Patents Assigned to KUKA DEUTSCHLAND
  • Patent number: 11953912
    Abstract: A method for traveling down a prescribed arrangement of paths which are connected to one another at nodes with a mobile robot. The robot changes from an initial route, which contains all as yet untraveled paths, to a different replacement route including a loop route which retakes at least one path and at least one further path, and a subsequent remaining route which contains all as yet untraveled paths at that time if a value of a quality function for the replacement route is lower than a value of this quality function for the initial route. The quality function is dependent on a first effort, a second effort, and a variable weighting of the first and second values in relation to one another. The variable weighting weights the second effort lower for a first localization uncertainty of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Baldini, Alberto Soragna, Rainer Keummerle
  • Patent number: 11945108
    Abstract: A robot arm includes a first structural component, in particular a main frame for fixing the robot arm in its surroundings, a second structural component, in particular a carousel, which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation on the first structural component and a transmission for twisting the second structural component relative to the first structural component. The transmission includes a transmission casing and, a casing of the first structural component has at least one integrated cavity for receiving lubricant for the transmission. The cavity is fluidically connected to the transmission casing by at least one connecting duct in the casing of the first structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Leander Eisenwinter, Benjamin Kuhl, Valentina Antonovsky, Rainer Krumbacher
  • Publication number: 20240085911
    Abstract: A method for planning a path of a driverless mobile robot for approaching a second pose specified in a second reference system, from a first pose specified in a first reference system, includes transforming one of the first or second poses into a common reference system, in which the other of the first and second pose is also described, and planning a transition path from the first pose to the second pose in the common reference system on the basis of the first and second pose described in the common reference system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Joho, Andreas Kuhner
  • Patent number: 11926059
    Abstract: A method and a system for automatically securing the operation of a robot system and corresponding components of the system, wherein operation is controlled by a mobile operating device. The robot system receives presence signals transmitted from a mobile operating device via a short-range first signal connection and an operating signal transmitted via a second signal connection designed to be independent of the first signal connection. The operating signal contains a safety-relevant control command for the robot system. The control command is released for execution by the robot system only if a presence check has ascertained that the last received presence signal satisfies a presence criterion specified with respect to the determination of a spatial proximity of the operating device to the robot system. A configuration signal derived from the result of the presence check is transmitted back to the operating device for configuration based on the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Schmirgel, Florian Laquai
  • Patent number: 11911319
    Abstract: A patient-positioning device includes a first link designed as a base frame for fastening the patient-positioning device on a support surface, a second link mounted on the first link for rotation about a first axis of rotation by a first joint, and a third link mounted on the second link for rotation about a second axis of rotation by a second joint. The third link is arranged on the second link by the second joint in such a way that, with a floor mounting of the first link, the third link is arranged below the second link by the second joint in order to suspend the third link on the second link in an overhead arrangement by means of the second joint. The third link is mounted so as to be rotatable under the second link by the second joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik Keller, Dieter Schaab
  • Publication number: 20240017400
    Abstract: A robot arm includes a plurality of links and a plurality of joints connecting the links for adjustment relative to one another. At least a first link has a first bearing pin, a second bearing pin located opposite the first bearing pin, and a second link connected in an articulated manner to the first link by one of the joints has a first bearing flange on which the first bearing pin of the first link is rotatably mounted, and has a second bearing flange on which the second bearing pin of the first is rotatably mounted. The first bearing flange of the second link has a circumferentially closed recess in which the first bearing pin of the first link is received, and the second bearing flange of the second link has a circumferentially open recess in which the second bearing pin of the first link is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Riedel
  • Publication number: 20230400475
    Abstract: A mobile health system and method for performing health tests and for acquiring health-related personal data by a computer network and resources connected in the computer network. Communication means of the network include a health database having a database management system, a personal database, a plurality of mobile health test systems each having at least one automatically controllable robot that is designed and configured to perform a health-related test method, and a test system controller which is connected to the computer network via a first communication means. A plurality of terminals are connected to the computer network via second communication means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Keibel
  • Patent number: 11839985
    Abstract: A method for the control of a robot assembly having at least one robot. The method includes acquiring pose data from an object arrangement having at least one object, which data has a first time interval; determining modified pose data from the object arrangement, which data has a second time interval that is larger or smaller than the first time interval, or is equal to the first time interval, on the basis of the acquired pose data; and controlling the robot assembly on the basis of said modified pose data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Allmendinger, Jan Bandouch, Günter Schreiber
  • Patent number: 11826911
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot to perform a task, for which the robot is redundant, includes specifying an adjustment of first and second axes of at least one pair of two movement axes of the robot based on a specified operating mode such that both axes can be adjusted and adjustment of the first axis is prioritized over the second axis if a first operating mode is specified. Adjustment of the second axis is prioritized over the first axis if a second operating mode is specified. Additionally or alternatively, adjustment of at least one selected movement axis is specified based on a specified operating mode such that this axis can be adjusted or is blocked independently of the task if a reduced operating mode is specified, and can be adjusted for the purpose of performing this task if an operating mode differing from this reduced operating mode is specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Daniele Fiore
  • Patent number: 11826912
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot assembly having at least one robotic arm. The method includes determining a trajectory in the axis space of the robot assembly on the basis of a path having a plurality of previously specified Cartesian poses of at least one robot-assembly-fixed reference, and determining control values in the axis space on the basis of said trajectory. The robot assembly is controlled on the basis of the control values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Publication number: 20230364810
