challenge for most pose estimation techniques due to

The recent development of calibration algorithms has been driven into two major directions: (1) an increasing accuracy of mathematical approaches and (2) an increasing flexibility in usage by reducing the dependency on calibration objects. These two trends, however, seem to be contradictory since the overall accuracy is directly related to the accuracy of the pose estimation of the calibration obj

The registration of an observed point set to a known model to estimate its 3D pose is a common task for the autonomous manipulation of objects. Especially in industrial environments, robotic systems need to accurately estimate the pose of objects in order to successfully perform picking, placing or assembly tasks. However, the characteristics of industrial objects often cause difficulties for clas

This paper presents an integrated cognitive robotics system for industrial kitting operations in a modern factory setting. The robot system combines low-level robot control and execution monitoring with automated mission and task planning, and a logistics planner which communicates with the factory's manufacturing execution system. The system has been implemented and tested on a series of automotiThis paper presents an integrated cognitive robotics systemfor industrial kitting operations in a modern factory setting.The robot system combines low-level robot control and execution monitoring with automated mission and task planning,and a logistics planner which communicates with the factory’smanufacturing execution system. The system has been implemented and tested on a series of automotive k

Traditional robots used in manufacturing are very efficient for solving specific tasks that are repeated manytimes. The robots are, however, difficult to (re-)configure and (re-)program. This can often only be done byexpert robotic programmers, computer vision experts, etc., and it requires additionally lots of time. In thispaper we present and use a skill based framework for robotic programming. Traditional robots used in manufacturing are very efficient for solving specific tasks that are repeated many times. The robots are, however, difficult to (re-)configure and (re-)program. This can often only be done by expert robotic programmers, computer vision experts, etc., and it requires additionally lots of time. In this paper we present and use a skill based framework for robotic programmin

Problem-based learning (PBL) has proven to be highly effective for educating students in an active and self-motivated manner in various disciplines. Student projects carried out following PBL principles are very dynamic and carry a high level of uncertainty, both conditions under which agile project management approaches are assumed to be highly supportive. The paper describes an empirical case stProblem-based learning (PBL) has proven to be highly effective for educating students in an active and self-motivated manner in various disciplines. Student projects carried out following PBL principles are very dynamic and carry a high level of uncertainty, both conditions under which agile project management approaches are assumed to be highly supportive. The paper describes an empirical case st

Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) was efficiently expressed (6.2 g L-1) in Escherichia coli by utilizing an N-terminal tag cassette and the XylS/Pm expression system in a fed-batch bioreactor; subsequent direct binding to EziG from crude extracts resulted in an immobilized catalyst with superior activity to Novozym 435.

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a low density lipoprotein (LDL) with one apolipoprotein (a) molecule bound to the apolipoprotein B-100 of LDL. Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship of Lp(a) to diabetes and metabolic syndrome, both known for increased CVD risk, is controversial. In a population based study on type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) dev