Patents Assigned to Kuka Laboratories GmbH
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Patent number: 10130431Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes a robot and an instrument assembly. The instrument assembly includes a drive unit with at least one rotary drive having an electric motor and a drive shaft that has a coupling part for coupling to a drive shaft of the instrument; an instrument including an instrument shaft and a drive shaft that has a coupling part for coupling to a drive shaft of the drive unit; and an instrument interface including a sheath that encompasses the drive unit. In order to detachably couple an instrument module to an instrument part of a surgical instrument, an electromagnet in a magnet assembly of the instrument module is activated or deactivated, a permanent magnet of said magnet assembly is moved into a locking position and/or an angular position of a coupled counter element assembly of the instrument part is detected by an angle sensor of the instrument module.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober
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Patent number: 9266238Abstract: Target values for position and orientation of a work point are provided in a robot program, dependent on which the program causes automatic movement of axles of the manipulator by a robot controller connected with the manipulator, to adjust a tool reference point of the manipulator. A robot base is movable via an auxiliary axle. Position values (provided by the robot program) of a planned position and orientation to be occupied by robot base for the tool reference point adjustment are automatically changed so the actual position of the robot base converges on a predetermined reference point, such as the work point or the tool reference point and the auxiliary axle is automatically moved to cause the robot base to occupy the position and orientation that correspond to the changed position values.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbHInventor: Manfred Huettenhofer
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Publication number: 20150285644Abstract: The invention relates to an automated guided vehicle, a system with a computer and an automated guided vehicle, a method of planning a virtual track and a method of operating an automated guided vehicle. The automated guided vehicle is to move automatically along a virtual track within an environment from a start point to an end point. The environment comprises sections connecting the start point the end point, and the intermediate point. A graph is assigned to the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBHInventors: Patrick Pfaff, Bjorn Klein
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Patent number: 9063539Abstract: In a method and a device for entering control commands into a controller of a manipulator, such as a robot, a first force or movement or sequence of forces or movements is detected, and the detected force, movement or sequence is electronically compared with stored forces, movements or sequences, respectively. Each of the stored forces or movements or sequences has a control command associated therewith. Upon the comparison indicating a coincidence between the detected force or movement or sequence with one of the stored forces or movements or sequences, the control command associated with that one of the stored forces, stored movements or stored sequences is automatically supplied as an input to the controller for operating the manipulator.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbHInventors: Günter Schreiber, Uwe Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20150104284Abstract: Method for the manipulation of objects by means of at least two industrial robots, and associated industrial robot. An industrial robot and method for manipulating objects using at least two industrial robots. Each robot includes a manipulator arm having multiple links arranged one after another in series and connected by adjustable joints that are adjustable under the control of at least one control device. A first manipulator arm has a first end link, and at least one second manipulator arm has a second end link. The method includes gripping the object using the first manipulator arm such that the object is connected to the first end link, and coupling a link of the at least one second manipulator arm to a link of the first manipulator arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBHInventor: Martin Riedel
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Publication number: 20150105798Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes a robot and an instrument assembly. The instrument assembly includes a drive unit with at least one rotary drive having an electric motor and a drive shaft that has a coupling part for coupling to a drive shaft of the instrument; an instrument including an instrument shaft and a drive shaft that has a coupling part for coupling to a drive shaft of the drive unit; and an instrument interface including a sheath that encompasses the drive unit. In order to detachably couple an instrument module to an instrument part of a surgical instrument, an electromagnet in a magnet assembly of the instrument module is activated or deactivated, a permanent magnet of said magnet assembly is moved into a locking position and/or an angular position of a coupled counter element assembly of the instrument part is detected by an angle sensor of the instrument module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBHInventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober
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Patent number: 8972062Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mounting a component, which comprises an insertion part and a holding part, in an opening in a workpiece by means of an industrial robot, which has an end effector, which guides the component on the holding part thereof. The method according to the invention is implemented by causing the insertion part of the component to approach the opening by moving the industrial robot; increasing the process forces by means of the industrial robot, once the insertion part of the component has made contact with the workpiece, until a process force threshold is reached, wherein the process forces are stored particularly in the form of material stresses; increasing the flexibility of the industrial robot when the process force threshold is reached; and executing a passive centering movement of the industrial robot based upon the process forces that are released by a relaxation of the material.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Gunter Schreiber, Michael Gerung
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Patent number: 8965583Abstract: The invention relates to a robot (R), a medical work station, and a method for projecting an image (20) onto the surface of an object (P). The robot (R) comprises a robot arm (A) and a device (18) for projecting the image (20) onto the surface of the object (P), said device (18) being mounted on or integrated into the robot arm (A).Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Dirk Jacob, Georg Passig
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Patent number: 8914152Abstract: The invention relates to a method for collision-free path planning for an industrial robot (1) which has a control device (9) and a robot arm (2) that is movable with the aid of the control device (9), to which an object (11) is attached, and in whose working space at least one obstacle (12) is situated.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Christian Scheurer, Uwe Zimmermann
