Interpolation Patents (Class 700/252)
  • Patent number: 11347230
    Abstract: In some examples, a method for docking an autonomous mobile robot includes: determining a first effective region, wherein the first effective region is defined by a boundary, and wherein the autonomous mobile robot is located in the first effective region; determining an optimal point from a plurality of candidate points on the boundary of the first effective region, wherein each candidate point defines a respective second effective region centering on the candidate point and overlapping with the first effective region to form a respective overlapping region, wherein the respective overlapping region associated with the optimal point is smallest among the respective overlapping regions associated with the plurality of candidate points; controlling the autonomous mobile robot to move to the optimal point; and repeating the above steps in one or more iterations until the autonomous mobile robot is within a preset distance from a charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ROCK TIMES TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Haojian Xie
  • Patent number: 11229494
    Abstract: A surgical robotic system has a surgical robotic arm, and a programmed processor that determines a longest principal axis of a velocity ellipsoid for a first configuration of the arm, applies a maximum task space velocity (that is in the direction of the longest principal axis) to an inverse kinematics equation which computes a potential joint space velocity, computes a ratio of i) the potential joint space velocity and ii) a joint space velocity limit of the arm, and applies the ratio to an initial joint space velocity, to produce a regulated joint space velocity. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: VERB SURGICAL INC.
    Inventor: Haoran Yu
  • Patent number: 11185981
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes a section setter to set, on a straight line connecting a start point to an end point, an acceleration section until reaching a predetermined angular velocity, a constant velocity section in which the predetermined angular velocity is maintained, and a deceleration section in which the predetermined angular velocity is decreased, a segment setter to divide each of the acceleration section, the constant velocity section, and the deceleration section into a plurality of segments and to set segment distances of each of the acceleration section, the constant velocity section, and the deceleration section so as to equalize or substantially equalize moving times of the segments of the reference point to each other, and when the reference point is moved in each of the segments according to point to point control, an angular velocity setter to set an angular velocity of each of the segments based on a variance in an angle of a joint which becomes maximum with respect to each of the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thanh Nhat Doan, Masahiro Yoshida, Haruhiro Tsuneta
  • Patent number: 11117270
    Abstract: A safety system for safeguarding cooperative operation of people, robots, and machines with respect to a technical installation includes a safety-related device. The safety-related device is configured to monitor a first hazardous area of the technical installation and bring the technical installation into a safe state in response to detection of a hazardous condition. The safety system is configured to identify an autonomously operating technical unit, register the autonomously operating technical unit in response to the autonomously operating technical unit satisfying a defined condition, and restrict monitoring of the first hazardous area by the safety-related device in response to the registration. The safety system is configured to, in response to a defined event, revoke the registration of the autonomously operating technical unit and lift the restriction on monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Pilz, Hansjürgen Horter, Matthias Holzäpfel
  • Patent number: 11059181
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot having a robot arm; a robot controller configured to move the robot arm based on a motion program stored in a memory; a display screen; and a display controller configured to generate and display a constant velocity area of a control point path for the robot arm. The motion program instructs the robot controller to move a control point on the robot arm along the control point path. The display controller being configured to display the constant velocity area by generating a path display image depicting the control point path, displaying the path display image on a display screen, and superimposing a constant velocity area on the path display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 10953543
    Abstract: A robot employing an operation program setting apparatus is configured to move, based on an operation program, a tool attached to a distal end portion of an arm of the robot along a predetermined processing trajectory along a work object, the operation program makes posture of the tool change at at least a position along the predetermined processing trajectory, the position is a posture changing position. The setting apparatus includes a controller configured to add a command to the operation program, the command is for making the tool start to be inclined when the tool approaches the posture changing position within a range of an acceptable inclination angle, the range is an angle range within which the tool is allowed to be inclined with respect to a surface of the work object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Naoki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 10831174
    Abstract: A method for adaptable machining includes (a) providing one or more images with a digital imaging system of each of a series of work pieces, (b) for each of the work pieces, selectively modifying a preprogrammed cutting tool path with regard to the image of the respective work piece, and (c) for each of the work pieces, performing a machining operation according to the respective selectively modified preprogrammed cutting tool path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Scott, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10599135
