Patents by Inventor Soenke Kock

Soenke Kock 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: 10668623
    Abstract: A method for robotic adaptive production includes modifying program instructions online while performing production activities in response to detecting a change in the production environment. A robotic adaptive production method includes modifying program instructions online while performing production activities to minimize a production task cycle time or improve a production task quality. A robotic adaptive production method includes estimating a relationship between a control parameter and a sensor input; and modifying the control parameter online to achieve an updated parameter based on the estimating. A robotic adaptive production method includes receiving sensor input relating to robotic performance during the performance of production tasks and online optimizing a process parameter based on robotic performance during the performance of the production tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: George Q. Zhang, David P. Gravel, Soenke Kock, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Heping Chen, Sangeun Choi, Arnold Bell, Biao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160346928
    Abstract: A method for robotic adaptive production includes modifying program instructions online while performing production activities in response to detecting a change in the production environment. A robotic adaptive production method includes modifying program instructions online while performing production activities to minimize a production task cycle time or improve a production task quality. A robotic adaptive production method includes estimating a relationship between a control parameter and a sensor input; and modifying the control parameter online to achieve an updated parameter based on the estimating. A robotic adaptive production method includes receiving sensor input relating to robotic performance during the performance of production tasks and online optimizing a process parameter based on robotic performance during the performance of the production tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: George Q. Zhang, David P. Gravel, Soenke Kock, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Heping Chen, Sangeun Choi, Arnold Bell, Biao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9132551
    Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Biao Zhang, Harald Staab, Jianjun Wang, George Q. Zhang, Remus Boca, Sangeun Choi, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Soenke Kock, Heping Chen
  • Patent number: 8798787
    Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Jeremy Newkirk, Carlos Martinez, George Q. Zhang, Gregory F. Rossano, Harald Staab, Remus Boca, Sangeun Choi, Soenke Kock, William John Eakins
  • Publication number: 20140156073
    Abstract: A teleoperated robot system has a watchdog to determine if the rate of data transmission from a computing device such as a robot controller located in the station used by the operator of the teleoperated robot to the remotely located industrial robot has fallen below a minimum data rate or the time for transmission of data has exceeded a maximum time. Upon the occurrence of either or both of the foregoing, one or more types of corrective action are undertaken to bring the teleoperated robot and the processes performed by the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Biao Zhang, Harald Staab, Jianjun Wang, George Q. Zhang, Remus Boca, Sangeun Choi, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Soenke Kock, Heping Chen
  • Publication number: 20140121828
    Abstract: A manufacturing system has one or more work cells that each performs one or more manufacturing processes. The system also has one or more mobile transport units (“MTUs”) that deliver transportable containers containing workpieces to and from said work cells. The MTUs deliver the containers to the work cells in a manner such that the workpieces are localized in the work cells. The manufacturing system also has a computer system that has status information for each of the one or more MTUs and uses the status information to control each of the one or more MTUs to deliver the transportable containers to and from the one or more work cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Jeremy Newkirk, Carlos Martinez, George Q. Zhang, Gregory F. Rossano, Harald Staab, Remus Boca, Sangeun Choi, Soenke Kock, William John Eakins
  • Patent number: 8700914
    Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Peter Eriksson, Jan Bredahl, Michael Niehaus
  • Patent number: 8326590
    Abstract: A method for simulating a movement zone of a robot having at least one data processing installation, simulating at least one movement path of the robot, comprises providing a number of selectable points on the at least one movement path of the robot, calculating a braking path for each of the selectable points, calculating a virtual movement zone based on the braking paths and a maximum position reachable by the robot for the respective at least one movement path, and carrying out the simulation of functions of the robot off-line using a software module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Adam Loeschner, Christoph Winterhalter, Kevin Behnisch, Roland Krieger
  • Patent number: 8249747
    Abstract: A robot safety system configured to protect humans in the vicinity of a working robot (1, 11, 21, 31) against harmful impacts by said robot (1, 11, 21, 31), said safety system comprising a sensor system (3, 13, 23) and a safety controller (4, 14, 24) configured to establish an impact risk profile of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31) and deliver an operating signal to a robot controller (2, 12, 22) based on said impact risk profile, wherein the safety controller (4, 14, 24) is configured to establish the impact risk profile based on stored data and input signals, and that the stored data and input signals comprise stored impact data, stored data related to the path of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), and signals from the sensor system of events in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), such as a detected human (P1, P11, P21, P22, P31, P32) in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventor: Soenke Kock
  • Patent number: 8225692
    Abstract: A positioning device includes a supporting structure, a work carrier, at least six length-adjustable struts arranged in strut pairs, each strut being moveably mounted to the supporting structure and to the work carrier and at least one drive configured to adjust a length of at least one of the struts. The struts of each strut pair are disposed parallel to each other and each strut pair has a pivot bearing disposed at a first end of each strut and a second bearing disposed at a second end of each strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Sven Soetebier, Wolfgang Waldi
  • Publication number: 20110264266
    Abstract: A robot safety system configured to protect humans in the vicinity of a working robot (1, 11, 21, 31) against harmful impacts by said robot (1, 11, 21, 31), said safety system comprising a sensor system (3, 13, 23) and a safety controller (4, 14, 24) configured to establish an impact risk profile of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31) and deliver an operating signal to a robot controller (2, 12, 22) based on said impact risk profile, wherein the safety controller (4, 14, 24) is configured to establish the impact risk profile based on stored data and input signals, and that the stored data and input signals comprise stored impact data, stored data related to the path of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), and signals from the sensor system of events in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), such as a detected human (P1, P11, P21, P22, P31, P32) in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventor: Soenke Kock
  • Publication number: 20090313481
    Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Peter Eriksson, Jan Bredahl, Michael Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20090271036
    Abstract: A method for operating a robot with a tool changer comprises providing a plurality of different kinds of tools, associating each of the plurality of tools with an unique explicit signature, producing at least one safe signal using the tool changer, wherein the at least one safe signal is a two-channel signal corresponding to one of the unique explicit signatures, and identifying the at least one tool using the at least one safe signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Roland Krieger
  • Publication number: 20080078266
    Abstract: A jig particularly for the positioning of articles (1), with length-adjustable props (2), with a base part (3), with a receptacle (4) for the article (1), the props (2) being arranged between the base part (3) and the receptacle (4) and being in each case mounted movably there, and with a drive and control for adjusting the props (2), is specified. At least one pair of props (5) is formed from two props (2) in such a way that the two props (2) of the pair of props (5) extend parallel, thus resulting in the form of a parallelogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: ABB PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Soetebier, Soenke Kock, Waldi Wolfgang