Patents by Inventor Yutaka Takaoka

Yutaka Takaoka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11491658
    Abstract: A robot automatically annotates items by training a semantic segmentation module. The robot includes one or more imaging devices, and a controller comprising machine readable instructions. The machine readable instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the controller to capture an image with the one or more imaging devices, identify a target area in the image in response to one or more points on the image designated by a user, obtain depth information for the target area, calculate a center of an item corresponding to the target area based on the depth information, rotate the imaging device based on the center, and capture an image of the item at a different viewing angle in response to rotating the view of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20210023716
    Abstract: A robot automatically annotates items by training a semantic segmentation module. The robot includes one or more imaging devices, and a controller comprising machine readable instructions. The machine readable instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the controller to capture an image with the one or more imaging devices, identify a target area in the image in response to one or more points on the image designated by a user, obtain depth information for the target area, calculate a center of an item corresponding to the target area based on the depth information, rotate the imaging device based on the center, and capture an image of the item at a different viewing angle in response to rotating the view of the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9613505
    Abstract: Technology for localized guidance of a body part of a user to specific objects within a physical environment using a vibration interface is described. An example system may include a vibration interface wearable on an extremity by a user. The vibration interface includes a plurality of motors. The system includes sensor(s) coupled to the vibrotactile system and a sensing system coupled to the sensor(s) and the vibration interface. The sensing system is configured to analyze a physical environment in which the user is located for a tangible object using the sensor(s), to generate a trajectory for navigating the extremity of the user to the tangible object based on a relative position of the extremity of the user bearing the vibration interface to a position of the tangible object within the physical environment, and to guide the extremity of the user along the trajectory by vibrating the vibration interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eric Martinson, Emrah Akin Sisbot, Joseph Djugash, Kentaro Oguchi, Yutaka Takaoka, Yusuke Nakano
  • Patent number: 9547310
    Abstract: A mobile object control system includes a mobile object body, a distance measurement unit provided in the mobile object body to measure a distance between the mobile object body and an object present in front of the mobile object body with infrared rays, a movement control unit controlling the movement of the mobile object body based on a measurement result obtained by the distance measurement unit and moving path information, a moving direction limit information storage unit storing moving direction limit information as information on limiting a moving direction of the mobile object body, and a moving path information generation unit generating the moving path information based on the moving direction limit information. The moving direction limit information is information on limiting the moving direction in which a predetermined amount or more of infrared rays emitted from an external light source are radiated onto the mobile object body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9540014
    Abstract: An abnormality determination system includes: an autonomous moving object including at least one distance measuring unit that is disposed to face a road surface in a moving direction ant that measures a distance to the road surface; a charging unit including a connection terminal for charging a battery of the autonomous moving object; a stepped portion disposed on a road surface which is subjected to measurement by the distance measuring unit when the autonomous moving object is connected to the connection terminal of the charging unit and is positioned; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the distance to the stepped portion measured by the distance measuring unit at the time of positioning is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taira, Yutaka Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9469028
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for determining posture data for a user based on observation of the user, generating user model data describing one or more user models, determining user preferences data describing the preferences of the user for receiving an object, generating two or more reach simulations that simulate the user reaching for different points inside a user environment to receive the object, each reach simulation resulting in a hand of the user arriving at a three-dimensional point in the user environment, analyzing the reach simulations to assign a value to each three-dimensional point in the user environment, grouping the three-dimensional points into one or more clusters of similar points to form candidate zones including one or more points inside the user environment where a robot can place the object for handover to the user, and ranking the candidate zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventors: Emrah Akin Sisbot, Halit Bener Suay, Yutaka Takaoka, Yusuke Nakano
  • Publication number: 20160267755
    Abstract: Technology for localized guidance of a body part of a user to specific objects within a physical environment using a vibration interface is described. An example system may include a vibration interface wearable on an extremity by a user. The vibration interface includes a plurality of motors. The system includes sensor(s) coupled to the vibrotactile system and a sensing system coupled to the sensor(s) and the vibration interface. The sensing system is configured to analyze a physical environment in which the user is located for a tangible object using the sensor(s), to generate a trajectory for navigating the extremity of the user to the tangible object based on a relative position of the extremity of the user bearing the vibration interface to a position of the tangible object within the physical environment, and to guide the extremity of the user along the trajectory by vibrating the vibration interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Martinson, Emrah Akin Sisbot, Joseph Djugash, Kentaro Oguchi, Yutaka Takaoka, Yusuke Nakano
  • Publication number: 20160089782
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for determining posture data for a user based on observation of the user, generating user model data describing one or more user models, determining user preferences data describing the preferences of the user for receiving an object, generating two or more reach simulations that simulate the user reaching for different points inside a user environment to receive the object, each reach simulation resulting in a hand of the user arriving at a three-dimensional point in the user environment, analyzing the reach simulations to assign a value to each three-dimensional point in the user environment, grouping the three-dimensional points into one or more clusters of similar points to form candidate zones including one or more points inside the user environment where a robot can place the object for handover to the user, and ranking the candidate zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Emrah Akin SISBOT, Halit Bener Suay, Yutaka Takaoka, Yusuke Nakano
  • Patent number: 9268335
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one distance measurement means for measuring a distance to a road surface disposed in a vehicle main body, inclination calculation means for calculating an inclination of the vehicle main body based on the distance measured by the distance measurement means, posture calculation means including a sensor that detects at least one of an angular speed and an acceleration of the vehicle main body, the posture calculation means being configured to calculate the inclination of the vehicle main body based on a sensor value detected by the sensor, and failure determination means for determining a failure in each distance measurement means and the posture calculation means by comparing the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the inclination calculation means with the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the posture calculation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taira, Yutaka Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9207674
