Miscellaneous Patents (Class 901/50)
  • Publication number: 20120314020
    Abstract: A user interface screen for displaying data associated with operation of a robot where the user interface screen includes one or more windows that can be rotated and then minimized into an icon to render space for other windows. As user input for moving a window is received, the window moves to an edge. As further user input is received, the window is rotated about an axis and then minimized into an icon. In this way, the windows presented on the screen can be intuitively operated by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO,, LTD.
    Inventor: Victor Ng-Thow-Hing
  • Patent number: 8327529
    Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body, a first vacuum channel defined within the body, and a first locating pin attached to the body. The first locating pin has a shaft portion arranged within a surrounding portion of the body. The first locating pin is configured to engage a first alignment feature of a hard drive component at a first contact area to align the hard drive component with the assembly tool. The body is configured to couple the first vacuum channel to a vacuum source and to facilitate particle evacuation from the first contact area via the first vacuum channel when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jit Han Tan, Wai Khuen Yee
  • Patent number: 8315720
    Abstract: Continuous change of state directions are graphically provided on a display screen to assist a user in performing necessary action(s) for transitioning between operating modes in a medical robotic system or performing corrective action. A graphical representation of a target state of an element of the medical robotic system is displayed on a display screen viewable by the user. Current states of the element and indications directing the user to manipulate the element towards the target state are continuously determined and graphical representations of the continuously determined current states and indications are displayed on the display screen along with that of the target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Mohr, David W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8311677
    Abstract: A control device for a legged mobile robot has a unit which generates the time series of a future predicted value of a model external force manipulated variable as a feedback manipulated variable for reducing the deviation of the posture of the robot. A desired motion determining unit sequentially determines the instantaneous value of a desired motion such that the motion of the robot will reach or converge to a reaching target in the future in the case where it is assumed that the time series of an additional external force defined by the time series of a future predicted value of the model external force manipulated variable is additionally applied to the robot on a dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahide Yoshiike, Hiroyuki Kaneko, Atsuo Orita
  • Publication number: 20120281056
    Abstract: A tele-presence system that includes a portable robot face coupled to a remote station. The robot face includes a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker and a robot microphone. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The portable robot face can be attached to a platform mounted to the ceiling of an ambulance. The portable robot face can be used by a physician at the remote station to provide remote medical consultation. When the patient is moved from the ambulance the portable robot face can be detached from the platform and moved with the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Kevin Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 8302292
    Abstract: A truss assembly system may include a truss assembly station. The truss assembly station may be configured to enable assembly of a truss from truss members via an automatic sequential placement of the truss members based at least in part upon a planned location of pre-plated truss members within an assembled truss. The pre-plated truss members may be truss members including at least one connector plate installed thereon prior to placement at the truss assembly station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McAdoo, Timothy K. McAdoo
  • Patent number: 8306657
    Abstract: A control device for a legged mobile robot has a first motion determiner which sequentially determines the instantaneous value of a first motion of a robot by using a first dynamic model and a second motion determiner which sequentially determines the instantaneous value of a second motion of the robot by using a second dynamic model, and sequentially determines a desired motion of the robot by combining the first motion and the second motion. A low frequency component and a high frequency component of a feedback manipulated variable having a function for bringing a posture state amount error, which indicates the degree of the deviation of an actual posture of the robot from a desired posture, close to zero are fed back to the first motion determiner and the second motion determiner, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahide Yoshiike, Hiroyuki Kaneko, Atsuo Orita
  • Publication number: 20120277922
    Abstract: A device and a method for reducing the energy consumption of a machine in automation engineering are disclosed. The device includes an operating unit with a display configured to display an operating mode of the machine and an operating functionality of the machine associated with the operating mode, wherein parameters associated with a selected operating functionality can be entered by an operator of the machine, and wherein the operating unit is configured to determine an energy consumption state for a selected operating functionality and the entered parameters. The energy consumption of a machine in the field of automation engineering can thereby be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: MICHAEL GESCHWILL, Andreas Grözinger
