Patents Examined by Ian Jen
  • Patent number: 10953540
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a position-accuracy-information storage unit that stores position accuracy information at a plurality of division points defined when an operating area space of the multi joint robot is divided into a plurality of areas in a grid shape, a position-accuracy calculation unit that calculates position accuracy at the end-effector position based on the position accuracy information and the current end-effector position of the multi-joint robot, and a position-accuracy output unit that outputs the calculated position accuracy to an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuelai Wang, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 10953547
    Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a first robot arm provided with a first force detection part and a second robot arm provided with a second force detection part, includes a processor that configured to move the first robot arm until a target force is detected by the first force detection part and performs impedance control on the second robot arm based on output of the second force detection part in at least a part of a movement period in which the first robot arm is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Fumiaki Hasegawa, Ryuichi Okada
  • Patent number: 10953549
    Abstract: A method for operating a robotic system includes determining a discretized object model based on source sensor data; comparing the discretized object model to a packing plan or to master data; determining a discretized platform model based on destination sensor data; determining height measures based on the destination sensor data; comparing the discretized platform model and/or the height measures to an expected platform model and/or expected height measures; and determining one or more errors by (i) determining at least one source matching error by identifying one or more disparities between (a) the discretized object model and (b) the packing plan or the master data or (ii) determining at least one destination matching error by identifying one or more disparities between (a) the discretized platform model or the height measures and (b) the expected platform model or the expected height measures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosen Nikolaev Diankov, Denys Kanunikov
  • Patent number: 10946519
    Abstract: Implementations are described herein for offline computation and caching of precalculated joint trajectories. In various implementations, an instruction may be obtained to move an end effector of a robot between start and target positions. A first type of trajectory planning may be performed in real time or “online” to calculate a first joint trajectory of the robot that moves the end effector from the start to target position. The robot may then implement the first joint trajectory. A second type of trajectory planning may be performed offline, e.g., during downtime of the robot, to precalculate a second joint trajectory of the robot to move the end effector from the start to target position. The second type of trajectory planning may require more resources than were required by the first type of trajectory planning. Data indicative of the precalculated second joint trajectory of the robot may be stored for future use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Mario Prats
  • Patent number: 10940589
    Abstract: The application relates to a haptic system comprising a haptic device that has an end effector terminal and a transmission structure which can generate a translational movement as an output variable, said translational movement extending from the transmission structure to the end effector terminal via a boom such that the end effector terminal moves in a manner that is perceptible to a user, the transmission structure being formed by means of driven linear shafts. The application further relates to a method for operating a haptic system comprising a haptic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Technische Universität Berlin
    Inventors: Thomas Vorsatz, Boris Beckmann-Dobrev
  • Patent number: 10939969
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the elimination/mitigation of vibration arising from a mode transition during robotic operation include a moveable robotic mechanism and a processor configured to control the robotic mechanism. The processor is configured to detect a request for a mode transition, wherein the request for the mode transition designates a new mode that is different than a current mode, determine initial parameters of the robotic mechanism, calculate a smoothing curve, and move the robotic mechanism according to the smoothing curve. The initial parameters include a position and a velocity of the robotic mechanism. The smoothing curve transitions between the current mode and the new mode and is C3 continuous. In some embodiments, to calculate the smoothing curve, the processor is configured to establish a first command position, calculate a step value, and set a second command position based on the first command position and the step value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nitish Swarup, David W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10933847
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body behavior control device and a method of controlling behavior of a vehicle body which can reduce unstable behavior of the vehicle body. A vehicle body behavior control device incorporated into a vehicle body having a plurality of wheels includes: a brake mechanism which controls behavior of the wheels; and a control part which controls an interlocking brake operation in which a braking force is applied to the plurality of wheels using the brake mechanism when an operation for applying braking to any one of the wheels is performed based on a gradient value ? of a road surface on which the vehicle body travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Shunsaku Ono, Yuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 10933527
    Abstract: A method for operating a robotic system including determining an initial pose of a target object based on imaging data; calculating a confidence measure associated with an accuracy of the initial pose; and determining that the confidence measure fails to satisfy a sufficiency condition; and deriving a motion plan accordingly for scanning an object identifier while transferring the target object from a start location to a task location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventor: Rosen Diankov
  • Patent number: 10913547
    Abstract: A vertical landing is performed by an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle above a charger where the eVTOL vehicle includes a rotor that is configured to rotate during an occupant change state to keep the eVTOL vehicle stationary during the occupant change state. A vertically-oriented male charging port that is part of the eVTOL vehicle and a female charging port that is part of the charger are detachably coupled and a battery in the eVTOL vehicle is charged using the charger while the vertically-oriented male charging port and the female charging port are detachably coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Benjamin Otto Berry
  • Patent number: 10913158
