Patents by Inventor Nobuaki Yamaoka

Nobuaki Yamaoka 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).

  • Publication number: 20230278205
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible, in force control during production, to automatically adjust a force control parameter optimally so as not to cause oscillation of a robot or failure of work. This robot system comprises: a robot arm having a hand at the end thereof for holding a workpiece; a force detector for detecting a force and moment received by the workpiece held by the hand; and a control device for moving the workpiece held by the hand with respect to a target object while performing force control of the robot arm to correct a position error and an attitude error of the workpiece, on the basis of a predetermined force control parameter and a detected value of the force detector. The control device has a parameter automatic adjustment unit for automatically adjusting the force control parameter by executing the moving of the workpiece with respect to the target object a plurality of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Takashi SATOU
  • Publication number: 20230083001
    Abstract: A deburring device includes a robot program creating unit that creates a program from data of an object, a deburring part detecting unit that detects a position for a deburring part on the object, and a robot program updating unit that updates the program by the detected position of the deburring part. The deburring device also includes a force control unit that controls to yield a predetermined pressing force, an actual path acquiring unit that acquires an actual path of a robot when controlled at the predetermined pressing force by the updated program, and a path correction parameter calculating unit that calculates a correction parameter for the position for the deburring part on the object from the path of the robot from the visual sensor and the actual path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Yihua GU
  • Patent number: 11389969
    Abstract: The automatic machine includes a movable member driven by a motor, a tool that is attached to the movable member and includes a movable mechanism that operates independently of the movable member, a sensor that is attached to the movable mechanism and measures a location of the movable mechanism, and a processor configured to detect, based on a location of the movable mechanism measured by the sensor when the motor is controlled in accordance with a command to move the tool to a target location and on an amount of movement of the movable mechanism from a reference point, detects a first location in a case in which the movable mechanism is virtually fixed to the reference point, and calculate a correction amount for a control amount of the motor in such a way as to decrease a difference between the target location and the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Suzuki, Nobuaki Yamaoka, Kouichirou Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11254006
    Abstract: A robot device includes: a robot; an operation control section; a sensor configured to detect a value related to a position of a control target portion of the robot; a low-speed position information acquisition section configured to acquire low-speed position information of the control target portion; a calibration section configured to perform calibration between the sensor and the robot by using the low-speed position information and a command position; and a learning control section configured to learn a correction amount that reduces a deviation between operation described in an operation program and an actual operation of the control target portion, by using a detection value of the sensor that is acquired when the robot is operated in accordance with the operation program, the low-speed position information or the command position, and calibration data acquired through the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11045951
    Abstract: The control system includes: a driven body driven by a motor; a control apparatus configured to operate the body; and a sensor detecting a state quantity of the body, wherein the control apparatus includes: a storage storing a correction amount for correcting vibration occurring at the mounting position; a control unit configured to generate a command value for the motor in each control cycle based on an operation program, and perform operation control of the body based on the correction amount and the command value; a calculation unit configured to calculate the correction amount; an update unit configured to update the correction amount each time the operation control is performed; and a determination unit configured to determine validity of at least one of an internal parameter and the like of the sensor based on the command value and the state quantity each time the operation control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10737384
    Abstract: A robot system includes a light source, an image capture device, a robot mechanism unit having a target site of position control where the light source is provided, and a robot controller that controls the position of the robot mechanism unit based on a position command, a position feedback, and a position compensation value. The robot controller includes a path acquisition unit that makes the image capture device capture an image of light from the light source continuously during the predetermined operation to acquire a path of the light source from the image capture device, a positional error estimation unit that estimates positional error of the path of the light source from the position command based on the acquired path of the light source and the position command, and a compensation value generation unit that generates the position compensation value based on the estimated positional error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki, Kaimeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20200147799
    Abstract: A robot device includes: a robot; an operation control section; a sensor configured to detect a value related to a position of a control target portion of the robot; a low-speed position information acquisition section configured to acquire low-speed position information of the control target portion; a calibration section configured to perform calibration between the sensor and the robot by using the low-speed position information and a command position; and a learning control section configured to learn a correction amount that reduces a deviation between operation described in an operation program and an actual operation of the control target portion, by using a detection value of the sensor that is acquired when the robot is operated in accordance with the operation program, the low-speed position information or the command position, and calibration data acquired through the calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10589429
