Patents Examined by Elizabeth Rose Neleski
  • Patent number: 12186906
    Abstract: A robot teaching device generates an operation program of a robot by arranging an instruction icon that represents an operation instruction of the robot. The robot teaching device comprises means for displaying a plurality of marks associated with the instruction icon in a case that the operation instruction includes a plurality of positions, wherein the mark is associated with an identifier of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuusuke Kurihara
  • Patent number: 12179369
    Abstract: A handling system according to an embodiment handles/processes plural kinds of articles. The handling system includes first and second conveyance devices, and a control device. The first conveyance device transports a processing target article among the articles to a work area for a robot to handle/process the target article. The second conveyance device transports the target article to a work area for as operator to handle/process the target article. The control device determines by which of the robot or the operator the target article is processed according to process information generated based on an article handling/processing result by the robot in past. The control device transports the target article to the first conveyance device when the target article is determined to be processed by the robot and transports the target article to the second conveyance device when the target article is determined to be processed by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Ogawa, Hideaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 12164030
    Abstract: Local sensing based navigation maps can form a basis for autonomous navigation of a mobile platform. An example method includes obtaining real-time environment information that indicates an environment within a proximity of the mobile platform based on first sensor(s) carried by the mobile platform, detecting navigation features based on sensor data obtained from the first sensor(s) or second sensor(s) carried by the mobile platform, integrating information corresponding to the navigation features with the environment information to generate a local navigation map, and generating navigation command(s) for controlling a motion of the mobile platform based on the local navigation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ZHUOYU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lu Ma, Shaojie Shen
  • Patent number: 12157644
    Abstract: A robotic line kitting system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a sensor reading associated with a force sensor associated with a robotic instrumentality comprising the robotic line kitting system is received. It is determined based at least in part on the sensor reading that a condition requiring human intervention has been detected. A task to be performed by a human worker to correct the condition is scheduled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhouwen Sun, Cuthbert Sun, Andrew Nguyen, Samuel Tay, Emilie Peck, Kevin Jose Chavez, Robert Holmberg
  • Patent number: 12145277
    Abstract: A robot motion planning technique using an external computer communicating with a robot controller. A camera or sensor system provides input scene information including start and goal points and obstacle data to the computer. The computer plans a robot tool motion based on the start and goal points and the obstacle environment, where the robot motion is planned using either a serial or parallel combination of sampling-based and optimization-based planning algorithms. In the serial combination, the sampling method first finds a feasible path, and the optimization method then improves the path quality. In the parallel combination, both sampling and optimization methods are used, and a path is selected based on computation time, path quality and other factors. The computer converts dense planned waypoints to sparse command points for transfer to the robot controller, and the controller computes robot kinematics and interpolation points and controls the movement of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsien-Chung Lin, Tetsuaki Kato
  • Patent number: 12109702
    Abstract: A first step of executing a first operation to bring a hand placed on a robot arm or a first object held by the hand into contact with a second object based on a first force control parameter, a second step of acquiring information of an external force applied to the robot arm by executing a second operation different from the first operation on a robot with the hand or the first object in contact with the second object, a third step of acquiring information of external rigidity based on the acquired external force information, and a fourth step of changing the force control parameter from the first force control parameter to a second force control parameter acquired based on the acquired external rigidity information and a position of a control point corresponding to the acquired external rigidity information are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 12036673
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of robotic grasping systems, and in particular to an active robotic manipulator that includes a passive grasping component so that the robotic manipulator can grasp a wide variety of objects and simultaneously provide soft grasping features which reduce the risk of damage to objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited
    Inventors: David Gabriel Hallock, Jun Jeong, Thomas John Hummel