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a robotic arm, a base couple coupled to the robotic arm, and a controller. The robotic supports a work implement and is configured to move the work implement to perform an operation on a workpiece. The base is configured to be removably coupled to a mounting surface. The controller is in communication with the robotic arm, the work implement, and the base. Further, the controller is configured to disable the operation of at least one of the robotic arm and the work implement if a coupling parameter between the base and the mounting surface is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Roe Hammar, Leon R. Adcock, Bradley Phillip Graham, Matthew J. Behmlander, Joshua Clifton Short, Donald A. Stickel, III
  • Patent number: 10913154
    Abstract: A system for performing industrial tasks includes a robot and a computing device. The robot includes one or more sensors that collect data corresponding to the robot and an environment surrounding the robot. The computing device includes a user interface, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the collected data from the robot, generate a virtual recreation of the robot and the environment surrounding the robot, receive inputs from a human operator controlling the robot to demonstrate an industrial task. The system is configured to learn how to perform the industrial task based on the human operator's demonstration of the task, and perform, via the robot, the industrial task autonomously or semi-autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Robert Hoare, Justin Michael Foehner, Steven Robert Gray, Shiraj Sen, Romano Patrick
  • Patent number: 10906186
    Abstract: A robot hand device according to an embodiment includes extensible arms which can be extended and shortened, a drive motor, and at least one clutch. The extensible arms support an object to be carried and are capable of being extended and shortened. The drive motor extends and shortens the extensible arms. The at least one clutch are capable of transmitting power of the motor to at least one of the extensible arms selected among the extensible arms to extend and shorten the selected at least one of the extensible arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takahashi, Noriyuki Ooba, Akira Ushijima, Emiko Ishida
  • Patent number: 10902880
    Abstract: A mobile drive unit includes a turntable and a turntable motor that is located outside of the footprint of the turntable. The motor moves up and down with the turntable such that a motor cover moves up and down with the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dragan Pajevic, Gabriel Hebert
  • Patent number: 10898287
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Robinson, Thomas R. Nixon, Michael Hanuschik, Randal P. Goldberg, Jason Hemphill, David Q. Larkin, Paul Millman
  • Patent number: 10898999
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selective human-robot interaction. In some implementations, sensor data describing an environment of a robot is received, and a person in the environment of the robot is detected based on the sensor data. Scores indicative of properties of the detected person are generated based on the sensor data and processed using a machine learning model. Processing the scores can produce one or more outputs indicative of a likelihood that the detected person will perform a predetermined action in response to communication from the robot. Based on the one or more outputs of the machine learning model, the robot initiates communication with the detected person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel A. Cohen, Benjamin Holson, Munaf Assaf
  • Patent number: 10890455
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information associated with a first haul truck configured to traverse a travel path extending from a paving material plant to a worksite. The method also includes identifying the first haul truck as having a location sensor that is one of missing and faulty, determining whether a second haul truck traversed the travel path ahead of the first haul truck, and determining an arrival time at which the first haul truck is expected to arrive at the worksite. In such a method, the arrival time is determined based at least in part on an estimated travel time associated with the first haul truck traversing the travel path, or a recorded travel time associated with the second haul truck traversing the travel path ahead of the first haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine, Dann J. Rawls
  • Patent number: 10882550
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a function to switch a control system of the motor between a torque control system of a torque system to control a motor output torque and a position and speed control system of a steering angle system to control a steering angle of a steering in accordance with an ON/OFF of a post-diagnosis automatic steering command being a judgment result of an automatic steering execution judging section; and a characteristic calculating section to calculate a fade gain signal F1 that applies a first fade characteristic of the torque system, a fade gain signal F2 that applies a second fade characteristic of the steering angle system, and a fade gain signal F3 that applies a third fade characteristic of the steering angle speed, sensitive to the steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Minaki, Takayoshi Sugawara, Hideki Sawada
  • Patent number: 10875187
    Abstract: A robotic arm mounted camera system allows an end-user to begin using the camera for object recognition without involving a robotics specialist. Automated object model calibration is performed under conditions of variable robotic arm pose dependent feature recognition of an object. The user can then teach the system to perform tasks on the object using the calibrated model. The camera's body can have parallel top and bottom sides and adapted to be fastened to a robotic arm end and to an end effector with its image sensor and optics extending sideways in the body, and it can include an illumination source for lighting a field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ROBOTIQ INC.
    Inventors: Vincent Paquin, Marc-Antoine Lacasse, Yan Drolet-Mihelic, Jean-Philippe Mercier
  • Patent number: 10870204
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method of a robotic system that implements a high degree of cooperation between units including a robot and increases a storage efficiency of an operation object sufficiently. A control method includes: deriving an approach location at which the end effector grips an operation object; deriving a scan location for scanning an identifier of the operation object; and based on the approach location and the scan location, creating or deriving a control sequence to instruct the robot to execute the control sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosen Nikolaev Diankov, Yoshiki Kanemoto, Denys Kanunikov
  • Patent number: 10870205
    Abstract: A robot system includes workpiece phase detection units that detects a phase of a workpiece around an axis in a substantially vertical direction; a robot including a hand that holds the workpiece, and a wrist capable of rotating the hand around a rotation axis in the substantially vertical direction; and a control unit that controls the robot, wherein the control unit controls the robot based on the phase of the workpiece detected by the workpiece phase detection units, in such a way that the workpiece is held and picked by the hand in a reference phase, among a plurality of predetermined reference phases, closest to a current relative phase of the hand and the workpiece and the phase of the workpiece is aligned with a predetermined target phase by rotation of the wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuji Taira