Patents by Inventor Manfred Huettenhofer

Manfred Huettenhofer 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).

  • Patent number: 11826912
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot assembly having at least one robotic arm. The method includes determining a trajectory in the axis space of the robot assembly on the basis of a path having a plurality of previously specified Cartesian poses of at least one robot-assembly-fixed reference, and determining control values in the axis space on the basis of said trajectory. The robot assembly is controlled on the basis of the control values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Publication number: 20210178582
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot assembly having at least one robotic arm. The method includes determining a trajectory in the axis space of the robot assembly on the basis of a path having a plurality of previously specified Cartesian poses of at least one robot-assembly-fixed reference, and determining control values in the axis space on the basis of said trajectory. The robot assembly is controlled on the basis of the control values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Patent number: 10220514
    Abstract: A method for controlling a manipulator, with the method being particularly suitable for the respecting of predetermined monitoring limits. The method operates by initiating a halting movement or a speed capping based on an identified actual override trend, and is thus suitable, in particular, for path movements by means of spline interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Tronnier, Günther Wiedemann, Stefan Burkhart, Andreas Aurnhammer, Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Publication number: 20180178383
    Abstract: A method for moving along a predetermined path with a robot in an at least a partially automated manner includes determining a deployment position on a current path section of the predetermined path for which a distance parameter satisfies a predetermined condition, and moving to the deployment position with the robot. In one aspect, the robot may be moved to the deployment position if a deployment condition is satisfied. The distance parameter may be determined on the basis of a distance of a current position of the robot relative to the current path section. The predetermined condition may be that the distance parameter has a value that is less than or equal to the values of the distance parameter of all positions in a partial area of the current path section, which is in particular complementary to the deployment position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicants: KUKA Roboter GmbH, KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Burkhart, Andreas Hagenauer, Manfred Huettenhofer, Robert Schreittmiller
  • Patent number: 9895807
    Abstract: An inventive programming means for programming a movement of a robot axis arrangement and a movement of at least one further robot axis arrangement is adapted to synchronize the pair of positions of the movement of the robot axis arrangement and the pairs of positions of the movement of at least one more robot axis arrangement, and while maintaining this synchronization, to specify at least another position between either one of these pairs of positions, which is not synchronized with another position of the hereby synchronized pair of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Wiedemann, Manfred Huettenhofer, Stefanie Deller, Andreas Hagenauer, Martin Weiss
  • Patent number: 9827674
    Abstract: A method for the conditional stopping of at least one manipulator and a manipulator assembly. The manipulator travels along a path which has a stopping point. In order to be able to stop the manipulator at the stopping point, a braking point on the path is calculated as a function of a speed of the manipulator. If the status of a travel condition variable necessitates braking of the manipulator in the event of exceeding the braking point, the manipulator is braked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Tronnier, Günther Wiedemann, Stefan Burkhart, Andreas Aurnhammer, Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Patent number: 9446516
    Abstract: A method for designating and/or controlling a manipulator process for a manipulator configuration having at least one manipulator, in particular, an industrial robot, wherein the manipulator process includes a given oriented manipulator path for the manipulator configuration. The method includes designating or executing at least one action by the manipulator configuration, in particular, differently, in response to a reverse movement running counter to the oriented manipulator path, and/or a return movement running in the same direction as the oriented manipulator path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Wiedemann, Andreas Hagenauer, Manfred Huettenhofer, Martin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20160176050
    Abstract: A method for controlling a manipulator, with the method being particularly suitable for the respecting of predetermined monitoring limits. The method operates by initiating a halting movement or a speed capping based on an identified actual override trend, and is thus suitable, in particular, for path movements by means of spline interpolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Holger Tronnier, Günther Wiedemann, Stefan Burkhart, Andreas Aurnhammer, Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Publication number: 20160176049
    Abstract: A method for the conditional stopping of at least one manipulator and a manipulator assembly. The manipulator travels along a path which has a stopping point. In order to be able to stop the manipulator at the stopping point, a braking point on the path is calculated as a function of a speed of the manipulator. If the status of a travel condition variable necessitates braking of the manipulator in the event of exceeding the braking point, the manipulator is braked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Holger Tronnier, Günther Wiedemann, Stefan Burkhart, Andreas Aurnhammer, Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Patent number: 9266238
    Abstract: Target values for position and orientation of a work point are provided in a robot program, dependent on which the program causes automatic movement of axles of the manipulator by a robot controller connected with the manipulator, to adjust a tool reference point of the manipulator. A robot base is movable via an auxiliary axle. Position values (provided by the robot program) of a planned position and orientation to be occupied by robot base for the tool reference point adjustment are automatically changed so the actual position of the robot base converges on a predetermined reference point, such as the work point or the tool reference point and the auxiliary axle is automatically moved to cause the robot base to occupy the position and orientation that correspond to the changed position values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Huettenhofer
