Patents by Inventor Nicolas Alt

Nicolas Alt 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: 11833696
    Abstract: A method for determining the joint positions of a kinematic chain uses only an imaging sensor and a computing unit. Characteristic features on the links and joints of the kinematic chain are identified and the joint positions are calculated from these visual measurements. The robot can be controlled without the use of joint encoders. A sensor system for monitoring the status of a kinematic chain includes a computing unit and an imaging sensor. The imaging sensor may be mounted to the kinematic chain or in the surroundings of the kinematic chain and monitors the kinematic chain and/or the surroundings of the kinematic chain. The computing unit determines a pose and/or movement parameters of at least one element of the kinematic chain by analyzing an output signal of the imaging sensor, in particular by analyzing characteristic features and determines a rotational joint position by analyzing the characteristic features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Clemens Schuwerk, Eckehard Steinbach, Stefan Lochbrunner, Dong Qiuwei
  • Publication number: 20210023719
    Abstract: A method for determining the joint positions of a kinematic chain uses only an imaging sensor and a computing unit. Characteristic features on the links and joints of the kinematic chain are identified and the joint positions are calculated from these visual measurements. The robot can be controlled without the use of joint encoders. A sensor system for monitoring the status of a kinematic chain includes a computing unit and an imaging sensor. The imaging sensor may be mounted to the kinematic chain or in the surroundings of the kinematic chain and monitors the kinematic chain and/or the surroundings of the kinematic chain. The computing unit determines a pose and/or movement parameters of at least one element of the kinematic chain by analyzing an output signal of the imaging sensor, in particular by analyzing characteristic features and determines a rotational joint position by analyzing the characteristic features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Nicolas ALT, Clemens SCHUWERK, Eckehard STEINBACH, Stefan LOCHBRUNNER, Dong QIUWEI
  • Publication number: 20190376860
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents a visuo-haptic sensor, which is based on a passive, deformable element whose deformation is observed by a camera. In particular, the improved simplified sensor may determine the force and/or torque applied to a point of the sensor in multiple spatial dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Eckehard Steinbach, Martin Freundl
  • Patent number: 10393603
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents a visuo-haptic sensor, which is based on a passive, deformable element whose deformation is observed by a camera. In particular, the improved simplified sensor may determine the force and/or torque applied to a point of the sensor in multiple spatial dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Eckehard Steinbach, Martin Freundl
  • Patent number: 10322391
    Abstract: A reactor device for the release of a gas from a starting material includes a reactor housing having a longitudinal axis and at least one single reactor arranged in the reactor housing, the single reactor including a base plate oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, a starting material flow channel defining a starting material flow direction, a catalyst arranged in the starting material flow channel, a heating unit for heating the catalyst and/or the starting material and a gas collection chamber arranged above the starting material flow channel for collecting the gas released from the starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HYDROGENIOUS TECHNOLOGIES GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bösmann, Patrick Preuster, Eberhard Schlücker, Nicolas Alt, Patrick Inhetveen, Annemarie Breu, Matthias Kusche, Oliver Weisert
  • Publication number: 20180141017
    Abstract: A reactor device for the release of a gas from a starting material includes a reactor housing having a longitudinal axis and at least one single reactor arranged in the reactor housing, the single reactor including a base plate oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, a starting material flow channel defining a starting material flow direction, a catalyst arranged in the starting material flow channel, a heating unit for heating the catalyst and/or the starting material and a gas collection chamber arranged above the starting material flow channel for collecting the gas released from the starting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas BÖSMANN, Patrick PREUSTER, Eberhard SCHLÜCKER, Nicolas ALT, Patrick INHETVEEN, Annemarie BREU, Matthias KUSCHE
  • Publication number: 20170328795
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents a visuo-haptic sensor, which is based on a passive, deformable element whose deformation is observed by a camera. In particular, the improved simplified sensor may determine the force and/or torque applied to a point of the sensor in multiple spatial dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Eckehard Steinbach, Martin Freundl
  • Patent number: 9757862
    Abstract: A visuo-haptic sensor is presented which uses a deformable, passive material that is mounted in view of a camera. When objects interact with the sensor the deformable material is compressed, causing a change in the shape thereof. The change of shape is detected and evaluated by an image processor that is operatively connected to the camera. The camera may also observe the vicinity of the manipulator to measure ego-motion and motion of close-by objects. The visuo-haptic sensor may be attached to a mobile platform, a robotic manipulator or to any other machine which needs to acquire haptic information about the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Eckehard Steinbach
  • Publication number: 20160107316
    Abstract: A visuo-haptic sensor is presented which uses a deformable, passive material that is mounted in view of a camera. When objects interact with the sensor the deformable material is compressed, causing a change in the shape thereof. The change is shape is detected and evaluated by and image processor that is operatively connected to the camera. The camera may also observe the vicinity of the manipulator to measure ego-motion and motion of close-by objects. The visuo-haptic sensor may be attached to a mobile platform, a robotic manipulator or to any other machine which needs to acquire haptic information about the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Nicolas Alt, Eckehard Steinbach