  • Patent number: 12007780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining a position and orientation of a swap body in relation to a vehicle while aligning the vehicle under the swap body. The system has three distance sensors which can be placed on the vehicle oriented in the longitudinal direction thereof, each of which is configured to determine a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and predetermined measurement points on the swap body, and output a corresponding signal. The system has a signal processing device that is configured to determine a relative position and/or relative orientation of the swap body to the vehicle based on the signals output by the three distance sensors, and output a corresponding output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Patrick Kniess
  • Patent number: 11988513
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide passage planning for a mobile structure. A passage planning system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a user interface associated with the mobile structure and at least one operational state sensor mounted to or within the mobile structure. The logic device determines an operational range map based, at least in part, on an operational state of the mobile structure and/or environmental conditions associated with the mobile structure. Such operational range map and other control signals may be displayed to a user and/or used to generate a planned route and/or adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: FLIR Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Marcel Tremblay, Mark Johnson, Mark Rivers, William M. Sayer, Brian L. Jensen, Christopher D. Gatland
  • Patent number: 11970343
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory and a hardware processor. The hardware processor determines one or more of a weight of an item, a packaging type of the item, a packaging material of the item, a barcode of the item, a rigidity of the item, or a physical response of the item to being lifted and determines a visual appearance of the item and a shape or size of the item. The hardware processor also compares, using a machine learning model, the determined characteristics of the item to a manifest for the container. The manifest identifies a plurality of items in the container. The hardware processor determines, using the machine learning model, an identity of the item based on comparing the determined characteristics of the item to the manifest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikedo Terhuja, Chaitanya Mitash, Tyler W. Garaas, Priyesh Shah, Ugur Murat Erdem
  • Patent number: 11951625
    Abstract: A control method for a robot includes a first working step of executing first work on a first working object by operating a robot arm by force control based on a predetermined position command value, a first memory step of storing first position information of a trajectory in which a control point set for the robot arm passes at the first working step, and a second working step of updating a position command value for the robot arm based on the first position information stored at the first memory step, and executing second work on a second working object by operating the robot arm by the force control based on an updated value as the updated position command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Karito
  • Patent number: 11931897
    Abstract: It is possible to effectively prevent lowering of work efficiency while stabilizing an operation of a robot or the like. A torque estimation system estimates friction torque of a rotation mechanism. The torque estimation system inclues angular velocity detecting means for detecting an angular velocity of the rotation mechanism, and limit value setting means for setting an upper limit value and a lower limit value according to the angular velocity of the rotation mechanism detected by the angular velocity detection means, the upper limit value and the lower limit value limiting an upper limit and a lower limit, respectively, of the friction torque of the estimated friction torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11919173
    Abstract: Spatial regions potentially occupied by a robot (or other machinery) or portion thereof and a human operator during performance of all or a defined portion of a task or an application are computationally estimated. These “potential occupancy envelopes” (POEs) may be based on the states (e.g., the current and expected positions, velocities, accelerations, geometry and/or kinematics) of the robot and the human operator. Once the POEs of human operators in the workspace are established, they can be used to guide or revise motion planning for task execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Veo Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Denenberg, Clara Vu, Patrick Sobalvarro, Alberto Moel
  • Patent number: 11911901
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to robotic devices and artificial intelligence. More specifically, some embodiments relate to an artificial neural network training method that does not require extensive training data or time expenditure. The few-shot training model disclosed herein includes attempting to pick up items and, in response to a failed pick up attempt, transferring and generalizing information to similar regions to improve probability of success in future attempts. In some implementations, the training method is used to robotic device for picking items from a bin and perturbing items in a bin. When no picking strategies with high probability of success exist, the robotic device may perturb the contents of the bin to create new available pick-up points. In some implementations, the device may include one or more Computer-vision systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Embodied Intelligence, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Duan, Haoran Tang, Yide Shentu, Nikhil Mishra, Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 11897454
