Patents by Inventor Michael Sussman
Michael Sussman 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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Publication number: 20190184742Abstract: A mobile robot configured to drive on a surface with irregularities, comprising: a chassis having a front end facing a forward direction of travel, a back end, a first side, and a second side. There is a first drive wheel rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the first side and interconnected to a motor to propel it. There is a second drive wheel rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the second side and interconnected to a motor to propel it. A first caster assembly is rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the front end and includes a first caster wheel configured to rotate about a first swivel axis. A second caster assembly is rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the back end and includes a second caster wheel configured to rotate about a second swivel axis and it includes a compliant member to absorb the irregularities.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Peter Sussman, Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20190168629Abstract: A docking station for charging a robot including an electrical charger assembly affixed to the charger docking station and configured to mate with an electrical charging port on the robot when the robot is docked at the docking station for charging. There is at least one compliant member interconnecting the electrical charger assembly to a portion of the docking station to allow movement of the electrical charger assembly relative to the electrical charging port on the robot when the robot is mating with the docking station.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Christina Nicole Fong, Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20190155296Abstract: A method, system, and wheeled base for navigating a robot for docking with a charger docking station. The robot receives an initial pose associated with a robot charger docking station and a mating pose associated with the robot charger docking station. The robot first navigates from a location to an initial pose using scan matching to a first map. The robot performs a second navigation from the initial pose to the mating pose using scan matching to a second map, thereby causing an electrical charging port of the robot to mate with an electrical charging assembly of the robot charger docking station. Localization during charger docking may use a higher resolution map than when navigating to the docking station. Localizing against the robot charger docking station may be performed on a higher resolution map of the docking station alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Thomas Moore, Bradley Powers, Michael Sussman, Aron K. Insinga
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Patent number: 10293496Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate cables to pass through moving, space-constrained joints and conveying power and/or signals to various robotic joint-associated elements utilize a unitary and flat laminated cable slack within the joint to accommodate the relative motion between mechanical elements of the joints. In various embodiments, the cable has multiple insulated sub-cables; each sub-cable is insulated and physically separable from all other sub-cables. Some of the sub-cables are separated from the cable and electrically connected to joint-associated components for conveying signals and power thereto without mechanically interfering with relative motion between mechanical elements of the joint.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: RETHINK ROBOTICS GmbHInventor: Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20190092183Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot having a battery. The charging station includes a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station. There is a communications device configured to receive from the autonomous robot an identifier indicative of a type of battery on the autonomous robot. There is a power supply, electrically connected to the first charging member, configured to charge the autonomous robot according to a charging profile. The charging profile is selected based at least in part on the identifier received from the autonomous robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Michael Sussman, Aron Klair Insinga
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Publication number: 20190092179Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot with first and second cameras used for docking the autonomous robot with the electrical charging station. There is a front side cover with a surface, the front side cover including a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging. There is a first fiducial surface including a first fiducial marker affixed to the first surface. The first fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the surface of the front side cover. There is a second fiducial surface including a second fiducial marker affixed to the second surface. The second fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the surface of the front side cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Kai Hian Kwa, Michael Sussman, Thomas Moore, Bradley Powers, Christina Nicole Fong
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Publication number: 20190092184Abstract: An electrical charging system for charging an autonomous robot powered by a re-chargeable battery and having a first charging member. The charging station includes a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging the re-chargeable battery. There is a power supply configured to charge the re-chargeable battery of the robot and a sensor configured to measure an amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot. There is a processor configured to determine from the amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot measured by the sensor, a state of charge (SOC) of the autonomous robot. There is also a communications device configured to transmit to the robot the SOC of the robot while docked at the charging station.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Michael Sussman, Aron Klair Insinga
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Patent number: 10202047Abstract: An electrical charging system including an electrical charger assembly with a charger base coupled to an electrical power source. There is a first male terminal member terminating in a first electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a second male terminal member terminating in a second electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a cavity formed between the first male terminal member and the second male terminal member having an opening between the first and second electrical contacts. The cavity is defined by the flat surface of the first male terminal member and the flat surface of the second male terminal member. The flat surface of the second male terminal member has a flared surface portion proximate the opening of the cavity and angled relative to the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.Inventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Christina Nicole Fong, Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20180370035Abstract: In various embodiments, safe robot operation is achieved by combining commercial, off-the-shelf, safety-rated components with the inherent safety-design mechanism of the robot to provide various allowable power levels to robotic actuators and thereby limit the forces and/or speeds generated by robotic appendages driven by the actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Michael SUSSMAN, Michael GUAY, Anthony ROBSON, James SIROIS
