Patents by Inventor Robert A. Kinoshita

Robert A. Kinoshita 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: 9213934
    Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses provide robotic explosive hazard detection. A robot intelligence kernel (RIK) includes a dynamic autonomy structure with two or more autonomy levels between operator intervention and robot initiative A mine sensor and processing module (ESPM) operating separately from the RIK perceives environmental variables indicative of a mine using subsurface perceptors. The ESPM processes mine information to determine a likelihood of a presence of a mine. A robot can autonomously modify behavior responsive to an indication of a detected mine. The behavior is modified between detection of mines, detailed scanning and characterization of the mine, developing mine indication parameters, and resuming detection. Real time messages are passed between the RIK and the ESPM. A combination of ESPM bound messages and RIK bound messages cause the robot platform to switch between modes including a calibration mode, the mine detection mode, and the mine characterization mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Roelof J. Versteeg, Douglas A. Few, Robert A. Kinoshita, Douglas Johnson, Ondrej Linda
  • Publication number: 20150355639
    Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses provide robotic explosive hazard detection. A robot intelligence kernel (RIK) includes a dynamic autonomy structure with two or more autonomy levels between operator intervention and robot initiative A mine sensor and processing module (ESPM) operating separately from the RIK perceives environmental variables indicative of a mine using subsurface perceptors. The ESPM processes mine information to determine a likelihood of a presence of a mine. A robot can autonomously modify behavior responsive to an indication of a detected mine. The behavior is modified between detection of mines, detailed scanning and characterization of the mine, developing mine indication parameters, and resuming detection. Real time messages are passed between the RIK and the ESPM. A combination of ESPM bound messages and RIK bound messages cause the robot platform to switch between modes including a calibration mode, the mine detection mode, and the mine characterization mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: Roelof J. Versteeg, Douglas A. Few, Robert A. Kinoshita, Douglas Johnson, Ondrej Linda
  • Patent number: 8965578
    Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses provide robotic explosive hazard detection. A robot intelligence kernel (RIK) includes a dynamic autonomy structure with two or more autonomy levels between operator intervention and robot initiative A mine sensor and processing module (ESPM) operating separately from the RIK perceives environmental variables indicative of a mine using subsurface perceptors. The ESPM processes mine information to determine a likelihood of a presence of a mine. A robot can autonomously modify behavior responsive to an indication of a detected mine. The behavior is modified between detection of mines, detailed scanning and characterization of the mine, developing mine indication parameters, and resuming detection. Real time messages are passed between the RIK and the ESPM. A combination of ESPM bound messages and RIK bound messages cause the robot platform to switch between modes including a calibration mode, the mine detection mode, and the mine characterization mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Roelof J. Versteeg, Douglas A. Few, Robert A. Kinoshita, Doug Johnson, Ondrej Linda
  • Patent number: 8355818
    Abstract: A robot includes a hazard sensor, a locomotor, and a system controller. The robot senses a hazard intensity at a location of the robot, moves to a new location in response to the hazard intensity, and autonomously repeats the sensing and moving to determine multiple hazard levels at multiple locations. The robot may also include a communicator to communicate the multiple hazard levels to a remote controller. The remote controller includes a communicator for sending user commands to the robot and receiving the hazard levels from the robot. A graphical user interface displays an environment map of the environment proximate the robot and a scale for indicating a hazard intensity. A hazard indicator corresponds to a robot position in the environment map and graphically indicates the hazard intensity at the robot position relative to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis W. Nielsen, David J. Bruemmer, Miles C. Walton, Robert S. Hartley, David I. Gertman, Robert A. Kinoshita, Jonathan Whetten
  • Publication number: 20120239191
    Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses provide robotic explosive hazard detection. A robot intelligence kernel (RIK) includes a dynamic autonomy structure with two or more autonomy levels between operator intervention and robot initiative A mine sensor and processing module (ESPM) operating separately from the RIK perceives environmental variables indicative of a mine using subsurface perceptors. The ESPM processes mine information to determine a likelihood of a presence of a mine. A robot can autonomously modify behavior responsive to an indication of a detected mine. The behavior is modified between detection of mines, detailed scanning and characterization of the mine, developing mine indication parameters, and resuming detection. Real time messages are passed between the RIK and the ESPM. A combination of ESPM bound messages and RIK bound messages cause the robot platform to switch between modes including a calibration mode, the mine detection mode, and the mine characterization mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: Roelof J. Versteeg, Douglas A. Few, Robert A. Kinoshita, Doug Johnson, Ondrej Linda
  • Publication number: 20110054689
    Abstract: A robot includes a hazard sensor, a locomotor, and a system controller. The robot senses a hazard intensity at a location of the robot, moves to a new location in response to the hazard intensity, and autonomously repeats the sensing and moving to determine multiple hazard levels at multiple locations. The robot may also include a communicator to communicate the multiple hazard levels to a remote controller. The remote controller includes a communicator for sending user commands to the robot and receiving the hazard levels from the robot. A graphical user interface displays an environment map of the environment proximate the robot and a scale for indicating a hazard intensity. A hazard indicator corresponds to a robot position in the environment map and graphically indicates the hazard intensity at the robot position relative to the scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis W. Nielsen, David J. Bruemmer, Miles C. Walton, Robert S. Hartley, David I. Gertman, Robert A. Kinoshita, Jonathan Whetten
  • Patent number: 6958746
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular, flexible system for deploying multiple video perception technologies. The telepresence system of the present invention is capable of allowing an operator to control multiple mono and stereo video inputs in a hands-free manner. The raw data generated by the input devices is processed into a common zone structure that corresponds to the commands of the user, and the commands represented by the zone structure are transmitted to the appropriate device. This modularized approach permits input devices to be easily interfaced with various telepresence devices. Additionally, new input devices and telepresence devices are easily added to the system and are frequently interchangeable. The present invention also provides a modular configuration component that allows an operator to define a plurality of views each of which defines the telepresence devices to be controlled by a particular input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew O. Anderson, W. David Willis, Robert A. Kinoshita