Mobile Robot Patents (Class 901/1)
  • Patent number: 12128565
    Abstract: A dual-manipulator control method is configured to be used in a dual-manipulator control system including a first manipulator, a second manipulator, and a central control module. The first manipulator and the second manipulator are controlled by the central control module, and the central control module is configured to execute the dual-manipulator control method. The dual-manipulator control method includes: generating a first instruction sequence to control the first manipulator and a second instruction sequence to control the second manipulator; and controlling the first manipulator and the second manipulator based on the first instruction sequence and the second instruction sequence. Thus, the working efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Suzhou Engoal Intelligent Technologies Co., LTD
    Inventors: Zhanpeng Ma, He Wang, Hong Qian
  • Patent number: 12127726
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, using at least one processor of an electronic device, an image-query understanding model. The method also includes obtaining, using the at least one processor, an image and a user query associated with the image, where the image includes a target image area and the user query includes a target phrase. The method further includes retraining, using the at least one processor, the image-query understanding model using a correlation between the target image area and the target phrase to obtain a retrained image-query understanding model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Yilin Shen, Hongxia Jin
  • Patent number: 12128974
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing impact forces to legged robots as a result of traversing a terrain. The method includes employing actuators and compliant elements to use the contact of a first portion of a foot assembly with a terrain during a step to reduce the vertical velocity of a subsequent portion of the foot assembly so that the vertical velocity of the subsequent portion as it touches the terrain is substantially zero relative to the terrain. Foot assemblies that employ these methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: AGILITY ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hurst, Andrew Abate, Mitchell Bernards
  • Patent number: 12128543
    Abstract: An information processing device is provided including a recognition unit that executes recognition processing used to determine an action of an autonomous operating body on the basis of sensor information collected, in which the recognition unit includes a feedback recognizer that recognizes feedback from a user on behavior executed by the autonomous operating body, and the feedback recognizer recognizes a degree of the feedback on the basis of recognition results of a contact action and a non-contact action by the user for the autonomous operating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeaki Shimoe, Daisuke Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 12130625
    Abstract: An example implementation includes (i) receiving sensor data that indicates topographical features of an environment in which a robotic device is operating, (ii) processing the sensor data into a topographical map that includes a two-dimensional matrix of discrete cells, the discrete cells indicating sample heights of respective portions of the environment, (iii) determining, for a first foot of the robotic device, a first step path extending from a first lift-off location to a first touch-down location, (iv) identifying, within the topographical map, a first scan patch of cells that encompass the first step path, (v) determining a first high point among the first scan patch of cells; and (vi) during the first step, directing the robotic device to lift the first foot to a first swing height that is higher than the determined first high point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Perkins, Kevin Blankespoor
  • Patent number: 12124240
    Abstract: A management system for a heterogenous robot fleet provides standard application programmatic interfaces (APIs) for use by inventory management systems in generating complex applications, wherein calls to the API are formatted in a standard format and cause the management system to orchestrate cross-fleet operations that involve multiple different types of robots that are operating in a common facility. Also, the management system for a heterogenous robot fleet provides a unified view of the heterogenous robot fleets of the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav D Ghare, Eric D Anderson, Bin Zhu, Abraham Cantwell, Thomas Alexandre Moulard, Ibolya Horvath, Chetan Banthiya, David Prody
  • Patent number: 12116148
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring, storing, and/or processing materials, such as fuel or propellant, in space, are disclosed. A representative system includes a flexible container that is changeable between a stowed configuration in which the flexible container is contained within a satellite, and a deployed configuration in which the flexible container extends away from the satellite. The system can include a tanker with a storage container to dock with and refuel a satellite. Another representative system includes a controller programmed with instructions that position a spacecraft with a storage container in a first orbit, transfer the spacecraft to a second orbit, dock the spacecraft with a satellite in the second orbit, transfer material between the storage container and the satellite, undock the spacecraft from the satellite, and, optionally, return the spacecraft to the first orbit. An androgynous coupling system with mechanical and fluid connectors facilitates docking and material transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Orbit Fab, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Faber
  • Patent number: 12109900
    Abstract: A mower is provided and includes: a case; a charging circuit provided in the case, and a combination of a wheel assembly and a charging interface assembly arranged on the case. The combination is electrically connected to the charging circuit. The combination includes: a wheel assembly; and a charging interface assembly electrically connected to the charging circuit. The wheel assembly and the charging interface assembly are integrated molding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bui Van Cuong, Wanghao Li, Jie Gao, Jin Cao, Zhigao Pu, Huage Wang, Xian Zhuang, Zhiyuan Li, Yupu Zhou, Stefan Strandberg
  • Patent number: 12103130
    Abstract: A base attachment module (BAM) of a small aerial vehicle (SAV) for attaching the SAV to an unprepared work surface has a surface meeting docking assembly (DA) with contact points for contacting the work surface, and a contracting suction cup (CSC) in a position surrounded by the contact points such that it extends beyond a plane (or other surface contour) of the points in a fully extended operating position, and is retracted below the plane in a retracted position. Actuation of the CSC when in contact with the surface, allows for the DA to be brought into contact with the contact points in a controlled manner, for a high stiffness attachment, as is needed for deployment of robotic tasks from a SAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Bruno Monsarrat, Charles Vidal, Martin De Montigny, Iraj Mantegh
  • Patent number: 12105522
