Patents by Inventor Robert Norris
Robert Norris 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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Patent number: 8473140Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and systems having an interface for payloads that allows integration of various payloads with relative ease. There is a vehicle control system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, receiving data, and transmitting a control signal on at least one network. A payload is adapted to detachably connect to the autonomous vehicle, the payload comprising a network interface configured to receive the control signal from the vehicle control system over the at least one network. The vehicle control system may encapsulate payload data and transmit the payload data over the at least one network, including Ethernet or CAN networks. The payload may be a laser scanner, a radio, a chemical detection system, or a Global Positioning System unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignees: Deere & Company, iRobot CorporationInventors: William Robert Norris, James Allard, Jeffery Scott Puhalla, Kathleen A. Wienhold
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Patent number: 8311211Abstract: An approach that smoothes a cryptographic function's timing footprint is presented. A processor includes a “function timing smoother” that smoothes out spikes in the amount of time that a particular cryptographic function requires to execute. When a cryptographic function executes, the function timing smoother tracks the amount of time that the cryptographic function executes (current execution time) and compares the time with the amount of time that the same cryptographic function took for a previous execution (previous execution time). When the current execution time is less than the previous execution time, the function timing smoother adds instructions or varies an execution unit's clock speed in order to increase the cryptographic function's current execution time. Using this approach, a malicious user is not able to decipher sensitive information from the cryptographic function's timing footprint.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Negley Abernethy, Jr., Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Travis M. Grigsby, Robert Norris-Lance Krentler, Alexandre Polozoff
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Publication number: 20120271517Abstract: A steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid
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Publication number: 20120158247Abstract: A steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid
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Patent number: 8195364Abstract: A steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid
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Publication number: 20120046820Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for obstacle avoidance. In some embodiments, a robotically controlled vehicle capable of operating in one or more modes may be provided. Examples of such modes include teleoperation, waypoint navigation, follow, and manual mode. The vehicle may include an obstacle detection and avoidance system capable of being implemented with one or more of the vehicle modes. A control system may be provided to operate and control the vehicle in the one or more modes. The control system may include a robotic control unit and a vehicle control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventors: James ALLARD, Kathleen A. WIENHOLD, William Robert NORRIS, Anthony Francis CATALFANO
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Patent number: 8020657Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for obstacle avoidance. In some embodiments, a robotically controlled vehicle capable of operating in one or more modes may be provided. Examples of such modes include teleoperation, waypoint navigation, follow, and manual mode. The vehicle may include an obstacle detection and avoidance system capable of being implemented with one or more of the vehicle modes. A control system may be provided to operate and control the vehicle in the one or more modes. The control system may include a robotic control unit and a vehicle control unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignees: Deere & Company, iRobot CorporationInventors: James Allard, Kathleen A. Wienhold, William Robert Norris, Anthony Francis Catalfano
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Publication number: 20110071718Abstract: Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: William Robert Norris, James Allard, Mikhail O. Filippov, Robert Dale Haun, Christopher David Glenn Turner, Seth Gilbertson, Andrew Julian Norby
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Patent number: 7894951Abstract: Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignees: Deere & Company, iRobot CorporationInventors: William Robert Norris, James Allard, Mikhail O. Filippov, Robert Dale Haun, Christopher David Glenn Turner, Seth Gilbertson, Andrew Julian Norby
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Patent number: 7895135Abstract: A human perception model for a speed control method obtains a steering angle, a velocity error and a distance error. The steering angle and a measure of operator aggressiveness are applied to the model. The output is defuzzified. The steering angle, the velocity error and the distance error are applied to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a velocity rule base. The measure of operator aggressiveness is input to the velocity rule base. The output from the velocity rule base is defuzzified to produce a speed signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Rornig, John Franklin Reid, Brian Joseph Gilmore
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Patent number: 7769512Abstract: A vehicle steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error, inputting a measure of operator aggressiveness and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. A measure of the operator aggressiveness is input to the steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid, Brian Joseph Gilmore
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Patent number: 7743159Abstract: A reusable application framework for translating between a client and an external entity negotiates a first communication protocol with the client, receives an input request from the client, and parses the input request to extract client type and use case identifications. An application object module is configured for transferring the input request. A data mapper module is configured to extract input data from input requests having the client type identification, and maps the input data to an input bean. A use case handler module specific to at least one predefined task associated with the external entity receives the input bean. A broker module is configured to communicate with the external entity using a second communication protocol and inserts the input bean into a data stream of the second communication protocol for transfer to the external entity.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Anthony Francis Catalfano, William Robert Norris
