Robot Control Patents (Class 700/245)
  • Patent number: 12214484
    Abstract: A device control apparatus includes at least one processor executing a program stored in at least one memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hasegawa, Miyuki Urano
  • Patent number: 12202153
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a conveying device configured to convey a workpiece; a robot configured to execute an operation on the workpiece; and circuitry configured to: identify a current position of the workpiece and an object area occupied by an object; identify an interlock area that moves with the current position of the workpiece being conveyed by the conveying device; check an overlap between the interlock area and the object area; and control the robot to execute the operation based on the current position of the workpiece in response to determining that the interlock area does not overlap the object area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventors: Toshiki Ito, Hiroshi Kumagai, Yukihiro Tobata, Hisashi Ideguchi, Keisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12205594
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electronic eyewear device using voice commands receives audio data from a microphone, processes the audio data to identify a wake word, and upon identification of a wake word, processes the audio data to identify at least one action keyword in the audio data. The audio data is provided to one of a plurality of controllers associated with different action keywords or sets of action keywords to implement an action. For example, the audio data may be provided to a settings controller to adjust settings of the electronic eyewear device when the action keyword is indicative of a request to adjust a setting of the electronic eyewear device or to a navigation controller to navigate to the system information of the electronic eyewear device when the action keyword is indicative of a request to navigate to system information of the electronic eyewear device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventor: Piotr Gurgul
  • Patent number: 12201053
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a frame, an operator support, a blade assembly, a steering system, a motor assembly, a sensor and one or more processors. The operator support is coupled to the frame and is configured to support the entire weight of an operator of the lawn mower during use thereof. The motor assembly is configured to drive rotatable wheels so as to move the frame along the ground surface and drive at least one blade relative to the ground surface to cut grass. Sensor and processor to detect the an edge between an unmowed area of grass and a mowed area of grass and control the motor assembly stop driving the at least one blade, the wheels, or both based on the input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Paul Becke, Matthew Stanton, Andrew Seman, Matthew Velderman, Daniel White
  • Patent number: 12197203
    Abstract: A robotic work tool system (200) comprising a robotic work tool (100), the robotic work tool (100) being configured to determine (410) that the robotic work tool (100) has entered a state of limited movement; determine (420) an exit path; and exit (430) the state of limited movement by navigating the exit path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Jonas Holgersson, Stefan Bergström, Hugo Johansson, Erik Starhagen, Claes Johannesson, Marcus Stjärnås, Fredrik Klackensjö, Tommy Glimberg, Stefan Grufman, Mattias Kamfors, Marcus Liljedahl, Björn Mannefred, Beppe Hellsin
  • Patent number: 12194627
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for modular robotic manipulation systems. In one embodiment, an example modular robot assembly may include a housing having a base, and a robotic manipulator coupled to the base, where the housing is configured to provide the robotic manipulator access to a first side, a second side, and a third side of the modular robot assembly. The module robot assembly may include a first camera system, a controller, and an optional display coupled to the housing. The modular robot assembly may be configured to be coupled to other modular robot assemblies, and the housing may be configured to be secured, such that the modular robot assembly can be independently transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Felipe De Arruda Camargo Polido, William Clay Flannigan, Timothy G. Dietz, William Eugene Clem, Vincent Kerstholt, Bart Heerikhuisen, Ernst Bahlman, Ruben Boerhof
  • Patent number: 12194507
    Abstract: The present application discloses a system, a method, and a computer system for detecting objects that require special handling. The method includes (i) receiving image data from one or more cameras associated with a source conveyor configured to convey items to a pick location, (ii) determining, based at least in part on the image data, that an item requiring special handling has entered the source conveyor, and (iii) providing an output indicating that the item requiring special handling has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan Hegde, Harry Zhe Su, Talbot Morris-Downing
  • Patent number: 12189566
    Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods for routing data packets in a robot. The method comprises routing, using a first switching device, data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot, and routing, using the first switching device, data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Devin Billings, Matthew Meduna
  • Patent number: 12186910
    Abstract: In a robot controller, return of a position (including posture) of a robot arm to an origin thereof is controlled along a searched return path, when there occurs an abnormality against the robot. It is determined whether there is a trajectory portion regarded as being a straight line on a motion trajectory of the arm, based on the operation log data recorded in a recording unit when it is determined that the arm should be returned to the origin. Operation log data of a node are decimated (i.e., downsampled), which are present between two nodes which are at both ends of a trajectory portion regarded as being a straight line when the trajectory portion is regarded as being the straight line. Then, the return path is calculated, along which the arm returns to the origin, based on remaining operation log data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Yuya Kato