  • Publication number: 20130345867
    Abstract: An inventive programming means for programming a movement of a robot axis arrangement and a movement of at least one further robot axis arrangement is adapted to synchronize the pair of positions (q1—0; q1—4) of the movement of the robot axis arrangement and the pairs of positions (q2—0, q3—0; q2—5, q3—3) of the movement of at least one more robot axis arrangement, and while maintaining this synchronization, to specify at least another position (q1—2, q2—2, q2—4) between either one of these pairs of positions, which is not synchronized with another position of the hereby synchronized pair of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Guenther Wiedemann, Manfred Huettenhofer, Stefanie Deller, Andreas Hagenauer, Martin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130282177
    Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for designating and/or controlling a manipulator process for a manipulator configuration (1, 2, 3) having at least one manipulator, in particular, an industrial robot, wherein the manipulator process exhibits a given oriented manipulator track for the manipulator configuration, at least one action by the manipulator configuration can be designated, or shall be executed, respectively, in particular, differently, in relation to a reverse movement running counter to the oriented manipulator track, and/or a return movement running in the same direction as the oriented manipulator track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Wiedemann, Andreas Hagenauer, Manfred Huettenhofer, Martin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130103192
    Abstract: In a robot control method, target values of a work point are provided in position and orientation by a robot program, programmatically dependent on which a tool reference point of a manipulator is to be adjusted via automatic movement of axles of the manipulator by a robot controller connected with the manipulator. Based on position values (provided by the robot program) of a planned position and orientation of a robot base adjustable via an auxiliary axle, which position and orientation are to be occupied by the robot base, automatically changing the position values such that the actual position of the robot base that is to be occupied relative to the planned position to be occupied converges on a predetermined reference point, in particular the work point or the tool reference point. The robot controller automatically moves the auxiliary axle to cause the robot base to occupy the position and orientation that correspond to the changed position values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Manfred Huettenhofer
  • Patent number: 8255083
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) having a control apparatus (8), and to a method for controlling the movement of the industrial robot (1). For the purposes of the method, an instruction which is intended for controlling the industrial robot (1) is checked, an interpreted instruction is produced by interpretation of the checked instruction by means of an interpreter (13), and the interpreted instruction is stored in a temporary store (10). This process is repeated until a first keyword is detected. A data record (15) is then produced from the interpreted instructions stored in the temporary store (10), wherein the data record (15) has information relating to at least one path element of a path on which the industrial robot (1) is intended to be moved. The data record (15) is loaded into a buffer store (11), is checked by the buffer store (11) and is interpolated by means of an interpolator (14), in order to move the industrial robot (1) on the path element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Manfred Hüttenhofer, Andreas Hagenauer, Günther Wiedemann
  • Publication number: 20110087375
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for controlling a manipulator, in particular a robot, includes the following steps: determining (S10, S20) a target path (q(s)) of the manipulator, and determining (S70) a motion value (v(s)) for this target path, optionally, determining (S50) a path segment ([s_A, s_E]) with a defined profile of a motion value (v(s)=vc), and automatically determining (S60) this motion value on the basis of motion values (v_max_RB, v_max_vg) permissible in this path segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Aurnhammer, Stefan Burkhart, Manfred Hüttenhofer, Martin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20110060462
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for stopping a manipulator (1) includes these steps: advance simulation of stopping distances for different states (q, dq/dt, L) and/or braking force profiles (?) of the manipulator (S10), estimating of an upper limit as the stopping distance (smax) on the basis of the stopping distances simulated in advance (S120), monitoring a zone (A0; A1; A2), and decelerating the manipulator (1) when a zone is violated, wherein the monitored zone is defined variably (S130) during operation on the basis of the stopping distance (smax) of the manipulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Aurnhammer, Markus Eisensehr, Andreas Hagenauer, Manfred Hüttenhofer
  • Publication number: 20100312389
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) having a control apparatus (8), and to a method for controlling the movement of the industrial robot (1). For the purposes of the method, an instruction which is intended for controlling the industrial robot (1) is checked, an interpreted instruction is produced by interpretation of the checked instruction by means of an interpreter (13), and the interpreted instruction is stored in a temporary store (10). This process is repeated until a first keyword is detected. A data record (15) is then produced from the interpreted instructions stored in the temporary store (10), wherein the data record (15) has information relating to at least one path element of a path on which the industrial robot (1) is intended to be moved. The data record (15) is loaded into a buffer store (11), is checked by the buffer store (11) and is interpolated by means of an interpolator (14), in order to move the industrial robot (1) on the path element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Weiss, Manfred Hüttenhofer, Andreas Hagenauer, Günther Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 7295891
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the movement of a manipulator associated with an interpretation of a given point sequence of poses (positions and orientations) by splines, the motion components are separately parameterized. Thus, marked, subsequent changes to the orientation of robot axes have no undesired effects on the Cartesian movement path of the robot. Suitable algorithms are provided for orientation control by using quaternions or Euler angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hüttenhofer, Günther Wiedemann, Stefan Burkhart