Patents Assigned to KUKA DEUTSCHLAND
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Publication number: 20190099884Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of mobile driverless manipulator systems (10, 20), in particular driverless transport vehicles in a logistics environment for manipulating objects (30). In the method, ambient information is provided by a central control device (40), and in one step, an object to be moved (30) in the surroundings is detected. The position and the pose of the detected object are used for updating the ambient information and are taken into account in the path planning of the mobile driverless manipulator systems (10, 20) in that, prior to a movement of the detected object (30), a first mobile driverless manipulator system (10) is used to check whether the detected object (30) is needed for the orientation of a second mobile driverless manipulator system (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Rainer Kümmerle, Patrick Pfaff
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Patent number: 10245722Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing devices (W1, D1; W2, D2) which are connected to a robot (R) and which communicate with a robot application (APP), having the following steps: S2: detecting a disconnection of a communication with a first device (W1, D1); S3: removing an address entry (“MAC1/IP1”) for the first device from a communication index (ARP); S4: establishing communication with a second device (W2, D2); and S5: generating an address entry (“MAC2/IP1”) for the second device in the communication index.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Ovidiu Zurbau
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Patent number: 10239214Abstract: A safety control device for releasing an operation of a machine, in particular a robot, includes an input device for detecting a manual contact, in particular a finger contact. The safety control device has a retaining device for securing the input device to a finger, in particular a fingertip, of an operator, in particular in a frictional manner, and/or a signaling means for outputting a signal, in particular an optical, acoustic, tactile, thermal, and/or electric signal, if a contact force detected by the input device is smaller than a specified upper minimum value and/or for outputting a signal, in particular the same signal or a different signal, in particular an optical, acoustic, tactile, thermal, and/or electric signal, if a contact force detected by the input device is greater than a specified lower maximum value.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Uwe Zimmermann, Yevgen Kogan
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Patent number: 10239207Abstract: A method for controlling a robot having a drive arrangement with at least one drive includes determining an actual velocity of the robot, determining a target velocity for the robot, and determining a damping drive parameter based on a difference between the target velocity and the actual velocity. The target velocity is determined based on at least one of a predetermined maximum velocity, a predetermined minimum velocity, or a first distance of the robot from at least one predetermined boundary. The drive arrangement of the robot is then controlled based on the damping drive parameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Matthias Rohmer, Martin Mueller-Sommer, Marc-Walter Ueberle, Gunter Schreiber, Uwe Bonin
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Patent number: 10234219Abstract: A non-electric temperature-controlled basin for cooling cast parts, the basin being provided with a liquid, a level sensor, a temperature sensor, and a heat exchanger; and a method for cooling the cast parts.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: KUKA DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventor: Nico Kowarschik
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Publication number: 20190077014Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an automation assembly which has a robot assembly with at least one robot (10) and a detection means assembly with at least one detection means (21-23), said method having the following at least partly automated steps: providing (S10) a first sequence of first ordinate data (q1, q2, dq2/dt, ?1, ?2) assigned to successive first abscissa points (t) on the basis of first training data (q1, q2, ?1, x2); identifying (S20) a first event point (tE) within the first abscissa points of the first sequence; and determining (S30) a first event criterion on the basis of the first sequence and the first event point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Helmuth Radrich
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Patent number: 10213920Abstract: A method for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly having at least one robot includes identifying a robot-handled payload arrangement on the basis of a current position of the robot assembly relative to a specified change position of the robot assembly. In another aspect, a robot assembly includes at least one robot, a monitoring apparatus configured to determine a current position of the robot assembly and to identify a robot-handled payload arrangement on the basis of the current position of the robot assembly relative to a specified change position of the robot assembly, and a payload receptacle for receiving a plurality of different payloads. The robot is configured for handling the plurality of payloads in an alternating manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Torsten Geiler, Florian Steigenberger, Frank Roland, Uwe Bonin, Richard Rudolf
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Publication number: 20190054629Abstract: The present invention relates to an operating device for controlling or programming a manipulator. The manipulator has a plurality of degrees of freedom which are independent of each other. The operating device comprises a manual control lever which is configured to specify at least one two-dimensional movement of the manipulator. Preferably, the manual control lever is a joystick. The operating device also comprises an information display which is allocated to the manual control lever and comprises a plurality of independently controllable display segments. The operating device further comprises a control device which is configured to individually control the display segments of the information display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Martin Riedel
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Publication number: 20190047148Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a group of robots, comprising a leading robot (10) and at least one following robot (20, 30), which cooperates with the leading robot and moves in accordance with the leading robot, wherein the absolute velocity (v10) of the leading robot and/or the absolute velocity (v20abs) of the following robot is reduced on the basis of a specified limit (vmax) such that a mutual relative velocity (V20rel) is not exceeded and therefore a safety function is not triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Linda FREMUTH, Andreas HAGENAUER
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Publication number: 20190009410Abstract: A method for determining an orientation or installation of a robot relative to a direction of gravity for at least one installation location of the robot, and for horizontal alignment or alignment relative to the direction of gravity of a robot includes creating a model wherein joint forces are identified in at least one calibration pose. The robot is then into a new installation location and the joint forces of the robot are identified in at least one measuring pose. Based on the identified joint forces and the model of the robot, the orientation, i.e. the orientation or the installation, of the robot relative to the direction of gravity is determined. The orientation of the robot is corrected by tilting the robot base such that the identified joint forces do not deviate from the forces defined in the model.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Helmuth Radrich
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Patent number: 10173318Abstract: In a method according to the invention for controlling a peripheral component (1) of a robot system (2), a power output, in particular a force, of the peripheral component is adjusted on the basis of an ascertained force (F1; m3g+m3d(x3)2/dt2), said force acting dependent on at least one robot pose, in particular a robot path (x3(t)).Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Johannes Kurth
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Publication number: 20180356799Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the simplified modification of application programs (2<sb/>, 3<sb/>) of an industrial plant (1<sb/>), comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one application program (2<sb />, 3<sb/>) in an industrial plant (1), wherein the at least one application program (2<sb/>3<sb/>) has a plurality of program points (P1 to P5<sb />); (b) providing at least one graphical representation (101<sb/> to 103<sb/>), wherein the at least one graphical representation (101<sb /> to 103</>) shows at least one system state of the industrial plant (1<sb/>), wherein the system state corresponds to a program point (P1 to P5<sb/>) and the graphical representation (101 to 103) is linked to at least one program point (P1<sb/> to P5<sb/>) of the at least one application program (2<sb/>, 3<sb/>); (c) executing the application program (2<sb/>, 3<sb/>) and, if the applicatiType: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Andreas Sedlmayr
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Patent number: 10144129Abstract: The invention relates to a robot, a robot control device, and a method for operating a robot. The robot includes an arm having a plurality of members following one after the other, an attaching device for attaching an end effector and drives for moving the members, and a control device connected to the drives. In another aspect, a computer program running on the control device issues a command for the robot arm to carry out an application step. At least one abort condition of the command from a plurality of abort conditions is detected, the execution of the application step is aborted on the basis of the detected abort condition, and simultaneously with the detection of the abort condition information is passed to the computer program about the abort condition on the basis of which the execution of the application step was aborted.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventor: Bernd Finkemeyer
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Patent number: 10117715Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober
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Patent number: 10092981Abstract: The invention relates to a crossjet assembly for generating a gas flow that is conducted between a laser source (40, 41) and a welding region (42) in order to remove contaminants moving towards the laser source. The gas flow crosses the region between the laser source and the welding site numerous times.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: KUKA DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Axel Heinrici, Armin Tesmer
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Patent number: 10076841Abstract: A method for controlling a manipulator includes determining by a control device one or more contact force values between the manipulator and a first workpiece. Each of the contact force values is based on an actual driving force of the manipulator and a drive force according to a dynamic model of the manipulator. The method also includes at least one of a) measuring in multiple stages an orientation and location of the first workpiece based on at least one of the one or more determined contact force values or b) joining a second workpiece and the first workpiece under a compliant regulation, where a joining state of the first and second workpieces is monitored based on at least one of an end pose of the manipulator obtained under the compliant regulation, a speed of a temporal change of the manipulator, or at least one of the one or more determined contact force values.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Simon Klumpp, Gunter Schreiber
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Patent number: 10037019Abstract: The invention relates to a system having one or more development environments (2) for creating machine programs (6), in particular robot programs, and one or more machine controls (12), in particular for controlling robots. One or more machine controls (12) are represented in a development environment (2). The system is configured for the regular transmission of data from one development environment (2) to a machine control (12) and/or the reverse. A development environment (2) and a machine control (12) each preferably comprise a database (1a and 1b). The representation of a machine control (12) in a development environment (2) is carried out in that the affected databases (1a and 1b) are synchronized. Furthermore, a development environment (2) can react to changes in a machine control (12) represented therein. The invention further relates to a method for operating in such a system and a related computer program product.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Andreas Keibel, Torsten Goroll
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Patent number: 10016895Abstract: A method for determining a response time of a brake of at least one assigned axis of a multi-axis machine includes actuating the axis, switching the brake, and determining a response time between a switching point in time and a response point in time at which a motion state of the axis changes. The method may further include opposing actuation of the axis while the brake is closed, and detecting a mechanical play between opposing maximum deflections of the axis. A method of operating or monitoring a multi-axis machine includes determining a response time and/or detecting mechanical play, and operating the machine or triggering a fault response based on the response time or mechanical play.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Karsten Monreal, Carsten Angeli
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Patent number: 10016894Abstract: A method for controlling a robot in at least one pose of the robot wherein the robot can be operated in either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation the robot can be moved by manually applying a guiding force to the robot. The method includes determining a distance of a state variable of the robot from a first limit and then triggering a safety response when the distance satisfies a first condition and the robot is operating in the first mode of operation. When the robot is operating in the second mode of operation and the distance satisfies the first condition, the method includes not triggering the safety response, and motorically applying a positioning force to the robot in dependence on the determined distance so that the distance can be reduced when the robot is unobstructed.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Gerhard Hietmann, Marc-Walter Ueberle, Christian Hartmann, Richard Schwarz, Richard Rudolf
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Patent number: 9999975Abstract: A method for operating and/or monitoring a machine, in particular, a multiple axis robot, includes determining whether an outer border of a first spatial area and an outer border of a second spatial area intersect each other, and detecting a penetration of the first spatial area by the second spatial area, in the event that the two outer borders intersect each other, wherein one of the two spatial areas is machine-fixed.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbHInventors: Ewald Frensch, Torsten Geiler