    Abstract: An autonomous moving robot includes: a distance sensor; an estimation unit configured to estimate a self position based on a distance measured by the distance sensor and map information; a normal line calculating unit configured to calculate a plane based on the distance and calculate the normal line of the plane; and a determination unit configured to calculate a histogram representing a distribution of normal line angles indicating a direction of the normal line and determines whether information of the distance sensor is insufficient based on the calculated histogram. The autonomous moving robot autonomously moves based on the self position estimated. At least one of a control process of changing a measurement direction of the distance sensor, a process of changing an estimation method of the self position, or a control process of taking a predetermined safety action is performed when the determination unit determines that the information is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20150253774
    Abstract: An autonomous moving robot includes: a distance sensor; an estimation unit configured to estimate a self position based on a distance measured by the distance sensor and map information; a normal line calculating unit configured to calculate a plane based on the distance and calculate the normal line of the plane; and a determination unit configured to calculate a histogram representing a distribution of normal line angles indicating a direction of the normal line and determines whether information of the distance sensor is insufficient based on the calculated histogram. The autonomous moving robot autonomously moves based on the self position estimated. At least one of a control process of changing a measurement direction of the distance sensor, a process of changing an estimation method of the self position, or a control process of taking a predetermined safety action is performed when the determination unit determines that the information is insufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventor: Yutaka TAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20150239125
    Abstract: A mobile object control system includes a mobile object body, a distance measurement unit provided in the mobile object body to measure a distance between the mobile object body and an object present in front of the mobile object body with infrared rays, a movement control unit controlling the movement of the mobile object body based on a measurement result obtained by the distance measurement unit and moving path information, a moving direction limit information storage unit storing moving direction limit information as information on limiting a moving direction of the mobile object body, and a moving path information generation unit generating the moving path information based on the moving direction limit information. The moving direction limit information is information on limiting the moving direction in which a predetermined amount or more of infrared rays emitted from an external light source are radiated onto the mobile object body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka TAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20150234384
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one distance measurement means for measuring a distance to a road surface disposed in a vehicle main body, inclination calculation means for calculating an inclination of the vehicle main body based on the distance measured by the distance measurement means, posture calculation means including a sensor that detects at least one of an angular speed and an acceleration of the vehicle main body, the posture calculation means being configured to calculate the inclination of the vehicle main body based on a sensor value detected by the sensor, and failure determination means for determining a failure in each distance measurement means and the posture calculation means by comparing the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the inclination calculation means with the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the posture calculation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20150151765
    Abstract: An abnormality determination system includes: an autonomous moving object including at least one distance measuring unit that is disposed to face a road surface in a moving direction ant that measures a distance to the road surface; a charging unit including a connection terminal for charging a battery of the autonomous moving object; a stepped portion disposed on a road surface which is subjected to measurement by the distance measuring unit when the autonomous moving object is connected to the connection terminal of the charging unit and is positioned; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the distance to the stepped portion measured by the distance measuring unit at the time of positioning is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20150151741
    Abstract: An autonomous moving object includes: a drive unit configured to drive wheels of a moving object body; a plurality of distance measuring units installed to face a road surface and configured to measure a distance to the road surface; a control unit configured to compare the distance measured by the distance measuring units with a threshold value and to control the drive unit; a tilt angle detecting unit configured to detect a tilt angle of the moving object body; and a correction unit configured to correct at least one of the distance measured by each distance measuring unit and the threshold value depending on the tilt angle of the moving object body detected by the tilt angle detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA
  • Patent number: 8317847
    Abstract: A biostimulation apparatus of the present invention includes a laser oscillator for oscillating an ultra short pulsed laser beam and an optical system for focusing the ultra short pulsed laser beam, wherein the ultra short pulsed laser beam is focused by the optical system at a target portion of a living subject to cause the target portion to be irradiated with the laser beam to stimulate an acupuncture point, and wherein the target portion is either the acupuncture point or its periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, National University Corporation Kobe University
    Inventors: Yoichiro Hosokawa, Hiroshi Masuhara, Kazunori Okano, Yutaka Takaoka, Mika Ohta, Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 7987021
    Abstract: To reduce a calculation time required for generating an environment map in a mobile robot. A mobile robot (100) generates a three-dimensional position data set representing an external environment using measurement information obtained from a range sensor (10). Next, based on an old environment map which is the environment map generated in the past and an amount of movement of the mobile robot (100), at least three-dimensional position data belonging to an area determined as the obstacle area in the old environment map, and three-dimensional position data belonging to an unobserved area which is not included in the old environment map are selected as plane-detection target data from among three-dimensional position data included in the three-dimensional position data set. Then, plane detection is executed using the plane-detection target data. Then, the movable area and the obstacle area which are included in the plane-detection target data are recognized using the results of the plane detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20100324769
    Abstract: To reduce a calculation time required for generating an environment map in a mobile robot. A mobile robot (100) generates a three-dimensional position data set representing an external environment using measurement information obtained from a range sensor (10). Next, based on an old environment map which is the environment map generated in the past and an amount of movement of the mobile robot (100), at least three-dimensional position data belonging to an area determined as the obstacle area in the old environment map, and three-dimensional position data belonging to an unobserved area which is not included in the old environment map are selected as plane-detection target data from among three-dimensional position data included in the three-dimensional position data set. Then, plane detection is executed using the plane-detection target data. Then, the movable area and the obstacle area which are included in the plane-detection target data are recognized using the results of the plane detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Yutaka Takaoka
  • Patent number: D651104
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mori, Yutaka Takaoka, Keisuke Suga