Patents Issued in December 27, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180370005
    Abstract: A combustion-powered placing tool for driving fastening elements into a subsurface comprises a main combustion chamber for a compressible fuel, a driving piston, which in a starting position is retracted, and which can be driven from the main combustion chamber in the placing direction via expandable gases, a prechamber to which an ignition device is assigned, and in which a pressure acting upon the main combustion chamber can be build up prior to ignition of a fuel-air mixture in the main combustion chamber, wherein an additional ignition device is assigned to the main combustion chamber. In order to improve the effectiveness and/or the functionality during driving-in of a fastener, the placing tool comprises a selector device, allowing a selection between a reduced energy operation having an ignition in the main combustion chamber and a high-energy operation having an ignition in the prechamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert HEEB, Peter BRUGGMUELLER, Dominik SCHMIDT, Tilo DITTRICH
  • Publication number: 20180370006
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driving-in device comprising a driving-in piston which is guided in a cylinder for driving a nail element into a workpiece and comprising a combustion chamber which is arranged on the driving-in piston and which can be filled with an ignitable combustion gas mixture. An overpressure of the combustion gas mixture can be generated in the combustion chamber by a charging element, and the driving-in piston is sealed against an inner wall of the cylinder by a first seal during the driving-in movement. The driving-in piston is sealed from the combustion chamber by a second seal, which is loaded axially to a piston axis (A), in a starting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tilo DITTRICH, Norbert HEEB, Peter BRUGGMUELLER, Dominik SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20180370007
    Abstract: A percussion mechanism contains a guide tube, an exciter piston, a hammer, a pneumatic chamber for coupling the hammer to the motion of the exciter piston, a striker, and a seat for the striker. The hammer has a striking point, defined by a striking surface of the striker when the striker lies against the seat. A check valve has an outlet opening and a closing mechanism for closing the check valve against an air flow from the interior of the guide tube. The outlet opening is arranged in such a way that the outlet opening is closed by the hammer during striking operation and otherwise is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan SCHMID, Markus HOLUBARSCH, Markus HARTMANN, Eduard PFEIFFER
  • Publication number: 20180370008
    Abstract: A control method for a bore-chiseling portable power tool for machining a substrate by a drill bit includes superimposing a periodic striking on the drill bit at an impact rate and a rotating of the tool holder at a rotational speed in a rotational direction, identifying a material of the substrate being machined by the drill bit by a sensor, adjusting the rotational speed and/or the rotational direction to a first rotational speed and a first rotational direction when the identified material is an iron-based material, and adjusting the rotational speed and/or the rotational direction to a second rotational speed and a second rotational direction when the identified material is a mineral material. The first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed and the first rotational direction is counter-clockwise and the second rotational direction is clockwise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Carsten PETERS, Helene WESSELER, Markus HARTMANN, Klaus-Peter BOHN, Thilo HAMMERS, Bastian PLUEMACHER
  • Publication number: 20180370009
    Abstract: A tool basic module for stand-alone use includes a drive unit, a main output, and a coupling device that has a mechanical interface for establishing a mechanical drive connection between at least one attachment device and the main output. The coupling device includes an electrical interface which transmits a low power and/or a low current, and is provided to establish an electrical connection, coupled to the mechanical drive connection, between the at least one attachment device and the main output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Pascal Junkersdorf, Istvan Szell, Thomas Hampel, Asmir Rojo, Timo Etzel, Juergen Gairing
  • Publication number: 20180370010
    Abstract: A power tool with an energy recovery function including a casing, a brushless motor located within the casing, a battery pack connected to the casing, and a switching circuit. The brushless motor is used for driving a working part. The battery pack is connected to the brushless motor via the switching circuit. The switching circuit is configured to allow a first part of the braking energy from the brushless motor to be recovered to the battery pack by controlling on/off of the switching circuit when the brushless motor tends to be stopped during rotation. When the controller of the power tool detects a need to decelerate/stop the motor, the service time of the battery is prolonged by recharging a part of the energy back to the battery through controlling the circuit dynamic and adjusting the on/off duty cycle of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Li Hua Xie, Yong Min Li
  • Publication number: 20180370011
    Abstract: In a hand-held power tool with a drive unit comprising at least one drive motor and a transmission coupled to the drive motor for driving a working tool, wherein the transmission can be shifted between at least two different gear ratios, a communication interface is provided for communication with a guide unit operable by a user and designed to receive gearshift instructions from the guide unit for shifting the transmission between the two different gear ratios according to the specific use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Florian Bantle, Thomas Duerr, Juergen Gairing