  • Patent number: 12186040
    Abstract: An instrument drive unit for use in a robotic surgical system includes a carriage configured to be coupled to a robotic arm, a plurality of drive shafts rotationally supported in the carriage, a plurality of electric motors, and a plurality of concentric, tubular shafts extending through the plurality of electric motors. Each electric motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed within the stator. Each drive shaft is configured for interfacing with a corresponding driven member of the electromechanical surgical instrument. A rotation of a rotor of an electric motor rotates a corresponding tubular shaft, which, in turn, rotates a corresponding drive shaft to actuate a function of the electromechanical surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jaimeen Kapadia, Ranjan K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 12181303
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system of a vehicle which is equipped to carry out an automated driving operation involves localizing the vehicle and approving the vehicle system for activation depending on a result of the localization. The vehicle is localized with at least two different localization methods. The at least two localization methods include at least one landmark-based localization method and one localization method based on at least one global navigation satellite system. The vehicle system is only approved for activation if it is confirmed with each of the applied localization methods that the vehicle is located on a route section approved for automated driving operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Florian Ries, Frank Schuster, Martin Haueis, Mohammad Ghanaat
  • Patent number: 12172308
    Abstract: A method for determining a control position of a robot includes (a) acquiring N real reference positions in a real space and N control reference positions in a robot control coordinate system, (b) setting M figures having vertices in a plurality of real reference positions of the N real reference positions within the real space, and obtaining a transform function expressing a correspondence relationship between a real position and a control position within each figure, (c) receiving input of a target position of the control point in the real space, (d) selecting an object figure for calculation of a control position for the target position from the M figures, and (e) calculating a target control position for the target position using the transform function with respect to the object figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 12172318
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a robotic welding system for generating a motion program, having a programmable robot controller of a robot having a computer processor and a computer memory. The programmable robot controller is configured to digitally record, in the computer memory, a plurality of spatial points along an operator path in a 3D space taken by a calibrated tool center point (TCP) of the robot as an operator manually moves a robot arm of the robot along the operator path from a start point to a destination point within the 3D space. The programmable robot controller is also configured to identify and eliminate extraneous spatial points from the plurality of spatial points as digitally recorded, leaving a subset of the plurality of spatial points as digitally recorded, where the extraneous spatial points are a result of extraneous movements of the robot arm by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Lance F. Guymon, Daniel J. Spieker, Jacob F. Aas, Levi J. Mitchell, Zachary J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 12169408
    Abstract: A robot control system acquires request information requesting a robot to keep within a prescribed distance from a user and to collect surrounding information, acquires, from the robot, location information indicating a location of the robot and confirmation information indicating that the robot is near the user, and transmits, to the robot, a command for changing a setting of the robot from a first specification to a second specification in response to the request in a case where it is determined, on a basis of the map information, the location information, and the confirmation information, that the user of the robot is accompanying the robot outside a home area of the user, the first specification enabling the robot to collect the surrounding information inside the home area, and the second specification enabling the robot to collect the surrounding information outside the home area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yahata
  • Patent number: 12161275
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a plurality of autonomous cleaners. A first cleaner of the plurality of autonomous cleaners according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a traveling unit to move a main body thereof, a communication unit to perform communication with a second cleaner, and a control unit to determine a position of the second cleaner using an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) signal output from the communication unit, and set area information, in which the first and second cleaners are to perform cleaning, based on a position of the first cleaner and the position of the second cleaner, wherein the control unit controls the second cleaner based on second area information in which the second cleaner is to perform cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Kwak, Jaehwan Ko, Hyukdo Kweon
  • Patent number: 12162156
    Abstract: A robotic manipulation planning system, including at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: process perception data to detect known, familiar, and unknown objects to generate manipulation candidates; filter manipulation candidates against constraints to reduce the manipulation candidates; and determine quality metrics for the reduced manipulation candidates using a soft-body simulation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Javier Felip Leon, Ignacio Alvarez, Maria Soledad Elli, David Gonzalez-Aguirre, Javier Turek