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Patent number: 10065316Abstract: In various embodiments, safe robot operation is achieved by combining commercial, off-the-shelf, safety-rated components with the inherent safety-design mechanism of the robot to provide various allowable power levels to robotic actuators and thereby limit the forces and/or speeds generated by robotic appendages driven by the actuators.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: RETHINK ROBOTICS, INC.Inventors: Michael Sussman, Michael Guay, Anthony Robson, James Sirois
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Publication number: 20180093578Abstract: An electrical charging system including an electrical charger assembly with a charger base coupled to an electrical power source. There is a first male terminal member terminating in a first electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a second male terminal member terminating in a second electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a cavity formed between the first male terminal member and the second male terminal member having an opening between the first and second electrical contacts. The cavity is defined by the flat surface of the first male terminal member and the flat surface of the second male terminal member. The flat surface of the second male terminal member has a flared surface portion proximate the opening of the cavity and angled relative to the second axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Christina Nicole Fong, Michael Sussman
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Patent number: 9840154Abstract: An electrical charging system including an electrical charger assembly with a charger base coupled to an electrical power source. There is a first male terminal member terminating in a first electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a second male terminal member terminating in a second electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a cavity formed between the first male terminal member and the second male terminal member having an opening between the first and second electrical contacts. The cavity is defined by the flat surface of the first male terminal member and the flat surface of the second male terminal member. The flat surface of the second male terminal member has a flared surface portion proximate the opening of the cavity and angled relative to the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Locus Robotics CorporationInventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Christina Nicole Fong, Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20170282731Abstract: An electrical charging system including an electrical charger assembly with a charger base coupled to an electrical power source. There is a first male terminal member terminating in a first electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a second male terminal member terminating in a second electrical contact with at least two curved external surfaces and one flat surface. There is a cavity formed between the first male terminal member and the second male terminal member having an opening between the first and second electrical contacts. The cavity is defined by the flat surface of the first male terminal member and the flat surface of the second male terminal member. The flat surface of the second male terminal member has a flared surface portion proximate the opening of the cavity and angled relative to the second axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Hian Kai Kwa, Christina Nicole Fong, Michael Sussman
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Publication number: 20170225331Abstract: In various embodiments, safe robot operation is achieved by combining commercial, off-the-shelf, safety-rated components with the inherent safety-design mechanism of the robot to provide various allowable power levels to robotic actuators and thereby limit the forces and/or speeds generated by robotic appendages driven by the actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Michael SUSSMAN, Michael GUAY, Anthony ROBSON, James SIROIS
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Publication number: 20170157781Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate cables to pass through moving, space-constrained joints and conveying power and/or signals to various robotic joint-associated elements utilize a unitary and flat laminated cable slack within the joint to accommodate the relative motion between mechanical elements of the joints. In various embodiments, the cable has multiple insulated sub-cables; each sub-cable is insulated and physically separable from all other sub-cables. Some of the sub-cables are separated from the cable and electrically connected to joint-associated components for conveying signals and power thereto without mechanically interfering with relative motion between mechanical elements of the joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventor: Michael Sussman
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Patent number: 9579806Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate cables to pass through moving, space-constrained joints and conveying power and/or signals to various robotic joint-associated elements utilize a unitary and flat laminated cable slack within the joint to accommodate the relative motion between mechanical elements of the joints. In various embodiments, the cable has multiple insulated sub-cables; each sub-cable is insulated and physically separable from all other sub -cables. Some of the sub-cables are separated from the cable and electrically connected to joint-associated components for conveying signals and power thereto without mechanically interfering with relative motion between mechanical elements of the joint.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: RETHINK ROBOTICS, INC.Inventor: Michael Sussman
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Patent number: 9114536Abstract: Representative embodiments of a system for braking a cyclically rotating motor upon a power failure include (i) charge-storage circuitry for storing charge and converting the stored charge to an output voltage upon power failure; (ii) one or more passive electrical elements for conducting current induced by motor rotations; and (iii) voltage-actuated circuitry connected to the passive electrical element and the charge-storage circuitry for braking the motor during each half-cycle of motor rotation. The circuitry is inactive until actuated by the charge-storage circuitry upon power failure.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.Inventor: Michael Sussman
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Patent number: 9079305Abstract: Sensors associated with a robot or sub-system thereof (e.g., a series elastic actuator associated with a robot joint) may be monitored for mutual consistency using one or more constraints that relate physical quantities measured by the sensors to each other. The constraints may be based on a physical model of the robot or sub-system.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Murray Williamson, Michael Sussman, Waleed A. Farahat
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Patent number: 9043025Abstract: In various embodiments, safe collaboration between a robot and humans is achieved by operating the robot continuously at or below a first threshold speed at which any collisions with a person's arms do not cause harm, and, upon detection of the person's torso or head within a danger zone around the robot, reducing the speed to or below a second threshold at which any collisions with the person's torso or head do not cause harm.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Rodney Brooks, Michael Sussman, Matthew Murray Williamson, William A. Goodwin, Noelle Dye, Bruce Blumberg
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Patent number: D761339Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Robert White, Jr., Waleed A. Farahat, Michael Sussman, Elizabeth Goodrich, Peter Swai, James F. Daly, III