Mobile Robot Patents (Class 901/1)
  • Patent number: 11593931
    Abstract: Surgical kit inspection systems and methods are provided for inspecting surgical kits having parts of different types. The surgical kit inspection system comprises a vision unit including a first camera unit and a second camera unit to capture images of parts of a first type and a second type in each kit and to capture images of loose parts from each kit that are placed on a light surface. A robot supports the vision unit to move the first and second camera units relative to the parts in each surgical kit. One or more controllers obtain unique inspection instructions for each of the surgical kits to control inspection of each of the surgical kits and control movement of the robot and the vision unit accordingly to provide output indicating inspection results for each of the surgical kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Perry J. Simson, Graeme A. Field, Patrick M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 11589722
    Abstract: A cleaning method and a cleaning robot are provided. The method includes: after the cleaning robot obtains a cleaning instruction for a target scene, acquiring a current power of the cleaning robot and a scene map for the target scene; if it is determined that the current power is insufficient to clean all areas to be cleaned in the target scene, determining a target cleaning area from all the areas to be cleaned in the target scene, based on a target dirtiness level for each of the areas to be cleaned; cleaning the target cleaning area based on the scene map, the target dirtiness level for the target cleaning area and the current power. A more intelligent cleaning robot and a more reasonable cleaning process are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU EZVIZ SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianhua Zhu, Bingwei Shen, Nicong Jiang, Bin Guo, Anqiang Du, Haiqing Jiang
  • Patent number: 11584007
    Abstract: We generally describe a method comprising: processing (S602) data relating to a path of movement of a robotic device (122) comprising or coupled to a sensor (124) in radio communication with a cloud platform (112); and updating (S604), based on the processed data, the path of movement to improve the radio communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Sándor Rácz, Norbert Reider, Geza Szabo
  • Patent number: 11584018
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a user interactive electronic system, the user interactive electronic system comprising a robotic arm and at least an attachment detachably affixed to a distal end of the robotic arm. The present disclosure also relates to a method for operating such a user interactive electronic system and to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Teenage Engineering AB
    Inventor: Jesper Kouthoofd
  • Patent number: 11586211
    Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI) mobile robot and a method of controlling the same for learning an obstacle are configured to capture an image while traveling through an image acquirer, to store a plurality of captured image data, to determine an obstacle from image data, to set a response motion corresponding to the obstacle, and to operate the set response motion depending on the obstacle, and thus, the obstacle is recognized through the captured image data, the obstacle is easily determined by repeatedly learning an image, and the obstacle is determined before the obstacle is detected or from a time point of detecting the obstacle to perform an operation of a response motion, and even if the same detection signal is input when a plurality of different obstacles is detected, the obstacle is determined through the image and different operations are performed depending on the obstacle to respond to various obstacles, and accordingly, the obstacle is effectively avoided and an operation is performed depending o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junghwan Kim, Yongjae Lee, Minho Lee
  • Patent number: 11583999
    Abstract: A system includes a robotic system including a robot disposable at a mobile workstation, where the robot is configured to perform an automated operation on a workpiece. The system includes one or more transfer robots configured to transfer the robotic system to or from the mobile workstation. The system includes a control system configured to command the transfer robot to perform a transfer operation of the robotic system, where the transfer operation includes at least one of disposing the robotic system at the mobile workstation or retrieving the robotic system from the mobile workstation. The control system is configured to control the mobile workstation and the robotic system based on image data from the one or more infrastructure sensors, position data from the one or more on-board position sensors, the automated operation to be performed by the robot, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Mario Anthony Santillo, Justin Miller, Meghna Menon, Matthew Cui, Shankar Mohan
  • Patent number: 11577143
    Abstract: Provided is a system for robotic collaboration. A first robotic device includes a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of the first robotic device effectuates first operations including: receiving first information from a processor of a second robotic device; actuating the first robotic device to execute a first action based on the first information; and transmitting second information to the processor of the second robotic device. The second robotic device includes a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor of the second robotic device effectuates second operations including: receiving the second information transmitted from the processor of the first robotic device; actuating the second robotic device to execute a second action based on the second information; and transmitting third information to the processor of the first robotic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11578831
