Patents Examined by Stephen Holwerda
-
Patent number: 9823081Abstract: At least one first model represents a person. A request to pick up a passenger includes a first location and a personal identifier for the passenger. A vehicle is caused to navigate to the first location. The passenger is identified by comparing a second model generated from vehicle sensor data with the first model.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark Crawford, James Robert McBride, Shane Elwart, Schuyler Cohen
-
Patent number: 9818303Abstract: Flight path determination for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in which three-dimensional coverage information, corresponding to a wireless network, is used to optimize the flight path to ensure that the UAVs maintain network coverage throughout the flight. The flight path information may be provided as a service to UAV operators. In one implementation, network coverage for a cellular network may be mapped in a three-dimensional manner. That is, the radio signal strength of the network may be mapped at various heights that correspond to heights at which UAVs are likely to fly.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventor: Lalit R. Kotecha
-
Patent number: 9815510Abstract: A controller 40 for a mobile robot 1 estimates, in a climbing up or down motion of the robot 1, the difference between the actual position and attitude of a distal end portion 13 of a to-be-supported movable link 3 that has been supported by a structure A and the desired position and attitude thereof, and determines a motion target of the robot 1 such that at least either the desired relative position/attitude of the distal end portion 13 of the to-be-supported movable link 3 with respect to a base body 2 or the desired support position/attitude of the distal end portion 13 of a to-be-moved movable link 3, which is to be moved, is adjusted according to the estimated value of the difference.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYOInventors: Masao Kanazawa, Masayuki Inaba, Kei Okada, Yohei Kakiuchi, Shunichi Nozawa
-
Patent number: 9802286Abstract: A robot control system provided in a machining system including a robot and a machine tool. The robot control system includes a robot controller controlling the robot, a portable teach pendant connected to the robot controller, and a communication network adapted to connect the robot controller to a machine tool controller controlling the machine tool. The teach pendant includes a display section configured to display information relating to the robot and the machine tool. The robot controller includes a processing section configured to obtain information relating to the machine tool from the machine tool controller through the communication network, make the display section of the teach pendant display a machine tool-related screen in accordance with a given screen program, and make the machine tool-related screen of the display section of the teach pendant display the information, as obtained, relating to the machine tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: FANUC LTDInventors: Hiroji Nishi, Tetsuaki Kato
-
Patent number: 9785152Abstract: Systems and methods present information from a management server on a mobile client device to facilitate the management of industrial vehicles. Embodiments of the system can include a plurality of industrial vehicles communicatively coupled to the management server, and a mobile client device communicatively coupled to the management server. The mobile client device can include a display, a wireless communication circuit, and one or more client processors. Encoded objects, vehicular objects, or combinations thereof can be presented upon the display of the mobile client device to present information from the management server.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Crown Equipment CorporationInventors: Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Lisa Wong
-
Patent number: 9782050Abstract: A method of controlling a robot cleaner includes recognizing information on a monitoring standby position by a robot cleaner, moving to the monitoring standby position at a monitoring start time by the robot cleaner, acquiring an image, by an image acquisition unit of the robot cleaner, at the monitoring standby position, determining whether an event has occurred, by the robot cleaner, based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, transmitting the image acquired by the image acquisition unit to an external remote terminal when it is determined that the event occurred.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Bongju Kim, Sunghun Lee, Ilsoo Cho
-
Patent number: 9776616Abstract: Provided are a vehicle and a control method for the vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank configured to store a fuel for the engine, a grille shutter, and an ECU. The grille shutter is configured to regulate an introduction air from an outside of the vehicle to an inside of the vehicle. The ECU is configured to determine whether or not the fuel is deteriorating. The ECU is configured to control the grille shutter such that an amount of the introduction air in a case where the fuel is deteriorating is larger than an amount of the introduction air in a case where the fuel is not deteriorating.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takao Itoh
-
