Patents Assigned to Robot Corporation
  • Patent number: 7303010
    Abstract: An autonomous robot performs maintenance and repair activities in oil and gas wells, and in pipelines. The robot uses the well and pipeline fluids to provide most of the energy required for the its mobility, and to charge a turbine from which it may recharge batteries or power a motor for additional propulsion. A control system of associated systems controls the robot, enabling the robot to share plans and goals, situations, and solution processes with wells, pipelines, and external control systems. The control system includes decision aids in a series of knowledge bases that contain the expertise in appropriate fields to provide intelligent behavior to the control system. The intelligent behavior of the control system enables real time maintenance management of wells and pipelines, through actively collecting information, goal-driven system, reasoning at multiple levels, context sensitive communication, activity performing, and estimation of the operators' intent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Intelligent Robotic Corporation
    Inventors: Neil de Guzman, Lawrence Lafferty, Chad Lafferty, Donald K. Steinman
  • Patent number: 7228203
    Abstract: Autonomous personal service robot to monitor its owner for symptoms of distress and provide assistance. The system may include sensors to detect situations before they affect people such as smoke, heat, temperature and carbon monoxide sensors. The system can provide security for the home. The PRA may comprise features such as a medicine dispenser and blood pressure cuff. Features such as broadband internet, MP3 player, reading lights and eye glass tracker provide butler type capabilities that enable the system to appeal to markets beyond the elderly and infirmed. The system may also include an X10 transmitter/receiver to automatically control various household lights and appliances. Equipping the system with a robot arm enables the robot to fetch items, turn on and off wall switches and open the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Vision Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey Koselka, Bret Wallach, David Gollaher
  • Patent number: 7196719
    Abstract: An angled axis machine vision system having two cameras angled with respect to roil axis. Provides advantages of horizontal alignment between two cameras and eliminates problem of utilizing horizontal/vertical lines in the environment for distance calculations when lines arc parallel or close to parallel to axis between camera centers. With camera centers angled about roll axis, horizontal/vertical lines in environment appear angled with respect to horizon, enabling accurate distance calculations. With the cameras angled about roll, lines in the environment may line up parallel to the axis between camera centers, but these instances are rare in real world environments. May be rotatably mounted in the roll axis wherein two sets of pictures from each of the cameras may either he utilized: the two sets compared for the number of parallel lines parallel to axis between camera centers and the set of pictures with least parallel lines used for distance calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Vision Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey Koselka, Bret Wallach
  • Patent number: 7050523
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing the required phase calculation in a telecommunications system in order to optimize system performance more quickly and with reduced complexity as compared to prior approaches to solving this problem. In accordance with the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the phase delay of the precursor EQ is utilized for estimating the entire DFE phase shift by calculating the estimation exclusively based on an output of the precursor EQ this estimation is then used for adjusting the timing phase based on the phase estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: U.S. Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Chen, Qian Cheng
  • Patent number: 6925679
    Abstract: An autonomous canister vacuum cleaner has a cleaning head module, a vacuum fan module separated from the cleaning module, and a hose assembly connecting the cleaning head module with the vacuum fan module. The vacuum fan module includes a controller that performs navigation and control functions for both the vacuum fan module and the cleaning head module. Alternatively, the controller may be separated from the vacuum fan module and the cleaning head module, and can be mobile. The vacuum fan module and the cleaning head module each include a drive mechanism for propulsion. The cleaning head module includes a cleaning brush assembly that can be motorized or air driven. The cleaning head module may also include a microcontroller that communicates with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Vision Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Bret A. Wallach, Harvey A. Koselka, David L. Gollaher
  • Patent number: 6793026
    Abstract: A wall-climbing robot or mobility platform able to ascend and descend various horizontal and vertical surfaces having a chassis, a rotor rotatable with respect to the chassis, one or more prominences on the rotor, and means for adhering to a surface attached to the prominences. The robot is able to make a transition from horizontal travel to vertical travel. In certain embodiments, the means for adhering to a wall is a pressure sensitive adhesive. In addition, multiple rotor configurations and radio-control are used for remote operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: i Robot Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. De Fazio
  • Patent number: 6741054