  • Patent number: 8295978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for cooperation of multiple mobile robots and a method thereof that allow the multiple mobile robots to cooperatively execute one complicated task. The system and method can use centralized control architecture, create robot cooperation application codes on the basis of conceptual behavior units without depending on actual physical robots, and dynamically bind behavior units used to create the robot cooperation application at the time of executing the robot cooperation application to actual functions of the robots, thereby actively adjusting to changes in a dynamical environment, such as a change in the types, the number, and the functions of robots for cooperation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Joonmyun Cho, Hyoungsun Kim
  • Publication number: 20120255939
    Abstract: An accessible work cell is provided. In one embodiment, the accessible work cell a plurality of walls defining at least one work zone and at least one pair of sliding doors that provides access to the work zone. The pair of sliding doors includes an upper sliding door and a lower sliding door. The first upper sliding door is operatively connected to the lower sliding door such that movement of the upper sliding door in a first direction will cause the lower sliding door to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: David OSICKI, Geoff LIPNEVICIUS, Jeff BENNETT, Nino SILVESTRO, William KOLLER, Thomas LARKINS
  • Patent number: 8265789
    Abstract: A network-based robot system includes an activity creating device creating activities in hierarchical structure, and a robot downloading the activity tree over a communication network and executing an activity selected in the activity tree. The activities describe action execution procedures to be run by the robot and are arranged in an activity tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung-Ik Lee, Sung Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20120219207
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a slip detection apparatus and method for a mobile robot, and more particularly, to a slip detection apparatus and method for a mobile robot, which not only use a plurality of rotation detection sensors to detect a lateral slip angle and lateral slip direction, but also analyze the amount of change in an image and detect the blocked degree of an image input unit to determine the quality of an input image, and detect the occurrence of a frontal slip to precisely detect the type of slip, direction of the slip, and the rotation angle, and, on the basis of the latter, to enable the mobile robot to move away from and avoid slip regions, and to reassume the precise position thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: YUJIN ROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Chul Shin, Seong Ju Park, Hee Kong Lee, Jae Young Lee, Hyung O Kim, James Stonier Daniel
  • Publication number: 20120209423
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for moving piece goods from at least one piece goods conveyor (12) miming in a transport direction (x) into placement positions of at least one placement position conveyor (14, 16) running in the same or opposite transport direction (+x?, ?x?) as the transport direction (x) of the piece good conveyor(s) (12) in a robot processing line, having robots (18) disposed at least on one side of a centerline (m) of the piece goods conveyor (12) of a width, wherein the piece goods are picked from the piece goods conveyor(s) by means of the robots (18) and placed in placement positions on the placement position conveyors (14, 16). At least part of the piece goods are transported transverse to the transport direction (x) of the piece goods conveyor(s) (12) when transiting the robot line (10) at a location of the robot line (10) into the pick region of the robots (18) disposed on the other side of the longitudinal centerline (m) of the piece goods conveyor(s) (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lukas Sutter, Hans-Peter Kientz, Andreas Baechle
  • Publication number: 20120185098
    Abstract: Method and system for telematic control of a slave device. Displacement of a user interface control is sensed with respect to a control direction. A first directional translation is performed to convert data specifying the control direction to data specifying a slave direction. The slave direction will generally be different from the control direction and defines a direction that the slave device should move in response to the physical displacement of the user interface. A second directional translation is performed to convert data specifying haptic sensor data to a haptic feedback direction. The haptic feedback direction will generally be different from the sensed direction and can define a direction of force to be generated by at least one component of the user interface. The first and second directional translation are determined based on a point-of-view of an imaging sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul M. Bosscher, Matthew D. Summer, Loran J. Wilkinson, William S. Bowman
  • Publication number: 20120185088
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a robotic storage system. The system includes at least a first and second portable data element and at least a first and second data read/write device, structured and arranged to read portable data storage elements. A repository is structured and arranged to store the first and second portable data storage elements. At least one robot is structured and arranged to move a selected data storage element between the repository and a selected data read/write device. The system includes a history of prior commands, each prior command executed by a prior path selected from a group of optional paths. A receiver is structured and arranged to receive a current command for the robotic storage system, and a director is structured and arranged to direct the robotic storage system based on the current command and the history. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Spectra Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Carter, Richard Douglass Rector
