Patents by Inventor Frank Noble Permenter
Frank Noble Permenter 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: 9120224Abstract: A robotic system for performing an autonomous task includes a humanoid robot having a plurality of compliant robotic joints, actuators, and other integrated system devices that are controllable in response to control data from various control points, and having sensors for measuring feedback data at the control points. The system includes a multi-level distributed control framework (DCF) for controlling the integrated system components over multiple high-speed communication networks. The DCF has a plurality of first controllers each embedded in a respective one of the integrated system components, e.g., the robotic joints, a second controller coordinating the components via the first controllers, and a third controller for transmitting a signal commanding performance of the autonomous task to the second controller. The DCF virtually centralizes all of the control data and the feedback data in a single location to facilitate control of the robot across the multiple communication networks.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented By The Administrator of the national Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Adam M. Sanders, Leandro G. Barajas, Frank Noble Permenter, Philip A. Strawser
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Patent number: 8706299Abstract: A robotic system includes a dexterous robot and a controller. The robot includes a plurality of robotic joints, actuators for moving the joints, and sensors for measuring a characteristic of the joints, and for transmitting the characteristics as sensor signals. The controller receives the sensor signals, and is configured for executing instructions from memory, classifying the sensor signals into distinct classes via the state classification module, monitoring a system state of the robot using the classes, and controlling the robot in the execution of alternative work tasks based on the system state. A method for controlling the robot in the above system includes receiving the signals via the controller, classifying the signals using the state classification module, monitoring the present system state of the robot using the classes, and controlling the robot in the execution of alternative work tasks based on the present system state.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Adam M. Sanders, Robert J. Platt, Jr., Nathaniel Quillin, Frank Noble Permenter, Joseph Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 8525460Abstract: An SEA architecture for controlling the torque applied by an SEA that has particular application for controlling the position of a robot link. The SEA architecture includes a motor coupled to one end of an elastic spring and a load coupled to an opposite end of the elastic spring, where the motor drives the load through the spring. The orientation of the shaft of the motor and the load are measured by position sensors. Position signals from the position sensors are sent to an embedded processor that determines the orientation of the load relative to the motor shaft to determine the torque on the spring. The embedded processor receives reference torque signals from a remote controller, and the embedded processor operates a high-speed servo loop about the desired joint torque. The remote controller determines the desired joint torque based on higher order objectives by their impedance or positioning objectives.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Matthew J. Reiland, Brian Hargrave, Robert Platt, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter
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Patent number: 8511964Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a torso, a pair of arms, two hands, a neck, and a head. The torso extends along a primary axis and presents a pair of shoulders. The pair of arms movably extend from a respective one of the pair of shoulders. Each of the arms has a plurality of arm joints. The neck movably extends from the torso along the primary axis. The neck has at least one neck joint. The head movably extends from the neck along the primary axis. The head has at least one head joint. The shoulders are canted toward one another at a shrug angle that is defined between each of the shoulders such that a workspace is defined between the shoulders.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Douglas Martin Linn, Robert O. Ambrose, Myron A. Diftler, Scott R. Askew, Robert Platt, Joshua S. Mehling, Nicolaus A. Radford, Phillip A. Strawser, Lyndon Bridgwater, Charles W. Wampler, II, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Chris A. Ihrke, Matthew J. Reiland, Adam M. Sanders, David M. Reich, Brian Hargrave, Adam H. Parsons, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis
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Patent number: 8467903Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a robotic hand having at least one finger. An actuation system for the robotic finger includes an actuator assembly which is supported by the robot and is spaced apart from the finger. A tendon extends from the actuator assembly to the at least one finger and ends in a tendon terminator. The actuator assembly is operable to actuate the tendon to move the tendon terminator and, thus, the finger.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Chris A. Ihrke, David M. Reich, Lyndon Bridgwater, Douglas Martin Linn, Scott R. Askew, Myron A. Diftler, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Michael C. Valvo, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter, Joshua S. Mehling
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Patent number: 8443694Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Patent number: 8443693Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Patent number: 8442684Abstract: A control system for achieving high-speed torque for a joint of a robot includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a collocated joint processor and high-speed communication bus. The PCBA may also include a power inverter module (PIM) and local sensor conditioning electronics (SCE) for processing sensor data from one or more motor position sensors. Torque control of a motor of the joint is provided via the PCBA as a high-speed torque loop. Each joint processor may be embedded within or collocated with the robotic joint being controlled. Collocation of the joint processor, PIM, and high-speed bus may increase noise immunity of the control system, and the localized processing of sensor data from the joint motor at the joint level may minimize bus cabling to and from each control node. The joint processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneeering Space SystemsInventors: Donald R. Davis, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Michael C. Valvo, R. Scott Askew
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Publication number: 20130035792Abstract: A robotic system includes a dexterous robot and a controller. The robot includes a plurality of robotic joints, actuators for moving the joints, and sensors for measuring a characteristic of the joints, and for transmitting the characteristics as sensor signals. The controller receives the sensor signals, and is configured for executing instructions from memory, classifying the sensor signals into distinct classes via the state classification module, monitoring a system state of the robot using the classes, and controlling the robot in the execution of alternative work tasks based on the system state. A method for controlling the robot in the above system includes receiving the signals via the controller, classifying the signals using the state classification module, monitoring the present system state of the robot using the classes, and controlling the robot in the execution of alternative work tasks based on the present system state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicants: The U.S.A. As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Adam M. Sanders, Robert J. Platt, JR., Nathaniel Quillin, Frank Noble Permenter, Joseph Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20120279338Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Publication number: 20120279343Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicants: The U.S.A. As Represented by the Admisnistrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Patent number: 8291788Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Patent number: 8280837Abstract: A method for identifying the location, orientation and shape of an object that a robot hand touches that includes using a particle filter. The method includes defining an appropriate motion model and a measurement model. The motion model characterizes the motion of the robot hand as it moves relative to the object. The measurement model estimates the likelihood of an observation of contact position, velocity and tactile sensor information given hand-object states. The measurement model is approximated analytically based on a geometric model or based on a corpus of training data. In either case, the measurement model distribution is encoded as a Gaussian or using radial basis functions.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United State of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Robert Platt, Frank Noble Permenter, Craig M. Corcoran, Charles W. Wampler, II