  • Patent number: 12162159
    Abstract: According to a moving robot and a method of controlling the same of the present disclosure, the moving robot detect the sound generated in the area, moves a sound generation point according to a type of the sound and an operation mode, analyzes an image of the sound generation point and determines an indoor situation to perform the corresponding operation. The moving robot detects the sound to determine an accident at a location at which the sound is generated, can automatically perform a specified operation corresponding to the generated accident even when there is no control command of a user, and thus, it is possible rapidly respond to the generated accident. The moving robot can divide an object generating the sound into a person, a companion animal, and a subject, and can perform different operations according to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hanmin Jo
  • Patent number: 12164288
    Abstract: The system comprises: control servers, transport robots, and workstations, the workstations comprising working areas and waiting areas. The control servers are configured to determine a target container to be transported, a first transport robot and a second transport robot that transport the target container, and a target workstation that operates the target container in response to a system task, plan walking paths for the first transport robot and the second transport robot, and send transport instructions to the first transport robot and the second transport robot. The first transport robot is configured to transport the target container from a storage area to a waiting area of the target workstation according to a planned walking path in response to a transport instruction, place same in the waiting area of the target workstation, and wait to execute other transport instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Zheng
  • Patent number: 12156634
    Abstract: A continuum robot control device, configured to control operations of a continuum robot having a bendable portion that is bent by driving at least part of a plurality of wires, includes a kinematics computing unit that computes a driving amount lk1b of the at least part of the plurality of wires, based on a target bending angle that is a target value for a bending angle of the bendable portion, a compensation amount computing unit that computes a compensation amount for compensation of the driving amount lk1b, based on the target bending angle, and a displacement of one of the plurality of wires at the target bending angle, and an adding unit and position control unit that set a driving control amount of performing driving control of the at least part of the plurality of wires, based on the driving amount and the compensation amount obtained by computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekazu Kose
  • Patent number: 12151923
    Abstract: A lift device includes a lift apparatus, a base assembly, and a controller. The lift apparatus is configured to raise and lower a removable robotic implement assembly. The base assembly is configured to support the lift apparatus and a primary mover. The primary mover is configured to provide rotational motion to one or more wheels supported by the base to move the lift apparatus. The controller is in communication with the implement assembly and the lift apparatus. The controller is configured to adjust a position of the robotic implement assembly and the lift apparatus in response to receiving instructions to perform a task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Gilbride, Julien J. Schrenk, Gregory E. Bonvechio, Adam M. Boettcher, Jeffrey Gibson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12154449
    Abstract: A computing and robotics learning platform includes a component ecosystem with gears, pucks, side plates and connectors configured to support the integration of globally available materials, such as rubber bands, pencils and popsicle sticks is described herein. Certain embodiments according to this disclosure include a platform device comprising a multi-layer processing structure capable of implementing student programs written in beginner or high-level programming languages without latency or performance degradation from processing tasks associated with low-level system functions, such as motor encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Trashbots, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Austin, Rohit Srinivasan, Sidharth Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 12151373
    Abstract: A manufacturing process adopting the reconfigurable robotic manufacturing cells that can work conjointly and yet have the capabilities to be reconfigured to disconnect from other cells and handle multiple tasks. The reconfigurable robotic cell is not dependent on any other robotic cells to complete work in progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nivedita Ravi, John William Zevenbergen, IV, Joseph Neil Reichenbach, Toby Ge Xu
  • Patent number: 12145277
    Abstract: A robot motion planning technique using an external computer communicating with a robot controller. A camera or sensor system provides input scene information including start and goal points and obstacle data to the computer. The computer plans a robot tool motion based on the start and goal points and the obstacle environment, where the robot motion is planned using either a serial or parallel combination of sampling-based and optimization-based planning algorithms. In the serial combination, the sampling method first finds a feasible path, and the optimization method then improves the path quality. In the parallel combination, both sampling and optimization methods are used, and a path is selected based on computation time, path quality and other factors. The computer converts dense planned waypoints to sparse command points for transfer to the robot controller, and the controller computes robot kinematics and interpolation points and controls the movement of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsien-Chung Lin, Tetsuaki Kato