  • Publication number: 20180370012
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a drive device for providing a driving force, a rotation wheel that has a central axis and is driven by the drive device to rotate around the central axis, a spindle that supports a tool holder configured to hold a tool of the electric power tool, a first intermediate member, a second intermediate member, and a counterweight device. The first intermediate member is offset from the central axis of the rotation wheel, and revolves around the central axis when driven by the rotating rotation wheel, while driving the spindle to reciprocate in a first direction. The second intermediate member is driven by the first intermediate member to rotate around the central axis and is disposed to be offset from the central axis of the rotation wheel on the side opposite the first intermediate member. The counterweight device is driven by the second intermediate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Weixin Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180370013
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal management are provided. Thermal management components may include an electrical source and a cooling source. The electrical source may supply electricity to an electrical apparatus. In addition, the thermal management components store thermal energy. A controller may cause the electrical apparatus to be cooled by the cooling source and delay or suspend cooling the electrical source with the cooling source while a state of charge of the electrical source is greater than a predefined value for the electrical source. The state of charge of the electrical source may include a measurement of cooling capacity available by the electrical source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Erik A. Munevar, Eric Schneider, Eric S. Donovan, Keith D. Noderer, Russell E. White
  • Publication number: 20180370014
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool, in particular a combi drill, which includes a drive unit for transferring a working movement to an insertion tool, a machine housing that is designed in particular as a handle housing made of plastic, and an interface unit that is detachably fastenable to a rechargeable battery unit. The interface unit includes a retaining unit that is provided for holding the rechargeable battery unit in a fastened state connected to the hand-held power tool. It is provided that the retaining unit includes metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko Roehm, Martin Kraus
  • Publication number: 20180370015
    Abstract: A battery-powered handheld machine tool, particularly a circular saw, includes an electric motor for rotationally driving a tool that is arranged on the handheld machine tool, a front and a rear handle each in terms of an advancing direction of the handheld machine tool, and a receiving recess for receiving a replaceable battery. The rear handle is mounted such that it can pivot out laterally about a pivot axis so that when the rear handle is in a state of being pivoted out, the receiving recess is exposed for receiving or removing the replaceable battery, and so that when the rear handle is in a state of being pivoted in, the reception or removal of the replaceable battery into or out of the receiving recess is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Konstantin BAXIVANELIS
  • Publication number: 20180370016
    Abstract: A marking-out aid for application of an installation marking on an object, in particular on a building element, has a first stop surface (20) for the defined contact of the marking-out aid on the object, and also at least one first feeedthrough opening (4) for receiving a marking tool (B). The marking-out aid has a basic body (1) and a first cross bar (2). The al least one first feedthrough opening (4) passes through the basic body (1). The first cross bar (2) is arranged at a first end of the basic body (1) and runs at a right angle to the basic body (1). The first cross bar (2) projects over the basic body (1) on at least one side, wherein that side of the first cross bar (2) which faces away from the basic body (1) forms the first stop surface (20). This marking-out aid is suitable in particular for the installation of finger protection roller screens and finger protection strip covers of doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas DINTHEER, Andreas BRÄNDLE
  • Publication number: 20180370017
    Abstract: A marking apparatus facilitates blind slide-mounting of an object to a mounting surface in a desired alignment using the object as an alignment template. A retention element in receipt of a post is movable against resilient bias to allow the head of the apparatus to capture a mounting slot in the object. The resilient bias moves the retention element to a gripping position, and a cover is rotated to cause a tightening element to secure the grip of the apparatus to the object. A rotational detent element offset from the head prevents the post from rotating with respect to the retention element. When affixed to the object, the apparatus is used to mark the appropriate location for installation of a fastener to supportingly engage the slide-mount slot of the object. The apparatus may include an orthogonality adapter to ensure that it remains orthogonal to the object during certain marking operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: CW Consulting Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin L. Weitsman