  • Publication number: 20120179293
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention allow for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon Alan Feingold, James B. Gilmartin, Mark Richard Holbrook, John A. Favuzzi, Marc E. Key
  • Patent number: 8214076
    Abstract: An alignment adjusting apparatus of a robot to execute conveying operations of putting and taking an object to be conveyed in and out of an accommodating shelf includes at least two reference flags to be installed in the accommodating shelf; a flag measuring unit to measure the reference flags on the robot positioned at the reference flags; and an alignment adjusting unit to adjust an alignment shift of the robot corresponding to an inclination of the robot, the inclination being obtained from a variation of a measured value of each of the reference flags by the flag measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shinobu Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20120150352
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for synchronization robots. According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable robot synchronization apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data defining physical models and behaviors of a real robot, a manipulation unit, an output unit, a communication unit configured to perform wired and wireless communication with the real robot or a server, and a control unit configured to model a size and behavior of a virtual robot, having a shape and behavior of the real robot, in response to a manipulation command received through the manipulation unit, on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit, output the modeled virtual robot through the output unit, and control the behavior of the virtual robot in response to the behavior of the real robot when communicating with the real robot through the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Chang Hyun PARK
  • Publication number: 20120150346
    Abstract: A system of distributed control of an interactive animatronic show includes a plurality of animatronic actors, at least one of the actors a processor and one or more motors controlled by the processor. The system also includes a network interconnecting each of the actors, and a plurality of sensors providing messages to the network, where the messages are indicative of processed information. Each processor executed software that schedules and/or coordinates an action of the actor corresponding to the processor in accordance with the sensor messages representative of attributes of an audience viewing the show and the readiness of the corresponding actor. Actions of the corresponding actor can include animation movements of the actor, responding to another actor and/or responding to a member f the audience. The actions can result in movement of at least a component of the actor caused by control of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Alexis Paul Wieland
  • Publication number: 20120144336
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods that may be utilized in a variety of videoconferencing applications. According to various embodiments, techniques may be utilized to dynamically allocate and adjust bandwidth utilization during a videoconferencing session. A data network may allow for the transmission of data between two or more endpoints. The data exchanged between the endpoints may include video data, audio data, control data, and status data. Control data may be utilized in various embodiments to operate a robotic videoconferencing endpoint. Accordingly, various components of a data network connecting videoconferencing endpoints may transmit data wirelessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: In Touch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Pinter, Justin Chan
  • Publication number: 20120143941
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for controlling a service of a network robot system based on remote procedure calls and a method thereof. The apparatus for controlling services of a network robot system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a terminal agent calling an asynchronous procedure of the robot services to acquire asynchronous operation objects and performing asynchronous operations on the asynchronous operation objects according to previously established scheduling policies, when receiving an execution of robot services from a service server through a network; and a plurality of drivers executing the robot services according to the asynchronous operations of the terminal agent. By this configuration, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can avoid resource collision due to resource approach at a plurality of robot services, improve the simultaneity of the robot services, and implement operation applications for high performance control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kun Ouk KIM, Kang Woo Lee, Young Ho Suh
  • Publication number: 20120130739
    Abstract: Methods and systems creating Telemedical offices to remotely &/or automatically perform patient identification & intake, vitals measuring & recording, symptom reporting, live & delayed consultation by medical professionals, various and unlimited outpatient medical testing, live &/or automated diagnostic, referral, prescribing, treatment, billing, payment processing and record keeping services remotely by live & time-shifted medical professionals, medical and non-medical sensors, robotics (the robotics are not patented, but are used as a tool in the invention to help deliver the the services), autonomous systems and automated systems. The positive identification and teleconferencing capabilities also enable uses beyond the scope of medicine that also require positive identification prior to or during videoconferencing. The invention results in improved quality in medical service delivery, broad distribution of medical services and efficiencies in financial and time resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: David Crane
