Using Particular Manipulator Orientation Computation (e.g., Vector/matrix Calculation) Patents (Class 700/262)
  • Patent number: 10850392
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically computing desirable palm grasp configurations of an object by a robotic hand is disclosed. A description of the object's surface is obtained. A grasp configuration of a robotic hand comprising a palm and one or more fingers is selected, which specifies a hand configuration and joint variables of the hand, and a plurality of contact points on the object's surface for the palm and fingers. The coefficient of friction at each of the contact points is determined, and a description of one or more external wrenches to which may apply to the object is acquired. The ability of the robotic hand to hold the object against the external wrenches in the selected configuration is then computed. In some embodiments, a plurality of grasp configurations may be compared to determine which are the most desirable. In other embodiments, the space of hand configurations, or the smaller space of palm contact configurations, may be searched to find the most desirable grasp configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Strider Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Hager, Eliot Leonard Wegbreit
  • Patent number: 10759634
    Abstract: An electromechanical system operates through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a plurality of joints providing multiple degrees of freedom (DOF), including actuated joints and unactuated joints. The unactuated joints are distal with respect to the actuated joints and are in redundant DOF to the actuated joints. The system includes a plurality of actuators each configured to actuate one or more of the actuated joints, and a plurality of sensors each positioned with respect to a respective one of the actuated and unactuated joints. Each sensor is configured to measure corresponding joint data indicative of a position or angle of the respective actuated or unactuated joints. A controller in communication with the sensors receives the measured joint data as feedback signals, generates control signals using the feedback signals, and transmits the control signals to the actuators to thereby control an actuation state of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Université Laval
    Inventors: Muhammad E. Abdallah, Clement Gosselin, Thierry Laliberte, Simon Foucault, Pascal Labrecque, James W. Wells, Jerome Landure
  • Patent number: 10710240
    Abstract: A programming device for a welding robot includes a model obtaining unit that obtains three-dimensional models; a welding-line specifying unit that specifies a welding line; a target-angle setting unit that sets a target angle; an advance-angle setting unit that sets an advance angle; a coordinate-system setting unit that sets a tentative coordinate system having a first axis set on the basis of the welding line, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to a face of one of workpieces to be welded together, and a tool coordinate system by rotating the tentative coordinate system about the first axis in accordance with the target angle and about the third axis in accordance with the advance angle; a position setting unit that sets a welding position of the tool on the basis of the newly set tool coordinate system; and a program creating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Atohira
  • Patent number: 10588255
    Abstract: A charging device of a robotic lawn mower includes a bottom part installed in a partial region of an operation region of the robot, a support part coupled to the bottom part and positioned on a side of a main body of the robot when the robot is being charged, and a terminal part coupled to the support part and positioned above the main body of the robot when the robot is being charged, wherein the bottom part is formed such that only any one of a plurality of wheels of the robot is mounted thereon when the robot is being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunsup Song, Dongkyun Nam, Jongjin Woo
  • Patent number: 10328573
    Abstract: A method and system for a robotic device comprising a propulsion mechanism, an orientation sensor, a stored digital map of a service area, a sensor for sensing objects, a navigation and orientation system, and a processing facility comprising a processor and a memory, the processing facility causing the robotic device to determine and store a pose position of the robotic device at a plurality of sequential locations as the robotic device is guided by a user along a path from a start location to an end location through the service area, and as commanded by the user and utilizing the navigation and orientation system, re-trace the path from the start location to the end location replicating the stored pose position of the robotic device at the plurality of sequential locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Discovery Robotics
    Inventors: Larry J. Williams, Vivek Rajendran, Dharmateja Kadem, Jeffrey Blum, Manomit Bal, Britta Kathleen Ulm, Hardik Shah, Ishit Shah, David Callen, Sujith Vijaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 10220511
    Abstract: A robotic system includes one or more end-effectors that combine, according to a production process, at least one object and structure(s) at a production site. Sensor(s) generate, from the production site, sensor data relating to the production process. A control system stores specifications for the production process based on a model of the production site and/or the at least one object. The control system: receives, from the sensor(s), the sensor data; determines, from the sensor data, properties of at least one of: the production site or the at least one object; determines difference(s) between the properties and the model; determine(s) adjustment(s) to the production process based on the difference(s); and sends, for the end-effector(s), instruction(s) for combining the at least one object and the structure(s) based on the specifications and the one or more adjustments to the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Linnell, Anthony Jules, Marek Michalowski, Kendra Byrne, Jonathan Proto, Brandon Kruysman, Eli Reekmans