Patent number: 9757861Abstract: A user interface device of a remote control system for a robot and a method using the same are provided. The user interface device includes: a radio frequency (RF) unit for receiving, from a remote control robot, camera data and at least one sensor data detecting a distance; a display unit having a main screen and at least one auxiliary screen; and a controller having an environment evaluation module for determining whether the received camera data are in a normal condition, and having a screen display mode change module for displaying, if the received camera data are in a normal condition, the camera data on the main screen and displaying, if the received camera data are in an abnormal condition, the sensor data on the main screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soon Hyuk Hong, Gi Oh Kim, Jong Ho Park, Ji Hyun Park, Seung Hyun Baek
-
Patent number: 9751211Abstract: Example implementations may relate a robot part including a processor, at least one sensor, and an interface providing wireless connectivity. The processor may determine that the robot part is removablly connected to a particular robotic system and may responsively obtain identification information to identify the particular robotic system. While the robot part is removablly connected to the particular robotic system, the processor may (i) transmit, to an external computing system, sensor data that the processor received from the at least one sensor and (ii) receive, from the external computing system, environment information (e.g., representing characteristics of an environment in which the particular robotic system is operating) based on interpretation of the sensor data. And based on the identification information and the environment information, the processor may generate a command that causes the particular robotic system to carry out a task in the environment.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: John Aaron Saunders, Michael Patrick Murphy
-
Patent number: 9737991Abstract: A robot control device includes a contact judging part which judges if the robot has contacted an object based on external force which is detected by the sensor, a stop command part which makes the robot stop when it is judged that the robot has contacted the object, a continuous contact judging part which judges if the robot continues to contact the object after making the robot stop, and a retraction command part which makes the robot retract in a direction away from the object when it is judged that the robot continues to contact the object.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiromitsu Takahashi, Kazuhisa Takaki
-
Patent number: 9718189Abstract: A robot teaching device for teaching a robot offline, capable of setting target, advance and rotation angles of a tool, so that a flat and stable posture of the tool can be obtained. The teaching device has: a storing part which stores a combination of a plurality of processing portion shapes and the target and advance angles associated with each processing portion; a first setting part which sets the target and advance angles associated with the selected processing portion shape, as target and advance angles with respect to the designated processing portion shape; and a second setting part which rotates the tool about a longitudinal axis thereof while maintaining the target and advance angles, so as to calculate the rotation angle of the tool, wherein a height of a face plate of the robot from a horizon plane in the virtual space is maximum at the rotation angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Atohira, Yoshiharu Nagatsuka, Kozo Inoue
-
Patent number: 9715000Abstract: A system for use in identifying one of an unmanned ground vehicle and an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a signal emitter associated with the unmanned vehicle. The signal emitter includes at least one quantum cascade laser. The signal emitter emits a signal having a wavelength between approximately 2 ?m and approximately 30 ?m, and the signal is detectable to identify the unmanned vehicle as friendly at a distance from the signal emitter greater than approximately 1 meter.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: LaserMax, Inc.Inventors: Susan Houde-Walter, Christopher A. Gagliano, Daniel Balonek
-
Patent number: 9709391Abstract: A position calculating system for a haulage vehicle including wheels and a body frame mounted on the wheels. The system includes an attitude detection sensor fixed on the body frame, a wheel rotational speed sensor, a loading status information acquiring unit, a correction amount setting unit, a velocity vector calculating unit, and a position calculating unit. The loading status information acquiring unit acquires loading status information indicating whether the body frame is in a loaded state or in an unloaded state. The correction amount setting unit calculates, based on the attitude information, a correction amount required for bringing detection axes in the loaded state into coincidence with corresponding detection axes in the unloaded state. The velocity vector calculating unit calculates the velocity vector of the haulage vehicle. The position calculating unit calculates a position of the haulage vehicle by using the velocity vector.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Bando, Hidefumi Ishimoto, Shinjiro Saito
-
Patent number: 9689706Abstract: A feature for a motor vehicle that takes precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network in the vicinity ahead of the vehicle. The feature uses a data representation of the road network extending from the current vehicle position out to an extent. The data representation of the road network is used to identify conditions, if any, that warrant taking a precautionary action. The type of conditions about which actions are to be taken may be identified in a data file. A precautionary action is taken as the vehicle approaches the location of the condition. The precautionary action may be a message provided to the vehicle driver to alert the driver about the condition. Alternatively, the action may be a modification of the vehicle operation, such as slowing down or stopping the vehicle, speeding up the vehicle, changing direction, and so on.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: HERE Global B.V.Inventor: Robert Denaro