  • Publication number: 20180370018
    Abstract: A device for allowing work to be carried out on or about an object includes at least one gripping arrangement. The at least one gripping arrangement is configured to grip and traverse the object so as to reach a desired location on the object and to anchor the device thereto for allowing the work to be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: WHITE PUMA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Gary James HAYDEN
  • Publication number: 20180370019
    Abstract: A magnetic robot crawler designed to efficiently adhere and traverse a ferrous surface partially or fully underwater, regardless of orientation. The crawler includes a vehicle body, a plurality of drive wheel assemblies, and a plurality of gearmotors. The vehicle body houses the necessary electronical components. The drive wheel assemblies are peripherally and externally mounted to the vehicle body in order to support the vehicle body. Each of the drive wheel assemblies is torsionally coupled to a corresponding gearmotor. Each of the drive wheel assemblies includes a tubular housing, a wheel, an annular cavity, and a semi-annular magnet. The wheel is rotatably mounted to the vehicle body through a tubular housing and is torsionally coupled to the corresponding gearmotor through a magnetic coupling. The annular cavity laterally traverses into the wheel and receives the semi-annular magnet. The semi-annular magnet stays stationary while the wheel turns about the semi-annular magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lotz
  • Publication number: 20180370020
    Abstract: An assistance apparatus includes first to eighth wires that couple an upper body belt to be worn on an upper body of a user to a first knee belt and a second knee belt to be worn above a left knee and a right knee of the user, respectively, and a motor. In a case of assisting the user in turning left, the motor generates, when a right leg of the user is in a stance phase, a tension larger than or equal to a first threshold in each of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth wires at an identical timing. In a case of assisting the user in turning right, the motor generates, when a left leg of the user is in a stance phase, a tension larger than or equal to the first threshold in each of the first, third, fifth, and seventh wires at an identical timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: KENTA MURAKAMI, STEPHEN JOHN, MAYUMI KOMATSU, SHINOBU ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20180370021
    Abstract: Wearable robotic systems including robotic limbs for supporting a load while a user moves through an environment and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a robotic system includes robotic limbs with first and second robotic limb segments that are movable between different configurations to support a load while a user is standing or crawling. In another embodiment, a robotic system includes first and second robotic limbs that are substantially located within a plane parallel to a frontal plane of a user when the robotic system is worn. In another embodiment, a wearable robotic system includes first and second robotic limbs and an associated base that is attachable to a user's torso. The first and second robotic limbs may include a plurality of actuators and associated robotic limb segments to couple the robotic legs to the base and control their movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Haruhiko Harry Asada, Daniel J. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20180370022
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, an arm provided on the base, an actuator that drives the arm, a connector to which at least a part of a first wire of another apparatus is connected, and a second wire that connects the actuator and the connector, and the base has a housing having an hole, to which the connector is fixed and a lid covering at least a part of the hole, through which the first wire is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Seiji HAHAKURA, Shingo HOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20180370023
    Abstract: A robot system provided with: a conveying apparatus; a robot that performs processing on an article being conveyed; a camera that captures images of the article being conveyed; a conveying-velocity calculating portion that calculates at least one of a position of the article on the conveying apparatus and a velocity at which the article is conveyed by the conveying apparatus on the basis of the plurality of images captured by the camera; and a control unit that controls the robot on the basis of at least one of the position and the conveying velocity. The control unit determines whether or not the article is present in the images, and, in the case in which the article is absent, controls the robot on the basis of at least one of the position and the conveying velocity calculated by the conveying-velocity calculating portion immediately therebefore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi OOBA
  • Publication number: 20180370024
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a frame, a drive section and an articulated arm. The drive section has at least one motor module that is selectable for placement in the drive section from a number of different interchangeable motor modules. Each having a different predetermined characteristic. The articulated arm has articulated joints. The arm is connected to the drive section for articulation. The arm has a selectable configuration selectable from a number of different arm configurations each having a predetermined configuration characteristic. The selection of the arm configuration is effected by selection of the at least one motor module for placement in the drive section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20180370025