  • Patent number: 10175683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a teaching data preparation device and a teaching data preparation method for an articulated robot. Pre-existing position data that approximates new position data is retrieved from a database that, from among data related to working points for a pre-existing workpiece, stores for each working point pre-existing position data that indicates the position of the working point and pre-existing orientation data that indicates the orientation of an end effector at the working point. Next, pre-existing orientation data that is associated with the retrieved pre-existing position data is extracted. Next, incomplete new orientation data is completed using the extracted pre-existing orientation data. As a result of this series of processes, the precision of teaching data can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamanaka, Masao Shimoyama, Tetsuya Yoshino, Shinji Aoki
  • Patent number: 10166677
    Abstract: To provide a system that can enhance stability of a result of predicting the state of an object. At least one candidate trajectory having a degree of approximation to a reference trajectory generated based on a current state of the object being in a specified rank or higher over a first specification period is specified as “a first candidate trajectory”. At least one candidate trajectory, extending from a last time point of being the first candidate trajectory to before elapse of a second specification period, is specified as “a second candidate trajectory”. Accordingly, it becomes possible to enhance stability of the specification result of the candidate trajectory as a result of predicting the state of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soshi Iba
  • Patent number: 10095198
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a closed-loop controller for a controlled system comprising a comparison element generating an error e, a compensator generating a control uN value based on the error e, and a control allocator determining a manipulated parameter uM value based on the control uN. The control allocator typically utilizes a control effectiveness function and determines uM value by selecting one or more specific system x0 signals from the system state xi or system input yj values or system parameters values pk reported, defining a plurality of distributed xD around each specific system x0 signal, and minimizing an error function E(zi), where the error function E(zi) is based on errors which arise from use of the plurality of distributed xD in the control effectiveness function rather than one or more specific system x0 signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Isaac Michael Ross, Mark Karpenko, Ronald J. Proulx
  • Patent number: 10052164
    Abstract: A wireless handheld user input device may be moved within six degrees of freedom in order to generate position data that describes the position and angular orientation of the user input device within three-dimensional space. Position data is received by a position management device and is interpreted to reduce the input data from six degrees of freedom down to a number of degrees of freedom that is supported by a surgical instrument adapted to be manipulated by a robotic surgical system. Position data is interpreted by taking raw overlap data showing the change from a baseline position to a current position and correcting it to zero out inputs for unsupported degrees of freedom that do not exceed a device or device portion specific threshold. The converted overlap data may then be used to generate new joint target positions, which may be communicated to the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 9992422
    Abstract: A motion guiding apparatus includes a guiding device and a mobile unit. The guiding device includes a main body, an arm piece, and a linear light source. The main body is in connection with the arm piece and arranged on a reference surface. The linear light source is arranged on the arm piece and forms a reference light line on the reference surface and a direct light line on the main body. The mobile unit is capable of capturing an image showing the reference light beam, the direct light beam, and a reflected light line. The mobile unit can also compute an angle formed between the reference light line and the reflected light line to obtain a relative angle between the mobile unit and the linear light source, so as to move in accordance to the relative angle. A motion guiding method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Che Hung
  • Patent number: 9969084
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno
    Inventor: George L. Danko
  • Patent number: 9902066
    Abstract: A device for automated removal of workpieces arranged in a container has a detector device, for the purpose of detecting the workpiece, and a picker, which can be moved via a robot arm having at least six axes, for picking and removing the workpieces from the container. The device also has controller for evaluating the data of the detector device, for path planning, and for controlling the robot arm and the picker. The robot arm has a picker arm element, with at least two further axes of movement, for moving the picker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mattern, David Haenschke, Bernhard Riedmiller, Alois Mundt
  • Patent number: 9597798