    Abstract: A floor mopping assembly finding use in a cleaning robot. The cleaning robot may be remotely controlled or autonomous. In one embodiment, a feed roller lets out a roll of webbing or toweling, a take-up roller reels in the toweling, and a motor system causes transfer of the toweling between the feed roller and the take-up roller. A housing holds the motor system and the rollers, which are mounted in the housing such that the motor causes transfer of the webbing between the rollers. One of the rollers is configured to rest on the floor or surface so as to cause the toweling to clean the surface. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly also includes a pad to press the toweling against the surface, where the pad is mounted in the housing such that the motor causes transfer of the toweling between the rollers and between the pad and the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Vision Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey Koselka, Bret A. Wallach, David Gollaher
  • Patent number: 6634825
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, including a semi-cylindrical profile section or member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of the profile section or member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression ring or member coupled to the profile section or member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment fixtures or members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension bands or members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment fixtures or members on end portions thereof. The circumferential ridge of the profile section or member couples to the circumferential groove of the compression ring or member. One of the circumferential ridges of one of the tension bands or members couples to respective of the circumferential groove of the profile section or member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Bluefin Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel William Tolkoff, Leo Gurfinkel, Knut Streitlien
  • Patent number: 6253807
    Abstract: A fully automatic apparatus and process for aliquotting liquid samples from a sample container is provided which includes the steps of creating an opening in the sample container, transferring an aliquot of the sample liquid into an aliquot tube, sealing the container and conveying the aliquot tube to a location for conducting the desired tests on the sample aliquot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: CRS Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Trevor Jones
  • Patent number: 5941478
    Abstract: A mechanism for quickly removing and installing the free wings and/or the tail booms of a freewing aircraft to the fuselage. The fuselage includes a free wing cross tube extending transversely through the fuselage at the spanwise axis, and each of the left and right free wings includes a support tube disposed therein, also along the spanwise axis, with a portion of the wing structural tube being received within the fuselage cross tube. A quick-release pin is insertable in holes disposed in both the structural tube and the cross tube when the holes are placed in alignment. A second cross tube extends transversely through the rear end of the fuselage at the tail boom pivot axis. At least a portion of each tail boom member is disposed in surrounding relationship to the cross tube. In a preferred embodiment, a quick-release pin is insertable in holes disposed in both the tail boom member portion and the cross tube when the holes are placed in alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5863013
    Abstract: An improved VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft providing damping and absorption of shock landing loads upon landing. A pair of resilient struts is provided, projecting forwardly from the trailing edge of either side of the fuselage when the fuselage is tilted. Preferably, the aircraft includes a pair of articulated tail booms, the strut being a portion of the tail boom extending forward from the pivot axis of the tail boom. Landing wheels are disposed on the strut in tandem spaced relationship. The resiliency of the strut causes the strut to act as a leaf spring and thus dampen shock landing loads. Operatively secured to the bottom surface of the fixed wing portions and the forward portion of the landing gear struts is a pair of dashpots for absorbing the shock landing loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5796742
    Abstract: A bi-directional wire-line to local area network interface, used between a remote host on a local area network (LAN), and a wire-line carrier system. A LAN media access control and physical interface converts outgoing LAN data from a LAN to an outgoing-data packet with a machine readable format. A LAN transmission control protocol and internet protocol stack identifies a protocol type of the outgoing-data packet from the LAN-MAC and physical interface. When the outgoing-data packet does not have a modem control command, a protocol converter correlates the outgoing-data packet to a channel number and depacketizes the outgoing-data packet into outgoing-binary data. Using the channel number, a connection controller and signal transform polls the outgoing-binary data and transforms the outgoing-binary data to a digitized representation of an analog signal having pulse code modulation (PCM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: David Klotzbach, Mark Pecen, Keith Favreau, Michael Knueven
  • Patent number: 5769359
    Abstract: An aircraft control system for controlling an aircraft, particularly a free wing aircraft in low speed or hover regimes. An air speed sensor measures air speed of the aircraft and outputs an air speed signal to a control processor which processes the air speed signal with a speed control input signal. A control actuator actuates an aircraft control surface in response to the control surface control signal. The air speed sensor may include a shaft mounted impeller located in an airstream of the aircraft. A rotational speed sensor, coupled to the impeller, measures a rotational speed of the impeller and outputs a rotational speed signal as the air speed signal. In an alternative embodiment, the air speed sensor may include a vane located in an airstream of the aircraft and deflected in response to air flow in the airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Elbert L. Rutan, Christophe Chevallier
