Patents Examined by Dalena Tran
  • Patent number: 11179844
    Abstract: A robot and a method for localizing a robot are disclosed. A method for location recognition of a robot includes moving in space; identifying a dot code disposed at a bottom of the space; and determining a location and direction of the robot based on the identified dot code. The dot code includes at least two reference dots arranged to indicate a reference direction. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by executing artificial intelligence algorithms and/or machine learning algorithms in a 5G environment connected for the Internet of Things.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hak Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 11175674
    Abstract: A robotic drive system can be attached to a garbage container. A computing device can be configured to determine a travel path for the robotic drive system to travel to a location designated for garbage pickup. The computing device can be configured to cause the robotic drive system to move to be proximate to a location designated for garbage pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Alan Dumitras
  • Patent number: 11173606
    Abstract: In response to a first condition in a first subsystem of a robot, a controller halts operation of the first subsystem; transmits a set command specifying a first notification to an interface system; obtains status information from the interface system; and, in response to the status information indicating that the first notification has a cleared status, resumes operation of the first subsystem. The interface system maintains a set of active notifications and tracks a set of devices configured to receive notifications. Each of the devices is associated with a respective operator. In response to receiving the set command, the interface system: adds the first notification to the set of active notifications; determines a subset of devices to receive the first notification; wirelessly transmits the first notification to the subset; and, in response to receiving a clear message specifying the first notification, sets the first notification to the cleared status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Creator, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff C. Jensen, Steven Frehn, Cameron Bennett, James Riley, David Bordow, Alexandros Vardakostas
  • Patent number: 11166771
    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: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Schaible, Drazena Brocilo, John Harmen
  • Patent number: 11169530
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an outdoor robotic work tool (1) adapted for a forward travelling direction (D) and comprising an environmental detection system (19) that comprises a set of outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) and a set of inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b), where the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are positioned between the outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b). Each detector transceiver (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) is adapted to transmit signals (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b) and to receive reflected signals (6a, 6b, 9) that have been reflected by an object (10, 11). The outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) are associated with outer coverage main directions (7a, 7b) that are directed at corresponding outer angles (?a, ?b) to the forward travelling direction (D), and the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are associated with inner coverage main directions (8a, 8b) that are directed at corresponding inner angles (?a, ?b) to the forward travelling direction (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Jimmy Petersson
  • Patent number: 11148279
    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: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Dephy, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Mooney, Jean-François Duval, Rachel Harris, Jonathan Kaplan, Matthew Mooney, William Marvin
  • Patent number: 11148299
    Abstract: There is provided a teaching apparatus that teaches a robot, in particular an industrial robot, a task by direct teaching. The teaching apparatus includes a wearable display that displays information in a worker's visual field, an acquisition section that acquires position and posture data capable of specifying a position and a posture of an industrial robot, and a production section that produces information to be displayed on the wearable display. When a worker operates the robot using the teaching apparatus, the apparatus produces state information that indicates at least one of a position and a posture of the robot relative to a reference object located around the robot, based on position and posture data as acquired and displays the produced information on the wearable display. There is also provided a teaching method having teaching functions equivalent to those of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Daisuke Yui
  • Patent number: 11130487
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes providing a plurality of sensors and a control at an equipped vehicle and identifying a driver present in the vehicle and capable of operating the vehicle. When the control is not operating in a driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the vehicle, and responsive to processing data received at the data processor, a personalized parameter set is created for the identified driver based on how the identified driver operates the equipped vehicle during determined driving conditions. When the control is operating in a driving assist mode, and responsive to a current driving condition of the vehicle, the vehicle is controlled (i) in accordance with the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and (ii) in accordance with data processing of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Honghao Tan, Brian J. Tedesco
  • Patent number: 11130239
    Abstract: One variation of a method for automatically generating waypoints for imaging shelves within a store includes: dispatching a robotic system to autonomously generating a map of a floor space within the store; accessing an architectural metaspace defining target locations and addresses of the set of shelving structures within the store; distorting the architectural metaspace into alignment with the map to generate a normalized metaspace representing real locations and addresses of the set of shelving structures in the store; defining a set of waypoints distributed longitudinally along and offset laterally from a first shelving structure represented in the normalized metaspace based on a known position of an optical sensor in the robotic system; and dispatching the robotic system to record optical data while occupying the set of waypoints during an imaging routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Simbe Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mirza Akbar Shah, Bradley Bogolea, Jeffrey Gee, Jariullah Safi, Luke Fraser
  • Patent number: 11129684
    Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a tool position and orientation for a computer-assisted device include an articulated structure including a plurality of joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated structure. The control unit is configured to determine whether a cannula or an instrument is coupled to a distal end of the articulated structure and in response to determining that the cannula or the instrument is coupled to the distal end of the articulated structure: determine an initial position and orientation of the instrument prior to detection of a disturbance in a first joint of the plurality of joints; determine, during the disturbance in the first joint, a current position and orientation of the instrument; determine a difference between the current position and orientation and the initial position and orientation; and drive at least a second joint of the plurality of joints based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Nitish Swarup, Paul G. Griffiths, Goran Lynch
  • Patent number: 11110605