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming robot comprising at least one movable joint actuated by a prime mover. The gaming robot comprises a first module comprising first electronic circuitry and a first coupling. The first coupling is connectable to a second coupling on a second module comprising second electronic circuitry to create a mechanical interface between the first module and the second module and an electrical interface between the first module and the second module. The first electronic circuitry is configured to: in response to a connection of the second module to the first module, access via the electrical interface data stored within the second electronic circuitry, said data identifying the second module; and transmit the data to an identification system configured to detect the presence and identification of modules attached to the gaming robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arnaud DIDEY, Christopher James BECK, John Lee REES
  • Publication number: 20180370026
    Abstract: A robotic system including a robot and an end effector cuff connected to the robot. The end effector cuff has a body and includes at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid port fluidly connected to the at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid valve fluidly connected to the at least one fluid port and housed within the body of the end effector cuff, and an electronic control unit operably coupled to the robot and housed within the body of the end effector cuff. The robotic system also includes an end effector connected to the end effector cuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: PHD, Inc.
    Inventors: Cale M. Reese, James M. Davis, Brian M. Sutter, Scott A. Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20180370027
    Abstract: A machine learning device that acquires state information from a robot control inspection system. The system has a robot hand to hold a workpiece or camera. The state information includes a flaw detection position of the workpiece, a movement route of the robot hand, an imaging point of the workpiece, and the number of imaging by the camera. A reward calculator calculates a reward value in reinforcement learning based on flaw detection information including the flaw detection position. A value function updater updates an action value function by performing the reinforcement learning based on the reward value, the state information, and the action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Yuusuke OOTA, Fumikazu WARASHINA, Hiromitsu TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180370028
    Abstract: An autonomous robotic aide and methods of its operation are provided herein. The robotic aide can carry and lift objects around the user's environment. The robot has a lifting mechanism which lifts the objects that are placed on the robot. It can assist users with picking up objects from the ground. The use of accessories may be combined with the robot's carrying and lifting functions to further assist the user. The robot can also map the user's environment for autonomous navigation. The robot can be given voice commands and can be controlled manually by integrating with a smart device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Elizabeth Marie De Zulueta
  • Publication number: 20180370029
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a self-learning robotic process automation are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an automated script that includes one or more commands and that is configured to interact with graphical elements that appear on a user interface. The method further includes executing a command of the one or more commands of the automated script. The method further includes determining that an error occurred during execution of the command of the one or more commands of the automated script. The method further includes determining a modification for the command by applying a script repair model. The method further includes executing the modified command. The method further includes determining whether the error or another error occurred during execution of the modified command. The method further includes determining whether to update the automated script with the modified command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Simon Hall, Vitalie Schiopu, Jeroen van den Heuvel, Adrien Jacquot
  • Publication number: 20180370030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer program for producing a graphical user interface (100) of a manipulator program and to a method for navigation through a manipulator program, wherein the manipulator system (1) controlled by the manipulator program comprises at least one manipulator (30). The manipulator program comprises at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5). The user interface (100) has a graphical program progress indicator (150) which indicates the current program progress of the manipulator program and the at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program. The at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) indicated can be selected by a user, and the manipulator program is set up to control the manipulator system (1) in such a manner that the system assumes a system state assigned to the selected set-down point (AP1 to AP5) in response to the selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Andreas Sedlmayr
  • Publication number: 20180370031