  • Publication number: 20120130716
    Abstract: A speech recognition method for a robot. The speech recognition method for the robot includes one fundamental acoustic model. Whenever the noisy environment and the speaker are changed, the speech recognition method generates a plurality of parallel acoustic models in which the characteristic for each noisy environment and the characteristic for each speaker are reflected. As a result, the speech recognition method for the robot can freely recognize one of several acoustic models according to individual environments and speakers, such that it can basically remove mismatch between the model training environment and the test environment, thereby improving speech recognition capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Beom KIM
  • Publication number: 20120116584
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing robot interaction services using an interactive behavior model for interaction between a user and a robot includes: a control module having a behavior model engine for receiving an observation signal from the outside and determining and outputting an interactive behavior signal based on previously stored behavior and policy models; a robot application module for executing a robot application service and applying the behavior signal to provide the service; a robot function operating module having sensors for observing an external circumstance and a function operating means for performing behavior or function of the robot; and a middleware module for extracting external circumstance observation information and service history information and inputting the information to the control module as the observation signal, and for analyzing the behavior signal to generate and provide motion and function operating signals to the robot function operating module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jong-Cheol KIM, Hyun-Ho KIM, Joo-Won SUNG, Myoung-Wan KOO
  • Patent number: 8165717
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and medium for correcting a pose of a moving robot are provided. The method includes sensing an entrance using a distance-sensing sensor mounted on the moving robot, storing first distance data of the sensed entrance, after the moving robot travels, newly sensing the entrance using the distance-sensing sensor, and correcting the pose of the moving robot using the first distance data and second distance data corresponding to the entrance newly sensed after the moving robot travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-jo Kim, Hyong-ki Lee, Dong-ryeol Park, Seok-won Bang
  • Patent number: 8162366
    Abstract: A gripper assembly is provided. The gripper assembly comprises an actuator and a plurality of gripper fingers. The plurality of gripper fingers are slidably mounted on the actuator. The actuator is configured to slide each of the plurality of gripper fingers along a respective radial path perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly. Each of the plurality of gripper fingers comprises a body and a vacuum evacuation path defined within the body. The body is configured to couple the vacuum evacuation path to a vacuum source and to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly via the vacuum evacuation path when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jit Han Tan, Wai Khuen Yee
  • Publication number: 20120059514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robot server including: a policy repository storing a collaboration policy model including a collaboration role of the robot and a command system configured of a simple command configured of a single command so as to perform the collaboration role and a composite command including at least one simple command; and a communication unit transmitting information on the collaboration role to be allocated to at least one robot and information on the simple command or the composite command to be allocated according to the collaboration role to the at least one robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Young Ho SUH
  • Publication number: 20120029683
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a system for managing an inventory comprising serialized products. A computer system may receive from an intake sensor a first tray identifier describing a first tray present on an intake transport system. The computer system may also associate the first tray identifier with a first serial identifier of a first product unit present on a product transport system and instructing the product transport system, by the computer system, to transport the first product unit to the first tray. Additionally, the computer system may instruct a robot to place the first tray containing the first product unit at a first bin selected from a plurality of robot-accessible bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mark J. Keller, Jesse J. Garcia, Matthew Stephen Kolodzej, Karsten Kell
  • Publication number: 20120006269
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a milking system includes a rotary milking platform having a plurality of milking stalls and a plurality of milking devices, each milking device configured for attachment to the teats of a dairy livestock located in a corresponding milking stall of the rotary milking platform. The system further includes one or more robotic devices operable to perform one or more functions, including preparing the teats of a dairy livestock for the attachment of a milking apparatus, attaching a milking apparatus to the teats of a dairy livestock, and applying a sanitizing agent to the teats of a dairy livestock subsequent to the removal of a milking apparatus from the teats of the dairy livestock. Each of the one or more functions performed by the one or more robotic devices is performed during a period of time when the rotary milking platform is substantially stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: James F. McCain, Gary C. Steingraber, David A. Reid, Dennis E. Dynneson