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Publication number: 20090271116Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of normalizing characterization information comprising: defining a plurality of characteristics, for each characteristic defining a set of allowed values and defining a logging interval. The method further comprises: at a plurality of logging intervals, selecting a value from the set of allowed values for a characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, and storing the selected value for the characteristics at the plurality of logging intervals. The present disclosure also provides a system for correlating log information comprising: a core set log data module for storing core set log data information, an electrical log data module for storing electrical log data information, a correlation module for correlating the core set log data information with the electrical log data information, and an input/output module for inputting and displaying the core set log data information the electrical log data information.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: STRATERRA INC.Inventors: Robert Norris, John H. Lake
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Patent number: 7506664Abstract: A flow control valve for selectively routing a coolant in a dual-zone heater system is provided. The flow control valve includes a housing and a flow control device. The housing includes an inlet port, a bypass outlet, a front heater outlet, and a rear heater outlet communicating through an internal cavity. The flow control device, which can be a cylinder, sphere, etc., is rotatably positioned in the internal cavity. The flow control device has an axial channel and generally radial aperture. The axial channel transports the coolant received from the inlet port through the flow control device, and the aperture delivers the coolant to one or more of the bypass outlet, the front heater outlet, and the rear heater outlet as the flow control device is rotated. In this way the circuit is not deadheaded.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of DelawareInventors: Robert Norris, R. Allan McLane
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Publication number: 20080195569Abstract: A human perception model for a speed control method including the steps of obtaining a steering angle, a velocity error and a distance error. The method further includes the steps of applying the steering angle, inputting a measure of operator aggressiveness and defuzzifying an output. The applying step includes applying the steering angle, the velocity error and the distance error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a velocity rule base. The inputting step inputs a measure of operator aggressiveness to the velocity rule base. The defuzzifying step defuzzifies an output from the velocity rule base to produce a speed signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Rornig, John Franklin Reid, Brian Joseph Gilmore
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Publication number: 20080195281Abstract: A human perception model for a vehicle steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error, inputting a measure of operator aggressiveness and defuzzifying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base. A measure of the operator aggressiveness is input to the steering rule base. An output from the steering rule base is defuzzified to produce a steering signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid, Brian Joseph Gilmore
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Publication number: 20080195293Abstract: A speed control method of a vehicle including the steps of obtaining a steering angle, a velocity error and a distance error. The velocity and the distance error being determined by mathematical combinations of a GPS position, a required path and speed set points. The steering angle, velocity errors and distance error are applied to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a velocity rule base. An output from the velocity rule base is defuzzified to produce a speed signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid
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Publication number: 20080195282Abstract: A steering control method including the steps of obtaining a heading error, obtaining a velocity value, obtaining a distance error, applying the heading error and defuzzrfying an output from a steering rule base. The velocity value and the distance error are applied along with the heading error to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a steering rule base.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: William Robert Norris, Bernard Edwin Romig, John Franklin Reid
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Publication number: 20080177888Abstract: A reusable application framework for translating between a client and an external entity negotiates a first communication protocol with the client, receives an input request from the client, and parses the input request to extract client type and use case identifications. An application object module is configured for transferring the input request. A data mapper module is configured to extract input data from input requests having the client type identification, and maps the input data to an input bean. A use case handler module specific to at least one predefined task associated with the external entity receives the input bean. A broker module is configured to communicate with the external entity using a second communication protocol and inserts the input bean into a data stream of the second communication protocol for transfer to the external entity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Anthony Francis Catalfano, William Robert Norris
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Publication number: 20080162979Abstract: An approach that smoothes a cryptographic function's timing footprint is presented. A processor includes a “function timing smoother” that smoothes out spikes in the amount of time that a particular cryptographic function requires to execute. When a cryptographic function executes, the function timing smoother tracks the amount of time that the cryptographic function executes (current execution time) and compares the time with the amount of time that the same cryptographic function took for a previous execution (previous execution time). When the current execution time is less than the previous execution time, the function timing smoother adds instructions or varies an execution unit's clock speed in order to increase the cryptographic function's current execution time. Using this approach, a malicious user is not able to decipher sensitive information from the cryptographic function's timing footprint.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2008Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Michael Negley Abernethy, Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Travis M. Grigsby, Robert Norris-Lance Krentler, Alexandre Polozoff