  • Patent number: 5765777
    Abstract: A VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft includes a free wing having wings on opposite sides of a fuselage connected to one another respectively for free rotation about a spanwise access. Improved control upon landing of the aircraft is achieved by utilizing a variable pitch propulsion system, enabling the pitch of the propeller to be varied corresponding to the speed of the aircraft and angle of approach upon descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5717690
    Abstract: A method for coordinating and controlling multiple data streams representing a data transmission session that terminate in different termination units (such as network access servers). The data streams are transmitted over two or more links, collectively forming a "bundle". The termination units are linked together preferably over a local area network. One of the termination units that receives a data stream is designated as the termination unit to receive and reconstruct the call. The designated termination unit is the "owner" of the bundle. The termination unit broadcasts an advertisement consisting of a bundle mapping update packet software structure with an identification header to alert the other termination units that it is to reconstruct the call. The identification header in the advertisement notifies the other termination units that if they should receive a portion of the data stream in the bundle, they should forward their packets of data to the designated termination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Peirce, Jr., Daniel L. Schoo, Matthew H. Harper
  • Patent number: 5560568
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for recovering and arresting an aircraft on a floating platform is disclosed. The aircraft has a fuselage, a wing, and a source of propulsion for propelling the aircraft in flight. During landing approach, an inflatable cushion attached to the fuselage is deployed below the fuselage via inflation. In the inflated condition, a fastening material disposed on a downward facing surface of the cushion is thereby adapted to adhesively contact the floating platform deck so that the forward motion of the aircraft is slowed and arrested. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening material is one of male or female VELCRO.RTM. which is adapted to mate with corresponding VELCRO.RTM. material covering the platform deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5509623
    Abstract: A free wing aircraft including a free wing pivotally supported about a spanwise axis for flight in a free wing mode of operation with respect to the fuselage is disclosed. The free wing is capable of being deflected into a nose down configuration sufficient to create an aerodynamic braking effect to decrease air speed after landing upon roll-out. This aerodynamic braking effect can also be sufficient to create negative lift that plants the aircraft firmly down, increasing the coefficient of friction and allowing the aircraft brakes to be more effective relative to a fixed wing aircraft at touchdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5395073
    Abstract: A VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft includes a free wing having wings on opposite sides of a fuselage connected to one another respectively adjacent fixed wing inboard or center root sections fixedly attached to the fuselage for free rotation about a spanwise access. Horizontal and vertical tail surfaces are located at the rear end of a boom assembly rotatably connected to the fuselage. A gearing or screw rod arrangement controlled by the pilot or remote control operator selectively relatively pivots the fuselage in relation to the tail boom assembly to enable the fuselage to assume a tilted or nose up configuration to enable VTOL/STOL flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Elbert L. Rutan, Hugh J. Schmittle
  • Patent number: 5340057
    Abstract: The VTOL aircraft includes a free wing having wings on opposite sides of the fuselage connected to one another for joint free rotation and for differential pitch settings under pilot, computer or remote control. On vertical launch, pitch, yaw and roll control is effected by the elevators, rudder and the differential pitch settings of the wings, respectively. At launch, the elevator pitches the fuselage nose downwardly to alter the thrust vector and provide horizontal speed to the aircraft whereby the free wing freely rotates relative to the fuselage into a generally horizontal orientation to provide lift during horizontal flight. Transition from horizontal to vertical flight is achieved by the reverse process and tile aircraft may be gently recovered in or on a resilient surface such as a net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh Schmittle
  • Patent number: RE36487
    Abstract: The craft is for hovering flight, vertical takeoff and landing, and horizontal forward flight. It has a tail-sitting fuselage and a ducted fan mounted to the fuselage aft to provide propulsion in both (a) hovering and vertical flight and (b) horizontal forward flight. At each side is a floating wing, supported from the fuselage for passive rotation (or an actuator-controlled optimized emulation of such rotation) about a spanwise axis, to give lift in forward flight. The fuselage attitude varies between vertical in hovering and vertical flight, and generally horizontal in forward flight. Preferably the fuselage is not articulated; there is just one fan, the sole source of propulsion, rotating about only an axis parallel to the fuselage; and thrust-vectoring control vanes operate aft of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Freewing Aerial Robotics Corporation
    Inventor: Barnaby Wainfan