    Abstract: A control method of a robot apparatus, the robot apparatus including a link and a pair of actuators, obtaining each driving force command value of each of the actuators, and controlling each of the actuators, the control method including: a torque command value calculation step of using the target stiffness, the target trajectory, angular velocity of the target trajectory, and angular acceleration of the target trajectory to calculate a torque command value; a determination step of determining whether each of the driving force command values is a value 0 or greater; a change step of performing at least one of a change of increasing the target stiffness and a change of reducing the angular acceleration; and a driving force command value calculation step of using the target stiffness and the torque command value to calculate each of the driving force command values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 9579791
    Abstract: A control method of a robot apparatus, the robot apparatus including a link and a pair of actuators, obtaining each driving force command value of each of the actuators, and controlling each of the actuators, the control method including: a torque command value computation step; a change computation step of computing a difference between the joint stiffness command value and a value and performing a computation of subtracting a value from the joint stiffness command value; an iterative step of iterating the computations of the torque command value computation step and the change computation step until the difference converges to a value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value; and a driving force command value computation step to compute each of the driving force command values when the difference is converged to a value equal to or smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 9463573
    Abstract: A robot control system includes a force control unit configured to output a correction value of a target track of a robot on the basis of sensor information acquired from a force sensor, a target-value output unit configured to apply correction processing based on the correction value to the target track to calculate a target value and output the calculated target value, and a robot control unit configured to perform feedback control of the robot on the basis of the target value. The force control unit includes a digital filter unit. The force control unit applies digital filter processing by the digital filter unit to the sensor information to calculate a solution of an ordinary differential equation in force control and outputs the correction value on the basis of the calculated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Inazumi
  • Patent number: 9327409
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm which is rotatable around a first rotating axis with respect to the base, a second arm which is rotatable around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm which is rotatable around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the third arm. The angle between a detection axis of the first angular velocity sensor and the first rotating axis is a predetermined first angle. The angle between a detection axis of the second angular velocity sensor and the second rotating axis is a predetermined second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Asada, Akio Niu, Hiroaki Hosomi
  • Patent number: 9327401
    Abstract: A method for controlling a redundant robot arm includes the steps of selecting an application for performing a robotic process on a workpiece with the arm and defining at least one constraint on motion of the arm. Then an instruction set is generated based upon the selected application representing a path for a robot tool attached to the arm by operating the arm in one of a teaching mode and a programmed mode to perform the robotic process on the workpiece and movement of the arm is controlled during the robotic process. A constraint algorithm is generated to maintain a predetermined point on the arm to at least one of be on, be near and avoid a specified constraint in a robot envelope during movement of the arm, and a singularity algorithm is generated to avoid a singularity encountered during the movement of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc America Corporation
    Inventors: Di Xiao, Sai-Kai Cheng, Randy A. Graca, Matthew R. Sikowski, Jason Tsai
  • Patent number: 9327402
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base around a first rotating axis, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm around a second rotating axis orthogonal to the first rotating axis, a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm around a third rotating axis parallel to the second rotating axis, a first angular velocity sensor provided in the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first rotating axis, and a second angular velocity sensor provided in the second arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third rotating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Niu
  • Patent number: 9261873
    Abstract: In a method for positioning machine axes in machine tools, a numerical control converts setpoint positions of a tool, predefined in workpiece coordinates, into setpoint positions of machine axes based on a kinematic chain defined by a kinematic table. In this context, transformations of the coordinates are indicated in the kinematic table in a plurality of entries describing the kinematics of the machine tool, by specifying an axial direction and an associated transformation amount, respectively, per entry. For a machine axis having an error in a direction other than the respective axial direction, error transformation amounts dependent on the axial position are entered into the kinematic table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Johann Zacek, Ludwig Buchner
  • Patent number: 9248569
