Patents Examined by Ian Jen
  • Patent number: 11638993
    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 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventor: Rosen Diankov
  • Patent number: 11634217
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a tilt rotor that is aft of a wing and that is attached to the wing via a pylon. The tilt rotor has an adjustable maximum downward angle from horizontal that is less than or equal to 60° and that is set via a setting associated with a flight computer. The vehicle takes off and lands using at least some lift from the wing and from the tilt rotor. In response to a change to the adjustable maximum downward angle, via the setting associated with the flight computer, which produces a new maximum downward angle: the flight computer updates an actuator authority database associated with the flight computer to reflect the new maximum downward angle. Using the updated actuator authority database that reflects the new maximum downward angle, the flight computer generates a rotor control signal for the tilt rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Pranay Sinha, Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 11633240
    Abstract: A harmonized operation of a plurality of medical support arms is controlled more accurately. There is provided a medical system including an operation control unit configured to control, on the basis of information regarding a movable range (300a) of a first medical support arm (10a) being a control target, information regarding the movable range (300b) of a second medical support arm (10b) to be used together with the first medical support arm (10a), and a space position of a working point (Pa) in the first medical support arm (10a), an operation of the working point (Pa).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Usui
  • Patent number: 11635472
    Abstract: A load driving device includes a synchronous rectifier circuit having a driving-side switching element and a reflux-side switching element; a driver control circuit controls the synchronous rectifier circuit; and a voltage monitor circuit that monitors whether the voltage of an output terminal of the synchronous rectifier circuit is within a predetermined voltage range; where the driver control circuit, upon receiving a diagnosis command, performs control so that when the driving-side switching element is switched from ON to OFF, the reflux-Side switching element is also switched to OFF; and the voltage monitor circuit detects a normal state when the voltage to be monitored is within a normal level during a period in which both the driving-side switching element and the reflux-side switching element are turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuri Ohara, Yasushi Sugiyama, Takeo Yamashita, Masahiro Doi
  • Patent number: 11628837
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a speed of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems obtain image data from one or more vision sensors disposed onboard a vehicle. A stopping distance of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the image data. A moving speed of the vehicle and a speed limit of the vehicle are determined. The speed limit is determined based on the stopping distance that is determined from the image data. The methods and systems control movement of the vehicle based on a difference between the moving speed of the vehicle and the speed limit of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Vrba, Jeffrey Kernwein
  • Patent number: 11629966
    Abstract: Technologies for sharing route navigation data in a community cloud include a mobile navigation device of a vehicle and a remote mobile navigation device of a remote vehicle. The mobile navigation device generates sensor data associated with a current route of the vehicle and determines whether a reference traffic event occurs within a segment of the current route of the vehicle. In response to a determination that a reference traffic event occurs, the mobile navigation devices transmits route update data to the remote mobile navigation device. Based on the route update data, the remote mobile navigation device updates a current route of the remote vehicle to avoid the reference traffic event within a corresponding segment of the current route of the remote vehicle. The mobile navigation device may also transmit the sensor data to a community compute device, which may transmit route update data to the remote mobile navigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Elmoustapha Ould-Ahmed-Vall, Sunil K. Cheruvu
  • Patent number: 11628574
    Abstract: A compact, mobile, robotic beverage station that may be deployed in any location for use. The compact and mobile nature of the beverage station allows the automated robotic beverage station to be deployed at any suitable location both indoors and outdoors. Further, various embodiments are self-contained in that the beverage station includes on-board battery supplied power, on-board liquid disposal (e.g., a holding tank) and on-board water supply. Further, the automated robotic nature of several embodiments provides for beverage selection, preparation and serving without labor costs as the robotic automated aspects can process inputs from communicatively coupled smart phone and the like. The beverage station includes a processor for receiving the beverage order, determining ingredients, controlling robotic components that select, mix and serve the ordered beverage and then handle financial transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ross Digital PTD Ltd.
    Inventor: Gavin Pathross
  • Patent number: 11628928
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of monitoring force equalization (FEQ) sensors on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces includes determining, via a force sensor, a first measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, where the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems that include the first actuation system. The method also includes updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the first measured force. The method also includes determining variation in at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating. The method also includes identifying a first static condition in the measured-force time series in response to a determination that the variation in the measured-force time series is no greater than a minimum amount of variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Harrell, Christos Bais, Curtis R. Higgens, Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., David Adjei
  • Patent number: 11623740
    Abstract: A flight control system includes an active control inceptor, a flight control computer, and a force trim release. The active control inceptor includes a control member movable from a first position to a second position to command a vehicle-body rate and including a detent position that holds an attitude. The flight control computer generates a trim command from the second position, a reference position, and a vehicle-body state. With the force trim release selected when the control member is moved from the first position to the second position, the first position is designated as the reference position and the second position is designated as the detent position. Upon deselection of the force trim release with the control member at the second position, the second position is designated as the reference position and the trim command is designated as the detent position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bryan C. Chu, Jacob Walrath, Gary D. Klein, Donald J. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11618462
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle control system capable of reducing an increase in cost accompanying advancement of a fallback operation. Therefore, the in-vehicle control system includes: a plurality of control circuits 3 and 4 respectively including control units that perform data communication with each other; an external environment recognition sensor a5; and a plurality of wirings 11, 12, 13, and 14 connecting the external environment recognition sensor a5 and the plurality of control circuits 3 and 4. The plurality of control circuits 3 and 4 include: a first power supply unit that supplies power to the external environment recognition sensor a5 via a corresponding wiring among the plurality of wirings 11, 12, 13, and 14; and a first detection unit that detects an abnormality related to the power supplied to the external environment recognition sensor a5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Komatsu, Hiroshi Shinoda, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Masaru Kokubo, Hidetatsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11607814
