Patents Examined by Marc McDieunel
  • Patent number: 11965313
    Abstract: A method for determining parallel lift feedforward control of a bucket of a work vehicle is provided. The method includes calculating a current stroke length of a bucket cylinder at a current moment based on a current bell crank plate angle and a current boom angle. The method includes predicting a future boom angle after a certain number of steps. The method further includes calculating a required bell crank plate angle from a learned cutting edge angle and the future boom angle. The method even further includes calculating a future stroke length of the bucket cylinder after the certain number of steps. The method yet further includes calculating an average speed command for bucket control based on the current stroke length and the future stroke length of the bucket cylinder. The method still further includes calculating a bucket cylinder control command based on the average speed command for bucket control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Eric John Williams, Caleb Peterson, Duqiang Wu, Joshua D. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11938633
    Abstract: A method for tuning the force control parameters for a general robotic assembly operation. The method uses numerical optimization to evaluate different combinations of the parameters for a robot force controller in a simulation environment that is built based on a real-world robotic setup. This method performs autonomous tuning for assembly tasks based on closed loop force control simulation, where random samples from a distribution of force control parameter values are evaluated, and the optimization routine iteratively redefines the parameter distribution to find optimal values of the parameters. Each simulated assembly is evaluated using multiple simulations including random part positioning uncertainties. The performance of each simulated assembly is evaluated by the average of the simulation results, thus ensuring that the selected control parameters will perform well in most possible conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Zhao, Tetsuaki Kato
  • Patent number: 11909576
    Abstract: Various medical devices and related systems, including robotic and/or in vivo medical devices, and various robotic surgical devices for in vivo medical procedures. Included herein, for example, is a robotic surgical system having a support beam positionable through an incision, and a robotic device having a device body, first and second rotating shoulder components coupled to the device body, and first and second robotic arms coupled to the first and second shoulder components, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Shane Farritor, Tyler Wortman, Kyle Strabala, Ryan McCormick, Amy Lehman, Dmitry Oleynikov, Eric Markvicka
  • Patent number: 11890759
    Abstract: Load information on a tool to be attached to a robot arm and collision sensitivity are input. Gravitational torque is calculated based on the input load information. A deflection amount of the robot arm is calculated based on the gravitational torque. A correction amount is calculated based on the collision sensitivity input. The deflection amount is corrected while the robot arm moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Nakata, Hiroyoshi Ueda, Atsumi Hashimoto, Masayoshi Iwatani
  • Patent number: 11858606
    Abstract: The present invention regards a watercraft vehicle (1) having a propeller shaft (9) coupled to a motor (3) and a propeller (7) forming a propeller disc (11) having a hub (17). A first blade (8) of the propeller (7) is hingedly coupled to a first oblique lag-pitch hinge (22?) of the hub (17) and a second blade (10) of the propeller (7) is hingedly coupled to a second oblique lag-pitch hinge (22?) of the hub (17). The first oblique lag-pitch hinge (22?) being oriented in a direction oblique to the axis of rotation (RX) and parallel with the second oblique lag-pitch hinge (22?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Anders Rydell
  • Patent number: 11772285
    Abstract: A control unit causes a sensor to start sampling at a plurality of start timings different from each other. The control unit combines sampling signals obtained by the start of the sampling at the different start timings, and detects a malfunction of an apparatus in accordance with the combined sampling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hirose, Toru Takagi
  • Patent number: 11760503
    Abstract: An aircraft having an augmented reality flight control system integrated with and operable from the pilot seat and an associated pilot headgear unit, wherein the flight control system is supplemented by flight-assisting artificial intelligence and geo-location systems is presented. The present disclosure includes an augmented reality flight control system incorporating real-world objects with virtual elements to provide relevant data to a pilot during aircraft flight. A translucent substrate is disposed in the pilot's field of view such that the pilot can see therethrough, and observe virtual elements displayed on the substrate. The system includes a headgear that is worn by the pilot. A flight assistance module is configured to receive data related to the aircraft and provide predictive assistance to the pilot during flight based on the received data based in part on a pilot profile having preferences related to the pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Robert Chavez, Levi Bilbrey, James R. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11731267
    Abstract: A method of manipulating boxes includes receiving a minimum box size for a plurality of boxes varying in size located in a walled container. The method also includes dividing a grip area of a gripper into a plurality of zones. The method further includes locating a set of candidate boxes based on an image from a visual sensor. For each zone, the method additionally includes, determining an overlap of a respective zone with one or more neighboring boxes to the set of candidate boxes. The method also includes determining a grasp pose for a target candidate box that avoids one or more walls of the walled container. The method further includes executing the grasp pose to lift the target candidate box by the gripper where the gripper activates each zone of the plurality of zones that does not overlap a respective neighboring box to the target candidate box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachin Chitta, David Hershberger, Karl Pauwels
  • Patent number: 11662270
    Abstract: Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. In an example, a manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, Benjamin S. Flamm
  • Patent number: 11613030
    Abstract: A robot is provided with driving wheels, a battery, a charging terminal, a charging terminal mounter in which the charging terminal is disposed, a first spring elastically supporting the charging terminal in an outward direction, a switch switched by the charging terminal mounter when the charging terminal mounter retreats, and a processor for stopping the driving wheels when the switch is switched by the charging terminal mounter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hoseong Kang, Iljae Lee, Sunho Yang
  • Patent number: 11565424
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes detecting, at a processor and by a plurality of associates, a mission to be performed by the plurality of associates; identifying the mission based on associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules; generating, by the processor, a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks; determining a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information; assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks; receiving, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task; verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task for the mission is verified to be completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Robert Cantrell, Mike Atchley, Wallace Carrell King, Brian Harrison, Amy J. Savaiinaea
  • Patent number: 11458636
    Abstract: A wirelessly powered and controlled robotic apparatus enabling performance of tasks within a three-dimensional space includes a rail, a robotic unit, and a tool. The rail comprises negative and second paths to carry an electrical current. The robotic unit comprises a microcontroller having a drive motor and a transceiver engaged thereto and is engaged to and electrically coupled to the rail. A transfer unit is engaged to both the drive motor and the rail and thus can translate rotation of the drive motor to a force to motivate the robotic unit along the rail. The microcontroller selectively actuates the transfer unit to move the robotic unit along the rail to a location. The transceiver receives commands wirelessly from a control unit and transmits data thereto. The tool is engaged to the robotic unit and can perform a task at, or proximate to, the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Dong Ouyang
  • Patent number: 11400606
    Abstract: An articulated robot has an arm, a drive motor for driving and positioning the arm, a gas spring for supporting a load acting on the arm to reduce a load of the drive motor and a control unit for controlling the drive motor. The control unit has a function of estimating a decrease state of a gas sealed inside the gas spring based on an actual current value of the drive motor obtained at a stop position at which the drive motor is operated and stopped in an energized state. The decrease state of the gas sealed inside the gas spring is estimated based on the current value of a servo motor without causing decline in operation rate of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Kitamura, Motoki Himeno, Yusuke Fujii, Shunsuke Wakimitsu
  • Patent number: 11400596
    Abstract: A mobile robot configured for delivering consumable items to delivery recipients. The mobile robot comprises an item compartment with a top section, a separator, and a bottom section. The mobile robot also comprises a temperature control component. A method for delivering consumable items to delivery recipients using the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES OÜ
    Inventors: Märt Liivik, Siim Viilup, Tiit Liivik
  • Patent number: 11325258
    Abstract: To assist appropriately in performing a recovery operation of a device. A guidance information presentation apparatus includes: a guidance information receiving unit configured to acquire guidance information including access information and safety information, the access information including a moving route to reach an estimated location of a failure in an apparatus as a recovery target, and an operation procedure, the safety information indicating safety of the moving route and the operation procedure in the access information; and a guidance information displaying unit configured to perform, on a basis of the guidance information, notification for a guidance of the moving route to the estimated location of the failure in the apparatus as the recovery target, and the operation procedure, and notification that indicates the safety of the moving route and the operation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Goto
  • Patent number: 11298825
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for robotic learning and execution of skills. A robotic apparatus can include a memory, a processor, sensors, and one or more movable components (e.g., a manipulating element and/or a transport element). The processor can be operatively coupled to the memory, the movable elements, and the sensors, and configured to obtain information of an environment, including one or more objects located within the environment. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn skills through demonstration, exploration, user inputs, etc. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills and/or arbitrate between different behaviors and/or actions. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn an environmental constraint. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn using a general model of a skill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Diligent Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivian Yaw-Wen Chu, Shuai Li, Forrest Green, Peter Worsnop, Andrea Lockerd Thomaz
  • Patent number: 11254005
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a camera configured to be attached to a display device carried by or put on an operator and capture an environment surrounding the operator to generate an image of the environment; and a processor configured to slow down or stop motion of a predetermined robot included in the environment when the predetermined robot is not displayed on the display device, when only a portion of the predetermined robot is displayed, or when a ratio of a region representing the predetermined robot to a display area of the display device is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11247330
    Abstract: Examples of a method for teaching a transportation position includes correcting the position of an alignment jig having a plurality of sloping surfaces relative to a susceptor pin projecting upwards from an upper surface of a susceptor by lowering a robot hand to bring one of the sloping surfaces into contact with the susceptor pin and causing the susceptor pin to slide on the sloping surfaces by virtue of an own weight of the aliment jig, detecting a position of the alignment jig before and after the positional correction of the alignment jig, and correcting a movement destination information by an amount corresponding to a difference between an initial position and a corrected position of the alignment jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Hideki Yoshida, Masaei Suwada
  • Patent number: 11231720
    Abstract: A moving robot comprises a floor sensing unit comprised of a plurality of transmitters, for which different sensing distances are set, and a single receiver, and, since a floor state is sensed using a plurality of sensors, it is possible to sense a normal floor states, an obstacle or a cliff present on a floor, and a long-distance state at a distance farther than the normal floor state, thereby preventing wrong sensing of a cliff due to an obstacle, and, since whether to keep traveling is set depending on the obstacle and a traveling speed is controlled, even an area previously not allowed to enter due to the wrong sensing may be cleaned and therefore a cleaning area may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sihyuk Yi, Jaehwan Ko, Hyukdo Kweon
  • Patent number: 11135717
    Abstract: A detachable modular mobile autonomy module (MAM) for a modular autonomous bot apparatus includes a housing with latching points, an autonomous controller, location circuitry, external sensors monitoring an environment external to the MAM and providing sensor data to the controller, multi-element light panels on the housing driven by the controller; and a modular component power and data bus. The bus has a bottom side modular component electronics interface disposed on the housing that mates to a corresponding interface on another proximately-attached modular component of the bot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud, Frank Mayfield, Daniel Gates