  • Patent number: 12147241
    Abstract: There is provided a moving robot including a light projector, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light projector projects a vertical light segment toward a moving direction. The image sensor captures, toward the moving direction, an image frame containing a light segment image associated with the vertical light segment. The processing unit calculates a step distance and a segment feature according to the image frame, outputs a flag signal according to the segment feature to indicate whether the calculated step distance is confident or not, and perform a pixel interpolation in calculating the step distance to improve the identification accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 12138807
    Abstract: A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhouwen Sun, Talbot Morris-Downing, Harry Zhe Su, Rohun Kulkarni, Kevin Jose Chavez, Samir Menon, Toby Leonard Baker, David Leo Tondreau, III, Robert Holmberg
  • Patent number: 12138794
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a communication unit that transmits sensing data collected by an autonomous mobile object to a server, in which the communication unit transmits the sensing data related to a predetermined learning target to the server, and receives a dictionary for recognition generated by recognition learning using the sensing data collected by a plurality of the autonomous mobile objects and related to the learning target. In addition, provided is an information processing apparatus including a control unit that controls presentation of a progression status related to recognition learning for generating a dictionary for recognition used for an autonomous mobile object, in which the recognition learning is executed by using sensing data collected by a plurality of the autonomous mobile objects and related to a predetermined learning target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Mochizuki, Yusuke Yoshizawa, Mika Nagae
  • Patent number: 12137856
    Abstract: An autonomous robot is maneuvered around a feature in an environment along a first trajectory. Data characterizing the first trajectory is stored as a trajectory landmark. The autonomous cleaning robot is maneuvered along a second trajectory. Data characterizing the second trajectory is compared to the trajectory landmark. Based on comparing the data characterizing the second trajectory to the trajectory landmark, it is determined that the first trajectory matches the second trajectory. A transform that aligns the first trajectory with the second trajectory is determined. The transform is applied to an estimate of a position of the autonomous cleaning robot as a correction of the estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Daniele Tamino, Artem Gritsenko, Andrea M. Okerholm Huttlin, Arman Karimian, Benjamin Pheil, Yao Chen, Renaud Moser, Jose Luis Franco Monsalve
  • Patent number: 12138778
    Abstract: A control system that coordinates and manages the execution of tasks by one or more robotic devices within an environment. The control system transmits and receives information to and from one or more robotic devices using a wireless communication channel. The one or more robotic devices may execute one or more actions based on the information received and may transmit information to the control system using a wireless communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 12139217
    Abstract: An example method may include i) determining a first distance between a pair of feet of a robot at a first time, where the pair of feet is in contact with a ground surface; ii) determining a second distance between the pair of feet of the robot at a second time, where the pair of feet remains in contact with the ground surface from the first time to the second time; iii) comparing a difference between the determined first and second distances to a threshold difference; iv) determining that the difference between determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference; and v) based on the determination that the difference between the determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference, causing the robot to react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, Alex Perkins, Marco da Silva
  • Patent number: 12134181
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for generating a joint command. The method includes receiving a maneuver script including a plurality of maneuvers for a legged robot to perform where each maneuver is associated with a cost. The method further includes identifying that two or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers of the maneuver script occur at the same time instance. The method also includes determining a combined maneuver for the legged robot to perform at the time instance based on the two or more maneuvers and the costs associated with the two or more maneuvers. The method additionally includes generating a joint command to control motion of the legged robot at the time instance where the joint command commands a set of joints of the legged robot. Here, the set of joints correspond to the combined maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Klingensmith, Eric Whitman, Marco da Silva, Alfred Rizzi
  • Patent number: 12125242
    Abstract: A method and system for registering a 3D sensor with an autonomous manipulator is provided. The 3D sensor has a field of view and a sensor coordinate system. The autonomous manipulator is a vision-guided manipulator having a work envelope and a manipulator coordinate system. The method includes moving a registration target relative to the sensor in the field of view of the sensor in the work envelope to obtain a plurality of depth maps or images of the target. The depth maps or images are processed to obtain a plurality of extrinsic registration parameters between the manipulator and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Liberty Robotics Inc.