    Abstract: A multifunctional light-duty soft robot includes paired wheel power mechanisms, soft contact mechanisms, buffer spring mechanisms and a middle frame deformation mechanism. Each of the paired wheel power mechanisms includes a wheel frame and a wheel rotatably connected thereto. The wheel frame is internally provided with a power mechanism connected with a wheel axis of the wheel. Each of the soft contact mechanisms includes a flexible cantilever and a soft transmission belt. The two paired wheel power mechanisms are respectively arranged at two ends of each of the flexible cantilevers. The wheel on one of the paired wheel power mechanisms is connected with the wheel on the other of the paired wheel power mechanisms. The buffer spring mechanisms are arranged between the wheel frames and the wheels. The middle frame deformation mechanism includes a connection unit and two movable units rotatably connected to the connection unit respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jiyang Fu, Jiaqiao Liang, Xiaolin Zhang, Airong Liu, Bingcong Chen, Xijun Ye, Jialin Wang, Jialing Song
  • Patent number: 11576737
    Abstract: Integrated table motion includes a device including a control unit and an arm having one or more joints and a distal portion. The control unit is configured to receive a table movement request from a separate table, determine whether to allow the table movement request based on one or more of whether a type of movement in the table movement request is permitted, whether one or more instruments mounted to the device are within a field of view of an imaging device, or whether one or more instruments mounted to the device are withdrawn into respective cannulas, allow the table to perform the table movement request based on the determining; track movement of the table while the table performs the table movement request; and maintain, using the joint(s) and based on the tracked movement of the table, a position and/or an orientation of the distal portion relative to the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Paul G. Griffiths, Jason Hemphill, Goran A. Lynch, Daniel N. Miller, Patrick O'Grady, Nitish Swarup, Kamyar Ziaei
  • Patent number: 11579617
    Abstract: A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, and a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors a remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with the remaining battery charge. For example, a motion with a small processing load is selected at a probability that is higher the smaller the remaining battery charge. Referring to consumption plan data that define a power consumption pace of the rechargeable battery, the behavioral characteristics of the robot may be caused to change in accordance with a difference between the remaining battery charge scheduled in the consumption plan data and the actual remaining battery charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GROOVE X, INC.
    Inventor: Kaname Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11571821
    Abstract: A robotic arm control system including a robotic arm configured to deploy one or more tools in an operating space, one or more sensors, and a control system operably configured to: scan the operating space with the one or more sensors, identify a surface of the operating space based at least in part upon information sensed by the one or more sensors, establish a virtual barrier offset from the surface, and limit movement of the robotic arm based at least in part upon the virtual barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Veolia Nuclear Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Martin, Paul Linnebur, Marc Rood, Matt Denver Cole
  • Patent number: 11571980
    Abstract: A robotic lawnmower system comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100), the charging station comprising a signal generator (240) to which a boundary cable (250) is to be connected, the signal generator (240) being configured to transmit a signal (245) through the boundary cable (250), and the robotic working tool (100) comprising a sensor (170) configured to pick up magnetic fields generated by the signal (245) in the boundary cable (250) thereby receiving the signal (245) being transmitted and a controller (110) configured to analyse the picked up signal, wherein the signal generator (240) is further configured to: prefilter the signal through an filter model; and transmit the prefiltered signal to through the boundary cable (250) by means of a current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Marcus Liljedahl
  • Patent number: 11564348
    Abstract: A mobile robot and a method of controlling the same are provided, and more specifically, a technology of automatically generating a map of a lawn working area by a lawn mower robot. The mobile robot includes one or more tags configured to receive a signal from one or more beacons, a vision sensor configured to distinguish and recognize a first area and a second area on a travelling path of the mobile robot and acquire position information of a boundary line between the first area and the second area, and at least one processor configured to determine position coordinates of the mobile robot based on pre-stored position information of the one or more beacons, determine position coordinates of the boundary line based on the determined position coordinates of the mobile robot and the acquired position information of the boundary line, and generate a map of the first area while travelling along the determined position coordinates of the boundary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunkoo Kang, Taegyu Kim, Hyunki Bae, Wonyoung Seo, Jinwook Yoon, Jihoon Ha
  • Patent number: 11565401