    Abstract: A control system (10) according to the present invention includes a robot arm (11) provided in a manner capable of moving in a given space, a motor (14) for operating the robot arm (11), a torque adjustment device (16) for operating in a manner capable of adjusting a transmitted torque that is transmitted from the motor (14) to the robot arm (11), and a control device (19) for performing operation control of the robot arm (11). The robot arm (11) is provided with a gravity-compensating mechanism (12) for cancelling an effect of gravity due to the robot arm (11), and the control device (19) commands adjustment of the transmitted torque at the torque adjustment device (16), without taking into account the effect of the gravity of the robot arm (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: WASEDA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alexander Schmitz, Soumya Bhavaraju, Yoshihiro Sakamoto, Gonzaro Aguirre Dominguez, Ritsuki Sato, Wei Wang, Shigeki Sugano
  • Publication number: 20180370032
    Abstract: A robot provided with eyes includes an operation unit that operates a display and a movable member; a checker that checks whether eye contact with a predetermined target is made or not; a determiner that determines whether a predetermined condition regarding the predetermined target is satisfied during the eye contact or not, in a case in which the checker checks that the eye contact with the predetermined target is made; and an operation controller that controls the display and the movable member to cancel the eye contact with the predetermined target, in a case in which the determiner determines that the predetermined condition regarding the predetermined target is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Erina ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180370033
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and fixing robotic process automation failures, including collecting tasks from at least one client computerized device, processing the tasks via robotic process automation, collecting tasks that failed to complete per task type, recording successful execution steps per each of the failed tasks, evaluating the recorded successful execution steps with respect to the failed task types, and providing selected execution steps that best fix the failed tasks, thereby fixing the robotic process automation failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: David GEFFEN, Lior EPSTEIN, Gal TESLER
  • Publication number: 20180370034
    Abstract: A access detecting system comprises an access detector installed at an entrance of a work site including a robot or a machine and configured to detect entry or exit of an object to/from the entrance and to output a first control signal when the object approaches the entrance and a second control signal according to a value obtained by adding or subtracting a count of the entry and a count for the exit and a controller configured to power off, or stop a function of, the robot or the machine upon receiving the first control signal and to re-operate the robot or the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jin Yong LEE, Young Kuk Kwon, Myoung Hoon Choi, Su Jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20180370035
    Abstract: In various embodiments, safe robot operation is achieved by combining commercial, off-the-shelf, safety-rated components with the inherent safety-design mechanism of the robot to provide various allowable power levels to robotic actuators and thereby limit the forces and/or speeds generated by robotic appendages driven by the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael SUSSMAN, Michael GUAY, Anthony ROBSON, James SIROIS
  • Publication number: 20180370036
    Abstract: A surgical robot arm (10) comprises a mounting portion (18). The mounting portion (18) comprises a reader (20) configured for reading location identifiers (26). The mounting portion (18) fits into a socket (22) comprising a location identifier (26). A signal output from the reader (20) allows determination of the location of the robot arm (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew Murray Scholan
  • Publication number: 20180370037
    Abstract: A method of tracing target object is provided. The method includes following steps of: controlling a following robot to capture a target object for obtaining a compared image; determining in the compared image a plurality of sampling particles corresponding to the target object; calculating a predicted position of each sampling particle; moving heading to a predicted direction corresponding to the plurality of the predicted positions for following the target object; re-sampling the plurality of the sampling particles according to a difference between a reference image and the compared image; configuring the compare image as the new reference image; and, performing above-mentioned steps repeatedly until stopping following. Therefore, the analysis efficiency and stability of tracing effectively can be improved; the real-time following and the following robot operate without a signal transmitter can be achieved as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: I-Chun HAN
  • Publication number: 20180370038
    Abstract: An end-effector may be summarized substantially as described and illustrated herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Isaac, David Gabriel Hallock
  • Publication number: 20180370039
    Abstract: A more endearing robot includes an operation unit that causes the robot to operate, a viewing direction determiner that determines whether a viewing direction of a predetermined target is toward the robot or not, and an operation controller that controls the operation unit based on a result of determination by the viewing direction determiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi NAKAGOME, Takashi YAMAYA, Keisuke SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20180370040