    Abstract: An offline teaching device includes: a storage unit that stores a program; a display control unit that causes a monitor to display four or more coordinate points P1 to P6 based on teaching point data described in the program and one line connecting the four or more coordinate points P1 to P6 successively; and a correction amount generation unit that, after two coordinate points P2 and P5 are selected on the monitor from remaining coordinate points P2 to P5 except the coordinate points P1 and P6 serving as a starting point and an ending point of the line and one coordinate system is selected among a plurality of coordinate systems, generates correction amounts of the coordinate points P2 to P5 without changing the teaching point data on the basis of dragging of a segment between the selected two coordinate points P2 and P5 according to the selected coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Nobuhara
  • Patent number: 10359760
    Abstract: A method for adaptable machining includes (a) capturing one or more images, with a digital imaging system, of each of a series of work pieces that may or may not be of common design geometry, (b) for each of the work pieces, selectively modifying a preprogrammed cutting tool path with regard to the image of the respective work piece, and (c) for each of the work pieces, performing a machining operation according to the respective selectively modified preprogrammed cutting tool path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Scott, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10332764
    Abstract: A plurality of temperature adjusters each independently include a control loop. A manipulated variable calculator is configured to give manipulated variables to the respective temperature adjusters and includes a reference model output generator configured to provide a reference model as a response output for reaching a temperature setpoint when a first control loop having a slowest response speed among the control loops is defined to have a 100% manipulated variable. The reference model output generator includes: a simulator configured to determine a manipulated variable pattern by conducting successive search of a switching time; and a reference model obtained from a response in which, among the plurality of control loops, the first control loop having the slowest response speed is defined to have the 100% manipulated variable, and the rest of the plurality of control loops are controlled to follow the first control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KELK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Mimura
  • Patent number: 10324004
    Abstract: A method of performing maintenance. Data is received from a plurality of physical sensors that measure parameters of parts of the platform, wherein a data point is missing from the data. A plurality of different polynomial interpolation values is calculated for the missing data point using a plurality of different polynomial interpolation formulas. A relative strength for each of the plurality of different polynomial interpolation values is calculated, wherein relative strengths are determined. A best polynomial interpolation value is selected based on a highest strength of the relative strengths. The best polynomial interpolation value is substituted for the data point that is missing from the data, wherein filled data is created. A status of the parts is determined based on the filled data, wherein an analysis is formed. Responsive to the analysis indicating that maintenance is due for a part in the parts, causing maintenance to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John M. Boggio
  • Patent number: 10052757
    Abstract: A robot control device drives a J1 shaft, which is a turning shaft for turning a structure at an installation bed, to an angle at a target position of the J1 shaft and drives a J4 shaft for turning a structure such that the central axes of a J2 shaft, a J3 shaft, and a J5 shaft, which are bending/stretching shafts for bending or stretching the structure, are parallel to one another; then, drives the J2 shaft, the J3 shaft, and the J5 shaft to angles J2e, J3e, and J5e at target positions of the respective shafts without driving the J4 shaft; and drives the J4 shaft not reaching an angle at a target position to an angle J4e at the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Nagano
  • Patent number: 9731419
    Abstract: This invention relates to a robot programming method that is carried out at a first location (i.e., teaching station) and a second location (i.e., application station). The second location is different from the first location. At the first location, teach data is prepared to teach motions to a robot to drive an end effector through a series of desired path points along a desired path of motion with respect to the application station. The teach data comprises at least one of robot position data elements and at least one of robot motion pattern data elements. At the second location, teach data is communicated to the robot and the robot is programmed in accordance with the teach data to drive the end effector through the series of desired path points along the desired path of motion with respect to the application station. This invention also relates to a robot programming system. The robot programming method and system are useful, for example, in thermal spray coating applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR S.T. TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Halsmer
  • Patent number: 9242373
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to have the angles of each of the drive shafts of the first articulated drive system infallibly reach the angle of the work completed position, while maintaining the rate of movement and position of the working parts of an articulated robot. If exception conditions are not satisfied, the drive shafts of first and second articulation drive systems are driven individually (S64) on the basis of interpolated points calculated in step 5 (S5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu One, Toshihiko Nishimura, Masayuki Shigeyoshi, Takeshi Koike
