Programmed Data (e.g., Path) Modified By Sensed Data Patents (Class 700/253)
  • Publication number: 20140156071
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile robot system is provided. The method includes at a mobile robot, transmitting a signal while traveling in a traveling region, at a beacon, receiving the signal transmitted from the mobile robot over 360 degrees and determining whether the mobile robot has approached the beacon, at the beacon, transmitting a response signal to the mobile robot if the mobile robot has approached the beacon, and at the mobile robot, performing avoidance navigation to prevent collision with the beacon when the mobile robot receives the response signal of the beacon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Pyo HONG, Kyung Hwan YOO, Jae Young JUNG, Jae Man JOO, Dong Won KIM, Woo Ram CHUNG, Hwi Chan JANG
  • Patent number: 8744627
    Abstract: A system of distributed control of an interactive animatronic show includes a plurality of animatronic actors, at least one of the actors a processor and one or more motors controlled by the processor. The system also includes a network interconnecting each of the actors, and a plurality of sensors providing messages to the network, where the messages are indicative of processed information. Each processor executed software that schedules and/or coordinates an action of the actor corresponding to the processor in accordance with the sensor messages representative of attributes of an audience viewing the show and the readiness of the corresponding actor. Actions of the corresponding actor can include animation movements of the actor, responding to another actor and/or responding to a member of the audience. The actions can result in movement of at least a component of the actor caused by control of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexis Paul Wieland
  • Patent number: 8738180
    Abstract: A system for a work cell having a carrier that moves a product along an assembly line includes an assembly robot, sensor, and controller. An arm of the robot moves on the platform adjacent to the carrier. The sensor measures a changing position of the carrier and encodes the changing position as a position signal. The controller receives the position signal and calculates a lag value of the robot with respect to the carrier using the position signal. The controller detects a requested e-stop of the carrier when the arm and product are in mutual contact, and selectively transmits a speed signal to the robot to cause a calibrated deceleration of the platform before executing the e-stop event. This occurs only when the calculated tracking position lag value is above a calibrated threshold. A method is also disclosed for using the above system in the work cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jianying Shi, David Groll, Peter W. Tavora
  • Publication number: 20140142756
    Abstract: A robot system includes a plurality of claw members movably provided in a hand and configured to hold and release a workpiece. Further, one or more servo motors is provided to move the claw members. A controller controls an operation of each of the servo motors. The controller includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire dimension information of the workpiece, a position control unit configured to perform position control on the servo motors so that the claw members move to first positions and then to second positions pursuant to the dimension information, and a torque limiting unit configured to limit a torque command relating to each of the servo motors to a predetermined torque or less after the claw members are moved to the first positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Daisuke IRUMA, Yusuke MINAMI
  • Patent number: 8731718
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are presented for an end effector with a dual optical sensor. One end effector includes an arm, a mapping sensor, and a load sensor. The arm has one end connected to a pivoting joint, and a light signal is routed around the arm through a single light path. The mapping sensor is used for identifying the presence of the wafer when the wafer is not loaded on the end effector. The load sensor is used for identifying presence of the wafer on the end effector when the wafer is loaded on the end effector. The load sensor is defined by a second segment in the single light path such that the wafer intersects the second segment and interferes with the single light path when the wafer is loaded. A control module determines if an interruption in the single light path corresponds to an interruption of the single light path in the mapping sensor or the load sensor. As a result, one single light sensor is used to sense for two different conditions in the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew J. Rodnick
  • Publication number: 20140129027
    Abstract: A method of simultaneous localization and mapping includes initializing a robot pose and a particle model of a particle filter. The particle model includes particles, each having an associated map, robot pose, and weight. The method includes receiving sparse sensor data from a sensor system of the robot, synchronizing the received sensor data with a change in robot pose, accumulating the synchronized sensor data over time, and determining a robot localization quality. When the accumulated sensor data exceeds a threshold accumulation and the robot localization quality is greater than a threshold localization quality, the method includes updating particles with accumulated synchronized sensor data. The method includes determining a weight for each updated particle of the particle model and setting a robot pose belief to the robot pose of the particle having the highest weight when a mean weight of the particles is greater than a threshold particle weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Schnittman