    Abstract: This application provides a method for determining an automatic parking strategy. The method includes: determining, a target parking action corresponding to a current parking stage performing the target parking action; obtaining feedback information, where the feedback information is used to indicate whether a result of performing the target parking action reaches a predetermined objective, and the predetermined objective is a predetermined position of the vehicle relative to a target parking spot, and/or the predetermined objective is a status of the vehicle in the parking process; and updating the automatic parking strategy based on the feedback information. In the foregoing method, the entire parking process is divided into several parking stages, and a control strategy is obtained by using a different method at each stage. This can increase a success rate of automatic parking in a complex parking scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuzheng Zhuang, Qiang Gu, Wulong Liu
  • Patent number: 11835354
    Abstract: To provide personalized data for display on a map, a server device obtains location data for a user and identifies locations that are familiar to the user based on the frequency and recency in which the user visits the locations. The server device then provides the familiar locations in search results/suggestions and annotates the familiar locations with a description of a relationship between the familiar location and the user. The server device also includes the familiar locations as landmarks for performing maneuvers in a set of navigation instructions. Furthermore, the server device provides a familiar location as a frame of reference on a map display when a user selects another location nearby the familiar location. Moreover, the server device includes a familiar location as an intermediate destination when the user request navigation directions to a final destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Haroon Baig, Ankit Gupta
  • Patent number: 11822340
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for robot path planning. Depth data of obstacles, acquired by depth sensors deployed in a 3D robot workspace and represented with respect to a sensor coordinate system, is transformed into depth data with respect to a robot coordinate system. The 3D robot workspace is discretized to generate 3D grid points representing a discretized 3D robot workspace. Based on the depth data with respect to the robot coordinate system, binarized values are assigned to at least some of 3D grid points to generate a binarized representation for the obstacles present in the 3D robot workspace. With respect to one or more sensing points associated with a part of a robot, it is determined whether the part is to collide with any obstacle. Based on the determining, a path is planned for the robot to move along while avoiding any obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: EDDA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Guo-Qing Wei, Yuanfeng Mao, Li Fan, Xiaolan Zeng, Jianzhong Qian
  • Patent number: 11806880
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to perform robotic handling of soft products in non-rigid packaging. In various embodiments, sensor data associated with a workspace is received. An action to be performed in the workspace using one or more robotic elements is determined, the action including moving an end effector of one of the robotic elements relatively quickly to a location in proximity to an item to be grasped; actuating a grasping mechanism of the end effector to grasp the item using an amount of force and structures associated with minimized risk of damage to one or both of the item and its packaging; and using sensor data generated subsequent to the item being grasped to ensure the item has been grasped securely. Control communications are sent to the robotic element via the communication interface to cause robotic element to perform the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Jose Chavez, Robert Hegdahl, Yuan Gao, Andrew Lovett, Roger Lam Hau, Samir Menon
  • Patent number: 11781880
    Abstract: A processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vibration detecting unit configured to detect a vibration of a vehicle, an orientation detecting unit configured to detect an orientation of the vehicle, a storing unit configured to store information indicating the orientation of the vehicle, a processing unit configured to set an orientation of a vehicle on a map of a navigation system based on the information indicating the orientation of the vehicle, and a power supply controlling unit configured to control power supplied to the orientation detecting unit and the storing unit based on a detection result of the vibration detecting unit and in response to an accessory power of the vehicle turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Maki
  • Patent number: 11780085
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a robot posture control method as well as a robot and a computer readable storage medium using the same. The method includes: constructing a virtual model of the robot, wherein the virtual model comprises a momentum wheel inverted pendulum model of the robot and an angle between a sole surface of the robot and a horizontal plane; and performing a posture control based on outer-loop feedback control, inner loop compensation for the external disturbance rejection in position level, inner loop external disturbance rejection via null-space in velocity level, and inner loop external disturbance rejection in force/acceleration level on the robot. In this manner, a brand-new virtual model is provided, which can fully reflect the upper body posture, centroid, foot posture, and the like of the robot which are extremely critical elements for the balance and posture control of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Xiaozhu Ju, Mingguo Zhao, Yuesong Wang, Youjun Xiong