Patents Examined by Dalena Tran
  • Patent number: 11872697
    Abstract: A collaborative device includes: a robotic arm including at least one motor; a tool secured to a free end of the robotic arm; a computer unit connected to the robotic arm to transmit instructions for controlling the robotic arm; and a joint having a flexible connection. The device integrates at least one sensor parameterised to detect forces exerted on the flexible connection. The computer unit is configured to: receive data from the sensor; translate the data into torques applied at the motor(s) of the robotic arm; generate instructions for attenuating the applied torques; and control the motor(s) of the robotic arm with the attenuation instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: FTS WELDING
    Inventors: Paul Foucault, Roland Devy
  • Patent number: 11845184
    Abstract: The method can include: optionally providing a set of grasp tools; determining an object model for a grasp; determining a grasp contact configuration; and facilitating grasp execution with the set of grasp tools. However, the method S100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable elements. The method functions to facilitate non-destructive and/or stable object grasping (and/or object manipulation) using a set of grasp tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dextrous Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Zapolsky, Evan Drumwright
  • Patent number: 11840267
    Abstract: A control device for a railway vehicle includes a housing and a cover covering an opening. The cover is provided with a lock and a restricting member. The restricting member is located in one of a lock permitting position for permitting locking of the cover and a lock restricting position for restricting locking of the cover. The control device further includes an urging member that urges the restricting member to the lock restricting position. When the cover closes the opening, a pushing member pushes the restricting member to the lock permitting position, resulting in permission of locking of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuki Watai
  • Patent number: 11833676
    Abstract: An exoskeleton operable to prevent unsafe operation can comprise a plurality of joint mechanisms and a plurality of sensors comprising configured to generate sensor output data associated with at least two joint mechanisms. The exoskeleton can comprise a controller configured to receive the sensor output data; combine the sensor output data; and determine whether the combination of the sensor output data from the first and second sensors satisfies an error condition in relation to at least one defined criterion. The existence of an error condition can be indicative of an anomalous operating state of the exoskeleton, such as a malfunction or an (impending) anomalous kinematic movement. The controller can also combine command signals to be transmitted to two or more joint mechanisms to determine another anomalous operating state to prevent unsafe operation. Associated software and methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sarcos Corp.
    Inventors: Fraser M. Smith, Marc X. Olivier
  • Patent number: 11833679
    Abstract: A teaching control method includes acquiring a plurality of teaching points from CAD data of a work target object and displaying the plurality of teaching points on a display section, acquiring a result of classification processing for classifying the plurality of teaching points into one or more teaching point groups, receiving an operation parameter for each teaching point group, and setting an operation value for each teaching point group using the operation parameter. The classification processing for classifying the plurality of teaching points into the teaching point groups is executed using attribute information of the work target object obtained from the CAD data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Okuyama
  • Patent number: 11828613
    Abstract: Provided is a superimposed-image display device configured such that when there is a guidance divergence point, which is a guidance target, ahead in a traveling direction of a vehicle, a plurality of guidance objects that provide guidance on an entry route that enters the guidance divergence point and an exit route are displayed. When a course including the entry route, the guidance divergence point, and the exit route is displayed using a plurality of guidance objects, the plurality of guidance objects are displayed so as to match the elevation of the line of sight of an occupant and displayed so as to be shifted to locations that are on the opposite side to an exit direction at the guidance divergence point relative to the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyake, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Kawai
  • Patent number: 11820013
    Abstract: A mobile manipulation system configured to perform objective tasks within human environments is provided. The mobile manipulation system can include a mobile base assembly including a computing device, at least two drive wheels, and a sensor. The mobile manipulation system can include an actuation assembly including a chain cartridge and a drive chain including a plurality of inter-connected links conveying at least one cable within an interior space of each inter-connected link. The actuation assembly system can also include a telescopic structure including a plurality of segments configured to extend and retract telescopically and conveying the drive chain therein. The mobile manipulation system can include a mast attached to the mobile base assembly along which the actuation assembly translates vertically and a head assembly atop the mast including a first collection of sensors. The mobile manipulation system can also include a manipulation payload coupled to the telescopic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hello Robot, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Edsinger, Charles Kemp, Blaine Matulevich
  • Patent number: 11820019
    Abstract: There is provided a robot control apparatus including a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an end condition of a task is satisfied when a robot performs the task, and a switching unit configured to perform switching to a next task corresponding to the end condition in a case where the end condition is satisfied. With this configuration, it is possible to optimally switch tasks of the robot depending on the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11801601
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for programing a robot operation has a display by which an operator sees a movement trajectory corresponding to a movement of the robot and by which the operator is supported to provide a program including moving order and non-moving order. The supporting apparatus for programing has a first operating portion describing a target position of each of the moving orders superimposed with the movement trajectory by using a first code, and a second operating portion describing a number of the non-moving orders operated at the target position by using a second code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anna Matsudo, Toshitaka Suzuki, Yuto Mitsuma
  • Patent number: 11780083
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining and utilizing human corrections to robot actions. In some implementations, in response to determining a human correction of a robot action, a correction instance is generated that includes sensor data, captured by one or more sensors of the robot, that is relevant to the corrected action. The correction instance can further include determined incorrect parameter(s) utilized in performing the robot action and/or correction information that is based on the human correction. The correction instance can be utilized to generate training example(s) for training one or model(s), such as neural network model(s), corresponding to those used in determining the incorrect parameter(s). In various implementations, the training is based on correction instances from multiple robots. After a revised version of a model is generated, the revised version can thereafter be utilized by one or more of the multiple robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Hudson, Devesh Yamparala