    Abstract: Provided is a machine system including a machine including a movable part; a control device; a sensor detecting information about the movable part during a predetermined operation of the machine; a transmitting unit wirelessly transmitting the detected information during the predetermined operation; a receiving unit receiving the wirelessly transmitted information; a storage unit storing the received information; a detection unit detecting a loss in the received information; a command unit causing the machine to repeat the predetermined operation, in a case where a loss in the information is detected; a determination unit determining whether or not every lost part of the information detected first is contained in the information detected during the repeated operation; and an complementing unit ending the repeated operation in a case where every lost part is determined to be contained and complementing the information detected first with the information detected during the repeated operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kaimeng Wang, Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200009742
    Abstract: The automatic machine includes a movable member driven by a motor, a tool that is attached to the movable member and includes a movable mechanism that operates independently of the movable member, a sensor that is attached to the movable mechanism and measures a location of the movable mechanism, and a processor configured to detect, based on a location of the movable mechanism measured by the sensor when the motor is controlled in accordance with a command to move the tool to a target location and on an amount of movement of the movable mechanism from a reference point, detects a first location in a case in which the movable mechanism is virtually fixed to the reference point, and calculate a correction amount for a control amount of the motor in such a way as to decrease a difference between the target location and the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Hajime SUZUKI, Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Kouichirou HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20190344440
    Abstract: The control system includes: a driven body driven by a motor; a control apparatus configured to operate the body; and a sensor detecting a state quantity of the body, wherein the control apparatus includes: a storage storing a correction amount for correcting vibration occurring at the mounting position; a control unit configured to generate a command value for the motor in each control cycle based on an operation program, and perform operation control of the body based on the correction amount and the command value; a calculation unit configured to calculate the correction amount; an update unit configured to update the correction amount each time the operation control is performed; and a determination unit configured to determine validity of at least one of an internal parameter and the like of the sensor based on the command value and the state quantity each time the operation control is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Hajime SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10300600
    Abstract: A robot control system includes an operation control unit, a learning control processing unit and a storage unit. Whenever the operation control unit performs a single learning control, the learning control processing unit stores the number of learning controls, which indicates how many learning controls have been performed, and obtained time-series vibration data in correspondence with each other in the storage unit. The learning control processing unit calculates a convergence determination value to determine whether or not a vibration of a certain portion of a robot converges based on the time-series vibration data at each number of learning controls stored in the storage unit, and determines the number of learning controls having a minimum convergence determination value, out of the calculated convergence determination values, as the optimal number of learning controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Hajime Suzuki, Kaimeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20190061150
    Abstract: A robot system comprises: a light source; an image capture device; a robot mechanism unit having a target site of position control where the light source is provided; and a robot controller that controls the position of the robot mechanism unit based on a position command, a position feedback, and a position compensation value. The robot controller comprises: a path acquisition unit that makes the image capture device capture an image of light from the light source continuously during the predetermined operation to acquire a path of the light source from the image capture device; a positional error estimation unit that estimates positional error of the path of the light source from the position command based on the acquired path of the light source and the position command; and a compensation value generation unit that generates the position compensation value based on the estimated positional error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Hajime SUZUKI, Kaimeng WANG
  • Publication number: 20180257239
    Abstract: Provided is a machine system including a machine including a movable part; a control device; a sensor detecting information about the movable part during a predetermined operation of the machine; a transmitting unit wirelessly transmitting the detected information during the predetermined operation; a receiving unit receiving the wirelessly transmitted information; a storage unit storing the received information; a detection unit detecting a loss in the received information; a command unit causing the machine to repeat the predetermined operation, in a case where a loss in the information is detected; a determination unit determining whether or not every lost part of the information detected first is contained in the information detected during the repeated operation; and an complementing unit ending the repeated operation in a case where every lost part is determined to be contained and complementing the information detected first with the information detected during the repeated operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kaimeng WANG, Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Hajime SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180207797