  • Patent number: 9043024
    Abstract: A vision correction method for establishing the position of a tool center point (TCP) for a robot manipulator includes the steps of: defining a preset position of the TCP; defining a preset coordinate system TG with the preset position of the TCP as its origin; capturing a two-dimensional picture of the preset coordinate system TG to establish a visual coordinate system TV; calculating a scaling ratio ? of the vision coordinate system TV relative to the preset coordinate system TG; rotating the TCP relative to axes of the preset coordinate system TG; capturing pictures of the TCP prior to and after rotation; calculating the deviation ?P between the preset position and actual position of the TCP; correcting the preset position and corresponding coordinate system TG using ?P, and repeating the rotation through correction steps until ?P is less than or equal to a maximum allowable deviation of the robot manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Long-En Chiu, Shu-Jun Fu, Gang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9037294
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a robot cleaner having an improved travel pattern and a control method thereof. The robot cleaner performs cleaning using zigzag travel as a basic cleaning traveling manner, and then performs cleaning using random travel as a finishing cleaning traveling manner so as to clean areas skipped during the zigzag travel. The robot cleaner performs the zigzag travel while maintaining a designated interval with a travel route proceeding to a wall regardless of a direction proceeding to the wall, and employs an improved zigzag travel method to maintain a zigzag travel pattern, if the robot cleaner senses an obstacle during the zigzag travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Ram Chung, Jae Man Joo, Dong Won Kim, Jun Hwa Lee, Jun Pyo Hong, Jae Young Jung, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Patent number: 9031699
    Abstract: A predictor usable for rapid and accurate calculation of joint commands of an articulated mechanism describes relationship between the joints in the form of a differential equation. The predictor solves this differential equation by direct substitution of a power series for each of its variables and the combining of selected sets of coefficients of these power series into linear systems of equations which may be solved to determine power series coefficients to arbitrary order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Paul H. Milenkovic
  • Publication number: 20150112482
    Abstract: A teaching system includes an image generating unit, a projecting unit, a work line generating unit, an arithmetic unit, and a job generating unit. The image generating unit generates a virtual image including a robot and a workpiece having a processed surface to be processed by the robot. The projecting unit generates a projection plane orthogonal to a normal direction of a desired point on the processed surface selected on the virtual image and projects the processed surface onto the projection plane. The work line generating unit generates a work line for the robot based on setting contents received via the projection plane. The arithmetic unit calculates a teaching value including the position and the posture of the robot at each point of the target points. The job generating unit generates a job program for operating the robot in an actual configuration based on the teaching value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Koichi KUWAHARA
  • Patent number: 8989904
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot includes the step of controlling operation of the robot with a robot controller executing a control program having a plurality of process instructions. Associated process data for each of predetermined ones of the process instructions executed by the robot controller is then collected. The collected process data is subsequently stored in a form uniquely identified by at least one unique identifier. The at least one unique identifier may include both the program identifier and the process instruction identifier. The collected process data may be stored on the robot controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Dreslinski, Bradley O. Niederquell
  • Patent number: 8989876
    Abstract: A method for improving situational awareness for teleoperation of a remote vehicle by creating a 3D map display of an area around the remote vehicle comprises: receiving an original image from a stereo vision camera and utilizing the original image to perform visual odometry to determine the x, y, z, roll, pitch, and yaw for the original image; applying a fill-in algorithm to the original image to fill in an estimated depth for areas of the original image for which no depth data is available, which creates an enhanced depth image; combining the enhanced depth image with the x, y, z, roll, pitch, and yaw for the original image to create the 3D map display of the area around the remote vehicle; and displaying the 3D map display on an operator control unit used to control the remote vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Raymond Lenser, Mark Bourne Moseley
  • Patent number: 8977397
    Abstract: A method includes: forming an imaginary wall at a position spaced apart and outward from feet of the robot when the robot is in a double-leg-support state; kinetically calculating a variation in a distance between a body of the robot and the imaginary wall and a variation in a speed of the body of the robot relative to the imaginary wall using an angle of a joint and lengths of links of the robot; applying the variation in the distance and the variation in the speed to an imaginary spring-damper model formed between the body of the robot and the imaginary wall, and calculating an imaginary reaction force required by the body of the robot; and converting the calculated reaction force into a drive torque required by the body of the robot using a Jacobian transposed matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seok Won Lee, Woo Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 8977395