    Abstract: A humanoid robot that uses lighter than air gas contained within at least one airtight bladder for stability and support is disclosed. In many embodiments, the humanoid robot includes a body and an airtight bladder associated with the body. The airtight bladder is filled with a sufficient amount of lighter than air gas to make the body buoyant in atmospheric air. In several embodiments, feet that are heavy enough to hold the body to the ground are attached to the body by legs. A variety of locomotion mechanism can be employed by humanoid robots that uses lighter than air gas contained within at least one airtight bladder can be utilized in accordance with different embodiments of the invention including mechanisms that propel the feet of the robot, and/or mechanisms that propel the body of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Dennis W. HONG, Sepehr GHASSEMI
  • Publication number: 20180370041
    Abstract: A smart robot with enhanced communication capabilities includes a camera, a voice collection unit configured to collect verbal commands, and a processor coupled with the camera and the voice collection unit. The smart robot receives user's voice through the voice collection unit, identifies and verifies the user's face image captured by the camera, recognizes voice of such verified user and verbal instructions therefrom, and determines and executes a behavior instruction according to multiple relationship tables, to interact with such user or to cause other objects to function according to the user's command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: CHIH-SIUNG CHIANG, ZHAOHUI ZHOU, NENG-DE XIANG, XUE-QIN ZHANG, CHIEH CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20180370042
    Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Sam Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
  • Publication number: 20180370043
    Abstract: A manufacturing system includes an industrial robot having a robotic arm and a robot hand attached to the robotic arm, and a work station having an instrument provided with a grip to be gripped by the robot hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko HASHIMOTO, Satoru HIBINO, Hideshi YAMANE, Hiroyuki MIZUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180370044
    Abstract: A robot gripper has a housing having at least one flexible chamber, at least one finger channel, and at least one column channel; a finger configured to insert within the finger channel; and at least one column having a base with one or more ports, a conduit in communication with the ports, and one or more column apertures for access to the conduit; wherein the at least one column is configured to insert within the at least one column channel with the one or more column apertures aligning with the one or more flexible chambers such that the flexible chambers are in fluid communication with the conduit. As fluid enters a first set of chambers, the chambers expand, thereby pivoting the fingers attached thereto on a pivot point, bringing the working end of the fingers closer together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Gordon T. Zitting, Lorin B. Zitting
  • Publication number: 20180370045
    Abstract: A robot main body driving mechanism; a robot main body including a hollow flexible shaft, a joint portion including a bending joint and a proximal end continuous with a distal end of the flexible shaft, the bending joint receiving driving force of the robot main body driving mechanism to perform a bending operation, an end effector provided at a distal end of the joint portion, and a driving force transmission mechanism connecting the bending joint and the robot main body driving mechanism and configured to transmit the driving force of the robot main body driving mechanism to the bending joint; and a rotation driving mechanism configured to rotate the robot main body around an axis of a proximal end of the flexible shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi KAN
  • Publication number: 20180370046
    Abstract: An example method is carried out in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier. The method involves determining a target inventory item having a target on-item identifier. The method also involves determining that a first inventory item having a first on-item identifier is loaded onto a first robotic device. The method further involves transmitting a request to verify the first on-item identifier. The method still further involves receiving data captured by a sensor of the second robotic device. The method yet further involves (i) analyzing the received data to determine the first on-item identifier, (ii) comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, and (iii) responsive to comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, performing an action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20180370047
    Abstract: A functional assembly for an industrial robot includes a safety cover which selectively covers an operative unit or robot end effector. The cover includes a fixed portion and a movable portion which selectively moves relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion selectively moves to cover or uncover a portion of the operative unit for the operative unit to function for its intended purpose. The operative unit can move in two directions orthogonal to the movement of the cover movable portion allowing the operative unit to travel or reach to the full footprint of the cover. The safety cover may include sensors to detect objects in close proximity to the safety cover to slow or stop the robot or functional assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Giorgio Becciani, Giovanni Di Stefano, Stefano Arduino
  • Publication number: 20180370048