    Abstract: A robot control system includes an operation control unit, a learning control processing unit and a storage unit. Whenever the operation control unit performs a single learning control, the learning control processing unit stores the number of learning controls, which indicates how many learning controls have been performed, and obtained time-series vibration data in correspondence with each other in the storage unit. The learning control processing unit calculates a convergence determination value to determine whether or not a vibration of a certain portion of a robot converges based on the time-series vibration data at each number of learning controls stored in the storage unit, and determines the number of learning controls having a minimum convergence determination value, out of the calculated convergence determination values, as the optimal number of learning controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Hajime SUZUKI, Kaimeng WANG
  • Patent number: 9937620
    Abstract: A robot control device which controls a robot includes a sensor coordinate system calculation unit which calculates a position and an orientation of a sensor by making the robot perform a predetermined operation. The sensor coordinate system calculation unit comprises an operation parameter optimization unit which is configured to obtain a combination most suitable for calculating the position and orientation of the sensor, from a plurality of combinations of modified values of a predetermined type of operation parameters, by making the robot perform the predetermined operation, successively using each of the combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yamaoka, Wenjie Chen, Kaimeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20170106535
    Abstract: A robot control device which controls a robot includes a sensor coordinate system calculation unit which calculates a position and an orientation of a sensor by making the robot perform a predetermined operation. The sensor coordinate system calculation unit comprises an operation parameter optimization unit which is configured to obtain a combination most suitable for calculating the position and orientation of the sensor, from a plurality of combinations of modified. values of a predetermined type of operation. parameters, by making the robot perform the predetermined operation, successively using each of the combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuaki YAMAOKA, Wenjie CHEN, Kaimeng WANG
  • Patent number: 8424182
    Abstract: A fitting device and a fitting method, by which the fitting process can be carried out without damaging workpieces, even when a sufficient moment cannot be detected by pressing the workpiece in the fitting direction. The device includes a fitting status judging part adapted to judge whether a second workpiece is in motion in a fitting direction relative to a first workpiece; a workpiece orientation searching part adapted to change a current orientation of the second workpiece when it is judged that the second workpiece is not in motion in the fitting direction, and search a proper orientation for the second workpiece based on a detected force or speed of the second workpiece in the fitting direction, during the change of the orientation; and a fitting motion commanding part adapted to command a robot which grips the second workpiece to continue the fitting operation, by using the searched proper orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Nobuaki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 8369983
    Abstract: A fitting apparatus includes a robot arm having, at the forward end thereof, a gripper for holding a workpiece, a force detector for detecting a force and moment received by the workpiece held by the gripper, and a controller for controlling an operation of the robot arm. The controller includes a motion command generating unit for generating an operation command to fit two workpieces to each other, and an operation command correcting unit for correcting the operation command so as to correct the position of the gripper in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction and the orientation of the gripper around an axis perpendicular to the fitting direction until the detected force and moment become less than or equal to a threshold value, based on either maximum values of the force and moment detected by the force detector while the two workpieces are in contact with each other or the force and moment detected by the force detector when the two workpieces first come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Nobuaki Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20110225787
    Abstract: A fitting device and a fitting method, by which the fitting process can be carried out without damaging workpieces, even when a sufficient moment cannot be detected by pressing the workpiece in the fitting direction. The device includes a fitting status judging part adapted to judge whether a second workpiece is in motion in a fitting direction relative to a first workpiece; a workpiece orientation searching part adapted to change a current orientation of the second workpiece when it is judged that the second workpiece is not in motion in the fitting direction, and search a proper orientation for the second workpiece based on a detected force or speed of the second workpiece in the fitting direction, during the change of the orientation; and a fitting motion commanding part adapted to command a robot which grips the second workpiece to continue the fitting operation, by using the searched proper orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Nobuaki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 7949431
    Abstract: A fitting device for fitting a fitting workpiece, which is held by a robot, to a workpiece to be fitted by force control, comprises: a force detecting portion for detecting a force and moment acting on a control point of the fitting workpiece; a judging portion for judging whether or not clogging is caused between the fitting workpiece and the workpiece to be fitted at the time of fitting; and a changing portion for changing a position of the control point according to a distance by which the fitting workpiece enters the workpiece to be fitted and for pressing the fitting workpiece against the workpiece to be fitted in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction so as to adjust a posture of the fitting workpiece on the basis of the control point that has been changed, in the case where it is judged by the judging portion that clogging is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Nobuaki Yamaoka