Patents Examined by Dalena Tran
  • Patent number: 11603150
    Abstract: A system for assembling a vehicle platform includes a robotic assembly system having at least two robotic arms, a vision system capturing images of an assembly frame, and a control system configured to control the robotic assembly system to assemble the vehicle platform based on images from the vision system, force feedback from the at least two robotic arms, and a component location model. The control system is further configured to identify assembly features of a first component and a second component of the vehicle platform from the images, operate the robotic arms to orient the first component and the second component to respective nominal positions based on the images and the component location model, and operate the robotic arms to assemble the first component to the second component based on the force feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hussein Chami, Robert Alan Jones, Alexander Marrocco, Francis Maslar, Arnon Wexler
  • Patent number: 11592830
    Abstract: A trajectory for a vehicle can be generated using a lateral offset bias. The vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle (AV), may be directed to follow reference trajectory for through an environment. The AV may determine a segment associated with the reference trajectory based on curvatures of the reference trajectory, determine a lateral offset bias associated with the segment based at least in part on, for example, one or more of a speed or acceleration of the vehicle, and determine a candidate trajectory for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the lateral offset bias. The candidate trajectory may then be used to control the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Kshitij Agarwal, David Martins Belo, Johannes Andreas Huennekens
  • Patent number: 11586223
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a communicator configured to receive driving information from a management server, a controller configured to drive the vehicle on the basis of the driving information from the communicator, a manager configured to manage a compartment of the vehicle in which a service user receives a service from a service provider, and an interface set up in association with service-related information provided by the service provider and the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Iwasaki, Hisao Asaumi, Kentaro Ishisaka, Izumi Kondo, Satoshi Koike, Tomohisa Manabe, Yo Ito, Yuki Hayashi, Yuji Yasui, Shion Tokunaga, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Kazuki Nishioka, Yudai Hirohata, Hisakazu Yamane, Takayuki Shimoyamada, Kovi Ahego, Liyan Liu, Hirotaka Uchitomi, Masashi Yuki, Takafumi Hirose, Jun Ito, Rie Fukushima, Masaaki Onoda, Christopher Lang
  • Patent number: 11576735
    Abstract: A steerable instrument (100) controllable by a robotic arm (200), having a proximal end (20) and a distal (40) end comprising: a cylindrical shaft (130), a cylindrical bendable proximal part (120) and a cylindrical bendable distal part (140), a connector (110) configured for dismountable attachment to the robotic arm (200), attached in fixed rotational relation to the bendable proximal part (120), an end effector (150) attached in fixed rotational relation to the bendable distal part (140), the steerable instrument (100) configured such that: the bendable distal part (140) bends responsive to bending of the bendable proximal part (120), and the end effector (150) is rotatable when the bendable distal part (140) is in a bent position by a complementary rotation of the connector (110), the shaft (130) is pivotable around a fulcrum zone (134) on the shaft (130) and changes direction responsive to a complementary movement of the connector (110), thereby providing control of the shaft (130) direction, bending of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Steerable Instruments N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Blanckaert, Frank Dewaele, Cyriel Mabilde, Lieven Maene, Alain Kalmar
  • Patent number: 11577381
    Abstract: A teaching apparatus includes a display unit that displays a command display area in which a plurality of input motion commands of a robot are displayed, an extraction display area in which at least one motion command extracted from the plurality of motion commands displayed in the command display area is displayed, and a settings input area in which details of the extracted motion command are set, and a display control unit that controls actuation of the display unit, wherein the display control unit extracts and displays a motion command related to one of position information, velocity information, and acceleration information of the robot out of the plurality of motion commands displayed in the command display area in the extraction display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Yoshiki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11577395
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location of a robot are provided. A method includes receiving, by a processor, a signal from a deformable sensor including data with respect to a deformation region in a deformable membrane of the deformable sensor resulting from contact with a first object. The data associated with contact with the first object is compared, by the processor, to details associated with contact with the first object to information associated with a plurality of objects stored in a database. The first object is identified, by the processor, as a first identified object of the plurality of objects stored in the database. The first identified object is an object of the plurality of objects stored in the database that is most similar to the first object. The location of the robot is determined, by the processor, based on a location of the first identified object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Research Institute, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Alexander Alspach, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy, Avinash Uttamchandani, Samson F. Creasey, Russell L. Tedrake, Kunimatsu Hashimoto, Erik C. Sobel, Takuya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11579628
    Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle comprises transmitting first position data related to a first position of the vehicle at a first point in time from the vehicle to a server. The server computes second position data related to the first position of the vehicle at the first point in time based on the received first position data. The server transmits the second position data from the server to the vehicle. The vehicle computes third position data related to a second position of the vehicle at a second point in time based on the received second position data. The second point in time is later than the first point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathias Otto, Martin Pfeifle, Hendrick Bock
  • Patent number: 11571816
    Abstract: A robot control system and a method for updating camera calibration is presented. The method comprises the robot control system performing a first camera calibration to determine camera calibration information, and outputting a first movement command based on the camera calibration information for a robot operation. The method further comprises outputting, after the first camera calibration, a second movement command to move a calibration pattern within a camera field of view, receiving one or more calibration images, and adding the one or more calibration images to a captured image set. The method further comprises performing a second camera calibration based on calibration images in the captured image set to determine updated camera calibration information, determining whether a deviation between the camera calibration information and the updated camera calibration information exceeds a defined threshold, and outputting a notification signal if the deviation exceeds the defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MUJIN, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Islam, Xutao Ye, Rosen Diankov
  • Patent number: 11565690
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assistance system is operable to control driving of a vehicle when operating in a driving assist mode. When the vehicular driving assistance system is not operating in the driving assist mode, a driver controls driving of the vehicle. The system identifies the driver and receives information pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the vehicle while the vehicle is driven by the identified driver. The system generates first and second personalized parameter sets for the identified driver when the driver drives the vehicle during respective first and second driving conditions. When the system is operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is present in the vehicle, and responsive to a current driving condition of the vehicle corresponding to one of the determined driving conditions, the system controls the vehicle in accordance with the respective generated personalized parameter set for that driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Honghao Tan, Brian J. Tedesco
  • Patent number: 11559898
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system, method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for teleoperation. An exemplary system includes a robot machine having a machine body, at least one sensor, at least one robot processor, and at least one user processor operable to maintain a user simulation model of the robot machine and the environment surrounding the robot machine, the at least one user processor being remote from the robot machine. The system further includes at least one user interface comprising a haptic user interface operable to receive user commands and to transmit the user commands to the user simulation model, a display operable to display a virtual representation of the user simulation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Fattey, Jos Meuleman, Gonzalo Rey
  • Patent number: 11554490
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring real-time operational data of a robotic manipulator. The system includes a robotic manipulator, a robotic manipulator controller, an electronic processor, a memory, and an output device. The memory includes a robotic manipulator profile, the robotic manipulator profile including a history of robotic manipulator operational data. The robotic manipulator controller is configured to generate a data packet based on signals relating to various operations of the robotic manipulator, and transmit the packet to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to process the data contained in the data packet, update the robotic manipulator profile based on the processed data, and generate an alert that is output to the output device based on the updated robotic manipulator profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thiago Sielski
  • Patent number: 11553972
    Abstract: A medical holding apparatus includes: a support including a plurality of arms, and a plurality of joints configured to connect the plurality of arms, the support being configured to support an imaging unit at a distal end thereof; a load applying mechanism arranged in at least one of the joints and configured to apply a resistance load against operation of the at least one of the joints to the support; and a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to: set torque to be applied by the load applying mechanism based on an operating state of the imaging unit; and apply a load corresponding to the set torque to the load applying mechanism when a rotation inhibit state of each of the arms of the support is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Shigeru Tamura
  • Patent number: 11550315
