Patents Examined by Stephen Holwerda
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Patent number: 11780544Abstract: A rigging equipment diagnostic device includes a processor and a storage to store a program to be executed by the processor. The processor executes an equipment information collection process in which information on equipment fitted to a hull is collected, an attribute information acquisition process in which an attribute database to store attribute information including information on functions to be realized is searched and attribute information on equipment fitted to the hull is acquired, a requirement information acquisition process in which requirement information is acquired by searching a requirement database that stores requirement information necessary to realize functions corresponding to respective attribute information, a function determination process in which a realizable function and an unrealizable function are determined by comparing equipment information and requirement information, and a function information provision process in which the determination result is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryota Inoue
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Patent number: 11752999Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus has a steering wheel 6, an engine 4 for outputting a driving force of a vehicle 1, a brake apparatus 16 capable of applying different braking forces to left and right wheels, and a PCM 14 including a processor and the like. When executing vehicle yaw control, which controls the brake apparatus 16 to apply to the vehicle 1 a yaw moment in the direction opposite to the yaw rate generated in the vehicle 1, after executing vehicle attitude control for reducing an output torque of the engine 4 based on a turning operation of the steering wheel 6, when the control amount of the vehicle attitude control is large, the PCM 14 increases the control amount of the vehicle yaw control compared to when the control amount of the vehicle attitude control is not large.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yasunori Takahara, Kazunori Tsumura, Daisuke Umetsu, Hirofumi Fujishita
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Patent number: 11752629Abstract: A scanner controller analyzes a position instruction in which a position in a world coordinate system and a position in a local coordinate system of a path of laser light are associated with each other and creates a movement command for a drive unit of a scanner based on the position of the local coordinate system. Further, the scanner controller calculates the current position of the scanner in the local coordinate system based on the position and attitude of a robot in the world coordinate system and the position in the world coordinate system in accordance with the position instruction. When the distance between the calculated position of the local coordinate system and the position in the local coordinate system in accordance with the position instruction is below a predetermined threshold, the scanner controller then determines to start machining and performs control of a drive unit of the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventor: Ryuutarou Nishimura
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Patent number: 11747787Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optimizing a plan for one or more robots using a process definition graph. One of the methods includes receiving a process definition graph for a robot, the process definition graph having a plurality of action nodes, and the plurality of action nodes including a plurality of motion nodes that were previously split from a single motion node due to a conflict with a second motion node representing a second motion to be performed by another robot; determining that the conflict with the second motion node no longer exists; and in response to determining that the conflict with the second motion node no longer exists, modifying the process definition graph including combining the plurality of motion nodes into a new single motion node representing all of the motions of the plurality of motion nodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLCInventors: Jean-Francois Dupuis, Keegan Go, Stoyan Gaydarov
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Patent number: 11744660Abstract: A system for use in surgery includes a central body, a visualization system operably connected to the central body, a video rendering system, a head-mounted display for displaying images from the video rendering system, a sensor system, and a robotic device operably connected to the central body. The visualization system includes at least one camera and a pan system and/or a tilt system. The sensor system tracks the position and/or orientation in space of the head-mounted display relative to a reference point. The pan system and/or the tilt system are configured to adjust the field of view of the camera in response to information from the sensor system about changes in at least one of position and orientation in space of the head-mounted display relative to the reference point.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Vicarious Surgical Inc.Inventors: Adam Sachs, Sammy Khalifa, Barry Stuart Greene
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Patent number: 11731277Abstract: A robotic device includes a control system. The control system receives a first measurement indicative of a first distance between a center of mass of the machine and a first position in which a first leg of the machine last made initial contact with a surface. The control system also receives a second measurement indicative of a second distance between the center of mass of the machine and a second position in which the first leg of the machine was last raised from the surface. The control system further determines a third position in which to place a second leg of the machine based on the received first measurement and the received second measurement. Additionally, the control system provides instructions to move the second leg of the machine to the determined third position.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Gabriel Nelson, Benjamin Stephens