  • Publication number: 20110313562
    Abstract: A control device of a transfer module and a process module in a vacuum processing apparatus collects state data from the modules. The control device has a state data set including data on the entire module, updates its own state data in the set of its own state data acquired at acquisition timing and transmits it to a data collection device at transmission timing. A plurality of control devices is connected in a loop or in a chain to the data collection device; a data transmission interval is shorter than a data collection interval, and entire transmission synchronization is set to be less than twice an interval of acquisition timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yugui Zhen, Kiyohisa Katsumata, Toshiaki Sumitani, Yoshinori Azuma
  • Patent number: 8082063
    Abstract: Mobile apparatuses capable of moving or acting autonomously, without contacting each other, in an environment where movements of the mobile apparatuses are not managed by a server, are provided. In a robot functioning as a first mobile apparatus, it is recognized that an object corresponds to a second mobile apparatus, and based on this recognition, a target trajectory is searched for and determined. Further, the first mobile apparatus causes another robot functioning as the second mobile apparatus to recognize a part or a whole of the target trajectory. In the second mobile apparatus, the part or the whole of the target trajectory of the first mobile apparatus is recognized, and based on this recognition, a target trajectory that the second mobile apparatus should follow is searched for and determined. This allows the mobile apparatuses to move along their respective target trajectories to avoid contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20110307096
    Abstract: The present exemplary embodiment relates to motion control and planning algorithms to facilitate execution of a series of moves within a motion trajectory. In one example, a trajectory is specified as a sequence of one or more path segments. A velocity profile is calculated for each of the one or more path segments, wherein each velocity profile is divided into a blend-in region, a blend-out region and a remainder region. Each path segment is executed such that the blend-in region of its velocity profile overlaps only with the blend-out region of the previous profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bohumir Sladek, Jatin P. Bhatt, William C. Schwarz, Bhanu K. Gouda
  • Publication number: 20110298885
    Abstract: A mobile robotic device includes functionality that enables it to support an audio/video conference session. The mobile robotic device includes an upper body section and a lower body section. The upper body section is comprised of one or more microphones and speakers and a display with the speakers being proximate to the display. The lower body section is comprised of a base that can include the audio and video processing electronics, one or more speakers and means for propelling the robotic device in its environment. The range of frequencies played by the speakers in the upper section and the range of frequencies played by the speakers in the lower section are distributed such that the source of the sound appears to come from the upper section proximate to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: VGO Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: TIMOTHY ROOT
  • Patent number: 8060253
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that use the rate of change of a legged robot's centroidal angular momentum ({dot over (H)}G) in order to maintain or improve the robot's balance. In one embodiment, a control system determines the current value of {dot over (H)}G, compares this value to a threshold value, and determines an instruction to send to the robot. Executing the instruction causes the robot to remain stable or become more stable. Systems and methods are also presented that use a value derived from {dot over (H)}G in order to maintain or improve the robot's balance. In one embodiment, a control system determines the location of the Zero Rate of change of Angular Momentum (ZRAM) point (A), determines the distance between A and the location of the center of pressure of the resultant ground force, compares this value to a threshold value, and determines an instruction to send to the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ambarish Goswami, Vinutha Kallem
  • Patent number: 8054198
    Abstract: An inexpensive unmanned mobile sensor and data collection rolling rover (“rollver) for exploring remote, inaccessible locations, such as deep craters and canyons, includes a hollow enclosure having a flexible wall that is expandable into the shape of a sphere, an apparatus for selectably expanding the wall of the enclosure, a sensor and instrumentation payload disposed within the enclosure and coupled to an inner surface of the wall of the enclosure, and a power supply for powering the payload at its destination. The rollver is adapted to roll to a target destination at least partially in response to at least one of an initial impetus imparted to the vehicle and gravitational forces acting thereon, and due to its relatively low cost, can be simultaneously deployed and used in an area of interest in relatively large numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Spinelli, Tamaira E. Ross, John L. McIver
  • Publication number: 20110238211
    Abstract: There is provided a robot device including a behavior plan unit that detects a current status of the robot device or an external environment and that decides one behavior plan of a plurality of behavior plan candidates as a future behavior plan, based on the current status, and a display control unit that decides one display pattern of a plurality of previously prepared display pattern candidates as display content to be displayed on a remote control device that remotely controls the robot device based on the decided behavior plan and that cause the remote control device to display the display pattern decided by the behavior plan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Shirado, Yasuhiro Suto, Takashi Kito, Akichika Tanaka, Kenichiro Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8014896