    Inventors: G. Neil Haven, Fansheng Meng
  • Patent number: 12124452
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to materials discovery using machine learning models. One example provides a method enacted on a computing system. The method comprises receiving a query comprising one or more of element information and material property information, and, based on the query, retrieving material data from a materials information database. The material data comprises structural information for each material within a set of materials matching the query, the set comprising one or more materials, and for one or more materials in the set of materials, one or more predicted material properties determined using one or more trained machine learning models. The method further comprises outputting the material data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chi Chen, Hongbin Liu, Andrea Cepellotti, Mark A Woodlief, Nihit Pokhrel, Adrian Dumitrascu, Matthias Troyer, Nathan Andrew Baker
  • Patent number: 12114595
    Abstract: A method of mowing with an autonomous robot lawnmower includes traversing a mowable area with the autonomous robot lawnmower carrying a cutter and a vegetation characteristic sensor. The vegetation characteristic sensor is configured to generate sensor data in response to detecting a vegetation characteristic of the mowable area. The vegetation characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a moisture content, a grass height, and a color. The method includes storing position-referenced data representing the vegetation characteristic detected across the mowable area. The position-referenced data is based at least in part on the sensor data and position data. The method includes sending data to a remote device to cause the remote device to display a map including information based on the position-referenced data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Doughty, Andrew Beaulieu, Brian Yamauchi, Alec Likhite, Erik Steltz
  • Patent number: 12116147
    Abstract: A sampling system includes a sampler, a projector, a camera, an arm, and a controller with the sampler, projector, and camera being located at the distal end of the arm. The projector projects a reference mark including a line with a predetermined shape onto a ground surface and the camera captures images of the projected mark. The controller is configured to obtain the size of the projected line based on the camera images. The controller adjusts the projector height position based on the line size and specifies a sampling point for inserting the sampler based on the camera images of the projected mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fuminobu Sakamoto, Toyotoshi Kurose
  • Patent number: 12118793
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing a vehicle-and-drone-based security service. In an example method, a first area of interest and a second area of interest associated with a structure may be determined. The first area of interest may then be determined to be monitored at the vehicle. The second area of interest may also be determined to be monitored at a drone associated with the vehicle. A route may be identified for the drone to travel along, where the route is configured for the drone to monitor the second area of interest. The drone may then be launched via the vehicle to travel along the route to monitor the second area of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Tarik Safir, Sam Harris
  • Patent number: 12115656
    Abstract: Modular robotic arms include modular sections with a joint and arm segment. In some examples, the modular sections may connect to each other using common tooling flanges, such as a standard robotic interface for an end effector. In the same or different examples, a robotic arm controller is located in a base or other section for the robotic arm. In the same or different examples, a robotic arm joint includes a differential gear with two motors. Coordinated control of the two differential joint motors facilitates both hinge and rotary motion for the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Ally Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Mitchell Tolson, Troy M. Swartwood, Jordan Lucas Heintz
  • Patent number: 12114942
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus (100) includes an estimation unit (133) configured to estimate an external force estimation value which is an estimation value for an external force that acts on an object to be driven by performing a process based on a machine learning model with a force estimation value and an external force response value as an input, the force estimation value being an estimation value for a force that acts on the object to be driven, the external force response value being based on a value of an external force detected by a force sensor configured to detect the external force that acts on the object to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Yajima
  • Patent number: 12108139
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image from a camera that is capable of controlling an orientation, a display control unit configured to display the captured image onto a display screen, a detection unit configured to detect, within the display screen, a subject at which a user is looking, and an orientation changing unit configured to change an orientation of the camera in such a way that the subject does not fall out of an imaging region of the camera is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukiyo Akisada, Yasuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 12104400