  • Patent number: 8718821
    Abstract: A navigational control system for altering movement activity of a robotic device operating in a defined working area, comprising a transmitting subsystem integrated in combination with the robotic device, the transmitting subsystem comprising a mechanical sweeping transmitter laser integrated in combination with a high point of a housing infrastructure of the robotic device so that none of the structural features of the robotic device interfere with sweeping of the transmitting element of the mechanical sweeping transmitter laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Chiappetta, Joseph L. Jones
  • Patent number: 8712623
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an autonomous operating vehicle having a prime mover and operating machine, it is configured to have a geomagnetic sensor responsive to magnets embedded in the area, detect angular velocity generated about z-axis in center of gravity of the vehicle, detect a wheel speed of the driven wheel, store map information including magnet embedded positions, detect a primary reference direction, detect a vehicle position relative to the magnet, and detect a vehicle position in the area, calculate a traveling direction and traveled distance of the vehicle, and control the operation performed through the operating machine in the area in accordance with a preset operation program based on the detected direction, the detected position of the vehicle in the area, the calculated traveling direction and the calculated traveled distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Sato, Makoto Yamamura, Yoshinori Masubuchi
  • Publication number: 20140114478
    Abstract: A system for remotely positioning an end effector includes a sensor in an input device aligned with an axis to generate a signal reflective of an angular displacement of the sensor about the axis. A processor receives the signal and executes a set of logic stored in a memory to filter the signal, smooth the signal, and generate a control signal to the end effector that is proportional to the angular displacement of the sensor about the axis. A method for remotely positioning an end effector includes moving an input device, sensing an angular displacement of a sensor from an axis, generating a signal reflective of the angular displacement of the sensor about the axis, smoothing the signal, and generating a control signal to the end effector that is proportional to the angular displacement of the sensor about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, DAN DAILEY, ANDREW OXFORD, YOGESH SAVALIA, BRYAN WHITE
  • Publication number: 20140114479
    Abstract: A robot having joints includes a position information acquiring section that acquires time series information about a robot position, speed information, or acceleration information, a dynamics parameter switching section that switches a gravity term component and an inertia force term component of a motion equation separately between dynamics parameters including dynamics parameter of the robot gripping no object and dynamics parameter including the object gripped by the robot which robot arm gripping the object, and a desired torque calculation section that outputs a desired robot joint torque value as a desired joint torque based on the motion equation after the dynamics parameter switching section switches the dynamics parameters and the time series information about the robot position, the speed information, or the acceleration information acquired by the position information acquiring section. The robot controls an operation of the robot based on an output from the desired torque calculation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunao OKAZAKI
  • Patent number: 8706301
    Abstract: Methods of and a system for providing force information for a robotic surgical system. The method includes storing first kinematic position information and first actual position information for a first position of an end effector; moving the end effector via the robotic surgical system from the first position to a second position; storing second kinematic position information and second actual position information for the second position; and providing force information regarding force applied to the end effector at the second position utilizing the first actual position information, the second actual position information, the first kinematic position information, and the second kinematic position information. Visual force feedback is also provided via superimposing an estimated position of an end effector without force over an image of the actual position of the end effector. Similarly, tissue elasticity visual displays may be shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Tao Zhao, David Q. Larkin
  • Patent number: 8706295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for synchronization robots. According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable robot synchronization apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data defining physical models and behaviors of a real robot, a manipulation unit, an output unit, a communication unit configured to perform wired and wireless communication with the real robot or a server, and a control unit configured to model a size and behavior of a virtual robot, having a shape and behavior of the real robot, in response to a manipulation command received through the manipulation unit, on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit, output the modeled virtual robot through the output unit, and control the behavior of the virtual robot in response to the behavior of the real robot when communicating with the real robot through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: IR Robot Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Park
  • Publication number: 20140107839
    Abstract: An underwater robot includes a body, a propeller connected to an end of the body, a controller, and first and second actuation units that output jets of fluid. The propeller propels the robot, and the controller stabilizes the robot using the jets of fluid. The controller determines which actuation unit to activate based on a calculation involving a yaw rate and a yaw angle of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Haruhiko Harry Asada, Anirban Mazumdar, Martin Lozano, Aaron Michael Fittery
  • Publication number: 20140107840
    Abstract: An apparatus executes movement control that causes a robot arm equipped with a camera to move up to an object, thereby enabling a manipulator to move to an object quickly, accurately, and stably as a control system. Specifically, when the object is not detected, the apparatus executes teaching playback control to cause a manipulator to move along a path up to a target position set in advance based on a position of the object. When the object is detected, the apparatus defines a position closer to the object than the target position as a new target position, sets a new path up to the new target position, executes teaching playback control to cause the manipulator to move along the new path until a switching condition for switching the movement control is fulfilled. When the switching condition is fulfilled, the apparatus executes visual servo control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Nakajima, Hideari Kamachi, Gentoku Fujii
  • Publication number: 20140107841
    Abstract: A coordinated joint control system for controlling a coordinated joint motion system, e.g. an articulated arm of a hydraulic excavator blends automation of routine tasks with real-time human supervisory trajectory correction and selection. One embodiment employs a differential control architecture utilizing an inverse Jacobian. Modeling of the desired trajectory of the end effector in system space can be avoided. The disclosure includes image generation and matching systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada,
    Inventor: George L. Danko
  • Publication number: 20140100693
    Abstract: A mobile robot system is provided that includes a docking station having at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. The pose-defining fiducial markers have a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to one another and/or to a reference point on the docking station such that a docking path to the base station can be determined from one or more observations of the at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. A mobile robot in the system includes a pose sensor assembly. A controller is located on the chassis and is configured to analyze an output signal from the pose sensor assembly. The controller is configured to determine a docking station pose, to locate the docking station pose on a map of a surface traversed by the mobile robot and to path plan a docking trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Jason Meltzer, Steffen Gutmann, Vazgen Karapetyan, Mario E. Munich
  • Patent number: 8694159
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes an actuator; a generator unit; a first detection unit; a first computation unit to compute current positional data of the arm; a second computation unit to compute an input value; a third computation unit to compute an estimation value of a driving torque for driving the actuator; a fourth computation unit to compute a difference between the estimation value of the driving torque and a true value of the driving torque; and a second detection unit to detect a disturbance applied to the arm, wherein the second detection unit includes an update unit to estimate a parameter of a time-series model and updating the time-series model of the first sampling period by applying the parameter, and a determination unit to determine whether a disturbance occurs, by comparing the time-series model of the first sampling period with a time-series model of a second sampling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Oaki, Junichiro Ooga, Hideki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8694160
    Abstract: An NC machine tool system includes an NC machine tool (10), a first operation panel (22) and a second operation panel (24) for the NC machine tool, a multi-joint robot (40), a memory (450), and a robot controller (50). The multi-joint robot (40) is disposed above the NC machine tool. The memory (450) stores a wait position return program by which the multi-joint robot (40) is operated. The robot controller (50) controls the multi-joint robot (40) in accordance with the program. Operation panels (22, 24) are respectively provided with switch keys (22c, 24c) operated to execute the wait position return program stored in the memory (450) so as to operate the multi-joint robot (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Yasue, Hironobu Ishihara, Kikuo Hattori, Tsuyoshi Hattori
  • Patent number: 8694161
    Abstract: A collaborative robotized system comprises: a mobile platform furnished with running device, with an electric motor propulsion assembly, and with a longitudinal mechanical linkage assembly comprising an articulation; an electrical power source; manual control device of the system; remote control device of the system; a computer assembly of at least one computer; hardware-incorporating device suitable for integrating sensors and effectors, and software-incorporating device suitable for integrating software elements; and management device for managing integrated sensorimotor behaviors, suitable for arbitrating implementations of several sensorimotor behaviors in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Thierry Deveze, Joël Morillon, Laurent Vasseur
  • Patent number: 8694135
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the generation of a program for a programmable logic controller having a programming input unit for the selection and compilation of a plurality of symbols, a generation unit for the generation of a program code for the programmable logic controller from an arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit of the programming input unit. In accordance with the invention an investigation unit for investigating the resulting possible influences of input signals of the programmable logic controller, onto output signals of the programmable logic controller at the actuator outputs from the arrangement of symbols generated by the program code or compiled at the display unit of the programming input unit is provided. In accordance with the invention an implementing unit for implementing the possible exertion of influence in a matrix and a display unit for the display of the matrix are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Oliver Koepcke, Klaus Weddingfeld
  • Patent number: 8688270
    Abstract: A device for controlling the reflection of incident beams to influence navigation of an autonomous device having a navigation sensor comprising a beam emitter and a beam detector for detecting reflected emitted beams. The device comprises at least one surface having a geometry configured to direct a reflection from the emitted beam in a predetermined direction so that a suitable amount of the reflected beam can be detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Paul Roy, Rogelio Manfred Neumann
  • Patent number: 8688275
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for ensuring that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid positive obstacles in a physical environment that are typically hard to detect because the obstacles do not exist in the same plane or planes as the mobile robot's horizontally-oriented obstacle detecting lasers. Embodiments of the present invention also help to ensure that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid driving into negative obstacles, such as gaps or holes in the floor, or a flight of stairs. Thus, the invention provides positive and negative obstacle avoidance systems for mobile robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Adept Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew LaFary, George Paul
  • Patent number: 8688274
    Abstract: A robot positioning method includes the following steps. A optical sensing device is configured at a front end of a robot. Then, the optical sensing device captures a calibration plate image, and a relative position of the optical sensing device with respective to a calibration plate is calculated according to a Bundle Adjustment. A robot calibration method includes the following steps. An optical sensing device is driven to rotate around a reference axis of a calibration plate, so as to calculate a translation matrix between the calibration plate and the robot, and the optical sensing device is driven to translate along three orthogonal reference axes of the calibration plate, so as to calculate a rotation matrix between the calibration plate and the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Huang Shieh, Shang-Chieh Lu, Bor-Tung Jiang, Kuo-Tang Huang, Chin-Kuei Chang
  • Patent number: 8688272
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a mobile robot system to restrict a traveling region of a robot and to guide the robot to another region, and a method of controlling the same. Only when a remote controller reception module of a beacon senses a signal transmitted from a mobile robot, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot in the form of a response signal. In addition, the Field-of-View (FOV) of the remote control reception module is restricted by a directivity receiver. Only when the signal transmitted from the mobile robot is sensed within the restricted FOV, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Pyo Hong, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Jae Young Jung, Jae Man Joo, Dong Won Kim, Woo Ram Chung, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Publication number: 20140088762
    Abstract: A position control method for controlling a position of a movable portion, includes: performing control of allowing the movable portion to approach a predetermined position by moving the movable portion; and performing control of moving the movable portion to the predetermined position by moving the movable portion and detecting a relative position of the movable portion with respect to the predetermined position by using an imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Izumi IIDA
  • Publication number: 20140088761
    Abstract: A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Samuel Duffley, Nikolai Romanov
  • Patent number: 8682482
    Abstract: The working support robot system of the present invention includes: a robot arm (11); a measuring unit (12) for measuring the worker's position; a work progress estimation unit (13) for estimating the work progress based on data input from the measuring unit (12) while referring to data on work procedure, and for selecting objects necessary for the next task when the work is found to have advanced to the next procedure; and an arm motion planning unit (14) for planning the trajectory of the robot arm (11) to control the robot arm (11) based on the work progress estimated by the work progress estimation unit (13) and selected objects. The working support robot system can deliver objects such as tools and parts to the worker according to the work to be performed by the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc., Tohoku University
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kosuge, Yusuke Sugahara, Jun Kinugawa, Yuta Kawaai, Akiyoshi Ito, Yoichi Matsui, Shinji Kawabe
  • Patent number: 8679260
    Abstract: A method of cleaning an area using an automatic cleaning device may include receiving, from a video camera, information associated with an edge located on a surface, determining, by an automatic cleaning device, a position of the automatic cleaning device on the surface relative to the edge and using the received information to move the automatic cleaning device from the determined position along a path so that the automatic cleaning device cleans the surface along the path. The path may be substantially parallel to the edge, and the edge may be located a distance from a reference point on the automatic cleaning device during movement of the automatic cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intellibot Robotics LLC
    Inventors: Henry L. Hillman, Jr., David M. Knuth, Jr., Daniel M. Daly, Vinton Coffman, Ralph McCann, Stephen D. Herr, Kevin L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8682488
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a humanoid robot that compensates for a zero moment point (ZMP) error during finite state machine (FSM)-based walking to achieve stable walking and a walking control method thereof. The humanoid robot compensates for a joint position trajectory command or a joint torque command using compensation values calculated based on situations divided according to the position of a calculated ZMP and the position of a measured ZMP in a stable region of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woong Kwon
  • Publication number: 20140074287
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for ensuring that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid positive obstacles in a physical environment that are typically hard to detect because the obstacles do not exist in the same plane or planes as the mobile robot's horizontally-oriented obstacle detecting lasers. Embodiments of the present invention also help to ensure that mobile robots are able to detect and avoid driving into negative obstacles, such as gaps or holes in the floor, or a flight of stairs. Thus, the invention provides positive and negative obstacle avoidance systems for mobile robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Adept Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew LaFary, George Paul
  • Publication number: 20140074288
    Abstract: A pickup device includes a robot for holding a target object, a sensor for measuring a position/posture of an object, a first storing unit for storing a reference holding position/posture, a second storing unit for storing a holding position/posture modification range, a calculating unit for calculating a holding position/posture of the robot based on the position/posture of the target object and the reference holding position/posture, a third storing unit for storing a selection condition determining priority of the holding position/posture, and a selecting unit for selecting a holding position/posture of the robot, based on the priority determined by the selection condition, among the holding positions/postures of the robot obtained from the holding position/posture of the robot and the holding position/posture modification range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taiga SATOU
  • Patent number: 8670017
    Abstract: A tele-presence system that includes a cart. The cart includes a robot face that has a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker, a robot microphone, and an overhead camera. The system also includes a remote station that is coupled to the robot face and the overhead camera. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The remote station can display video images captured by the robot camera and/or overhead camera. By way of example, the cart can be used in an operating room, wherein the overhead camera can be placed in a sterile field and the robot face can be used in a non-sterile field. The user at the remote station can conduct a teleconference through the robot face and also obtain a view of a medical procedure through the overhead camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Stuart, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Fuji Lai, Kevin Hanrahan, Charles S. Jordan, David Roe, James Rosenthal, Amante Mangaser, Blair Whitney, Derek Walters
  • Publication number: 20140067118
    Abstract: A robot includes a first arm that rotates around the first axis, a second arm that rotates around a second axis in a direction different from the first axis, a third arm that rotates around a third axis parallel to the second axis, a first inertia sensor that is installed at the first arm, a second (a) inertia sensor that is installed at the third arm, first to third angle sensors, a posture detection unit that detects the posture of the third arm with the second arm as a reference and derives a feedback gain, and a second drive source control unit that feeds back a second correction component, which is obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity ?A2m and the angular velocity ?A3m from the angular velocity ?A3, by the feedback gain, and controls the second drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Masaki Motoyoshi, Shunsuke Toshimitsu
  • Publication number: 20140067119
    Abstract: A robot includes respective arms, respective drive sources, respective angle sensors, respective inertia sensors, a posture detection unit that detects the posture of a third arm, and a second drive source control unit that selects, on the basis of a detection result of the posture detection unit, any one of a second (A) correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity ?A3 of a second axis of a third arm obtained from a third inertia sensor, an angular velocity ?A2m of a second axis of a second arm obtained from a second angle sensor, and an angular velocity ?A3m obtained from a third angle sensor, and a second (B) correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity ?A2 obtained from a second inertia sensor and the angular velocity ?A2m, and feeds back the selected correction component to control the second drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Masaki Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 8666554
    Abstract: The different illustrative embodiments provide a method for generating an area coverage path plan using sector decomposition. A starting point is identified on a worksite map having a number of landmarks. A first landmark in the number of landmarks is identified. A path is generated around the first landmark until an obstacle is detected. In response to detecting the obstacle, the path is made linear to a next landmark. The path is generated around the next landmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Noel Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 8666550
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vehicle, a sensing unit, and a control unit. The vehicle is movable in a path and has a first number of cutting elements. The sensing unit detects an obstacle in the path. The control unit is connected to the first number of cutting elements and is configured to autonomously adjust a height of a second number of cutting elements of the first number of cutting elements in response to the sensing unit detecting the obstacle in the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Noel Wayne Anderson, Anthony Bryant Annibale
  • Patent number: 8655488
    Abstract: A position control method for controlling a position of a movable portion, includes: performing control of allowing the movable portion to approach a predetermined position by moving the movable portion; and performing control of moving the movable portion to the predetermined position by moving the movable portion and detecting a relative position of the movable portion with respect to the predetermined position by using an imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Izumi Iida
  • Patent number: 8655539
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control method of a robot cleaner in which a robot cleaner is moved at an arbitrary starting angle along a rotation trajectory having an arbitrary rotational center and rotation radius during obstacle-following traveling, whereby an obstacle-following traveling time is reduced and consequently, a movement time of the robot cleaner is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Hwan Yoo, Dong Won Kim, Jae Man Joo, Jun Hwa Lee, Jun Pyo Hong, Woo Ram Chung, Jae Young Jung, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Publication number: 20140046484
    Abstract: A control method for a computer-controlled liquid handling workstation which comprises a work surface, a motorized liquid handling robot with at least two pipettes each having a cone, and a control computer, to which the liquid handling robot is connected. A control program, activated in the control computer, enables the pipetting robot to position the pipette at specific positions on the work surface. The pipettes and at least one position are visualized as icons, using a visualization device. Upon selecting at least one pipette and designating a position, using an input mechanism, the selected pipette is moved down and up immediately after its selection, and moved to the designated position immediately after designating the position. These movements are carried out prior to selecting at least one action and its execution, enabling the operator to confirm the selection of the pipette and the designation of the position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Beat GLAUSER, Michael LAAB, Eskil TROLLHAGEN
  • Publication number: 20140046483
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a robotic control apparatus includes a physical parameter switching unit, an observer unit, and a state feedback unit. The physical parameter switching unit switches a physical parameter set in accordance with a value of a mass of an end effector load of a robotic arm. The observer unit estimates an angular velocity of a link based on a simulation model of a motor angular velocity control system which undergoes gain proportional-integral control equivalent to a proportional-integral control of the angular velocity control system. The state feedback unit calculates an axial torsional angular velocity based on a difference between the angular velocity of the motor, and the angular velocity of the link, and feed the calculated axial torsional angular velocity back to the angular velocity control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Junji Oaki
  • Patent number: 8649905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical workstation and an operating device (1) for the manual movement of a robot arm (M1-M3). The operating device (1) comprises a controller (5) and at least one manual mechanical input device (E1-E3) coupled to the controller (5). The controller (5) is designed to generate signals for controlling a movement of at least one robot arm (M1-M3) provided for treating a living being (P) based on a manual movement of the input device (E1-E3) such that the robot arm (M1-M3) carries out a movement corresponding to the manual movement. The input device (E1, E2) comprises at least one mechanical damping unit (27, 40), which generates a force and/or torque during a manual movement of the input device (E1, E2) for at least partially suppressing a partial movement resulting from a tremor of the person operating the input device (E1, E2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Ortmaier
  • Publication number: 20140039676
    Abstract: An attribute about person's mobility capability is judged by a human movement attribute acquisition unit. Candidate paths for a detected person to move along are created by a human path candidate creation unit based on information about the person and a predicted time left for a collision between the autonomous locomotion apparatus and the person. A movement load for each candidate path is evaluated by a human path load evaluation unit based on an attribute of person's movement. A path which imposes a minimum movement load on the person, i.e., a path suitable for the person's mobility capability and the easiest for the person to avoid the autonomous locomotion apparatus is selected by a human path determination unit. A path for the autonomous locomotion apparatus to guide the person to the selected path is planned by a guide path planning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffry Bonar FERNANDO, Katsuyoshi YAMAGAMI, Eiichi NAITO, Toru TANIGAWA
  • Patent number: 8645305
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, paths are identified from path data. One or more sensors are assigned to each path. The following are performed: at least one sensor is moved to a path intersection and excess sensors are removed. An excess sensor is a sensor that is not required to satisfy the desired number of sensors of one or more paths. According to certain embodiments, a combined array comprising combined entries is accessed. Each combined entry represents a location and has a value indicating a number of paths at the location. The following are performed to yield a sensor arrangement: a maximum value of the combined array is identified, a sensor is assigned to a location associated with the maximum value, and the paths are removed from the combined array. A result associated with the sensor arrangement is reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Juan E. Sandoval, Nicholas I. Sapankevych, Sara R. Lemley
  • Publication number: 20140031980
    Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Jens-Steffen Gutmann, Dhiraj Goel, Mario E. Munich
  • Publication number: 20140031981
    Abstract: The autonomous locomotion apparatus has a human information acquisition unit which detects a person. When there is probability of contact between the detected person and the autonomous locomotion apparatus based on movement information of the person, the autonomous locomotion apparatus controls a traveling speed or a rotational speed of the autonomous locomotion apparatus to perform a guide operation which presents a path of the autonomous locomotion apparatus which is intended to cause the person to predict, so that it causes the person to avoid the path without giving the person a sense of uneasiness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffry Bonar FERNANDO, Katsuyoshi YAMAGAMI, Toru TANIGAWA, Yumi WAKITA
  • Publication number: 20140025202
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot arm; a robot hand provided on the robot arm; a contact unit provided on the robot hand for rotating a rotation body of a rotation device which includes the rotation body capable of housing a work and a fixed part rotatably supporting the rotation body and which performs a predetermined process on the work; a detection unit configured to detect a detection target part provided on the rotation body; and a first control unit configured to control operation of the robot arm and the robot hand so that the contact unit rotates the rotation body up to a predetermined rotational position according to a result of detecting the detection target part by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Makoto UMENO, Tomoyuki HORIUCHI, Takashi SUYAMA
  • Patent number: 8634959
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting slip of a robot. The robot periodically repeats a pattern movement in the order of a uniform motion, a decelerating motion, and an accelerating motion, or in the order of a uniform motion, an accelerating motion, and a deceleration motion. The occurrence of slip of the robot performing a pattern movement is determined by comparing a first acceleration of the robot measured by an acceleration sensor and a second acceleration of the robot measured by an encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Ki Lee, Ki-wan Choi
  • Patent number: 8634956
    Abstract: An autonomous robot system including a transmitter disposed within a working area and a mobile robot operating within the working area. The transmitter includes an emitter for emitting at least one signal onto a remote surface above the working area. The mobile robot includes a robot body, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot over a surface within the working area, and a navigation system in communication with the drive system. The navigation system includes a receiver responsive to the emitted signal as reflected off of the remote surface and a processor connected to the receiver and configured to determine a relative location of the robot within the working area based on input from the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Chiappetta, James Paul Frankel
  • Patent number: 8634955
    Abstract: A mobile robot includes: a main body; a drive unit that moves the main body; a contact force detecting unit that detects a contact force acting against an obstacle; and a controller that controls the drive unit to move the main body toward a target object under a condition that the contact force detected by the contact force detecting unit is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Oaki, Fumio Ozaki, Nobuto Matsuhira
  • Patent number: 8630735
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and medium for estimating a pose of a moving robot using a particle filter. A method for estimating a pose of a moving robot using a particle filter according to an embodiment of the invention includes a detecting a change in pose of the mobile robot and calculating a pose of the current particle by applying the detected change in pose to the previous particle, predicting the probability of the pose of the current particle and obtaining a weight of the current particle on the basis of range data obtained by a sensor and map information, resampling the current particle on the basis of the weight, and adjusting the weight in consideration of an error of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsumg Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon Myeong, Seok-won Bang, Dong-geon Kong, Su-jinn Lee