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to receiving a request that includes robot instructions and/or environmental parameters, operating each of a plurality of robots based on the robot instructions and/or in an environment configured based on the environmental parameters, and storing data generated by the robots during the operating. In some implementations, at least part of the stored data that is generated by the robots is provided in response to the request and/or additional data that is generated based on the stored data is provided in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Peter Pastor Sampedro, Mrinal Kalakrishnan, Ali Yahya Valdovinos, Adrian Li, Kurt Konolige, Vincent Dureau
  • Patent number: 11566955
    Abstract: There is provided a detection apparatus including a housing that includes a working surface, and a sensor configured to detect the force or the moment exerted on the working surface, on at least a first detection axis and a second detection axis. The working surface coincides with a surface that includes the first detection axis and the second detection axis, the working surface being at least partially symmetrical around the first detection axis passing through the center of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshio Miyazaki, Kazuyuki Shikama
  • Patent number: 11564546
    Abstract: A cleaner includes a first cleaning module including a left spin mop and a right spin mop that come into contact with a floor while rotating in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from an upper side, a second cleaning module that comes into contact with the floor at a position spaced apart from the left spin mop and the right spin mop in a forward-and-backward direction, a body supported by the first cleaning module and the second cleaning module, and a water supply module that supplies water to the first cleaning module. A water tank is disposed inside the body. Water supplied by the water supply module reaches the first cleaning module before reaching the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Kim, Jaewon Jang, Inhyung Yang
  • Patent number: 11567504
    Abstract: A robot that is able to move about an environment determines a wait location in the environment to wait at when not otherwise in use. The wait location may be selected based on various factors including position of objects, next scheduled use, previous usage of the robot, availability of wireless connectivity, user traffic patterns, user presence, visibility of the surrounding environment, and so forth. The robot moves to that location and maintains a pose at that location, such as orienting itself to allow onboard sensors a greatest possible view of the environment. If a wait location is occupied, the robot may move to another wait location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shi Bai, Amin Hani Atrash, Saurabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 11563333
    Abstract: The combination of: a) a wheeled operating unit having a drive powered by a rechargeable power supply and at least one connector; and b) a charging station having at least one connector. The at least one connector on the wheeled operating unit and the at least one connector on the charging station cooperate with each other to establish an operative connection between the charging station and the wheeled operating unit, whereupon the charging station is operable to effect charging of the rechargeable power supply. The operative connection can be established with the wheeled operating unit moved selectively from first and second different starting positions, each spaced fully from the charging station, respectively in first and second different path portions up to the charging station and into at least one charging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 11559179
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a self-propelled pathogen detection device in which a place where a pathogen is highly likely to be present in a space such as an inside of a facility is allowed to be configured preferentially to be a target region of detection. The self-propelled pathogen detection device according to the present disclosure comprises a housing; a detection part for detecting a pathogen; a movement mechanism for moving the housing; a position acquirement part for acquiring position information representing a current position of the housing in a space; and a control part which determines a target region in the space on the basis of traffic line information on a person in the space, and controls the movement mechanism to move the housing in the target region on the basis of the position information. The detection part detects the pathogen in the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 11553824
    Abstract: An automatic guiding method for a self-propelled apparatus (10) is provided. The self-propelled apparatus (10) turns and irradiates when a signal light emitted by a charging dock (20) is sensed by a flank sensor (103), and changes its turn direction when another different signal light from the charging dock (20) is sensed by a forward sensor (102). The charging dock (20) switches to emit another signal light different from the signal light currently emitted when each time is triggered by the signal light emitted by the self-propelled apparatus (10). Repeatedly execute the above actions and make the self-propelled apparatus approach the light-emitting unit (202) until the self-propelled apparatus (10) reaches a charging position. It can accurately guide the self-propelled apparatus (10) to the charging position by arranging only two sensors on the self-propelled apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: POWER LOGIC TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Faung Hsu, Chia-Heng Hsu, Hung-Chou Chen
  • Patent number: 11553970