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes obtaining, from a user device, flight operation information describing an inspection of a vertical structure to be performed, the flight operation information including locations of one or more safe locations for vertical inspection. A location of the UAV is determined to correspond to a first safe location for vertical inspection. A first inspection of the structure is performed is performed at the first safe location, the first inspection including activating cameras. A second safe location is traveled to, and a second inspection of the structure is performed. Information associated with the inspection is provided to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Michael Bethke, Hui Li, Bernard J. Michini
  • Patent number: 11529739
    Abstract: The present invention is the invention for providing a guidance service by using a robot. For example, the robot may provide the guidance service in an airport. The robot may receive a destination, acquire a movement path from a current position to the destination, and transmit the movement path to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may receive the movement path from the robot and display a guidance path representing a movement path and a user path representing a position movement of the mobile terminal and overlapping the guidance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jaesik Jung
  • Patent number: 11524673
    Abstract: There is provided a hybrid vehicle that enables user to be more appropriately notified of a control effect by performing a drive support control. A hybrid vehicle includes an engine; a motor; a battery; map information; and a control device programmed to set a drive route from a current location to a destination, to create a drive support plan that assigns one of drive modes including a CD mode and a CS mode to each of drive sections of the drive route, and to perform drive support control that causes the hybrid vehicle to be driven along the drive support plan. The control device accumulates control effect obtained by performing the drive support control and notifies the control effect when the hybrid vehicle reaches the destination. The control device deletes the control effect when the predetermined deletion condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11511419
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for modifying a process definition to ensure accuracy, timeliness, or both of workcell measurement. One of the methods includes receiving an initial process definition for a process to be performed by a robot, wherein the process definition defines a sequence of actions to be performed in a workcell, and wherein a first action in the sequence of actions has an associated measurement tolerance; computing a predicted accumulated measurement variance for each of one or more actions that occur before the first action in the sequence; determining that the predicted accumulated measurement variance for the one or more actions that occur before the first action in the sequence exceeds a threshold; and in response, generating a modified process definition that inserts a measurement action at a location in the sequence before the first action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Kelch, Ryan Butterfoss
  • Patent number: 11511434
    Abstract: An improved method, system, and apparatus is provided to implement a general architecture for robot systems. A mode execution module is provided to universally execute execution modes on different robotic system. A system includes an execution module that receives software instructions in a normalized programming language. The system also includes an interface having a translation layer that converts the software instructions from the normalized language into robot-specific instructions that operate in a particular robotic system. The system further includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the interface, wherein the controller receives the robot-specific instructions. Moreover, the system includes a robotic device that is operatively controlled by the controller by execution of the robot-specific instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Dennis Zyda, Jeffrey Steven Kranski, Vikram Chauhan
  • Patent number: 11504860
    Abstract: A characteristic estimation system, comprising circuitry configured to, cause a robot hand configured to grip an object to operate based on operation information defining an operation of the robot hand, acquire a physical quantity at a time when the robot hand grips the object, and estimate a characteristic of the object based on the physical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Terumitsu Hayashi, Takeomi Hidaka, Tetsuya Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11498205
    Abstract: A robotic vehicle (10) comprising a first chassis platform (200) comprising a first wheel assembly (202) and a second chassis platform (210) comprising a second wheel assembly (212). The first and second chassis platforms (200, 210) is arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The robotic vehicle (10) further comprises a linkage (220) operably coupled to the first chassis platform (200) and the second chassis platform (210). The linkage (220) being coupled so as to be fixed relative to the first chassis platform (200) and so that the second chassis platform (210) is rotatable relative to the first chassis platform (200), wherein the second chassis platform (210) comprises a turning axis (400). Said robotic vehicle (10) further comprising an electric brake (262) disposed proximate to a turning shaft (422) of the linkage (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Mats Svensson
  • Patent number: 11491661
    Abstract: A communication robot includes: an operation part; and a communication arbitration unit configured to exhibit a robot mode for autonomously operating the operation part by applying a first operational criterion and an avatar mode for operating the operation part based on an operation instruction sent from a remote operator by applying a second operational criterion to arbitrate communication among three parties, that is, the robot mode, the avatar mode, and a service user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto