Patents Examined by Ronnie M Mancho
  • Patent number: 12203952
    Abstract: A protocol created in such a format that a series of operations for process targets in the fields of engineering related to living organisms are executable by a robot 10 is acquired (S1). The robot 10 is controlled to implement the operations for the process targets according to the protocol (S2). In order to modify the protocol after the implementation of the operations, modification information on at least one action among basic actions which serve as bases for implementing the operations and is performed on an instrument used by the robot 10 in the operations, and complementary actions which complement the basic actions is acquired (S5). The robot 10 is controlled to produce processed products from the process targets by using the protocol modified based on the modification information (S7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tohru Natsume, Kenji Matsukuma, Sakae Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 12194632
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, under the control of a robotic control system, a gripper on a robot is positioned to grasp a 3-dimensional object. In at least one embodiment, the relative position of the object and the gripper is determined, at least in part, by using a camera mounted on the gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Shariq Iqbal, Jonathan Tremblay, Thang Hong To, Jia Cheng, Erik Leitch, Duncan J. McKay, Stanley Thomas Birchfield
  • Patent number: 12197178
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for transporting people using air vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 12194637
    Abstract: Presented herein are embodiments of a two-stage methodology that integrates data-driven imitation learning and model-based trajectory optimization to generate optimal trajectories for autonomous excavators. In one or more embodiments, a deep neural network using demonstration data to mimic the operation patterns of human experts under various terrain states, including their geometry shape and material type. A stochastic trajectory optimization methodology is used to improve the trajectory generated by the neural network to ensure kinematics feasibility, improve smoothness, satisfy hard constraints, and achieve desired excavation volumes. Embodiments were tested on a Franka robot arm equipped with a bucket end-effector. Embodiments were also evaluated on different material types, such as sand and rigid blocks. Experimental results showed that embodiments of the two-stage methodology that comprises combining expert knowledge and model optimization increased the excavation weights by up to 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Baidu USA LLC
    Inventors: Zhixian Ye, Qiangqiang Guo, Liyang Wang, Liangjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 12187312
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology provide solutions for measuring divergence between recorded real-world scene data, and a simulated environment. A process of the disclosed technology can include steps for generating, based on real-world autonomous vehicle (AV) scene data, a computer-generated simulation of a real-world scenario, determining, an occlusion region in which at least one surrounding object obstructs a field of view of the AV, and determining, based on the occlusion region, a portion of the object of interest that is visible to the AV. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for determining a divergence value indicating a difference between the portion of the object of interest that is visible to the AV within the simulation of the real-world scenario to an actual portion of the object of interest that is visible to the AV within the real-world scenario. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Hariprasad Govardhanam
  • Patent number: 12179359
    Abstract: Disturbance compensation in computer-assisted devices include an articulated arm comprising one or more first joints and one or more second joints and one or more processors coupled to the articulated arm. The articulated arm is configured to support an end effector. The one or more processors when executing instructions are configured to: detect a disturbance to the one or more first joints, the disturbance causing a point of interest associated with the end effector to move; determine a predicted motion of the point of interest based on the detected disturbance; and drive the one or more second joints to move the point of interest based on an error in a position of the point of interest indicated by the predicted motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nitish Swarup, Paul G. Griffiths, Goran A. Lynch, Daniel N. Miller
  • Patent number: 12180664
    Abstract: A method of operating a deicing system remotely, including connecting a control for the deicing system with the deicing system. When the control and the deicing system are connected, the method includes providing functionality for controlling operation of the deicing system, including control of application rates, and managing workflow and operation including job tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: David Voigt, Jordan Smith, Seth Ferkenstad, Derek Meyer
  • Patent number: 12179337
    Abstract: The application discloses a modular robotic service vehicle (MRSV) including a chassis and body comprising one or more robotic arms and robotic legs with drive wheel providing stepping, walking and driving capability to transport passengers and/or cargo and a control system comprising kinematics equations providing real-time administration involving controlling one or more robotic legs and/or robotic arms to transition in a retracted position and/or in protracted position for achieving walking, driving, attaining and handling objects. Accordingly, an operator or a Network associating with providing real-time administration involving controlling motion and position of the MRSV according to an assignment relative for walking, driving, attaining and handling objects, and aiding or assisting a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Carla R. Gillett
  • Patent number: 12179370
    Abstract: A method is for operating a manipulator that has a movement device, a compensating device, and a tool. In the method, a relative displacement of the compensating device, with respect to a target position, is sensed during setting-up and is taken into account in a subsequent control of the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Rueb, David Geissler, Efim Kuhn, Fan Yang, Markus Groganz, Michael Danzberger, Peter Schlegel, Sebastian Siedler, Thomas Dickmann, Tobias Wolf
  • Patent number: 12179930
    Abstract: A system for estimating percentage torque produced by a propulsor configured for use in an electric aircraft, the system including a propulsor, the propulsor configured to generate output torque. The system including a sensor, the sensor configured to detect the output torque and generate an output torque datum. The system including a flight controller including a computing device configured to receive an output torque datum, receive an ideal propulsor model, the ideal propulsor model including at least a performance parameter, generate a model torque datum, including a model torque datum threshold, as a function of the at least a performance parameter, generate a percentage datum as a function of the output torque datum and model torque datum, and determine, at least an obstruction datum correlated to the torque percentage datum, and display torque percentage datum and the at least an obstruction datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR LLC
    Inventor: Lochie Ferrier
  • Patent number: 12179860
    Abstract: The application discloses a modular robotic vehicle or (MRV) including a chassis and body having any shape and dimension to include an enclosed cab in which passengers are seated therein or a passenger to ride on a seat without an enclosed cab. The vehicle's modular chassis further comprising leg array rotatably connected therein, the leg array including actuators causing flexing and bobbing motion for keeping the MRV stabilized when traversing over various ground surfaces in indoor or outdoor environments. The leg array providing walking and steering capability allowing the MRV to transverse during a navigation mode, the wheel providing differential steering propulsion or braking capability, such that the wheel operates like a foot when powered off during a walking mode and rotates when powered on during a drive mode, the MRV to transport passengers and/or cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Carla R. Gillett
  • Patent number: 12172740
    Abstract: A system receives data from a submersible remote operated vehicle (ROV), the data being about the operation of an arm of the ROV. The system automatically controls, based on the data, movement of the arm in docking the arm to a tool holder. In certain instances, the system implements an image based control. In certain instances, the system implements a force accommodation control. In certain instances, the system implements both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Leonhardt, Bijou Abraham, Peter Boissiere, Steve Cohan, Kevin Hjelden, Doug Mayne, Tim Ranstrom, Sean Rogers, Kevin Schell, Spencer Slam, Adwait Jayant Gandhe
  • Patent number: 12162150
    Abstract: A robot control device includes at least one memory, and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain environmental information in a real environment, obtain information related to an action to be performed by a robot in the real environment based on the environmental information and a first policy, obtain information related to a control value that causes the robot to perform the action based on the information related to the action and a second policy, and control the robot based on the information related to the control value. The first policy is learned by using a virtual robot in a simulation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Preferred Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuniyuki Takahashi, Shimpei Masuda
  • Patent number: 12162349
    Abstract: According to one example, a system for control of a movement of a working vehicle within a work area is disclosed. The system can optionally include a steering system configured to direct the movement of the working vehicle, an object detection system, as speed sensor, and a controller. The object detection system can have one or more sensors configured to detect an object within the work area. The speed sensor can be configured to measure a speed of the working vehicle over a surface within the work area. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the steering system, the object detection system and the speed sensor. The controller can be configured to control the speed of the working vehicle based upon a steering angle of the working vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, Todd A. Impola, Timothy M. O'Donnell, John L Marsolek
  • Patent number: 12157399
    Abstract: The present application provides a method and an apparatus for controlling energy recovery, a controller, and an electric vehicle. The method includes: determining whether an electric vehicle is in a coasting energy recovery mode or a braking energy recovery mode; acquiring an energy recovery torque of the electric vehicle if the electric is in the coasting energy recovery mode or the braking energy recovery mode; and sending the energy recovery torque to a motor controller of the electric vehicle, whereby allowing the motor controller to control a motor of the electric vehicle to charge a battery of the electric vehicle. The method provided by embodiments of the present application can solve the problem that the method for controlling energy recovery in the prior art is difficult to reach a maximum energy recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Great Wall Motor Company Limited
    Inventor: Junwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12151380
    Abstract: A method for negotiating stairs includes receiving image data about a robot maneuvering in an environment with stairs. Here, the robot includes two or more legs. Prior to the robot traversing the stairs, for each stair, the method further includes determining a corresponding step region based on the received image data. The step region identifies a safe placement area on a corresponding stair for a distal end of a corresponding swing leg of the robot. Also prior to the robot traversing the stairs, the method includes shifting a weight distribution of the robot towards a front portion of the robot. When the robot traverses the stairs, the method further includes, for each stair, moving the distal end of the corresponding swing leg of the robot to a target step location where the target step location is within the corresponding step region of the stair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Benjamin Swilling
  • Patent number: 12151373
    Abstract: A manufacturing process adopting the reconfigurable robotic manufacturing cells that can work conjointly and yet have the capabilities to be reconfigured to disconnect from other cells and handle multiple tasks. The reconfigurable robotic cell is not dependent on any other robotic cells to complete work in progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nivedita Ravi, John William Zevenbergen, IV, Joseph Neil Reichenbach, Toby Ge Xu
  • Patent number: 12145578
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a first sensor configured to provide a first input associated with an environment outside a vehicle; a second sensor configured to provide a second input associated with an operation of the vehicle; and a processing unit having a first-stage processing system and a second-stage processing system; the first-stage processing system configured to receive the first input and the second input, process the first input to obtain a first time series of information, and process the second input to obtain a second time series of information; wherein the second-stage processing system comprises a neural network model configured to receive the first time series of information and a second time series of information in parallel; and wherein the neural network is configured to process the first time series and the second time series to determine a probability of a predicted event associated with an operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Nauto, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Peter Heck, Benjamin Oren Alpert, Tahmida Binte Mahmud, Mohammad Saad Billah, Ilan Hornstein
  • Patent number: 12145275
    Abstract: Stop and start detection block (63) determines whether or not a joint portion is in a stopped state before a rotation direction of the joint portion is inverted based on stop flag signal (Stop_Flg). When it is determined that the joint portion is in the stopped state, filter processing block (65) changes a frequency component of a correction amount for correcting backlash to a low frequency lower than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakata, Hiroyoshi Ueda, Ryosuke Yamamoto, Atsumi Hashimoto, Yasuyoshi Honuchi, Masayoshi Iwatani
  • Patent number: 12138791
    Abstract: A robot control system includes a robot having a servo control unit, a lower-level control apparatus transmitting a control command to the servo control unit and receiving robot status information representing a status of the robot from the servo control unit with respect to each preset control period, and an upper-level control apparatus transmitting command information for creation of the control command to the lower-level control apparatus. The lower-level control apparatus transmits the robot status information to the upper-level control apparatus in synchronization with the control period. The upper-level control apparatus transmits the command information to the lower-level control apparatus within a predetermined transmission time shorter than the control period from a time when receiving the robot status information from the lower-level control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Karito