    Abstract: A cleaning robot for swimming pools includes a charging assembly, a floating assembly, a power assembly and a cleaning assembly. The charging assembly includes a charging mount provided with a first charging induction portion and a first magnet set. The floating assembly includes a floating body, and a second charging induction portion and a second magnet set are disposed on a lateral portion of the floating body. The floating assembly is attracted with the first magnet set of the charging assembly through the second magnet set, and the first charging induction portion and the second charging induction portion are arranged to charge the power assembly after being turned on. The floating assembly and the cleaning assembly are provided with a first and a second travel module for driving the floating assembly and the cleaning assembly respectively. The floating assembly is connected to the cleaning assembly through a power supply cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: HUBEI YIMU ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongchao Liu, Yanshan Han, Rong Xiang, Hao Ding
  • Patent number: 12103177
    Abstract: A decoupling control method for a humanoid robot includes: decomposing tasks of the humanoid robot to obtain kinematic tasks and dynamic tasks, and classifying corresponding joints of the humanoid robot into kinematic task joints or dynamic task joints; solving desired positions and desired speeds of the kinematic task joints for performing the kinematic tasks according to desired positions and desired speeds of ends in the kinematic tasks using inverse kinematics; calculating torques of the kinematic task joints based on the desired positions and desired speeds of the kinematic task joints; and solving a pre-built optimization model of torques required for the dynamic task joints based on the calculated torques of the kinematic task joints, to obtain torques required by the dynamic task joints for performing the dynamic tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Yijie Guo, Mingguo Zhao, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 12102393
    Abstract: A surgical robotic arm control system and a control method thereof are provided. The surgical robotic arm control system includes a surgical robotic arm, an image capturing unit, and a processor. The surgical robotic arm has multiple joint axes. The image capturing unit obtains a first image. The processor executes a spatial environment recognition module to generate a first environment information image, a first direction information image, and a first depth information image according to the first image. The processor executes a spatial environment image processing module to calculate path information according to the first environment information image, the first direction information image, and the first depth information image. The processor executes a robotic arm motion feedback module to operate the surgical robotic arm to move according to the path information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre
    Inventors: Jian Jia Zeng, Bo-Wei Pan, Sheng-Hong Yang
  • Patent number: 12103170
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Inventors: Clara Vu, Scott Denenberg, Abraham K. Feldman
  • Patent number: 12096998
    Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes a manipulator arm and a controller. The controller includes a computer processor. The controller is configured to servo at least one joint associated with at least one manipulator arm segment of the manipulator arm, the servoing including executing a servo loop. Executing the servo loop includes obtaining an actual state of the manipulator arm, computing a difference between a commanded state and the actual state, where the commanded state is used for the servoing the at least one joint, and determining whether the difference exceeds an error threshold. Based on determining that the difference does exceed the error threshold, the commanded state is updated using an offset to reduce the difference, and. Based on determining that the difference does not exceed the error threshold, the commanded state is not updated. The controller is further configured to apply the commanded state to control the actual state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Brisson
  • Patent number: 12097620
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for environment-adaptive robotic disinfecting. In an example, provided is a method that can include (i) creating, from digital images, a map of a structure; (ii) identifying a location of a robot in the structure; (iii) segmenting, using a machine learning-based classifying algorithm trained based on object affordance information, the digital images to identify potentially contaminated surfaces within the structure; (iv) creating a map of potentially contaminated surfaces within the structure; (v) calculating a trajectory of movement of the robot to move the robot to a location of a potentially contaminated surface in the potentially contaminated surfaces; and (vi) moving the robot along the trajectory of movement to position a directional decontaminant source adjacent to the potentially contaminated surface. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: University of Tennesse Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jindong Tan, Da Hu, Qiang He, Shuai Li
  • Patent number: 12099366