-
Patent number: 9676376Abstract: A vehicle brake fluid pressure control apparatus includes a control unit including a memory part for storing a valve closing map which shows a relationship between a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of a pressure regulator valve and an output current value for closing the pressure regulator valve and a valve opening map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure and an output current value for opening the pressure regulator valve. The control unit executes a current value switching control in which the output current value of the valve closing map is changed to that of the valve opening map and thereafter, the output current of the valve opening map is changed to an output current value which lies somewhere between the output current values of the valve closing map and the valve opening map.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Masuda, Nobuyuki Nomura
-
Patent number: 9676100Abstract: A trajectory along which a robot is driven by an actuator is calculated using a first constraint value. A target value of the robot and a second constraint value are used to calculate a target trajectory of the robot. A deflection correction amount of the robot is calculated. The target trajectory is corrected from the deflection correction amount to calculate a deflection correction trajectory. Performance of the actuator necessary to operate the robot based on the deflection correction trajectory is calculated. It is determined whether a first condition that the actuator performance is within a range of the first constraint value and a second condition that a difference between the first constraint value and the actuator performance is within a range of a predetermined value are satisfied. The deflection trajectory is output to the actuator if it is determined that the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Motoyasu Tanaka
-
Patent number: 9662174Abstract: A method and system for micro-force guided cooperative control that assists the operator in manipulating tissue in the direction of least resistance. A tool holder receives a surgical tool adapted to be held by a robot and a surgeon. A first sensor measures interaction forces between a tip of the surgical tool and tissue of a region of interest. A second sensor measures interaction forces between the surgeon and a handle to the surgical tool. A data processor is configured to perform an algorithm to actively guide the surgical tool by creating a bias towards a path of least resistance and limit directional tool forces of the surgical tool as a function of handle input forces and tip forces. This function offers assistance to challenging retinal membrane peeling procedures that require a surgeon to delicately delaminate fragile tissue that is susceptible to hemorrhage and tearing due to undesirable forces.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYInventors: Russell H. Taylor, Marcin Arkadiusz Balicki, James Tahara Handa, Peter Louis Gehlbach, Iulian Iordachita, Ali Uneri
-
Patent number: 9656667Abstract: An automatic braking system for a vehicle includes an electronic brake system capable of applying wheel brakes to decelerate the vehicle and a controller. The controller includes instructions for detecting an object proximate to a vehicle with at least one sensor for a reverse collision avoidance system and determining a collision confidence value based upon the probability of collision with the object. The controller further includes instructions for determining a desired velocity profile of the vehicle that provides for deceleration of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: David Leslie Agnew, Graham Lanier Fletcher
-
Patent number: 9650066Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus having a function for detecting a steering speed, includes a time stamp attaching section that attaches a time stamp (ATi) to a detection signal (Ai) and attaches a time stamp (BTj) to a detection signal (Bj); a storing section that stores the detection signal (Bj) to which the time stamp (BTj) is attached; a synchronous signal searching section that searches the detection signal (Bj) most synchronized with the detection signal (Ai) based on the time stamps (ATi and BTj); a vernier calculating section that performs a calculation of an angle difference between synchronous signals searched by the synchronous signal searching section and a vernier calculation and outputs an absolute steering angle of a sensor reference; an initial steering angle calculating section that calculates an initial steering angle value from the absolute steering angle; and a steering angle output section that obtains a steering angle.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventors: Fumitoshi Nakamura, Tomonori Hisanaga
-
Patent number: 9652023Abstract: A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. Users interact with the system by speaking to it. The system processes text and processes commands. The system supports wireless technology for hands-free use. The system handles telephone calls, email, and SMS text messages. The user can customize the device via a user profile stored on an Internet web server. The system also includes a plurality of power conservation features.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: INTELLIGENT MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Otman A. Basir, William Ben Miners, Vladimir Filippov