    Abstract: A first coordinate system CA of the hand unit, a second coordinate system CB of the first workpiece, and a third coordinate system CC of a second workpiece in a camera coordinate system are calculated (S2, S3, and S4). First and second coordinate transformation matrices ATB and ATC are calculated (S5 and S6). Coordinate data of a target point is set in the coordinate system of the first workpiece (S7). Coordinate data of an instruction point is set in the coordinate system of the second workpiece (S8). The coordinate data of the target point is subjected to coordinate transformation using the first coordinate transformation matrix ATB (S9). The coordinate data of the instruction point is subjected to coordinate transformation using the second coordinate transformation matrix ATC (S10). Operation instructions are generated using the converted coordinate data (S11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Negishi, Hideaki Suzuki, Shinsuke Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8958909
    Abstract: A walking robot and a control method thereof. The control method includes storing angle change data according to time corresponding to at least one joint unit of the robot using human walking data, extracting reference knot points from the angle change data according to time, and generating a reference walking trajectory using the extracted reference knot points, calculating a walking change factor to perform change between walking patterns of the robot, generating a target walking trajectory through an arithmetic operation between the reference walking trajectory and the calculated walking change factor, calculating a control torque to track the generated target walking trajectory, and transmitting the calculated control torque to the at least one joint unit so as to control walking of the robot, thereby achieving various walking patterns through a comparatively simple arithmetic operation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Hyung Lee, Kyung Shik Roh, Woong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8942847
    Abstract: Provided is a system and the like capable of appropriately searching a desired trajectory for a controlled subject in a time-space coordinate system in view of a state of the controlled subject. An initial positional relationship (k=1) between a first reference point q1(k) and a second reference point q2(k) in the time-space coordinate system is set to satisfy a first condition defined according to a motion performance of an actuator 2. When a previous trajectory candidate tr(k?1) is determined to have a contact with an object trajectory tro, a current positional relationship (k>1) between the first reference point q1(k) and the second reference point q2(k) in the time-space coordinate system is set to satisfy a second condition that a current time interval between the first reference point q1(k) and the second reference point q2(k) is longer than a previous time interval or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ohno, Makoto Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8938319
    Abstract: A technique of detecting a slip of a robot using a particle filter and feature information of a ceiling image is disclosed. A first position of the robot is computed using a plurality of particles, a second position of the robot is computed using the feature information of the ceiling image, and whether a slip has occurred is determined based on a distance between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-ho Park, Woo-yeon Jeong
  • Patent number: 8924011
    Abstract: Provided is a robot apparatus and a method of reconfiguring a software component and an internal environment that may autonomously optimize and reconfigure a component execution program, execution environment settings, and the like, dynamically reconfigure components using a component included in the robot or a component downloaded from a server, or optimally configure an internal configuration of the robot, in response to the provided command so that the robot apparatus may perform a provided command in response to a change in an environment by dynamically recognizing the change in the environment when an environment in which the robot is used, although the external environment or the internal environment is changed while the robot is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Knu-Industry Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Hong Seong Park
  • Patent number: 8918211
    Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulated instruments extending out of its distal end. A controller is configured to command manipulation of one of the articulated instruments towards a state commanded by operator manipulation of an input device while commanding sensory feedback to the operator indicating a difference between the commanded state and a preferred pose of the articulated instrument, so that the sensory feedback serves to encourage the operator to return the articulated instrument back to its preferred pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, Paul E. Lilagan
  • Patent number: 8897917
    Abstract: An electronic controller defining an autonomous mobile device includes a self-location estimation unit to estimate a self-location based on a local map that is created according to distance/angle information relative to an object in the vicinity and the travel distance of an omni wheel, an environmental map creation unit to create an environmental map of a mobile area based on the self-location and the local map during the guided travel with using a joystick, a registration switch to register the self-location of the autonomous mobile device as the position coordinate of the setting point when the autonomous mobile device reaches a predetermined setting point during the guided travel, a storage unit to store the environmental map and the setting point, a route planning unit to plan the travel route by using the setting point on the environmental map stored in the storage unit, and a travel control unit to control the autonomous mobile device to autonomously travel along the travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8880271
