Patents Assigned to Adept Technology, Inc.
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Patent number: 10168711Abstract: In one aspect of the teachings presented herein, an autonomously-navigating mobile robot moves to a designated location and detects the presence and relative positioning of a compatible wheeled cart, based on recognizing one or more characteristic physical features of the cart from sensor readings taken by the robot. The robot moves into a position of gross alignment with the cart, based on the detected relative position of the cart, which means that the robot accommodates carts that are not properly positioned or oriented for pickup. The robot takes additional sensor readings referenced to the same or additional characteristic features of the cart and moves into a position of fine alignment with the cart, whereupon it latches to the cart and transports it via rolling conveyance to a designated destination location. The cart preferably includes a normally-on brake that is automatically disengaged by virtue of the robot latching to it.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Omron Adept Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Todd P. Reynolds, Deron Jackson, Matthew LaFary, Justin Eskesen
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Patent number: 10089586Abstract: The Job Management System (JMS) of the present invention processes job requests in an automated physical environment, such as a factory, hospital, order processing facility or office building, wherein the job requests are handled by a fleet of autonomously-navigating mobile robots. The JMS includes a map defining a floor plan, a set of virtual job locations and a set of one or more virtual job operations associated with virtual job locations. The JMS automatically determines the actual locations and actual job operations for the job requests, and intelligently selects a suitable mobile robot to handle each job request based on the current status and/or the current configuration for the selected mobile robot. The JMS also sends commands to the selected mobile robot to cause the mobile robot to automatically drive the actual job location, to automatically perform the actual job operations, or both.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: OMRON ADEPT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Matthew Vestal, Matthew LaFary, Peter Stopera
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Patent number: 9592609Abstract: An intelligent mobile robot having a robot base controller and an onboard navigation system that, in response to receiving a job assignment specifying a job location that is associated with one or more job operations, activates the onboard navigation system to automatically determine a path the mobile robot should use to drive to the job location, automatically determines that using an initially-selected path could cause the mobile robot to run into stationary or non-stationary obstacles, such as people or other mobile robots, in the physical environment, automatically determines a new path to avoid the stationary and non-stationary obstacles, and automatically drives the mobile robot to the job location using the new path, thereby avoiding contact or collisions with those obstacles. After the mobile robot arrives at the job location, it automatically performs said one or more job operations associated with that job location.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Omron Adept Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Matthew LaFary, Matthew Vestal, George V. Paul
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Publication number: 20140365258Abstract: The Job Management System (JMS) of the present invention processes job requests in an automated physical environment, such as a factory, hospital, order processing facility or office building, wherein the job requests are handled by a fleet of autonomously-navigating mobile robots. The JMS includes a map defining a floor plan, a set of virtual job locations and a set of one or more virtual job operations associated with virtual job locations. The JMS automatically determines the actual locations and actual job operations for the job requests, and intelligently selects a suitable mobile robot to handle each job request based on the current status and/or the current configuration for the selected mobile robot. The JMS also sends commands to the selected mobile robot to cause the mobile robot to automatically drive the actual job location, to automatically perform the actual job operations, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Matthew Vestal, Matthew LaFary, Peter Stopera
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Publication number: 20140350725Abstract: An intelligent mobile robot having a robot base controller and an onboard navigation system that, in response to receiving a job assignment specifying a job location that is associated with one or more job operations, activates the onboard navigation system to automatically determine a path the mobile robot should use to drive to the job location, automatically determines that using an initially-selected path could cause the mobile robot to run into stationary or non-stationary obstacles, such as people or other mobile robots, in the physical environment, automatically determines a new path to avoid the stationary and non-stationary obstacles, and automatically drives the mobile robot to the job location using the new path, thereby avoiding contact or collisions with those obstacles. After the mobile robot arrives at the job location, it automatically performs said one or more job operations associated with that job location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Matthew LaFary, Matthew Vestal, George V. Paul
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Patent number: 8688275Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for ensuring that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid positive obstacles in a physical environment that are typically hard to detect because the obstacles do not exist in the same plane or planes as the mobile robot's horizontally-oriented obstacle detecting lasers. Embodiments of the present invention also help to ensure that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid driving into negative obstacles, such as gaps or holes in the floor, or a flight of stairs. Thus, the invention provides positive and negative obstacle avoidance systems for mobile robots.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew LaFary, George Paul