    Abstract: A robotic device may comprise an adaptive controller configured to learn to predict consequences of robotic device's actions. During training, the controller may receive a copy of the planned and/or executed motor command and sensory information obtained based on the robot's response to the command. The controller may predict sensory outcome based on the command and one or more prior sensory inputs. The predicted sensory outcome may be compared to the actual outcome. Based on a determination that the prediction matches the actual outcome, the training may stop. Upon detecting a discrepancy between the prediction and the actual outcome, the controller may provide a continuation signal configured to indicate that additional training may be utilized. In some classification implementations, the discrepancy signal may be used to indicate occurrence of novel (not yet learned) objects in the sensory input and/or indicate continuation of training to recognize said objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brain Corporation
    Inventors: Patryk Laurent, Jean-Baptiste Passot, Filip Ponulak, Eugene Izhikevich
  • Patent number: 9205559
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes: a grasping section configured to grasp an object; a recognition section configured to recognize a graspable part and a handing-over area part of the object; a grasp planning section configured to plan a path of the grasping section for handing over the object to a recipient by the handing-over area part; and a grasp control section configured to control grasp operation of the object by the grasping section in accordance with the planned path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Kawanami, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Tsutomu Sawada, Masakuni Nagano, Akinori Kamoda
  • Patent number: 9207667
    Abstract: Methods for producing a robot program for a substantially-symmetric product and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a first-side robot program. The first-side robot program is a robot program for processing a first side of the substantially-symmetric product. The method includes identifying one or more resources of the first-side robot program by and producing corresponding mirrored resources in a second-side robot program. The method includes identifying one or more robots for the first-side robot program and producing corresponding mirrored robots in the second-side robot program. The method includes processing machine data files of the first-side robot program and updating logic block signal connections from the first-side robot program to the second-side robot program. The method includes replacing references to objects in the second-side robot program and assigning tool mounts to the second-side robot program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Gil Chen, Marina Brener, Ilanit Shavit
  • Patent number: 9199376
    Abstract: A system includes a robotic gripper and a grasp controller. The gripper, which has a sensory matrix that includes a plurality of sensors, executes selected grasp poses with respect to a component in the corresponding method to thereby grasp the component in response to a grasp command signal from the controller. The controller has a touch-screen or other interactive graphical user interface (GUI) which generates a jog signal in response to an input from a user. Sensory maps provide calibrated limits for each sensor contained in the sensory matrix for the selected grasp pose. The controller transmits the grasp command signal to the gripper in response to receipt of the jog signal from the GUI. The GUI may display a jog wheel having icons, including a hub corresponding to a neutral pose of the robotic gripper and icons corresponding to grasp poses arranged around a circumference of the jog wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James W. Wells, Roland J. Menassa, Omer Einav, Noam Perlis
  • Patent number: 9199373
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus and a control method for moving a tool along a synthesized trajectory where at least two operations are synthesized in the middle of a desired trajectory. Control positions for a preceding operation and those for a succeeding operation are calculated from initial to terminal values, respectively. With a requirement that initial values for the succeeding operation be matched to terminal values for preceding operation, target control positions at a predetermined time for an actuator in a section where a tool is moved along the synthesized trajectory are calculated on the basis of values obtained by adding values of a difference between the predetermined time and a previous time for the preceding operation to values of a difference between the predetermined time and the previous time for the succeeding operation, and the actuator is controlled such that calculated target control positions are attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: RORZE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuma Tagashira
  • Patent number: 9132546
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus, which causes a robot to use its hand to grasp and move a workpiece detected by a workpiece detection unit, has a storage unit and a control unit. A non-interference area in which no interference occurs between the hand and a surrounding environment and a work area through which the hand potentially passes when grasping the workpiece are stored as a parameter in the storage unit. The control unit computes, based on a position and an attitude of the detected workpiece and the parameter regarding the work area, a position and an orientation of the work area with reference to the position of the detected workpiece. Moreover, the control unit computes an overlap between a surrounding environment area excluding the non-interference area and the work area having the computed position and orientation. If there is the overlap, the control unit executes a predetermined operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Matsui
  • Patent number: 9043030