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Patent number: 8250901Abstract: A system includes a rotary device, a rotary absolute position (RAP) sensor generating encoded pairs of voltage signals describing positional data of the rotary device, a host machine, and an algorithm. The algorithm calculates calibration parameters usable to determine an absolute position of the rotary device using the encoded pairs, and is adapted for linearly-mapping an ellipse defined by the encoded pairs to thereby calculate the calibration parameters. A method of calibrating the RAP sensor includes measuring the rotary position as encoded pairs of voltage signals, linearly-mapping an ellipse defined by the encoded pairs to thereby calculate the calibration parameters, and calculating an absolute position of the rotary device using the calibration parameters. The calibration parameters include a positive definite matrix (A) and a center point (q) of the ellipse. The voltage signals may include an encoded sine and cosine of a rotary angle of the rotary device.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Davis, Frank Noble Permenter, Nicolaus A Radford
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Patent number: 8067909Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system and method is provided for selectively braking a motor using an electromagnetic brake having an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, a rotor assembly, and a brake pad. The brake assembly applies when the electromagnet is de-energized and releases when the electromagnet is energized. When applied the permanent magnet moves the brake pad into frictional engagement with a housing, and when released the electromagnet cancels the flux of the permanent magnet to allow a leaf spring to move the brake pad away from the housing. A controller has a DC/DC converter for converting a main bus voltage to a lower braking voltage based on certain parameters. The converter utilizes pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate the braking voltage. A calibrated gap is defined between the brake pad and permanent magnet when the brake assembly is released, and may be dynamically modified via the controller.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Donald R. Davis, Nicolaus A Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Adam H Parsons, Joshua S Mehling
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Publication number: 20110190934Abstract: An SEA architecture for controlling the torque applied by an SEA that has particular application for controlling the position of a robot link. The SEA architecture includes a motor coupled to one end of an elastic spring and a load coupled to an opposite end of the elastic spring, where the motor drives the load through the spring. The orientation of the shaft of the motor and the load are measured by position sensors. Position signals from the position sensors are sent to an embedded processor that determines the orientation of the load relative to the motor shaft to determine the torque on the spring. The embedded processor receives reference torque signals from a remote controller, and the embedded processor operates a high-speed servo loop about the desired joint torque. The remote controller determines the desired joint torque based on higher order objectives by their impedance or positioning objectives.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., SPACE ADMINISTRATIONInventors: Matthew J. Reiland, Brian Hargrave, Robert Platt, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter
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Publication number: 20110071678Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a robotic hand having at least one finger. An actuation system for the robotic finger includes an actuator assembly which is supported by the robot and is spaced apart from the finger. A tendon extends from the actuator assembly to the at least one finger and ends in a tendon terminator. The actuator assembly is operable to actuate the tendon to move the tendon terminator and, thus, the finger.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. As Rpresented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, David M. Reich, Lyndon Bridgwater, Douglas Martin Linn, Scott R. Askew`, Myron A. Diftler, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Michael C. Valvo, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter, Joshua S. Mehling
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Publication number: 20110067517Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS,INC., The U.S.A .As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
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Publication number: 20110071672Abstract: A robotic system for performing an autonomous task includes a humanoid robot having a plurality of compliant robotic joints, actuators, and other integrated system devices that are controllable in response to control data from various control points, and having sensors for measuring feedback data at the control points. The system includes a multi-level distributed control framework (DCF) for controlling the integrated system components over multiple high-speed communication networks. The DCF has a plurality of first controllers each embedded in a respective one of the integrated system components, e.g., the robotic joints, a second controller coordinating the components via the first controllers, and a third controller for transmitting a signal commanding performance of the autonomous task to the second controller. The DCF virtually centralizes all of the control data and the feedback data in a single location to facilitate control of the robot across the multiple communication networks.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Aministration, Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Adam M. Sanders, Leandro G. Barajas, Frank Noble Permenter, Philip A. Strawser
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Publication number: 20110071680Abstract: A control system for achieving high-speed torque for a joint of a robot includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a collocated joint processor and high-speed communication bus. The PCBA may also include a power inverter module (PIM) and local sensor conditioning electronics (SCE) for processing sensor data from one or more motor position sensors. Torque control of a motor of the joint is provided via the PCBA as a high-speed torque loop. Each joint processor may be embedded within or collocated with the robotic joint being controlled. Collocation of the joint processor, PIM, and high-speed bus may increase noise immunity of the control system, and the localized processing of sensor data from the joint motor at the joint level may minimize bus cabling to and from each control node. The joint processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Oceaneering International, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Davis, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Michael C. Valvo