  • Patent number: 11772278
    Abstract: Provided are an end effect measuring module and an end effect monitoring apparatus using the same. The end effect measuring module is installed at through holes formed between an Equipment Front End Module (EFEM) equipped with an end effector and a semiconductor processing apparatus for processing a wafer and measuring the position according to the movement path of a target passing the through holes. The measurement target is the end effector, and a sensing unit measures whether or not the end effector is shifted and changed in direction. A light receiving unit of the sensing unit outputs an electrical signal that is higher or lower than a reference value in response to shifting of the end effector, or outputs an electrical signal increasing or decreasing along a time axis in response to a directional change of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Kyu Ok Lee
  • Patent number: 11768504
    Abstract: Some aspects include a method for operating a cleaning robot, including: capturing LIDAR data; generating a first iteration of a map of the environment in real time; capturing sensor data from different positions within the environment; capturing movement data indicative of movement of the cleaning robot; aligning and integrating newly captured LIDAR data with previously captured LIDAR data at overlapping points; generating additional iterations of the map based on the newly captured LIDAR data and at least some of the newly captured sensor data; localizing the cleaning robot; planning a path of the cleaning robot; and actuating the cleaning robot to drive along a trajectory that follows along the planned path by providing pulses to one or more electric motors of wheels of the cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Andrew Fitzgerald, Amin Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Brian Highfill
  • Patent number: 11766780
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide automated robotic system identification and stopping time and distance estimation, significantly improving on existing ad-hoc methods of robotic system identification. Systems and methods in accordance herewith can be used by end users, system integrators, and the robot manufacturers to estimate the dynamic parameters of a robot on an application-by-application basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: VEO ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Denenberg, Brad C. Mello, Matthew Galligan, Clara Vu, Patrick Sobalvarro, Marek Wartenberg, Alberto Moel
  • Patent number: 11762389
    Abstract: A transport system that transports a transport object in a state sandwiching the transport object between two transport robots, wherein the transport robot comprises: a main body; wheels; a drive part(s); a contact part; and a rotation mechanism, and wherein using hardware resources, the following processings are executed, the following processings comprising: predicting an orbit of a first transport robot arranged in front of the transport object; and predicting an orbit of a second transport robot so that the second transport robot pushes the transport object from outside of the orbit of the first transport robot in a curve based on the predicted orbit of the first transport robot, the second transport robot arranged behind the transport object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Taichi Kumagai, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11745354
    Abstract: A supplementary metrology position coordinates determination (SMPD) system is used with a robot. “Robot accuracy” (e.g., for controlling and sensing an end tool position of an end tool that is mounted proximate to a distal end of its movable arm configuration) is based on robot position sensors included in the robot. The SMPD system includes an imaging configuration and an XY scale and an alignment sensor for sensing alignment/misalignment therebetween, and an image triggering portion and processing portion. One of the XY scale or imaging configuration is coupled to the movable arm configuration and the other is coupled to a stationary element (e.g., a frame above the robot). The imaging configuration acquires an image of the XY scale with known alignment/misalignment, which is utilized to determine metrology position coordinates that are indicative of the end tool position, with an accuracy level that is better than the robot accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Atherton, Casey Edward Emtman, Michael Nahum
  • Patent number: 11737838
    Abstract: A hand controller for enabling a user to perform an activity and method for controlling a robotic arm is provided. The hand controller includes a bar with a grip and a plurality of motors to provide a force feedback to the user in response to the movement of the plurality of mechanical arms. The method involves receiving input corresponding to the manipulation of a bar and providing a force feedback in response to the movement of the plurality of mechanical arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Schaible, Drazena Brocilo, John Harmen
  • Patent number: 11738449
    Abstract: A server (3) includes a relative position recognition unit (3b) that recognizes a relative position of a robot (2) with respect to a user, and a target position determination unit (3f3) that determines a target position serving as a target of the relative position during guidance, based on the relative position when the user starts to move after the robot (2) starts the guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruomi Higashi
  • Patent number: 11738450
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a customized configuration for a controller of an exoskeleton device. A device can receive, via a user interface, feedback from a user indicative of a performance of the user during a movement event. The device can determine characteristics of the user for performing the movement event using a first exoskeleton boot and a second exoskeleton boot and identify properties of a route for the movement event. The device can determine using the characteristics of the user, the feedback and the properties of the route, control parameters for the first exoskeleton boot and the second exoskeleton boot to execute the movement event. The device can apply the control parameters to the first exoskeleton boot and the second exoskeleton boot for the user to operate the first exoskeleton boot and the second exoskeleton boot during the movement event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Dephy, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Mooney, Jean-François Duval, Rachel Harris, Jonathan Kaplan, Matthew Mooney, William Marvin
  • Patent number: 11731478
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 11733711
    Abstract: A traveling vehicle system includes a determiner to determine, upon receiving from a traveling vehicle an entry permission request for an area under control, whether or not a remaining number of vehicles to a maximum number of vehicles allowed to enter the area is equal to or less than a threshold value, and an entry permitter to temporarily hold the entry permission request from the traveling vehicle if the determiner determines the threshold value has not been exceeded and upon arrival of the traveling vehicle at an entry region for the area, grant the traveling vehicle permission to enter the area if a sum of a number of traveling vehicles within the area and a number of traveling vehicles already permitted to enter the area is less than a maximum number of vehicles, but does not grant entry permission if the sum has reached the maximum number of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazumi Harasaki