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner and method of the present invention involve dividing the whole area to be cleaned into sub-areas, and easily calculating a full path using travel paths in the sub-areas and connection points between sub-areas, and in the event the whole area to be cleaned is extended or an area which has not been cleaned is found, do not involve regenerating the whole map for cleaning, but rather easily updating the full path using the pre-stored travel path in the sub-areas and the connection points between sub-areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeongshin Jeon
  • Patent number: 8879426
    Abstract: A distributed coordination and control protocol may enable a set of mobile, self-organizing, robotic relay nodes to adaptively seek positions in such an environment that establishes a network, meeting desired coverage in terms of connected warfighters. Distributed coordination of robotic relay nodes may allow the network to dynamically adapt as positions of warfighters change and/or the network demands change. An algorithm is provided that may be scalable to a large number of robots and may be robust to random deployment of robots, robot platform failures, channel dynamics, and changing warfighter positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Quilling, Prasanta Bose, Ken Payne, Andrew Zimdars
  • Patent number: 8874270
    Abstract: An article take-out apparatus including, acquiring a reference container image including an open end face of a container by imaging operation by an camera, setting an image search region corresponding to a storage space of the container based on the reference container image, setting a reference plane including the open end face of the container, calculating a search region corresponding to the image search region based on a calibration data of the camera stored in advance, converting the search region to a converted search region, taking out 3D points included in the converted search region by projecting a plurality of 3D points measured by the 3D measuring device on the reference plane, and recognizing positions of articles inside the container using the 3D points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 8874266
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first sensor data acquired by a first sensor in communication with a cloud computing system. The first sensor data has a first set of associated attributes including a time and a location at which the first sensor data was acquired. The method also includes receiving second sensor data acquired by a second sensor in communication with the cloud computing system. The second data has a second set of associated attributes including a time and a location at which the second sensor data was acquire. Further, the method includes generating a data processing result based at least in part on the first sensor data, the first set of associated attributes, the second sensor data, and the second set of associated attributes and instructing a robot in communication with the cloud computing system to perform a task based at least in part on the data processing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Francis, Jr., Ryan Hickman, Arshan Poursohi
  • Patent number: 8838275
    Abstract: An arm drive mechanism which rotates an arm, an angle sensor which detects a rotation angle of the arm drive mechanism and outputs angle information, an angular velocity sensor which is attached to the arm, detects angular velocity acting on the arm and outputs angular velocity information, a control command generating unit which outputs a control command value prescribing a rotational operation of the arm, a gain adjusting unit which incrementally or decrementally changes and thus adjusts a gain of the angular velocity information, and an arm operation control unit which controls an operation of the arm based on the control command value, the angle information and the gain-adjusted angular velocity information, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Motoyoshi, Tomokazu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20140257561
    Abstract: A robot-position detecting device includes: a position-data acquiring unit that acquires position data indicating actual positions of a robot; a position-data input unit that receives the position data output from the position-data acquiring unit; and a position calculating unit that calculates a computational position of the robot through linear interpolation using first and second position data input to the position-data input unit at different times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi ASADA
  • Patent number: 8831768
    Abstract: A CPU 41 reads a next block (S1), and then determines whether the read block is a TCP (tool center point) control finish command “G49” or not (S2). If it is determined to be the TCP control finish command “G49”, the TCP control is finished. If it is determined not to be the TCP control finish command “G49”, whether the read block is a coordinate-system transformation command “P1” or not is determined (S3). Next, if it is determined not to be the coordinate-system transformation command “P1”, the TCP control is performed, without transforming the coordinate system, in accordance with a command of the block (S11). Next, the process returns to S1, and then the process after S1 is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shunro Ono, Kotaro Nagaoka, Tomonori Sato, Daisuke Fujino
  • Patent number: 8820203