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Patent number: 11712808Abstract: A machine learning device that learns an operation of a robot for picking up, by a hand unit, any of a plurality of objects placed in a random fashion, including a bulk-loaded state, includes a state variable observation unit that observes a state variable representing a state of the robot, including data output from a three-dimensional measuring device that obtains a three-dimensional map for each object, an operation result obtaining unit that obtains a result of a picking operation of the robot for picking up the object by the hand unit, and a learning unit that learns a manipulated variable including command data for commanding the robot to perform the picking operation of the object, in association with the state variable of the robot and the result of the picking operation, upon receiving output from the state variable observation unit and output from the operation result obtaining unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignees: FANUC CORPORATION, PREFERRED NETWORKS. INC.Inventors: Takashi Yamazaki, Takumi Oyama, Shun Suyama, Kazutaka Nakayama, Hidetoshi Kumiya, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Daisuke Okanohara, Ryosuke Okuta, Eiichi Matsumoto, Keigo Kawaai
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Patent number: 11701190Abstract: A robotic surgical system for treating a patient is disclosed including a surgical tool movable relative to the patient and a user input device including a base and a space joint including a central portion movable relative to the base to effect a motion. The robotic surgical system further includes a control circuit configured to receive a user selection signal indicative of a selection between a first motion scaling profile of the motion of the surgical tool and a second motion scaling profile of the motion of the surgical tool, receive a motion control signal from the user input device indicative of a user input force, and cause the surgical tool to be moved in response to the motion control signal in accordance with the first motion scaling profile or the second motion scaling profile based on the user selection signal. The first motion scaling profile is different than the second motion scaling profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Clinton W. Denlinger, Gregory W. Johnson, Charles J. Scheib, Jeffrey S. Swayze
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Patent number: 11696808Abstract: A method for navigating a guide wire during a catheter procedure, the method includes changing the direction of a distal portion of the guide wire to advance past a junction in a desired path by rotating a proximal end of the guide wire a predetermined amount while the guide wire is being retracted to a point before the junction and then advancing the distal end of the guide wire past the junction through the desired path.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Corindus, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Blacker, Christopher Zirps, Thomas Bromander, David Handler, Tal Wenderow
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Patent number: 11693430Abstract: A computer-implemented gait planning method includes: determining a pitch angle between a foot of the robot and a support surface where the robot stands; determining a support point on a sole of the foot according to the pitch angle; calculating an ankle-foot position vector according to the support point, wherein the ankle-foot position vector is a position vector from an ankle of the robot to a support point on a sole of the foot; calculating a magnitude of change of an ankle position according to the pitch angle and the ankle-foot position vector; and obtaining a compensated ankle position by compensating the ankle position according to the magnitude of change of the ankle position.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTDInventors: Jie Bai, Ligang Ge, Yizhang Liu, Hongge Wang, Jianxin Pang, Youjun Xiong
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Patent number: 11691288Abstract: A robot control system includes a control device for controlling a robot and a portable operating panel connected to the control device. The portable operating panel and at least one other device include contact points connected in series. The control device includes a reception circuit that can detect the opening of at least one of the contact points. The portable operating panel includes a smart device having a sensor. The contact point included in the portable operating panel is opened and closed in conjunction with a physical movement of a switch member attached to an exterior of the smart device. The sensor can detect a physical quantity that changes in conjunction with the physical movement of the switch member. The portable operating panel transmits, to the control device, a detection signal indicating the physical quantity detected by the sensor or information about the physical quantity.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Ryoutarou Inaba
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Patent number: 11673265Abstract: Faster, less computational intense, and more robust techniques to optimize velocity of robots or portions thereof without violating constraints on acceleration and jerk (derivative of acceleration with respect to time) are described. A nonlinear problem of optimizing velocity without violating acceleration constraints is linearized, and produces acceleration constrained velocity estimates. A nonlinear problem of optimizing velocity without violating jerk constraints in linearized, and produces jerk constrained velocity estimates, and may be feed by the acceleration constrained velocity estimates. Configuration and timing may be generated and provided, e.g., as vectors, to control operation of a robot, robotic appendage or other structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: REALTIME ROBOTICS, INC.Inventor: Christopher Barrett Ames
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Patent number: 11666401Abstract: An input control device is disclosed. The input control device includes a central portion coupled to a multi-axis force and torque sensor, which is configured to receive input control motions from a surgeon. The central portion is flexibly supported on a base. The input control device also includes a rotary joint coupled to a rotary sensor. The input control device is configured to provide control motions to a robotic arm and/or a robotic tool based on input controls detected by the multi-axis force and torque sensor and the rotary sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Clinton W. Denlinger, Gregory W. Johnson, Charles J. Scheib, Jeffrey S. Swayze