    Abstract: In a legged mobile robot, a pivoting motion of a foot (22) relative to a leg is controlled such that, from an intermediate time point in a period of departure of a leg from a floor to a starting time point of a period of landing of the leg on the floor, an angle (?) of inclination of the foot (22) of the leg relative to the floor surface gradually approaches zero. This eases impact to the foot of the leg at the time of landing on the floor and prevents a slip or spin of the sole, thereby enabling stable walking or running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Takashi Matsumoto, Takahide Yoshiike, Kazushi Akimoto, Shinya Shirokura, Minami Asatani
  • Publication number: 20110195866
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for analyzing a plurality of samples of small objects. In various other embodiments, the system (10) includes a staging console (18) for supporting a plurality of sample trays (12). The system (10) additionally includes a plurality of workstations (22) that each includes a robotic container transfer subsystem (30) for sequentially removing and replacing each of a plurality of sample containers (14) arrayed in the sample trays (12), each sample container (14) containing a sample of small objects. Each workstation (22) additionally includes an automated analysis subsystem (34) for sequentially receiving each container (14) from the transfer subsystem (30), removing each sample from the respective container (14), acquiring data of each sample and returning each sample to the respective container (14). The system (10) further includes a tray shuttle robot (26) that distributes and retrieves the sample trays (12) to and from the workstations (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Deppermann, Ping Feng, Matthew J. Weis
  • Patent number: 7996111
    Abstract: A robotic device in accordance with a plurality of embodiments is provided. The robotic device generally includes a plurality of groups of sensing devices for sensing environmental events; a plurality of controllers for recognizing the environmental events and generating corresponding commands; a plurality of driving devices for driving the robotic device to respond to the environmental events under control of the commands; at least one communication line for communication between the controllers; at least one power line for transmitting power to the sensing devices, the controllers and the driving devices; a plurality of ground lines; a plurality of branches extending out from the communication line, the power line and the ground lines; and a plurality of connectors for connecting the controllers to the branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: Ensky Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Ensky Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua-Dong Cheng, Han-Che Wang, Xiao-Guang Li, Tsu-Li Chiang, Kuan-Hong Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110175753
    Abstract: A traffic management system is disclosed that tells motorist how fast to go in order to make it through a traffic signal while it is in green phase. A Fast Lane On Warning (FLOW) sequencer is in synchronization with traffic phases sequencer (sequencing Red, Green, Yellow, Left Turn and the like) with both sequencers having service cycle period ‘Pi’ . The start times of both sequences are appropriately offset from one another. Sensors up road from the signal provide data on approaching vehicles number per time to a processor that synthesizes the data for one or more “fast” lanes in one or more directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: James Jacob Free
  • Publication number: 20110172819
    Abstract: A manipulator, and a control method thereof, calculates a degree of freedom (DOF) used to prevent collision with an obstacle in consideration of an order of priority of DOFs for an operation and collision avoidance contribution. The manipulator judges whether there is danger of collision of the manipulator with an obstacle, judges whether or not there is at least one operating DOF capable of avoiding collision with the obstacle among the plurality of operating DOFs, upon judging that there is danger of collision with the obstacle, and avoids collision with the obstacle using at least one operating DOF having the lowest priority while performing the operation among the at least one operating DOF capable of avoiding collision with the obstacle, upon judging that there is the at least one operating DOF capable of avoiding collision with the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Kyu LEE, Kyung Shik Roh, Jong Do Choi, Kyung Won Moon, Ji Young Kim
  • Publication number: 20110166705
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vehicle, a sensing unit, and a control unit. The vehicle is movable in a path and has a first number of cutting elements. The sensing unit detects an obstacle in the path. The control unit is connected to the first number of cutting elements and is configured to autonomously adjust a height of a second number of cutting elements of the first number of cutting elements in response to the sensing unit detecting the obstacle in the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Noel Wayne Anderson, Anthony Bryant Annibale
  • Publication number: 20110166703
    Abstract: A method, controller and control system for controlling a robot that is used in concert with at least one other robot to perform an operation on one or more work objects. Each robot controller checks whether a common reference value is not acceptable, and if so, provides a signal for the robot to wait before proceeding to the next task. Each robot controller also checks whether the target object is in the correct position or not; and also checks whether or not another robot has stopped. If either another robot has stopped and/or if the work object is not in the right position, the robot waits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: ABB AS