    Abstract: A method of controlling robot motion for small shape generation is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a robot having a plurality of interconnected distal links with a respective plurality major axes and a respective plurality of minor axes, the robot having a controller for moving the robot to a starting position and along a path including a series of interpolated positions to be followed relative a workpiece; b) moving the robot to the starting position; c) determining a next interpolated position on the path, wherein the robot remains fixed in position about at least one of the major axes and a location and an approach vector of the next interpolated position can be achieved; and d) moving the robot to the next interpolated position. A method where the robot remains fixed in position about all major axes is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Sun, H. Dean McGee, Jason Tsai, Hadi Akeel
  • Patent number: 8812160
    Abstract: The input apparatus (1) for medical minimally invasive robots or medical simulators consists of at least one handheld device (10) having a first operating part (12) and a second operating part (14), wherein the first and second operating parts (12,14) are connected to one another via a pivot joint (16), a measuring system (20) having one or more sensors for determining an angle between the first and second operating parts (12,14), for contactlessly detecting the spatial position of the handheld device and for contactlessly detecting the orientation of the handheld device, and a computer unit (22) which can be connected to the handheld device (10) via a data link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Hagn, Georg Passig, Robert Haslinger, Andreas Tobergte, Ulrich Seibold
  • Patent number: 8761936
    Abstract: A teaching line correcting apparatus defines a first plane, which is determined by a first reference position of a preset first reference region, a second reference position of a preset second reference region, and a third reference position of a preset third reference region, defines a second plane, which is determined by a detected position of the first reference region, a detected position of the second reference region, and a detected position of the third reference region, calculates a corrective value for equalizing the first reference region to an origin, equalizing the first reference position of the first reference region as the origin to the detected position of the first reference region as the origin, and equalizing the first plane to the second plane, and correcting reference coordinates where operating points are taught based on the calculated corrective value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Hayama, Shinya Murakami, Yutaka Hariya, Naoki Eto, Masashi Takebe
  • Publication number: 20140172143
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for a robot arm, the feedback rule generating section generates a feedback rule in accordance with relationship between a time point of generation of a stimulus and variation in behavior after elapse of a reaction time in taught data as detected by the information variation point detecting section and the behavior variation point detecting section. The motion generating section generates a motion of the robot arm based on motion information, an information variation point, a behavior variation point, and the feedback rule. The controller controls the motion of the robot arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yudai FUDABA, Yuko TSUSAKA, Taichi SATO
  • Patent number: 8751048
    Abstract: Provided is a robot device including an image input unit for inputting an image of surroundings, a target object detection unit for detecting an object from the input image, an object position detection unit for detecting a position of the object, an environment information acquisition unit for acquiring surrounding environment information of the position of the object, an optimum posture acquisition unit for acquiring an optimum posture corresponding to the surrounding environment information for the object, an object posture detection unit for detecting a current posture of the object from the input image, an object posture comparison unit for comparing the current posture of the object to the optimum posture of the object, and an object posture correction unit for correcting the posture of the object when the object posture comparison unit determines that there is a predetermined difference or more between the current posture and the optimum posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shimizu, Kenta Kawamoto, Yoshiaki Iwai
  • Patent number: 8744628
    Abstract: An autonomous moving floor-treating robot and a control method thereof for edge-following floor-treating are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ecovacs Robotics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jinju Tang
  • Patent number: 8744625
    Abstract: In the control of a multi-joint robot main body, it is necessary to execute intricate track calculations and synchronous operations in parallel, even if the track calculations are intricate and times required for the calculations are indefinite. For this purpose, a robot controlling device of the present invention includes a shared memory, and first and second processing units connected to the shared memory. The first processing unit performs track calculation processing which includes calculating operation command data indicating a series of command values to be output to arm motors, based on a command to operate the multi-joint robot main body to a desired position posture, and storing the calculated operation command data in the shared memory. The second processing unit performs synchronous processing which includes acquiring the operation command data stored in the shared memory, and synchronously outputting the command values to the arm motors at predetermined time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Negishi
  • Patent number: 8725292
    Abstract: An apparatus for locating a plurality of objects includes a planar element. The apparatus includes one or more sensors sensing the locations of a plurality of objects based on light that is transmitted through the planar element. A method for locating a plurality of objects includes the steps of moving the objects. There is the step of sensing the locations of a plurality of objects based on light that is transmitted through a planar element with one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Kenneth Perlin, Daniel A. Rosenfeld, Joel S. Kollin