    Abstract: An automatic method for autonomous interactions between robots, comprising an action of automatically receiving, by a transport robot, a request for transporting a service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically computing a location of the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically moving the transport robot to the location of the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically sending a signal from the service robot to the transport robot using a signal emitter incorporated into a mechanical element attached to the service robot. The method comprises an action of automatically coupling, using the signal, the mechanical element to a carrier element attached to the transport robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Gal Kaminka, Assaf Friedler, Ari Yakir, Dan Erusalimchik, Yehuda Elmaliach
  • Patent number: 11607813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for under-stair storage include a robotic retrieval system. The robotic retrieval system includes a robot that retrieves and deposits objects in a space under a set of stairs, A portal provides access to the space from above the stairs. Objects are stored in locations within the space. The robot selectively locates and retrieves the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie Paepcke, Katherine Tsui
  • Patent number: 11607806
    Abstract: A model generator implements a data-driven approach to generating a robot model that describes one or more physical properties of a robot. The model generator generates a set of basis functions that generically describes a range of physical properties of a wide range of systems. The model generator then generates a set of coefficients corresponding to the set of basis functions based on one or more commands issued to the robot, one or more corresponding end effector positions implemented by the robot, and a sparsity constraint. The model generator generates the robot model by combining the set of basis functions with the set of coefficients. In doing so, the model generator disables specific basis functions that do not describe physical properties associated with the robot. The robot model can subsequently be used within a robot controller to generate commands for controlling the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Haley, Erin Bradner, Pantelis Katsiaris
  • Patent number: 11602401
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a robotic surgical system are provided. The system includes a surgical tool, a manipulator comprising links for controlling the tool, a navigation system includes a tracker and a localizer to monitor a state of the tracker. Controller(s) determine a relationship between one or more components of the manipulator and one or more components of the navigation system by utilizing kinematic measurement data from the manipulator and navigation data from the navigation system. The controller(s) utilize the relationship to determine whether an error has occurred relating to at least one of the manipulator and the navigation system. The error is at least one of undesired movement of the manipulator, undesired movement of the localizer, failure of any one or more components of the manipulator or the localizer, and/or improper calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mako Surgical Corp.
    Inventor: Michael Dale Dozeman
  • Patent number: 11597084
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes identifying a force and torque for a robot to accomplish a task and identifying context of a portion of a movement plan indicating motion of the robot to perform the task. Based on the identified force, torque, and context, a context specific torque is determined for at least one aspect of the robot while the robot executes the portion of the movement plan. In turn, a control signal is generated for the at least one aspect of the robot to operate in accordance with the determined context specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. S. Johnson, Syler Wagner, Steven Lines
  • Patent number: 11596483
    Abstract: Robotic surgery systems and methods of surgical robot operation are provided. A method of surgical robot operation includes moving a surgical instrument through a tissue using the surgical robot, where the surgical robot attempts to move the surgical instrument to a desired position. The method further includes measuring an actual position of the surgical instrument, and calculating a difference between the actual position and the desired position. The actual position of the surgical instrument is adjusted to the desired position using the surgical robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Joëlle K. Barral, Blake Hannaford
  • Patent number: 11584382
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller area network (CAN) and a plurality of a controllers in communication with each other via the CAN, wherein each controller of the plurality of controllers is configured to time-stamp messages transmitted via the CAN using a vehicle-wide synchronized clock, determine a worst-case transmission delay via the CAN based on the time-stamps for messages received from other controllers of the plurality of controllers, and based on the worse-case transmission delay, set a dynamic recovery timer for a malfunctioning controller of the plurality of controllers to recover after its malfunction, wherein the dynamic recovery timer prevents a particular controller that was malfunctioning but has since recovered from being incorrectly designated as a malfunctioning controller in need of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed S Huq, Stephen Horton
  • Patent number: 11585667
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to simulating edge-computing deployment in diverse terrains. One embodiment receives a layer-selection input specifying which layers among a plurality of layers in a simulation model of an edge-computing deployment are to be included in a simulation experiment; receives a set of input parameters for each of the layers specified by the layer-selection input, the set of input parameters for one of the layers specified by the layer-selection input including selection of a vehicular application whose performance in the edge-computing deployment is to be evaluated via the simulation experiment; executes the simulation experiment in accordance with the layer-selection input and the set of input parameters for each of the layers specified by the layer-selection input; and outputs, from the simulation experiment, performance data for the selected vehicular application in the edge-computing deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Haoxin Wang, BaekGyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11577392
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optimizing a plan for one or more robots using a process definition graph. One of the methods includes receiving a process definition graph for a robot, the process definition graph having a plurality of action nodes. One or more of the action nodes are motion nodes that represent a motion to be taken by the robot from a respective start location to an end location. It is determined that a motion node satisfies one or more splitting criteria, and in response to determining that the motion node satisfies the one or more splitting criteria, the process definition graph is modified. Modifying the process definition graph includes splitting the motion node into two or more separate motion nodes whose respective paths can be scheduled independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Dupuis, Keegan Go, Stoyan Gaydarov
  • Patent number: 11565423
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning robot including a light source module, an image sensor and a processor. The light source module projects a line pattern and a speckle pattern toward a moving direction. The image sensor captures an image of the line pattern and an image of the speckle pattern. The processor calculates one-dimensional depth information according to the image of the line pattern and calculates two-dimensional depth information according to the image of the speckle pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang