Patents Examined by Bao Long T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11958190
    Abstract: A displaying apparatus includes a virtual environment screen displaying a state of a robot identified, and a parameter setting screen numerically displaying the position and orientation data. When a changing a part of the position and orientation data are performed through the operating input unit, the part of the position and orientation data is changed according to the content of the operation and input. Position and orientation is calculated to identify the position or orientation of each part of the robot, based on the changed part of the position and orientation data, and new position and orientation data is calculated based on the position and orientation calculation. The content of virtual display on the virtual environment screen or numeric value display on the parameter setting screen of the displaying apparatus is updated, based on the changed part of position and orientation data, and the new position and orientation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugaya
  • Patent number: 11961408
    Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control method utilizing wireless networks and concurrently supporting delivery application authorization and management communicating with a plurality of UAVs via a plurality of cell towers associated with the wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each include hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers; maintaining data associated with flight of each of the plurality of UAVs based on the communicating; processing the maintained data to perform a plurality of functions associated with air traffic control of the plurality of UAVs; and processing the maintained data to perform a plurality of functions for the delivery application authorization and management for each of the plurality of UAVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Metal Raptor Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Priest
  • Patent number: 11944032
    Abstract: An autonomous mowing system comprising: a memory configured to hold a set of path data defining a set of paths, the set of paths comprising a transit path to a maintenance area and a set of mow paths to cover the maintenance area; a processor coupled to the memory; a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions executable by the processor, the set of instructions comprising instructions for: using the set of path data, determining a plurality of candidate routes that traverse the transit path and fully cover the maintenance area and a total cost for each of the plurality of candidate routes; determining a least cost route from the plurality of candidate routes; and configuring an autonomous mower to follow the least cost route to mow the maintenance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RENU ROBOTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tim Alan Matus, Michael Odell Blanton, Jr., Kristopher Charles Kozak, Marc Christopher Alban
  • Patent number: 11938634
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for training and operating (semi-)autonomous robots to complete multiple different work objectives are described. A robot control system stores a library of reusable work primitives each corresponding to a respective basic sub-task or sub-action that the robot is operative to autonomously perform. A work objective is analyzed to determine a sequence (i.e., a combination and/or permutation) of reusable work primitives that, when executed by the robot, will complete the work objective. The robot executes the sequence of reusable work primitives to complete the work objective. The reusable work primitives may include one or more reusable grasp primitives that enable(s) a robot's end effector to grasp objects. Simulated instances of real physical robots may be trained in simulated environments to develop control instructions that, once uploaded to the real physical robots, enable such real physical robots to autonomously perform reusable work primitives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Suzanne Gildert, Olivia Norton, Geordie Rose
  • Patent number: 11931910
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed towards artificial intelligence-based modeling of target objects, such as aircraft parts. In an example, a system initially trains a machine learning (ML) model based on synthetic images generated based on multi-dimensional representation of target objects. The same system or a different system subsequently further trains the ML model based on actual images generated by cameras positioned by robots relative to target objects. The ML model can be used to process an image generated by a camera positioned by a robot relative to a target object based on a multi-dimensional representation of the target object. The output of the ML model can indicate, for a detected target, position data, a target type, and/or a visual inspection property. This output can then be used to update the multi-dimensional representation, which is then used to perform robotics operations on the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Wilder Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Ademola Ayodeji Oridate, William Wilder, Spencer Voiss
  • Patent number: 11921517
    Abstract: A method of controlling movement of a robotic cleaning device over an area to be cleaned. The method includes storing at least one representation of the area over which the robotic cleaning device is to move, receiving an instruction to execute a cleaning program, localizing, in response to the instruction, the robotic cleaning device relative to the stored representation, and moving over the area to be cleaned as stipulated by the cleaning program by taking into account the stored representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Magnus Lindhé, Petter Forsberg, Niklas Nordin
  • Patent number: 11914393
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for scheduling and controlling a mobile cleaning robot based on a seasonal or environmental debris accumulation event are discussed. A mobile cleaning robot receives a seasonal cleaning schedule corresponding to a seasonal or environmental debris accumulation event. The seasonal cleaning schedule includes instructions to clean a portion of the mobile robot's environment having a debris state varied seasonally. The mobile cleaning robot executes a cleaning mission in the environment in accordance with the seasonal cleaning schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Weyant, Teresa Borcuch, Jacki Holcomb, Andrew Scott Reichel, Erik Moore
  • Patent number: 11906974
    Abstract: An autonomous off-road vehicle, upon encountering an obstruction while navigating a route, can apply a first machine-learned model to identify the obstruction. In the event that the first machine-learned model cannot identify the obstruction, the autonomous off-road vehicle can apply a second machine-learned model configured to determine whether or not the obstruction can be ignored, for instance based on dimensions of the obstruction. If the obstruction can be ignored, the autonomous off-road vehicle can continue navigating the route. If the obstruction cannot be ignored, the autonomous off-road vehicle can modify the route, can stop, can flag the obstruction to a remote human operator, can modify an interface of a human operator to display a notification or a video feed from the vehicle, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Travis J. Davis
  • Patent number: 11890068
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a processor. The surgical instrument includes an elongate hollow shaft having a flexible section, a sensor apparatus configured to generate sensor data about the flexible section, and a force transmission mechanism coupled to the proximal end of the shaft. The processor is communicatively coupled to the sensor apparatus. The processor is configured to receive the sensor data about the flexible section from the sensor apparatus and to combine the sensor data received from the sensor apparatus with known information regarding mechanical and material property data for the surgical instrument to derive at least one of an internal actuation force applied by the force transmission mechanism or external force information for the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Q. Larkin, Vincent Duindam
  • Patent number: 11872006