  • Patent number: 8725273
    Abstract: A method for improving situational awareness for teleoperation of a remote vehicle by creating a 3D map display of an area around the remote vehicle comprises: receiving an original image from a stereo vision camera and utilizing the original image to perform visual odometry to determine the x, y, z, roll, pitch, and yaw for the original image; applying a fill-in algorithm to the original image to fill in an estimated depth for areas of the original image for which no depth data is available, which creates an enhanced depth image; combining the enhanced depth image with the x, y, z, roll, pitch, and yaw for the original image to create the 3D map display of the area around the remote vehicle; and displaying the 3D map display on an operator control unit used to control the remote vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Raymond Lenser, Mark Bourne Moseley
  • Patent number: 8712589
    Abstract: A system for judging success or failure of a work of a robot includes a position command generating unit, a contact position detecting unit, and a work success/failure judging unit. The position command generating unit generates a position command enabling movement of a fingertip of the robot so that a position and posture detecting unit, which is attached to the fingertip of the robot and has an elastic transformation area, is brought into contact with a predetermined position relating to a work target after the predetermined work is performed for the work target by the robot. The contact position detecting unit calculates a contact position that is a position of a tip end of the position and posture detecting unit at the time of being in contact with the predetermined position based on a value of an external force applied to the fingertip and the position of the tip end of the position and posture detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideo Nagata, Yasuyuki Inoue, Yosuke Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8688276
    Abstract: There is provided a teaching method for a transfer robot which is capable of quickly performing teaching at high reliability. Relative to a transfer robot which, in a state in which a substrate to be processed in a plurality of processing chambers is supported, transfers the substrate to a predetermined position by turning and telescopic action on the same plane, teaching is made of the transfer actions. At this time, by using at least one detection means that is disposed so as to detect the substrate when the substrate is transferred among the processing chambers, the transfer robot is caused to perform transfer action. At least one index part provided in advance on an operating part of the transfer robot is detected by the detection means. From this detection position, a reference position which serves as an origin of at least one of the turning action and the telescopic action is taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Fujii
  • Patent number: 8620474
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a manipulator, in particular a robot, a reference path is stored and reference increments are automatically determined while following the path the reference increments are determined based on the dynamics of the manipulator while following the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kuka Laboratories GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sonner, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130345868
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to have the angles of each of the drive shafts of the first articulated drive system infallibly reach the angle of the work completed position, while maintaining the rate of movement and position of the working parts of an articulated robot. If exception conditions are not satisfied, the drive shafts of first and second articulation drive systems are driven individually (S64) on the basis of interpolated points calculated in step 5 (S5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Tsutomu One, Toshihiko Nishimura, Masayuki Shigeyoshi, Takeshi Koike
  • Publication number: 20130345867
    Abstract: An inventive programming means for programming a movement of a robot axis arrangement and a movement of at least one further robot axis arrangement is adapted to synchronize the pair of positions (q1—0; q1—4) of the movement of the robot axis arrangement and the pairs of positions (q2—0, q3—0; q2—5, q3—3) of the movement of at least one more robot axis arrangement, and while maintaining this synchronization, to specify at least another position (q1—2, q2—2, q2—4) between either one of these pairs of positions, which is not synchronized with another position of the hereby synchronized pair of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Guenther Wiedemann, Manfred Huettenhofer, Stefanie Deller, Andreas Hagenauer, Martin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130338827
    Abstract: In order to suppress fluctuations in specific components of posture angle in a target coordinate system while maintaining the position of the leading edge of the wrist, the velocity of movement of the leading edge of the wrist, and the permissible velocity of the shaft during velocity suppression, an articulated robot which moves while calculating the position in interpolated points on a teaching path, the posture and the angles in each axis is provided, wherein a judgment is made as to whether the velocity of the wrist shaft exceeds a permissible limit, and if the permissible limit is exceeded, a plurality of candidates for angle of the wrist shaft that maintain the velocity within permissible limits are calculated, and the candidate with the minimum fluctuation in the specific component of the posture angle of the weld line coordinate system is selected from said plurality of candidates and made to serve as the angle of the wrist shaft, the angles of other shafts that correspond to this angle are recalculat
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Tsutomu One, Toshihiko Nishimura