    Abstract: A method, a controller, and a surgical hybrid navigation system for transferring a registration of three dimensional image data of a surgical object from a first to a second surgical navigation system are described. A first tracker that is detectable by a first detector of the first surgical navigation system is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with the surgical object and a second tracker that is detectable by a second detector of the second surgical navigation system is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with the surgical object. The method includes registering the three dimensional image data of the surgical object in a first coordinate system of the first surgical navigation system and determining a first position and orientation of the first tracker in the first coordinate system and a second position and orientation of the second tracker in a second coordinate system of the second surgical navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Schöpp, Florian Herrmann, David Hofmann, Udo Pfrengle, Fabian Riegelsberger
  • Patent number: 11553643
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile robot configured to cut lawn in a work area. The mobile robot may include a main body, a weight sensing sensor, an obstacle sensing sensor, a blade, and a processor. The mobile robot may execute an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and/or a machine learning algorithm, and perform communication with other electronic devices in a 5G communication environment. As a result, it is possible to enhance user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Moon Sik Nam, Jung Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11548146
    Abstract: Machine learning object-searching methods and apparatuses are disclosed. The method comprises: selecting a state from a set of states of a target object-searching scene as a first state; obtaining a target optimal object-searching strategy whose initial state is the first state for searching for a target object; performing strategy learning by taking the target optimal object-searching strategy as a learning target to obtain an object-searching strategy by which a robot searches for the target object, and adding the obtained object-searching strategy into an object-searching strategy pool; determining whether the obtained object-searching strategy is consistent with the target optimal object-searching strategy; if yes, determining that the strategy learning in which the first state is taken as the initial state of the object-searching strategy is completed; and if not, returning to the step of selecting a state from a set of states of a target object-searching scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haiming Sun
  • Patent number: 11548144
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a robot including an output interface including at least one of a display or a speaker, a camera, and a processor controlling the output interface to output content, acquiring an image including a user through the camera while the content is output, detecting an over-immersion state of the user based on the acquired image, and controlling an operation of releasing over-immersion when the over-immersion state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yoonji Moon, Joonwoo Park, Egun Jung
  • Patent number: 11550328
    Abstract: An AI apparatus and an operating method are provided, the AI apparatus includes a communication interface to receive 3D sensor data and bumper sensor data from a first cleaner, a processor to generate surrounding situation map data based on the 3D sensor data and the bumper sensor data, and a learning processor to generate learning data by labeling area classification data for representing whether the surrounding situation map data corresponds to the stuck area, and to train a stuck area classification model based on the learning data. The processor transmits the trained stuck area classification model to a second cleaner through the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kamin Lee, Kokeun Kim, Suyeon Kim, Seungah Chae
  • Patent number: 11541542
    Abstract: A service providing system includes one or more robots and an information processing apparatus communicably connected to the robots. The information processing apparatus acquires analysis information based on information in an area in which the robot provides a service, acquires robot state information from the robot, stores service information as information on the service, acquires one or more service triggers based on the analysis information, calculates a service effect based on at least any one of service information of a service corresponding to each of a plurality of service triggers, the robot state information, and the information acquired in the service providing area, the service effect being an effect of the service corresponding to each of a plurality of service triggers, selects a service trigger depending on the service effect, and causes the robot as a service execution subject to execute a service corresponding to the selected service trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuda, Hideya Yoshiuchi
  • Patent number: 11533861
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media that implement an autonomous or semi-autonomous growth platform used to control live cargo exposures to environmental parameters by changing depth in an offshore environment. For example, the growth platform can be lowered at night so that farmed seaweed can perform luxury uptake of nutrients and raised during the daytime so that the farmed seaweed can capture sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Dominico P. Julian, Charles Nordstrom, Jeff Zerger, Joel Fraser Atwater, Benjamin Lundquist Saenz
  • Patent number: 11537142