    Inventor: Gisle Byrne
  • Publication number: 20110158476
    Abstract: A robot and a method for recognizing human faces and gestures are provided, and the method is applicable to a robot. In the method, a plurality of face regions within an image sequence captured by the robot are processed by a first classifier, so as to locate a current position of a specific user from the face regions. Changes of the current position of the specific user are tracked to move the robot accordingly. While the current position of the specific user is tracked, a gesture feature of the specific user is extracted by analyzing the image sequence. An operating instruction corresponding to the gesture feature is recognized by processing the gesture feature through a second classifier, and the robot is controlled to execute a relevant action according to the operating instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chin-Shyurng Fahn, Keng-Yu Chu, Chih-Hsin Wang
  • Publication number: 20110153075
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for loading a service application of a robot based on a ubiquitous robotic companion (URC) environment. The method for loading a service application of a robot includes: generating a service code for a service which is implemented by the robot from at least one descriptor; and generating at least one service object based on the generated service code and loading the at least one generated service object on the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kun-Ouk KIM, Young-Ho Suh, Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110153074
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for executing a robot task using a robot model definition. A task execution apparatus include: a storage unit to store at least one robot model, at least one robot behavior, and at least one robot task; and a task execution unit to generate at least one execution object from the stored at least one robot model, at least one robot behavior, and at least one robot task, and to execute a task of a robot from a corresponding execution object among the generated at least one execution object in response to an execution command input from a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Rock-Won Kim, Seung-Ik Lee, Jun-Yong Sung, Sung-Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20110153077
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that enables a robot to be remotely controlled (by a server) and enables a robot component to access an external component (a component of a server) in order for cooperation of heterogeneous robots operating on the basis of different component models. A component integration apparatus for collaboration of a heterogeneous robot according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a standard interface unit that provides a common standard interface for controlling components that control the individual functions of the robot; an adapter component that transmits commands to enable external components to call the components through the standard interface unit; and a proxy component that transmits commands to enable the components to call the external components through the standard interface unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young-Ho SUH, Kang-Woo LEE, Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20110144803
    Abstract: There is provided a real-time distributed control system which can prevent a delay of execution by a hard real-time control system. In the real-time distributed control system, a receiving computer includes a receiving component which receives a message, and an operation cycle obtaining unit which obtains the operation cycle of the receiving component upon activation of the system, and transmits a monitoring condition associated with the obtained operation cycle to a transmission-rate-monitoring-condition setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Saku EGAWA
  • Publication number: 20110144804
    Abstract: A device for expressing robot autonomous emotions comprises: a sensing unit; a user emotion recognition unit, recognizing current user emotional states after receiving sensed information from the sensing unit, and calculating user emotional strengths based on the current user emotional states; a robot emotion generation unit, generating robot emotional states based on the user emotional strengths; a behavior fusion unit, calculating a plurality of output behavior weights by a fuzzy-neuro network based on the user emotional strengths and a rule table; and a robot reaction unit, expressing a robot emotional behavior based on the output behavior weights and the robot emotional states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Kai-Tai SONG, Meng-Ju Han, Chia-How Lin
  • Publication number: 20110137459
    Abstract: The present invention relate to a policy-based robot managing apparatus and method for managing a plurality of robots, which generate a wide area policy for controlling cooperation between the plurality of robots connected by a network, compare the generated wide area policy with an existing wide area policy to check whether a conflict between the wide area policies occurs, convert the generated wide area policy into local policies applicable to the plurality of robots, and transmit the local policies to the corresponding robots, respectively. According to the embodiments of the present invention, since a policy-based management technique is introduced, it is possible to more efficiently control different kinds of robots having various forms through a wide area policy having a pseudo-code form even though a manager does not know previously set information of the individual network robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Myung-Eun KIM