    Abstract: A teleoperational assembly is disclosed which includes an operator control system and a plurality of manipulators configured to control the movement of medical instruments in a surgical environment. The manipulators are teleoperationally controlled by the operator control system. The system further includes a processing unit configured to display an image of a field of view of the surgical environment, determine association information about the manipulators and the operator control system, and display badges near the medical instruments in the image of the field of view of the surgical environment. The badges display the association information for the medical instrument they appear associated with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Paul W. Mohr
  • Patent number: 11871891
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning robot including: a driving unit configured to move the cleaning robot; an obstacle sensor configured to sense an obstacle; and a controller configured to reduce, if a distance between the cleaning robot and the obstacle is shorter than or equal to a reference distance, a driving speed of the cleaning robot so that the driving speed of the cleaning robot is lower than a shock absorbing speed when the cleaning robot contacts the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Jung, Chin Woo Kang, Kyong Su Kim, Kyu Ha Lee, Jong Gap Lee, Jeong Gon Song
  • Patent number: 11874123
    Abstract: A route planning apparatus 1 includes a state information generation unit 2 configured to generate, every unit time, state information indicating a state of each moving object 20, in a search for a first route to a target site corresponding to the moving object 20, a stop unit 3 configured to stop generation of the state information when a condition for stopping generation of the state information is satisfied, and a route searching unit 4 configured to search for a second route to the target site, based on the state information generated before the state transitioned, after generation of the state information is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manao Machida
  • Patent number: 11868133
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting and avoiding blind spots of other vehicles when maneuvering an autonomous vehicle. Blind spots may include both areas adjacent to another vehicle in which the driver of that vehicle would be unable to identify another object as well as areas that a second driver in a second vehicle may be uncomfortable driving. In one example, a computer of the autonomous vehicle may identify objects that may be relevant for blind spot detecting and may determine the blind spots for these other vehicles. The computer may predict the future locations of the autonomous vehicle and the identified vehicles to determine whether the autonomous vehicle would drive in any of the determined blind spots. If so, the autonomous driving system may adjust its speed to avoid or limit the autonomous vehicle's time in any of the blind spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Dmitri A Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
  • Patent number: 11865715
    Abstract: A computing system may provide a model of a robot. The model may be configured to determine simulated motions of the robot based on sets of control parameters. The computing system may also operate the model with multiple sets of control parameters to simulate respective motions of the robot. The computing system may further determine respective scores for each respective simulated motion of the robot, wherein the respective scores are based on constraints associated with each limb of the robot and a predetermined goal. The constraints include actuator constraints and joint constraints for limbs of the robot. Additionally, the computing system may select, based on the respective scores, a set of control parameters associated with a particular score. Further, the computing system may modify a behavior of the robot based on the selected set of control parameters to perform a coordinated exertion of forces by actuators of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco da Silva, Benjamin Stephens, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Yeuhi Abe
  • Patent number: 11858138
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for realizing a dynamic running gait of a biped robot on a rough terrain road, which sets a state machine for an entire running cycle to perform a balance control and movement trajectory planning of the robot in each state. At the time that the robot switches from the in-air phase into a landing phase, a SLIP model is used to control the posture balance and landing cushion; and when the robot is stable after landing, an LIP model is used to control a center of mass of the robot to a set height. An in-air phase of the robot in running is generated through movement trajectory planning and state switching of a supporting leg and a swinging leg to realize a running of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qiuguo Zhu, Zunwang Ma, Bo Peng, Jun Wu, Rong Xiong
  • Patent number: 11851120
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Patent number: 11846952
    Abstract: A mobile robot platooning system includes a plurality of mobile robots operated for transfer of objects in a factory, and a central server connected to the plurality of mobile robots through wireless communication, and configured to set a path of the plurality of mobile robots to control autonomous driving of the mobile robots, wherein the central server is configured to group a platoon of the mobile robots required for processing a work, dispose the platoon of the mobile robots into a predetermined platoon form, collect state information of the platoon of the mobile robots, and control the platoon of the mobile robots to move in a synchronized form based on the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoon Soo Lee, Youngjin Jung, Kyung Dong Park
  • Patent number: 11845187
    Abstract: An integrated intelligent system includes a first intelligent electronic device, a second intelligent electronic device, a transferable intelligent control device (TICD) and a cross product bus. The first intelligent electronic device performs a first function and the second intelligent electronic device performs a second function. The cross product bus couples the first intelligent electronic device to the transferable intelligent control device. The TICD partially controls behaviors of the intelligent electronic device by sending commands over the cross product bus to the first intelligent electronic device and the TICD partially controls behaviors of the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function. The TICD is first attached to the first intelligent electronic device to partially control the behaviors of the first electronic device, then detached from the first electronic device, and then attached to the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Paolo Pirjanian
  • Patent number: 11845446
    Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a risk for rollover of a working machine for load transportation. The method includes: obtaining ground topographic data of a geographical area located close to the working machine from a ground topographic detection system; extracting a ground gradient from the ground topographic data; obtaining weight information of the load being currently transported by means of an on-board load weighting system or by receiving load information originating from the device that loaded the load being currently transported; determining a current maximal allowed ground gradient for the working machine based on the weight information; and predicting a risk for working machine rollover if the working machine approaches a geographical area including a ground gradient exceeding or being close to the current maximal allowed ground gradient for the working machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Calle Skillsäter, Patrik Wahlström
  • Patent number: 11839985
    Abstract: A method for the control of a robot assembly having at least one robot. The method includes acquiring pose data from an object arrangement having at least one object, which data has a first time interval; determining modified pose data from the object arrangement, which data has a second time interval that is larger or smaller than the first time interval, or is equal to the first time interval, on the basis of the acquired pose data; and controlling the robot assembly on the basis of said modified pose data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Allmendinger, Jan Bandouch, Günter Schreiber