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Patent number: 11662713Abstract: An automated wire insertion machine for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of an electrical connector includes a controllable wire insertion robot and a processor to generate pre-generated plug maps based upon an original plug map of the grommet cavity locations and to control the wire insertion robot based upon one pre-generated plug map to insert the wires into the grommet cavity locations. The pre-generated plug maps are generated by defining a range of potential error of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of a potential rotational error and a potential translational error, defining an acceptable tolerance of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of an acceptable rotational tolerance and an acceptable translational tolerance, and calculating offset values of the grommet cavity locations based on the range of potential error and the acceptable tolerance, thereby generating the plurality of pre-generated plug maps.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eerik J. Helmick, Bradley J. Mitchell, Nick S. Evans
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Patent number: 11656597Abstract: A method for recognizing a deburring trajectory, relevant to be performed by a controller or a computer, includes the steps of: according to a process flow of a workpiece, analyzing a CAD file of the workpiece, determining a burr processing area and obtaining a mathematical model of boundary contour curve; applying a linear contour sensor to scan the workpiece to obtain contour section information of the workpiece; performing curve fitting upon the contour section information of the workpiece and the mathematical model of boundary contour curve so as to obtain a boundary curve function; and, utilizing the boundary curve function to determine deburring position information of the workpiece and to further generate a processing path. In addition, a system for recognizing a deburring trajectory is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Cheng-Kai Huang, Yi-Ying Lin, Bing-Cheng Hsu, Jan-Hao Chen
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Patent number: 11648072Abstract: Systems and methods for instrument control include first and second actuators and a controller configured to command the first actuator to maintain a first degree of freedom (DOF) of an instrument at a first position; command the second actuator to maintain a second DOF of the instrument at a second position; detect, while the first actuator is maintaining the first DOF at the first position, a first manual actuation of the first actuator that exceeds a first threshold; detect, while the second actuator is maintaining the second DOF at the second position, a second manual actuation of the second actuator that does not exceed a second threshold; and in response to detecting that the first manual actuation exceeds the first threshold and the second manual actuation does not exceed the second threshold, terminate the command to the first actuator to maintain the first DOF at the first position.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Hsien-Hsin Liao, Brandon D. Itkowitz, Julie L. Berry, Pushkar Hingwe
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Patent number: 11648074Abstract: Robotic systems and methods employ a virtual simulation wherein a tool is represented as a virtual volume adapted to interact relative to a virtual boundary defined by a mesh of polygonal elements. A reactive force is computed in response to penetration of one of the polygonal elements by the virtual volume in the virtual simulation. The reactive force is computed as a function of a volume of a penetrating portion of the virtual volume that is penetrating a plane of the polygonal element. The reactive force is applied to the virtual volume in the virtual simulation for reducing penetration of the polygonal element by the virtual volume.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: David Gene Bowling
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Patent number: 11648664Abstract: A method for controlling a robot using control parameter values from a non-Euclidean control parameter space. The method includes performing a Bayesian optimization of an objective function representing a desired control objective of the robot over the control parameter space, wherein evaluation points of the objective function are determined by searching an optimum of an acquisition function in an iterative search. In each iteration, the following are performed: updating a candidate evaluation point using a search direction in the tangent space of the parameter space at the candidate evaluation point, mapping the updated candidate evaluation point from the tangent space to the parameter space, and using the mapped updated candidate evaluation point as evaluation point for a next iteration until a stop criterion is fulfilled, and controlling the robot in accordance with a control parameter value found in the Bayesian optimization.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Leonel Rozo, Noemie Jaquier
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Patent number: 11648666Abstract: A method is provided for vibration suppression, which is useful in systems with configuration dependent dynamic parameters. The method is a general and practical solution for obtaining a set of inputs to a dynamic system, which will result in reduced vibrational behavior. A novel discrete time buffer implementation is employed, which yields reduced vibration due to a constant unity sum of applied impulses. The method includes shaping a position input with a continuously updated filter and using numerical differentiation to obtain consistent feedforward derivatives without phase shift.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: UNIVERSAL ROBOTS A/SInventor: Dan Kielsholm Thomsen
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Patent number: 11630447Abstract: An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is described. In an example implementation, the AGV may include an AGV body; one or more elevator mechanisms coupled to the AGV body; a support surface coupled to the AGV body and vertically movable along the AGV body by the one or more elevator mechanisms, the support surface supporting an object from underneath the object when the object is placed on the support surface; one or more arms coupled to the AGV body and vertically movable along the AGV body by the one or more elevator mechanisms, the one or more arms articulating to move the object from a first position of the object and place the object on the support surface; and an AGV controller configured to control one or more operations of the AGV.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Staples, Inc.Inventors: Michael Bhaskaran, Weston Harris, Maimuna Rangwala