    Abstract: In a robot arm mechanism, a column section is rotatably supported on a base, a rise/fall section is placed on the column section, an arm including expansion and contraction properties is supported by the rise/fall section to be capable of raising and lowering, and a wrist section to which an end effecter is fittable is mounted to a tip of the arm. In the rise/fall section, an intake port is provided in a front part and an exhaust port is provided in a rear part, separately, and in the wrist section, an intake port is provided at a side close to the end effecter, and an exhaust port is provided at a side far from the end effecter, separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Woo-Keun YOON, Hiroaki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20180370049
    Abstract: In a robot arm mechanism, a column equipped with a turning joint is supported on a base stand, a rise/fall section equipped with a rise/fall joint is placed on the column, a linear extension and retraction mechanism equipped with a linearly extendible and retractable arm is provided on the rise/fall section, and the arm is equipped at a tip with a wrist section fittable with an end effector. The wrist section is made up of a combination of a roll joint used to swing the end effector, a pitch joint used to tilt the end effector back and forth, and a yaw joint used to axially rotate the end effector. At least two of the joints are each equipped with a mechanical stopper mechanism adapted to limit motion to within a mechanical operating range and with a safety stopper mechanism adapted to limit motion to within a safe range of movement narrower than the mechanical operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Woo-Keun YOON, Hiroaki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20180370050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a haircut recording method, a haircut recording system, and a haircut recording device, the system comprising a computing device (40) comprising a feedback unit (42), a hand-held device (20) comprising a hair property measurement unit (22), the measurement unit (22) being arranged for detecting a hair property value of interest, particularly a hair length representing value, when the measurement unit (22) is arranged adjacent to a haired portion (16), a position detection unit (30) arranged for detecting an actual position of the measurement unit (22), a record control unit (70) arranged to operate the position detection unit (30) for tracking the actual position of the measurement unit (22), operate the measurement unit (22) for assigning detected hair property values to position values, deduce a condition parameter, particularly a quality parameter, and provide user feedback based on the deduced condition parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: JOZEF JOHANNES MARIA JANSSEN
  • Publication number: 20180370051
    Abstract: An electric shaving assembly for shaving decorative designs in hair includes a shaver. A cutting assembly is operationally coupled to the shaver and is configured to cut hair. Each of a plurality of masks is selectively couplable to the shaver to cover the cutting assembly. Each of a plurality of openings is positioned in a top of a respective mask. Each opening has a shape so that the plurality of openings has a variety of shapes, such as letters of the alphabet and designs. Each mask is configured to contact skin of a user to position the cutting assembly to shave a respective shape into the hair on the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Barbara Wilson
  • Publication number: 20180370052
    Abstract: A razor handle including a hollow, elongated gripping member having an open end, a second end and an intermediate opening, a cartridge connection member having a first end adapted to retain a razor cartridge and a second end forming an insert having a receiver, and a fastener adapted to pass through the intermediate opening of the gripping member and engage the receiver on the insert to securely retain the cartridge connection member on the gripping member. Also, a method of manufacturing a razor handle including inserting an insert of a cartridge connection member into an open end of a gripping member, passing a stem member of the fastener through an intermediate opening of the gripping portion, and securing the stem of the fastener to the cartridge connection member to retain the cartridge connection member on the gripping portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Francis Zaremba, Michael Chad Makay, Robert Angelo Riccomini
  • Publication number: 20180370053
    Abstract: A Honed Blade Apparatus of a razor head having at least one honed blade and a handle connected thereto; and a honed blade for incorporation into a razor head is disclosed, the blades being of a width ranging from 0.1 inches to 1.0 inches. These honed blades of the unique widths are perfect for the exfoliation and/or shaving of the Bikini area, Groin area, Body area, Scalp area, and Facial areas which include: (Goatee, Beard, Sideburns, Lip, Ear, Eyebrow, Nose, Cheeks & Forehead), and Toes & Knuckles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Sharidan L Stiles
  • Publication number: 20180370054
    Abstract: A multi-blade drywall cutter (MBDC) for making multiple simultaneous cuts to a piece of drywall. The MBDC has a first member pivotally connected to a second member, and first and second handles are attached to aid in use. The first member contains rollers to aid in using the cutting device and also a track that can be adjusted to vary the width to receive a board of various thicknesses. The second member has a plurality of cutting elements that may be located at various positions along the second member and secured for cutting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Clay Patterson Baird, JR.