Patents by Inventor Daniel James MIDDLETON
Daniel James MIDDLETON has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11717972Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a multi-axis robot; a visible light projector; and a controller; wherein the workbench and the robot are located in a common workspace; the controller is configured to: determine a movement operation for the robot; and, using the determined movement operation, control the visible light projector to project a visible light indication onto at least one of a surface of the workbench and a surface of the workspace; the visible light indication indicates a limited area of the workbench and/or workspace, the limited area corresponding to a limited volume of space; and the movement operation is such that, if the robot performs the movement operation, the robot moves entirely within only the limited volume of space.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: BAE Systems plcInventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Patent number: 11453122Abstract: A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: BAE Systems plcInventors: Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Publication number: 20210354303Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a multi-axis robot; a visible light projector; and a controller; wherein the workbench and the robot are located in a common workspace; the controller is configured to: determine a movement operation for the robot; and, using the determined movement operation, control the visible light projector to project a visible light indication onto at least one of a surface of the workbench and a surface of the workspace; the visible light indication indicates a limited area of the workbench and/or workspace, the limited area corresponding to a limited volume of space; and the movement operation is such that, if the robot performs the movement operation, the robot moves entirely within only the limited volume of space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: BAE Systems plcInventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Patent number: 11110610Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a multi-axis robot; a visible light projector; and a controller; wherein the workbench and the robot are located in a common workspace; the controller is configured to: determine a movement operation for the robot; and, using the determined movement operation, control the visible light projector to project a visible light indication onto at least one of a surface of the workbench and a surface of the workspace; the visible light indication indicates a limited area of the workbench and/or workspace, the limited area corresponding to a limited volume of space; and the movement operation is such that, if the robot performs the movement operation, the robot moves entirely within only the limited volume of space.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: BAE Systems plcInventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Publication number: 20210187750Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a multi-axis robot; a visible light projector; and a controller; wherein the workbench and the robot are located in a common workspace; the controller is configured to: determine a movement operation for the robot; and, using the determined movement operation, control the visible light projector to project a visible light indication onto at least one of a surface of the workbench and a surface of the workspace; the visible light indication indicates a limited area of the workbench and/or workspace, the limited area corresponding to a limited volume of space; and the movement operation is such that, if the robot performs the movement operation, the robot moves entirely within only the limited volume of space.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Publication number: 20210187728Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; one or more sensors mounted to the workbench; a multi-axis robot comprising an end effector for holding an object; and a controller configured to: control the robot to move the object held by the end effector relative to the one or more sensors; control the one or more sensors to measure one or more physical properties of the object held by the end effector; and perform a validation process using the measurements taken by the one or more sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Publication number: 20210170576Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a sensor system comprising one or more sensors, the sensor system configured to identify a user in a workspace in which the workbench is located; a controller operatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to: based on the identity of the user, determine a task to be performed by the user using the workbench system; and based on the identity of the user and the determined task, control one or more properties of the workbench.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton, David Samuel John Holmes
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Publication number: 20210154829Abstract: A system comprising: a workbench having a display; a body-wearable mobile device for example, a smartwatch worn by a user); and a controller configured to: receive data (for example, data measured by the body-wearable mobile device) from the body-wearable mobile device; using the received data, determine a task for a user of the workbench; and control the display based on the determined task. For example, the display may be controlled to display instructions for performing the determined task, or an indication that the user is not permitted to perform the determined task.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: David Samuel John Holmes, Martin Knott, Daniel James Middleton
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Publication number: 20210114211Abstract: A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: BAE Systems plcInventors: Martin KNOTT, Daniel James MIDDLETON