    Abstract: A manipulator and a method of generating the shortest path along which the manipulator moves to grip an object without collision with the object models a target object and a gripper into a spherical shape, measures a current position of the gripper and a position of the target object and a target position of the gripper, calculates an arc-shaped path in a two-dimensional plane along which the gripper needs to move by calculating an included angle of a triangle consisting of the position of the object and the current position and target position of the gripper, transforms the arc-shaped path in the two-dimensional plane into an arc-shaped path in a three-dimensional space using a transform matrix consisting of the position of the object and the current position and target position of the gripper, thereby automatically generating the shortest path of the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Do Choi, Kyung Shik Roh, Young Bo Shim
  • Patent number: 9043026
    Abstract: There is provided a method for actuating a first key of a keyboard with a tracer finger of a robot. An exemplary method comprises acquiring parameters of the keyboard and determining a position of the first key as a function of the acquired parameters using a model of the keyboard. The exemplary method also comprises guiding the tracer finger of the robot to the determined position of the first key. The exemplary method additionally comprises actuating the first key with the tracer finger of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Tam Lien, Christoph Petlic
  • Patent number: 9032603
    Abstract: While a second component is brought into contact with a first component, the first component and the second component are rotated with respect to each other around a specific rotation axis, and rotation of the first component and the second component is stopped when a moment created around the rotation axis exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuya Yamamoto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9031698
    Abstract: A robotic crawler having a non-dedicated smart control system is disclosed. Such a crawler can include a first drive subsystem, a second drive subsystem, a multi-degree of freedom linkage subsystem coupling the first and second drive subsystems, and a non-dedicated, smart control device removably supported about one of the first drive subsystem, the second drive subsystem, and the linkage subsystem. The smart control device is configured to initiate and control operational functionality within the robotic crawler upon being connected to the robotic crawler. The crawler can also include a communication subsystem functionally coupled between the smart control device and the serpentine robotic crawler, the communication subsystem facilitating control by the smart control device of at least one of the first drive subsystem, the second drive subsystem, and the linkage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sarcos LC
    Inventor: Fraser M. Smith
  • Patent number: 9020643
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a reception arm determination unit that determines from a left arm or a right arm of a user a reception arm which is used in handing of an object; a hand location calculation unit that calculates a current location of a hand of the reception arm; and a handing operation unit that performs an object handing operation at the location of the hand of the reception arm which is calculated using the hand location calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shimizu, Wataru Kokubo, Akichika Tanaka, Tetsuharu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9014857
    Abstract: Methods and computer program products for generating robot grasp patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for generating robot grasp patterns includes generating a plurality of approach rays associated with a target object. Each approach ray of the plurality of approach rays extends perpendicularly from a surface of the target object. The method further includes generating at least one grasp pattern for each approach ray to generate a grasp pattern set of the target object, calculating a grasp quality score for each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set, and comparing the grasp quality score of each individual grasp pattern with a grasp quality threshold. The method further includes selecting individual grasp patterns of the grasp pattern set having a grasp quality score that is greater than the grasp quality threshold, and providing the selected individual grasp patterns to the robot for on-line manipulation of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ota, Junggon Kim, Kunihiro Iwamoto, James J. Kuffner, Nancy S. Pollard
  • Patent number: 9014850
    Abstract: Methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns for use by a robot are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating grasp patterns includes selecting an individual grasp pattern from a grasp pattern set, establishing a thumb-up vector, and simulating the motion of the manipulator and the end effector according to the selected individual grasp pattern, wherein each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set corresponds to motion for manipulating a target object. The method further includes evaluating a direction of the thumb-up vector during at least a portion of the simulated motion of the manipulator and the end effector, and excluding the selected individual grasp pattern from use by the robot if the direction of the thumb-up vector during the simulated motion is outside of one or more predetermined thresholds. Robots utilizing the methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ota, Junggon Kim, James J. Kuffner
  • Patent number: 9008841
    Abstract: A robot system (10) for picking parts (41) from a bin (40) uses the image from one or more cameras (38) to determine if the robot gripper (24) has picked one part or more than one part and uses one or more images from one or more cameras (38) to determine the position/orientation of a picked part. If the robot (12) has picked more than one part from the bin (40) then attempt is made to return the excess picked parts to the bin (40). The position/orientation of a picked part that does not meet a predetermined criteria is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Gregory F. Rossano, Steven W. West
  • Patent number: 9002519
    Abstract: A CPU of a robot control device calculates load torque based on the inertia force, centrifugal force or Coriolis force, gravity force, friction torque, and actuator inertia torque applied to a joint axis of each link, each time an orientation parameter indicative of the link position and orientation allowed by a redundant degree of freedom is sequentially changed, under a constraint of end-effector position and orientation as target values. The CPU obtains the link position and orientation at which the ratio of the load torque to the rated torque of a rotary actuator provided for each joint is minimized, while the orientation parameter is being changed, and provides a feed-forward value that gives rise to each load torque obtained when the ratio of the load torque to the rated torque of the rotary actuator is minimized, to a control command generated to the rotary actuator of each joint axis for achieving the end-effector position and orientation as target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Ohta, Yasuharu Mukai, Kazuya Numazaki
  • Publication number: 20150094855
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an imitation learning method for a multi-axis manipulator (7,7?). This method comprises the steps of capturing, at a set of successive waypoints (10,11) in a teach-in trajectory (4) of a user-operated training tool, spatial data comprising position and orientation of the training tool (3) in a Cartesian space; selecting, from among said set of successive waypoints (10,11), a subset of waypoints (11) starting from a first waypoint (11) of said set of successive waypoints (10,11), wherein for each subsequent waypoint (11) to be selected a difference in position and/or orientation with respect to a last previously selected waypoint (11) exceeds a predetermined threshold; fitting a set trajectory (4?) in said Cartesian space to said selected subset of waypoints (11); and converting said set trajectory into motion commands in a joint space of said multi-axis manipulator (7,7?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jérôme Chemouny, Stéphane Clerambault, Samuel Pinault
  • Patent number: 8996166
    Abstract: A touch screen testing platform may be used to perform repeatable testing of a touch screen enabled device using a robotic device tester and a controller. Prior to running a test, the controller and/or robot may be calibrated to determine a planar surface of the touch screen and to establish a relative coordinate system across the touch screen. The controller may then be programmed to allow a robot to engage the touch screen using known input zones designated using the coordinate system. The platform may employ object recognition to determine and interact with content rendered by the device. The platform may use various types of tips that engage the touch screen, thereby simulating human behavior. The platform may perform multi-touch operations by employing multiple tips that can engage the touch screen simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Ross Jenkinson
  • Publication number: 20150081100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating parallel and serial robot kinematics, which have not been constructed especially for achieving the greatest possible accuracies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Johannes Gottlieb
  • Patent number: 8965582
    Abstract: A real-time method for controlling a system, the system including a plurality of controlling means each having at least one variable parameter (q) and a controlled element having a trajectory which is controlled by the controlling means, wherein the trajectory is related to the variable parameters by a variable matrix, the method comprising defining a control transfer matrix (K) relating the variable parameters dq to the trajectory dx, and using a feedback loop in which a feedback term is computed that is dependent on an error (e) which is the difference between the desired trajectory (dxd) which can have an arbitrary dimension specified as (m) and a current trajectory (dx).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Surrey
    Inventor: Alexandre Nikolov Pechev
  • Publication number: 20150051735
    Abstract: Realized is a structure capable of deflection correction drive, in which actuator performance can be effectively utilized, and actuator performance U does not exceed a first constraint value as an upper limit. A target trajectory calculation unit 101 uses a target value Xref and a second constraint value Uopt to calculate a target trajectory ?ref of a robot. A deflection correction trajectory ?1ref is calculated from the target trajectory ?ref and a deflection correction amount ?? to calculate the actuator performance U necessary for realizing the deflection correction trajectory ?1ref. A determination unit 105 determines whether the actuator performance U is within a range of a first constraint value and whether a difference between the actuator performance U and the first constraint value is within a range of a predetermined value. If the conditions are not satisfied, a constraint value change unit 106 changes the second constraint value Uopt to repeat the calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motoyasu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150045954
    Abstract: A robot apparatus 1 includes: a multi-articulated robot 2; and a controller 3 that drive-controls the multi-articulated robot 2 based on an input motion command. The controller 3 includes: a joint angle computing unit 32 that computes each joint angle command for driving the multi-articulated robot 2 based on the motion command; a servo controlling apparatus 30 that moves the multi-articulated robot 2 by rotationally driving each rotational joint based on the joint angle command computed by the joint angle computing unit 32; a singular point calculating unit 51 that calculates a distance between the multi-articulated robot 2 and a singular point of the multi-articulated robot 2; and a maximum joint angle deviation adjusting unit 52 that limits a maximum rotation speed of a rotational joint specified in advance based on a singular point type, if the singular point distance becomes smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Mahito Negishi