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Publication number: 20140074287Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for ensuring that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid positive obstacles in a physical environment that are typically hard to detect because the obstacles do not exist in the same plane or planes as the mobile robot's horizontally-oriented obstacle detecting lasers. Embodiments of the present invention also help to ensure that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid driving into negative obstacles, such as gaps or holes in the floor, or a flight of stairs. Thus, the invention provides positive and negative obstacle avoidance systems for mobile robots.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew LaFary, George Paul
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Patent number: 8560121Abstract: A gripper grasps irregular and deformable work pieces so as to lift and hold packaged, processed, or raw, and manipulate the work pieces for the purpose of material handling, assembly, packaging, and other robotic and automated manipulative functions. A vacuum is induced at multiple points through a flexible gripping hood to provide lifting force to, and facilitate rapid movement of, work pieces. An array of lighting devices and a double ring array of segmented mirrors provide uniform illumination to ensure accurate positioning of the gripping hood with respect to the work piece to be manipulated.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventor: Preben K. Hjørnet
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Patent number: 8290624Abstract: A gripper grasps irregular and deformable work pieces so as to lift and hold packaged, processed, or raw, and manipulate the work pieces for the purpose of material handling, assembly, packaging, and other robotic and automated manipulative functions. A vacuum is induced at multiple points through a flexible gripping hood to provide lifting force to, and facilitate rapid movement of, work pieces. An array of lighting devices and a double ring array of segmented mirrors provide uniform illumination to ensure accurate positioning of the gripping hood with respect to the work piece to be manipulated.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventor: Preben Hjornet
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Patent number: 8200423Abstract: An apparatus for mobile autonomous updating of GIS maps is provided, comprising an autonomous mobile data collecting platform with a map identifying one or more GIS features. The platform has at least one data collecting sensor for collecting data for at least one of the GIS features and patrols at least a portion of a region included in the map while updating its GIS position as it patrols. The autonomous mobile data collecting platform applies the at least one data collecting sensor during patrolling to collect data for at least one of the GIS features and updates the GIS map to reflect differential data collected for at least one GIS feature.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jeanne Dietsch, William Kennedy, Matthew LaFary
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Publication number: 20110208745Abstract: An apparatus for mobile autonomous updating of GIS maps is provided, comprising an autonomous mobile data collecting platform with a map identifying one or more GIS features. The platform has at least one data collecting sensor for collecting data for at least one of the GIS features and patrols at least a portion of a region included in the map while updating its GIS position as it patrols. The autonomous mobile data collecting platform applies the at least one data collecting sensor during patrolling to collect data for at least one of the GIS features and updates the GIS map to reflect differential data collected for at least one GIS feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jeanne Dietsch, William Kennedy, Matthew LaFary
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Patent number: 7313464Abstract: A method for picking up objects randomly arranged in a bin using a robot having a gripper for grasping the objects using prehension feature(s) on the object. The method includes a shaking scheme for rearranging the objects in the bin when no objects are recognized, when no objects are prehensible by the gripper or when the object to be picked up is not reachable by the gripper because, for example, its prehension feature is substantially facing a wall of the bin. The method also includes a criterion for determining that a bin is free of objects to be picked up and a criterion for selecting the object to be picked up first in the bin. The method also provides for a protection mechanism against damage of the objects and the robot when a recognition technique has failed in properly recognizing the object or the prehension feature on the object.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Adept Technology Inc.Inventors: Louis Perreault, Pierre Olivier
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Patent number: D717208Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jason Stone, Albert Shane, Peter Privitera
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Patent number: D722281Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jason Stone, Albert Shane, Peter Privitera
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Patent number: D722631Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jason Stone, Albert Shane, Peter Privitera
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Patent number: D722632Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jason Stone, Albert Shane, Peter Privitera
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Patent number: D736117Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jason Stone, Albert Shane, Peter Privitera
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Patent number: D860280Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Omron Adept Technologies, Inc.Inventors: C. Brian Gulassa, Daniel P Norboe, Tim Vickroy
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Patent number: D860281Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Omron Adept Technologies, Inc.Inventors: C. Brian Gulassa, Daniel P Norboe, Tim Vickroy
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Patent number: D860282Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Omron Adept Technologies, Inc.Inventors: C. Brian Gulassa, Daniel P. Norboe, Tim Vickroy