    Abstract: A robot has a robotic arm, including a base with a base contact surface and an end-effector that is connected to the base by joints which can be adjusted by robotic arm joint drives such that the end-effector has at least five, and in particular at least six, actuated degrees of freedom with respect to the base. The robot further includes a robot joint module with a first contact surface that can be fastened—in particular, releasably—to the base contact surface, a second contact surface for fastening the robot to a stationary environment or mobile platform, and at least one robot joint module drive for pivoting the first contact surface relative to the second contact surface about a pivot axis, so that the end-effector has at least six, and in particular at least seven, actuated degrees of freedom with respect to the second contact surface, and in particular with respect to the stationary environment or mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Riedel, Dieter Schaab
  • Patent number: 11799759
    Abstract: A method for configuring a communication link between a first node in a first of at least two networks and a second node in a second of at least two networks, wherein at least one of the first and second nodes is an automatable industrial device or an automatable industrial system, or a controller thereof. The at least two networks each individually form a homogeneous address space, but do not together form a homogeneous address space. A call is transmitted to configure the communication link between the first and second nodes, the call having routing path information specifying the routing path from the first node to the second node. The routing path information includes at least one identifier of each network or nodes to be traversed along the routing path, but not necessarily an identifier of the first network. The communication link is configured between the first and second nodes based on the routing path information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Slawomir Sander, Christopher Schwarzer
  • Publication number: 20230311326
    Abstract: A method for monitoring during a robot-assisted first or second process-includes (a.1) detecting process data; and (a.2) performing a model-based assessment with the aid of a machine-learned model on the basis of the detected process data; wherein, if the model-based assessment satisfies an examination criterion, in particular depending on an external confirmation: (b.1) performing a test assessment with the aid of a testing authority; and (b.2) training the machine-learned model further on the basis of the test assessment; and then, for the first process optionally performed again: (c.1) detecting process data; (c.2) performing the model-based assessment with the aid of the further trained model on the basis of the detected process data; and (c.3) monitoring during the first process is performed on the basis of this assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manuel Kaspar
  • Patent number: 11752643
    Abstract: A robot hand guide device includes a first connection flange configured to connect the robot hand guide device to a tool flange of a robot arm, a second connection flange configured to fasten a tool to be handled by the robot arm to the robot hand guide device, and a transfer apparatus configured to transfer forces and torques between the first connection flange and the second connection flange. A sensor device attached to the transfer apparatus is configured to detect forces and torques transferred via the transfer apparatus. The robot hand guide device further includes at least a first connection element connected to the first connection flange and configured for detachably connecting a guide handle of the robot hand guide device to the first connection flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gernot Nitz, Sergiy Ostrovski, Dietmar Tscharnuter
  • Publication number: 20230219216
    Abstract: A drive device including at least one motor and at least one additional drive component from the group of a transmission, a torque converter, a clutch and/or a brake, wherein the at least one motor and/or the at least one additional drive component includes a control means which changes the torque transmission and which includes at least one illuminant and a material that influences the torque transmission and that includes at least one light-stabilized dynamic material (LSDM). The control means is configured to change the torque transmission by actuating the illuminant, which radiates onto the light-stabilized dynamic material (LSDM). A robot includes at least one such drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Keibel
  • Patent number: 11672107
    Abstract: A control cabinet for at least one electrical drive controller includes a control cabinet housing a first cabinet compartment formed in the control cabinet housing and having at least one inlet opening for fresh air, at least one first transfer opening and a fresh air duct flow-connecting the inlet opening to the first transfer opening. A second cabinet compartment is formed in the control cabinet housing and has at least one outlet opening for exhaust air, at least one second transfer opening, and an exhaust air duct flow-connecting the outlet opening to the second transfer opening. A third cabinet compartment is formed in the control cabinet housing and is sealed off in terms of flow from the first cabinet compartment, the second cabinet compartment, and the environment outside the control cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Steidl
  • Patent number: 11660159
    Abstract: An instrument tray for storing and supplying surgical instruments, and a system and a method for at least semi-automatically handling trays of this type. The tray includes a container for receiving surgical instruments, and the container has unique visual markers for individual instruments. The system also includes a manipulator and an image recognition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Keibel
  • Patent number: 11660245
    Abstract: A hippotherapy device includes a saddle for receiving a person thereon, a programmable movement control, and an automatic movement device for automatically moving the saddle according to a movement pattern program. The program specifies a sequence of target values of positions and orientations of the saddle in the locality of the movement device in order to execute the movement pattern. The hippotherapy device further includes a person securing device having a main support on which a body strap is mounted, at least one sensor for detecting at least one physical variable characterizing the body posture of the person on the saddle, and an auxiliary control device configured to compare expected values of the physical variable with current values of the physical variable detected by the sensor, and to trigger an associated safety function, if a deviation of the current values from the expected values exceeds a predetermined tolerance threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Keibel
  • Patent number: 11654305
    Abstract: A patient-positioning device and a medical workstation including the patient-positioning device. The patient-positioning device includes a patient couch and a robot arm which is provided for moving the patient couch and which comprises several links arranged one after another and mounted rotatably with respect to axes. The robot arm includes, as links, a start link, a first link, a second link, a third link, a fourth link, a fifth link and a sixth link. The robot arm comprises a patient couch or a fastening device on which the patient couch is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Zoubir Benali
  • Patent number: 11648665
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot includes applying a setpoint force to a contact point; measuring a contact stiffness at the contact point; and slowing down the moving robot using its drives and/or braking the robot to apply the setpoint force to the contact point by the slowing down and/or slowed down robot depending on the measured contact stiffness, wherein the robot is slowed down before the setpoint force is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Yevgen Kogan