    Abstract: A robot repositioning method is provided. A position deviation caused by excessive accumulation of a walking error of a robot may be corrected to implement repositioning by taking a path that the robot walks along an edge of an isolated object as a reference, so that the positioning accuracy and walking efficiency of the robot during subsequent navigation and walking are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongyong Li, Gangjun Xiao
  • Patent number: 11533189
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a memory and a processor configured to move the electronic device, obtain an image and location of the external electronic device, identify the external electronic device based on the obtained image, transmit the plurality of control commands to the identified external electronic device, monitor a response of the external electronic device, store an identifier of a first control command set and the location of the external electronic device, wherein the first control command is based on the monitoring, and the first control command set includes the first control command that performs a pre-specified first operation, receive a first input, move the electronic device based on the received first input and the location, and transmit the first control command to the external electronic device based on the received first input and the identifier of the first control command set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seunghwan Hong
  • Patent number: 11524403
    Abstract: A vacuum-based end effector for engaging parcels includes a base plate, one or more vacuum cups of a first type, and one or more vacuum cups of a second type. Each vacuum cup of the vacuum-based end effector is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source to provide the vacuum cup with a suction force which can be used to engage and grasp parcels. Each vacuum cup includes a bellows defining a pathway for a flow of air and a lip connected to the bellows. Each lip of the one or more vacuum cups of the first type comprises a foam lip, and each lip of the one or more vacuum cups of the second type comprises an elastomeric lip. The vacuum-based end effector can be combined with a robot to provide an improved system for engaging parcels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah Douglas, Kurt Michael Wittmer, Michael Alan McCue, David W. Caldwell, II, Gregory Robert Sturm, Derek Robert Sturm, Thomas Anthony Hillerich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11517159
    Abstract: Provided is a cleaner having improved cleaning efficiency. The cleaner includes a main body having a intake provided to suction an object to be cleaned and a suction device having a brush chamber that communicates with the intake and a brush accommodated in the brush chamber, wherein the brush includes a brush body rotatably coupled to the brush chamber, a blade protruding in a radial direction of the brush body, and prevention members formed to be inclined from a central portion of the brush body to opposite side ends of the brush body to prevent foreign substance introduced into the brush chamber from being wound around the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 11504858
    Abstract: A role switching method of robots with similar appearance includes: at a robot, the robot being capable of communicating with other robots within a predetermined range: identifying other robots having the same appearance as the robot itself within the predetermined range; and performing role exchange with the other robots having the same appearance as the robot itself within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: CLOUDMINDS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Luo
  • Patent number: 11500090
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and storage media associated with surface traversing by robotic apparatuses with an obstacle detection system are described herein. In some instances, the obstacle detection system is mounted on the body of the apparatus, and includes one or more light sources, to illuminate the surface to be traversed; a camera, to capture one or more images of the illuminated surface; and a processing device coupled with the camera and the light source, to process the captured one or more images, to detect, or cause to be detected, an obstacle disposed on the illuminated surface, based at least in part on a result of the processing of the images. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: R-Go Robotics LTD
    Inventor: Nizan Horesh
  • Patent number: 11494899
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a household cleaning appliance, including: providing a household cleaning appliance including, a powered and electronically controlled cleaning implement, and at least one physical sensor taken from a group consisting of: an orientation sensor, an acceleration sensor, an inertial sensor, a global positioning sensor, a pressure sensor, a load sensor, audio sensor, humidity sensor, and a temperature sensor; providing a camera associated with the household cleaning appliance; deriving an augmented classification using one or more classifiers classifying the physical sensor data and the image data; and modifying operation of the cleaning implement based upon the augmented classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Livingston Joyce, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Xiaole Mao
  • Patent number: 11484374
    Abstract: The various robotic medical devices include robotic devices that are disposed within a body cavity and positioned using a support component disposed through an orifice or opening in the body cavity. Additional embodiments relate to devices having arms coupled to a device body wherein the device has a minimal profile such that the device can be easily inserted through smaller incisions in comparison to other devices without such a small profile. Further embodiments relate to methods of operating the above devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Eric Markvicka, Tom Frederick, Jack Mondry, Joe Bartels, Shane Farritor
