Patents Assigned to NPC Robotics Corporation
  • Publication number: 20230341038
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Reid, John David, Paul Dickie
  • Patent number: 11713800
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Reid, John David, Paul Dickie
  • Publication number: 20220275857
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Reid, John David, Paul Dickie
  • Patent number: 10775124
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a motor-less cartridge ring gear engagement module (CRGEM) for a turret-rotating system that includes a main drive gear configured to rotate in a rotation plane, a manual input shaft that extends substantially orthogonal relative to the rotation plane, and a drive shaft that extends substantially orthogonal relative to the rotation plane, where the drive shaft and the manual input shaft extend substantially parallel to one another. In an illustrative example, both the main drive gear and a hand crank may be located on a top surface of the CRGEM. In some embodiments, a manual drive cap may be hingedly coupled to the gearbox and configured to rotate in a vertical plane that is substantially orthogonal to the rotation plane. At least some examples may provide for a hand-operated, manual traverse unit that advantageously does not require electrical power to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Domholt, Richard Reid, John David, Tyler Andrew Jacobson, Michael Richmon Thoreson
  • Patent number: 10330422
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a toollessly interchangeable ring gear drive mount system for a rotatable turret including a ring gear, a ring gear drive module, a mount bracket, a pair of receiver members, and a pair of mount flanges. In an exemplary aspect, the mount bracket may extend in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the ring gear and be adapted for mounting to a platform arranged in a rotatable relationship to the ring gear. The pair of receiver members may extend from the mount bracket and define a pair of slide channels positioned substantially vertically and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The pair of mount flanges may each be sized and shaped to be slidably inserted into a corresponding one of the pair of slide channels and adapted to support the ring gear drive module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Domholt, Richard Reid, John David, Tyler Andrew Jacobson, Michael Richmon Thoreson
  • Patent number: 10281238
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular cartridge turret assembly system for quickly exchanging modular cartridges to interact with a ring gear. A modular cartridge may be a brake cartridge, which when inserted into a modular cartridge turret assembly, operably engages with the ring gear to inhibit the rotation of a turret. In an illustrative example, the brake cartridge, when inserted, may prevent damages and injuries caused by the rotation of the turret during transportation. In an exemplary embodiment, the modular cartridge turret assembly system may include a locking mechanism to secure the modular cartridge within the modular cartridge turret assembly. The locking mechanism may safeguard that the brake cartridge remains within the modular cartridge turret assembly system during turbulent situations caused by environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Domholt, Richard Reid, John David, Tyler Andrew Jacobson, Michael Richmon Thoreson
  • Patent number: 9984332
    Abstract: Various apparatus and methods include autonomous robot operations to perturb a current Bayesian equation and determining whether the perturbed Bayesian equation yields an improved probability of success of achieving a goal relative to the current Bayesian equation. In an illustrative example, the perturbation may modulate a coefficient of a parameter in the Bayesian equation. In some examples, the perturbation may include assessment of whether adding or removing a parameter may improve the probability of success of achieving the goal. The parameters of the Bayesian equation may include, for example, current state information, alone or in combination with sensor input values and/or historical information, for example. In some implementations, the robot may advantageously autonomously optimize its operations by perturbing a current Bayesian equation associated with, for example, a current goal, sub-goal, task, or probability of success criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Garrod
  • Patent number: D982629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: NPC Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Reid, John David