    Abstract: A system for obstacle detection adapted to a self-guiding machine is provided. The system includes a controller, a linear light source and a light sensor. The linear light source and the light sensor are set apart at a distance. When the linear light source emits an indicator light being a vertical linear light projected onto a path the self-guiding machine travels toward, the light sensor senses the indicator light. The vertical linear light is segmented into a first segment projected to a ground and a second segment projected to a floating obstacle when the self-guiding machine approaches the floating obstacle with a height from the ground and the indicator light is projected to the floating obstacle, in which the second segment of the light sensed by the light sensor is determined as the floating obstacle in front of the self-guiding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Shun Chen, Wei-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 12090664
    Abstract: An interference avoidance device is provided with: a three-dimensional sensor that is attached to a tip portion of a robot arm and acquires a distance image of an area around a robot; a position data creating portion that converts coordinates of a nearby object in the distance image to coordinates on a robot coordinate system and creates the position data of the nearby object based on the coordinates of the nearby object on the robot coordinate system; a storage portion that stores the position data; and a control portion that controls the robot based on the robot coordinate system; and the control portion controls the robot to avoid interference of the robot with the nearby object, based on the position data stored in the storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumikazu Warashina, Yuta Namiki, Kyouhei Kokubo
  • Patent number: 12089903
    Abstract: Illustrative systems and methods for inserting an elongate flexible instrument into a target environment are described. An illustrative system includes a guide device positioned near an opening to the target environment and having a rotary mechanism and a motor configured to drive the rotary mechanism. The system further includes a sensor system associated with insertion of the elongate flexible instrument along an insertion axis and a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the sensor system. The processor is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor system, evaluate the sensor data, and control, based on the evaluation, the motor to actuate the elongate flexible instrument along the insertion axis. In some examples, the processor controls the motor to vary a rate of rotation of the rotary mechanism based on a determined system status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Sadaka, Wingman C. Tse, Joseph A. Kemp
  • Patent number: 12090666
    Abstract: A path generation device including an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and a path generation unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire pose information relating to an initial pose and a target pose of a robot, position information relating to a position of the robot, obstacle information including a position of an obstacle present in a range of interference with the robot, and specification information relating to a specification including a shape of the robot. The setting unit is configured to, based on a positional relationship between the robot and the obstacle, set a clearance amount representing an amount of clearance to avoid the interference for at least one out of the robot or an obstacle present in a range of interference with the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norikazu Tonogai, Haruka Fujii, Takeshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 12089965
    Abstract: The invention discloses a sparse Bayesian learning (SBL)-based SSR brain source localization method. An SSR record is divided into multiple data segments, frequency-domain information of the data segments is extracted through FFT, and a data matrix is constructed. An automatic iteration stop condition and initial values of a sparse support vector and a spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG)-electrical noise joint power vector are set. The posteriori mean and covariance of SSR components are iteratively estimated and the sparse support vector and the spontaneous EEG-electrical noise joint power vector are updated accordingly. When the iteration ends, the ultimate sparse support vector is used to give a source localization result. An SSR source localization problem is modeled in the frequency domain, the joint sparsity of signals in multiple data segments is involved, and a brain source localization method applicable to various SSRs is given in an SBL framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Nan Hu, Mingwen Qu
  • Patent number: 12085914
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a system autonomy level of a cargo handling system configured for autonomous control by a processor is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving by the processor a sensor database from a plurality of sensing agents in operable communication with the processor; determining by the processor a confidence level based on the sensor database; and adjusting by the processor the system autonomy level for continued operation of the cargo handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zamira A. Daw Perez, Alessandro Pinto, Richa Varma, Olusegun T. Oshin