  • Patent number: 11472459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a serving apparatus. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a serving apparatus, comprising: a driving unit; a body unit connecting to the driving unit and having a top side and an interior, wherein at least a part of a lateral side of the body unit is open; and a body container disposed in the interior of the body unit, wherein food or food containers are placed at the body container and the top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Bear Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Jungwoo Ha, Fangwei Li, Brennand Pierce, Albertus Iskandar Santoso
  • Patent number: 11458632
    Abstract: There is provided a robot capable of reducing vibration generated in an arm portion performing work. The robot includes: a first arm portion connected to a body portion and configured to perform work; and a second arm portion connected to the body portion and to be controlled to support the first arm portion, in which the first arm portion includes a first connecting portion connected to the body portion, a first end effector located at an end of the first arm portion opposite to an end where the first connecting portion is located, and a support target portion located between the first connecting portion and the first end effector, and the second arm portion is controlled to support the support target portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Saijo, Kiyokazu Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 11460862
    Abstract: A system and method for reconfiguring a factory having equipment at different workstations throughout the factory includes a plurality of mobile transporters configured to engage and transport the equipment to the different workstations throughout the factory. Each mobile transporter includes a transmitter, a receiver, at least one proximity sensor, and an engagement mechanism for engaging the equipment. A factory configuration module includes a 3D model of the factory and a plurality of predetermined factory configurations. A supervisory control module is in communication with the plurality of mobile transporters, the equipment, and the factory configuration module. The plurality of mobile transporters are configured to receive instructions from the supervisory control module to engage and reposition the equipment throughout the factory based on the predetermined factory configurations and dynamic inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Yesh, Anthony Mario D'Amato, Shankar Narayan Mohan, Mario Anthony Santillo, Gregory P. Linkowski, Meghna Menon
  • Patent number: 11453126
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various clinical workflows and other methods that utilize a telemedicine device in a healthcare network. According to various embodiments, a healthcare practitioner may utilize a remote presence interfaces (RPIs) on a remote access device (RAD), such as a portable electronic device (PED) to interface with a telemedicine device. The healthcare practitioner may directly interface with a display interface of a telemedicine device or utilize the RPI on a RAD. The present disclosure provides various clinical workflows involving a telemedicine device to view patient data during a telepresence session, perform rounds to visit multiple patients, monitor a patient, allow for remote visitations by companions, and various other clinical workflow methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: TELADOC HEALTH, INC., IROBOT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fuji Lai, Timothy C. Wright, Yair Lurie, Yulun Wang
  • Patent number: 11447337
    Abstract: A wireless tag reading system includes a body and three or more tag reading apparatuses arranged along a vertical direction on the body and configured to read identification information from wireless tags using a plurality of frequencies. A total number of the tag reading apparatuses is greater than or equal to a total number of the frequencies, and reading ranges of two of the wireless tag reading apparatuses that are adjacent to each other partially overlap. The wireless tag reading system further includes an information processing apparatus configured to collect the identification information read from the wireless tags by the wireless tag reading apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 11445881
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner has a pneumatic transfer mechanism that is used to transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11430278
    Abstract: A building management robot includes a communication unit configured to recognize an identification device corresponding to a first divided space among at least one divided space in a building and acquire first identification information of the first divided space from the identification device, a camera configured to acquire image data including a position where the identification device is recognized, and a processor configured to recognize a user from the image data, confirm an authentication level of the first divided space of the recognized user from a database, and provide the user with a service based on the confirmed authentication level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyongguk Kim, Jaeyoung Kim, Hyoungmi Kim, Yujune Jang
  • Patent number: 11423266
    Abstract: Disclosed is a subject recognizing apparatus and method. The method may include extracting feature points from a target image, respectively measuring movement information of each of a plurality of the extracted feature points, selectively grouping the extracted feature points into one or more groups based on the respectively measured movement information, determining a type of subject present in at least one group of the one or more groups based on at least a portion of the subject present in the at least one group, and recognizing a subject included in the target image based on the determined type of subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huijin Lee, Minsu Ahn, Sunghoon Hong