  • Patent number: 8942846
    Abstract: A method for controlling a tele-operated robot agile lift system is disclosed. The method comprises manipulating a human-machine interface of a master robot located on a mobile platform. The human machine interface is kinematically equivalent to a user's arm with a plurality of support members. A position value and a torque value is measured for each support member. The position value and torque value are communicated to support members of a kinematically equivalent slave arm to position the support members to correspond with a position of the human-machine interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Fraser M. Smith, Marc X. Olivier, Shane Stilson
  • Publication number: 20150005941
    Abstract: A dynamic predictor usable for rapid and accurate calculation of joint commands of an articulated dynamical mechanism describes the relationship between the joints in the form of a differential equation. The predictor solves this differential equation for predicted joint states by fitting a polynomial equation having free parameters describing the predicted joint states to the differential equations by minimizing the differential equation residuals. This minimization employs a series expansion allowing algorithmic differentiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Paul H. Milenkovic
  • Patent number: 8924021
    Abstract: A control system and method generate torque comments for motion of a target system in response to observations of a source system. Constraints and balance control may be provided for more accurate representation of the motion as replicated by the target system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Behzad Dariush, Bing Jian
  • Patent number: 8924013
    Abstract: A path planning system for bringing state of an object into a target state includes a search tree production unit for producing in advance, in a state space with said target state defined as a root, a search tree having a branch at each one of a plurality of sections of the state space, said state space being divided into the plurality of sections in advance. The system also includes a search tree memory unit for storing the search tree, and a path generation unit for determining, a route on the search tree from the branch corresponding to the current state to the root. The path planning/control system further includes a path control unit for controlling the path of the object to bring the state of the object into the target state in accordance with the route on the search tree determined by the path planning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chyon Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 8903546
    Abstract: An articulated instrument is controllably movable between areas of different work space limits, such as when it is extendable out of and retractable into a guide tube. To avoid abrupt transitions in joint actuations as the joint moves between areas of different work space limits, a controller limits error feedback used to control its movement. To provide smooth joint control as the instrument moves between areas of different work space limits, the controller imposes barrier and ratcheting constraints on each directly actuatable joint of the instrument when the joint is commanded to cross between areas of different work space limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, Paul E. Lilagan
  • Publication number: 20140343730
    Abstract: A robot control method of controlling a robot that has a flexible module including ‘n’ first nodes participating in pan motion and ‘n’ second nodes participating in tilt motion may include: measuring a translational motion distance, a pan motion angle, and a tilt motion angle of the flexible module; calculating state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the ‘n’ second nodes using the measured translational motion distance; calculating operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ second nodes; and/or calculating operating angles of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angles of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated operating angle distribution rates and the measured pan motion angle and tilt motion angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Young KIM, Kwang Kyu LEE, Woong KWON, Kyung Shik ROH, Ju Suk LEE, Seung Yong HYUNG
  • Patent number: 8892260
    Abstract: A system including a mobile telepresence robot, a telepresence computing device in wireless communication with the robot, and a host computing device in wireless communication with the robot and the telepresence computing device. The host computing device relays User Datagram Protocol traffic between the robot and the telepresence computing device through a firewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Cross, Tony L. Campbell
  • Patent number: 8886358
    Abstract: A robot controller includes an input unit that receives operation instruction information, a database that stores grasp pattern information, and a processing unit that performs control processing based on information from the input unit and information from the database, and the input unit receives first to N-th operation instructions as operation instruction information, the processing unit loads i-th grasp pattern information that enables execution of the i-th operation instruction and j-th grasp pattern information that enables execution of the j-th operation instruction as the next operation instruction to the i-th operation instruction from the database, and performs control processing based on the i-th grasp pattern information and the j-th grasp pattern information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaori Sato, Hiroshi Hasegawa