    Abstract: A method for controlling the motion of one or more collaborative robots is described, the collaborative robots being mounted on a fixed or movable base, equipped with one or more terminal members, and with a motion controller, the method including the following iterative steps: —determining the position coordinates of the robots, and the position coordinates of one or more human operators collaborating with the robot; —determining a set of productivity indices associated with relative directions of motion of the terminal member of the robot, the productivity indices being indicative of the speed at which the robot can move in each of the directions without having to slow down or stop because of the presence of the operator; —supplying the controller of the robot with the data of the set of productivity indices associated with the relative directions of motion of the terminal member of the robot, so that the controller can determine the directions of motion of the terminal member of the robot based on the high
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Politecnico Di Milano
    Inventors: Andrea Maria Zanchettin, Paolo Rocco
  • Patent number: 11104007
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a robot. The apparatus includes an active force detector configured to detect an active force, to which a natural force caused by a physical interaction between a user and a robot and not reflecting an operation intention of the user is applied, applied by the user to the robot operating through the physical interaction with the user, a compensator configured to determine a compensation force for actively compensating for the natural force applied to the active force by using a method of optimizing an internal parameter of a predefined dynamics model, and a controller configured to determine an operation instruction for controlling an operation of the robot from a result obtained by applying the compensation force determined by the compensator to the active force detected by the active force detector and operate the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Ja Choon Koo, Kyeong Ha Lee, Seung Guk Baek, Hyun Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11099027
    Abstract: In an information processing device, an acquirer acquires an estimated congestion degree at each time at a destination based on route search result data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to the destination such that a user arrives at the destination out of a time period during which an estimated congestion degree at the destination acquired at the acquirer is a predetermined value or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Nagata
  • Patent number: 11090809
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method, arrangement and computer program product for distributing processing for a first robot in a cell among more than one processing entities. The arrangement includes a processing entity determining unit that obtains data about current limitations in the processing environment of a prospective processing entity intended to perform a processing task for the first robot, determines, based on the processing environment limitations, whether a performance requirement will be fulfilled or not if the task is performed in the prospective processing entity, and assigns the processing task for processing in the prospective processing entity or in at least one other processing entity based on the determining of whether the performance requirement is fulfilled or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Hongyu Pei-Breivold, Kristian Sandström, Larisa Rizvanovic, Marko Lehtola, Roger Kulläng, Saad Azhar
  • Patent number: 11089855
    Abstract: A smart luggage system includes a piece of luggage configured to store items for transport and a handle coupled to the luggage. The handle includes a pull rod coupled to a connecting rod. One or more cameras are disposed in a top portion of the pull rod and configured to take a photograph and/or video. One or more cameras are coupled to the luggage and/or the handle and configured to take a photograph and/or video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: LINGDONG TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO. LTD
    Inventors: Ou Qi, Xudong Guo
  • Patent number: 11083531
    Abstract: A system includes a robotic manipulator and an end effector coupled to the robotic manipulator and being moveable for interacting with a target site in a manual mode and an autonomous mode of operation. A navigation system is configured to track a position of the end effector and the target site. One or more controllers are configured to define a virtual boundary relative to the target site, prevent the end effector from penetrating the virtual boundary in the autonomous mode, and allow the end effector to penetrate the virtual boundary in the manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, John Michael Stuart, Jerry A. Culp, Donald W. Malackowski, José Luis Moctezuma de la Barrera, Patrick Roessler, Joel N. Beer
  • Patent number: 11086910
    Abstract: Methods, systems and applications for updating, enhancing, organizing, and utilizing geographic maps, for locating points of interest and places of businesses, or POI's. Embodiments provide a method for collecting geo-coordinate data on POIs by eliciting participation of the business owners or designated employees to identify the specific locations of POI's on a map; a map program which synchronizes to a centralized database where POI and other more frequently changing and time-dependent map information is downloaded to individual users; a map program, where in addition to the standard contact information, “qualitative” information and website links are included in an POI information box to aid in pre-qualifying a POI before selection and in booking a reservation; a method for locating markers on an Internet-based search engine map; and an improved contact management system that allows locations of contacts to be viewed on a map while minimizing address geocoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Never-Search, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Kreft
  • Patent number: 11076923
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to operator control in a master-slave robotic system, including, but not limited to, wherein an operator uses a master control input device to guide the position and orientation of a tool that is driven by the robotic system. Embodiments described herein provide devices and methods of increasing precision control for complex motions by, for example, decoupling operator control of rotational and translational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ELYTRA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas L. Adelman
  • Patent number: 11077548
    Abstract: A method of robotic collaboration comprises designating a first robot a lead robot and assigning a first task in a task area to the lead robot. Broadcasting a work query in the task area seeks the presence of subordinate robots configured to perform tasks. Receiving a work confirmation signal from a subordinate robot in the task area answers the work query with an affirmation that the subordinate robot is in the task area to perform tasks. Transmitting a task command to the subordinate robot in response to the work confirmation signal comprises a directive to perform the first task. Receiving a task confirmation signal informs the lead robot of the subordinate robot electronic characteristics comprising processing capabilities, transmit signal profile, receive signal profile, and storage device capabilities. Processing confirms whether the subordinate robot can collaborate with the lead robot to do the first task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Stilwell Technology and Robotics, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne P. Stilwell
  • Patent number: 11072068
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a grasping section that grasps an object, a recognition section that recognizes a graspable part and a handing-over area part of the object, and a grasp planning section that plans a path of the grasping section for handing over the object to a recipient by the handing-over area part. The robot apparatus further includes a grasp control section that controls grasp operation of the object by the grasping section in accordance with the planned path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Kawanami, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Tsutomu Sawada, Masakuni Nagano, Akinori Kamoda