  • Patent number: 11400596
    Abstract: A mobile robot configured for delivering consumable items to delivery recipients. The mobile robot comprises an item compartment with a top section, a separator, and a bottom section. The mobile robot also comprises a temperature control component. A method for delivering consumable items to delivery recipients using the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES OÜ
    Inventors: Märt Liivik, Siim Viilup, Tiit Liivik
  • Patent number: 11401110
    Abstract: Provided herein is a mobile robot including: a first carrying device configured to carry a first item; a second carrying device configured to carry a second item; a control device connected to the first driving device and the second driving device and configured to control operation of the first driving device and the second driving device; the first driving device configured to drive, under control of the control device, the mobile robot to travel along a delivery path matching routings of the first item and the second item; and the second driving device, connected to the first carrying device and the second carrying device and configured to drive, under the control of the control device, the first carrying device to deliver the first item and the second carrying device to deliver the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Geekplus Technology Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Hongbo Li
  • Patent number: 11398309
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for using a robotic device to autonomously monitor activity within a property to predict a high likelihood of germ or disease transmission, and in response, perform one or more sterilization operations to regions of a property to reduce the likelihood of germ or disease transmission. In some implementations, sensor data collected by one or more sensors located within a property is processed. One or more activity patterns of a user located within the property based on processing the sensor data is identified. A determination to perform a sterilization operation based on the one or more activity patterns of the user is made. An instruction is provided to a robotic device located in the property to perform the sterilization operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Matthew Daniel Correnti
  • Patent number: 11388177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for security and control of Internet of Things (IOT) and ZeroConf devices using cloud services. The present disclosure uses an application that runs on a user device in a promiscuous mode to look for potentially vulnerable and compromised machines on the local network. Specifically, the user device can fingerprint ZeroConf and IOT networks based on their static and dynamic behavior. The application discovers all hosts on the network and uses a cloud service such as via a cloud-based system to detect potentially malicious IOTs with known vulnerabilities. Based on an enterprise policy or user's preferences, the solution can alert if any IOT device tries to communicate with the user's device or if the user's device itself broadcasts services running on the device such as screen sharing/file sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Zscaler, Inc.
    Inventor: Abhinav Bansal
  • Patent number: 11378972
    Abstract: An autonomous robot is provided, that includes a main body having a frame that includes a back end and a front end. The frame includes a first frame extension and a second frame extension that connects the back end of the frame to the front end of the frame. The front end of the frame includes a path to an open volume disposed between the first frame extension, the second frame extension and the back end. Further provided is a drive system connected to the frame, a retention system coupled to the frame, a lift mechanism attached to the frame, and a sweeper attachment having a dimension to substantially fit within the open volume of the main body. The sweeper attachment is connectable to the retention system to raise and lower of the sweeper attachment using the lift mechanism. Further provided is a controller interfaced with the drive system, the retention system and the lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ViaBot Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg Ratanaphanyarat, Dawei Ding
  • Patent number: 11351671
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic device includes monitor an action of an operator of the robotic device. The method also includes inferring an intended target based on the monitored action. The method further includes determining an intended action for the intended target. The method still further includes controlling the robotic device to perform the intended action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Allison Thackston, Samuel Zapolsky, Katarina Miller, Laura Stelzner, Ron Goldman
  • Patent number: 11117253
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods, computer program products, and computer systems for instructing a robot to prepare a food dish by replacing the human chef's movements and actions. Monitoring a human chef is carried out in an instrumented application-specific setting, a standardized robotic kitchen in this instance, and involves using sensors and computers to watch, monitor, record and interpret the motions and actions of the human chef, in order to develop a robot-executable set of commands robust to variations and changes in the environment, capable of allowing a robotic or automated system in a robotic kitchen to prepare the same dish to the standards and quality as the dish prepared by the human chef.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MBL Limited
    Inventor: Mark Oleynik