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Publication number: 20140324267Abstract: The invention relates to an automated guided vehicle, a system having a computer and an automated guided vehicle, and a method for operating an automated guided vehicle. The automated guided vehicle is to travel along track sections automatically from a start point to an end point.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBHInventors: Patrick Pfaff, Daniel Meyer-Delius, Stefan Loibl
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Patent number: 8864594Abstract: The invention relates to a carnival ride the comprises a passenger seat for receiving at least one person, a display device for displaying a film sequence and a robot with a control device and with a robotic arm to which the passenger seat can be fastened or is fastened. The film sequence comprises several successive images. The robotic arm comprises drives connected to the control device and comprises several members that can be moved relative to each other by the drives relative to axes. The control device is arranged for controlling the drives for a movement of the robotic arm so that the members have positions of the axes which positions are associated during the movement with the movement. Information about an association of at least several of the images of the film sequence with corresponding positions of the axes of the robotic arm is stored in the control device.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventor: Torsten Hasenzahl
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Patent number: 8843237Abstract: A method according to the invention for controlling a manipulator, in particular a robot, includes the following steps: determining (S10, S20) a target path (q(s)) of the manipulator, and determining (S70) a motion value (v(s)) for this target path, optionally, determining (S50) a path segment ([s_A, s_E]) with a defined profile of a motion value (v(s)=vc), and automatically determining (S60) this motion value on the basis of motion values (v_max_RB, v_max_vg) permissible in this path segment.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Andreas Aurnhammer, Stefan Burkhart, Manfred Huttenhofer, Martin Weiss
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Patent number: 8833862Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel (1) with a driven wheel body (2), comprising two support elements (21, 22), between which a number of roller bodies (3) with a spherical surface are arrange to rotate, which at least partly extend beyond the circumference of the support elements (21, 22) the rotational axes of which are arranged at an angle to the rotational axis (23) of the wheel body (2). The ratio of the outer diameter (Du) of the wheel (1) to the maximum radius (Ra) of the roller body (3) is between 1.08 and 1.13, in particular, between 1.09 and 1.12.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventor: Wolfgang Günther
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Patent number: 8828023Abstract: A medical work station for treating a living being using a medical instrument includes at least one robot arm, which has a plurality of members connected by joints, drives to move the members, and an attaching device, at least one control device coupled with the drives, which is set up to generate signals for actuating the drives, so that the attaching devices carry out movements assigned to the signals, and a display device coupled with the control device.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Thomas Neff, Dirk Jacob, Martin Kuschel, Marc-Walter Ueberle, Tobias Ortmaier
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Patent number: 8831779Abstract: The invention relates to a medical robot (R) and a method for meeting the performance requirements of a medical robot (R). The robot (R) comprises several axes (1-6) and a controller (17). A medical tool (21-24) is fixed to a fixing device (18) on the robot (R) and the working range (30) of the robot (R) is set by the controller (17) in particular with safe techniques such that the robot (R) meets the performance requirements of the medical tool (21-24).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Marc-Walter Ueberle
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Publication number: 20140229006Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling a robot (1), in particular a human-collaborating robot, a robot- or task-specific redundancy of the robot is resolved, wherein, in order to resolve the redundancy, a position-dependent inertia variable (mn(?v(q))) of the robot is minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBHInventors: Jonas Rümping, Christian Sonner
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Patent number: 8801730Abstract: In a retention device, a medical robot and a method to set the tool center point of a medical robot, the retention device has a fixing device to fix the head of a person held by the retention device. The fixing device provides an indication of the position of the openings of the auditory canals of the ears of the person relative to the retention device based on the relation between the fixing device and the head of the person and the relation between the fixing device and the retention device.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbHInventor: Dirk Jacob
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Patent number: 8793018Abstract: In a method and a computer system for controlling an industrial robot, multiple data packets are received by the computer system, each of the data packets having a destination address with different priority classes being associated therewith in advance by the computer system. A chronological association of tasks with the resources of the computer system is made for processing the individual received data packets, based on the relevant priority class of the destination address of a received data packet.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbHInventor: Stefan Müller
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Publication number: 20140195051Abstract: A safety monitoring means for a robot assembly with at least one robot includes a configuration means for configuring a linking function arrangement with at least one first linking function including a fixed and predetermined number of monitoring functions of a monitoring function arrangement. The monitoring functions are logically linked to one another such that the first linking function has a reaction state whenever none of the monitoring functions indicates a not-violated state. The configuration means may further include at least one second linking function including a fixed and predetermined number of monitoring functions that are logically linked to one another such that the second linking function does not have a reaction state whenever all monitoring functions indicate a violated state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Uwe Bonin, Jonas Rumping, Marc-Walter Ueberle, Christian Hartmann, Denis Pesotski, Botond Gorog, Giulio Milighetti, Robert Bertossi
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Patent number: 8774965Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling a manipulator, in particular a robot (10), a planned path (z1(t)) of the manipulator is specified by a path generating device (1.1, 1.2, 1.3), a control path (z2(t)) is determined automatically on the basis of the planned path by a path conversion device (2), and the control path is traversed with the manipulator by a manipulator controller (3), with the path conversion device (2) determining curvature information (aij; t2(ti)) of the control path on the basis of curvature information (aij; t1(ti)) of the planned path.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbHInventors: Martin Weiss, Christian Sonner