    Abstract: The present application relates to a multi-sensor-fusion-based autonomous mobile robot indoor and outdoor navigation method and a robot. The method includes: acquiring inertial measurement data and three-dimensional point cloud data of a robot at a current position; determining a pose change of the robot based on the inertial measurement data of the robot at the current position; performing distortion correction on the three-dimensional point cloud data of the robot at the current position based on the pose change of the robot; and matching the three-dimensional point cloud data after the distortion correction with a navigation map, to determine the current position of the robot. With the method, the robot can be accurately positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing, GDAS
    Inventors: Xuefeng Zhou, Zerong Su, Zhihao Xu, Guanrong Tang
  • Patent number: 12103759
    Abstract: A remote operation spray device configured to depress-operate a spray nozzle of a spray device from a remote location. Device generates adequate pushing force required for depression and, by achieving weight reduction of the device proper, enables easy mounting on an aerial vehicle or other mobile unit. Device includes a main body fixedly attached to a mobile unit, a holder fixedly retaining a spray cartridge and a spray mechanism for jetting spray. The spray mechanism includes a base member, a depressing member pivotably attached to the base member for pressing down a spray nozzle, a pushed member provided at a distal end of the depressing member, and a pusher installed on the base member for pushing the pushed member to move horizontally. The horizontal pushing action of the pusher pushes and moves the pushed member to pivot the depressing member and press the spray nozzle vertically downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: DRONE NET CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 12105514
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) may move around a physical space to perform tasks. The AMD may explore the physical space to determine map data characterizing the physical space. An exploration system maintains a world snapshot that is representative of the AMD with respect to the physical space. A plurality of planning algorithm modules are available, each able to achieve a particular exploration goal or operate under particular conditions such as initial motion, loop closure, frontier exploration, and so forth. One or more planning algorithms are selected and provided with the world snapshot data. These planning algorithms provide responses and may also determine plan data. The resulting plan data is then selected for execution. The execution of the selected plan data operates the AMD to explore the physical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James Charles Zamiska, Jong Jin Park, Mohit Deshpande, Rajasimman Madhivanan, Dhruva Kumar
  • Patent number: 12094196
    Abstract: A includes a driver, and a processor configured to: based on an occurrence of an event for performing an operation, acquire target information corresponding to the operation and context information related to the robot, based on at least one of the target information or the context information, select an action plan, acquire action information based on the action plan, and control the driver such that an operation corresponding to the target information is performed based on the action information. The action plan is selected as a first action plan of performing an operation according to first action information stored in advance in the memory, a second action plan of performing an operation according to second action information generated based on the acquired target information and the acquired context information, and a third action plan of performing an operation according to third action information learned based on an operation pattern of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junho Jang, Youngwoon Lee, Junkyu Lee, Wonguk Jeong
  • Patent number: 12085579
    Abstract: A method and system for replenishing refrigerated consumables by a mobile connected autonomous refrigerator includes receiving a notification triggered by a laboratory instrument that a refrigerated consumable used by the laboratory instrument is depleted; autonomously navigating to a refrigerated storage; retrieving the refrigerated consumable and placing it in the mobile refrigerated unit: autonomously moving to the laboratory instrument that triggered the notification; and alerting an operator to retrieve the refrigerated consumable from mobile refrigerated unit and load it into the laboratory instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Heydlauf
  • Patent number: 12084281
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a robotic system having a robotic picking workstation, tote storage and retrieval and transit decks. The system has bots that autonomously transport totes from the storage and retrieval system to the robotic picking workstation via the transit decks. The robotic picking workstation may have a picking lane where a robotic handler transports eaches from totes on the bots to order totes in the workstation. The robotic picking workstation further has a queuing buffer where bots are cued for the picking lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, John G. Lert, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12082527
    Abstract: An autonomous working apparatus includes a main body mechanism, a moving mechanism, a working mechanism and a control module. The main body mechanism includes a support body, and the working mechanism is configured to be installed on the support body. The working mechanism has an operating member and a height variable mechanism. The height variable mechanism is configured to be movably connected with the operating member. The operating member is configured to be rotatably connected to the support body, and the operating member is configured to operatably drive the height variable mechanism to move along the height adjustment direction. The force between the operating member and the height variable mechanism is caused by the gravity of the height variable mechanism, and the force between the operating member and the support body is caused by the gravity of said operating member and of said height variable mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI SUNSEEKER ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miaowu Ma, Jian Xiong
  • Patent number: 12080038
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively augmenting information in a vehicle includes receiving a scene information from at least one sensor. identifying a region of interest from the scene information, analyzing the scene information to determine whether the region of interest is occluded, and augmenting the region of interest using a display system when the region of interest is occluded. The region of interest includes an object identified within the scene information that is classified as related to vehicle safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Sharma, Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 12076868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method. The method includes causing a visual programming panel including a timeline editor and a plurality of motion blocks enabling a variety of robotic motions to be displayed in a visualization interface provided by a robot simulator shown on a web browser; selecting from a user, at the visual programming panel, at least one motion block from the plurality of motion blocks and adding the at least one motion block into the timeline editor, via a drag-and-drop, to form a motion configuration; and according to the motion configuration at the visual programming panel, automatically generating a program capable of commanding an end effector equipped on a target robot in a work cell to perform at least one selected robotic motion from the variety of robotic motions in the robot simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ROBIM TECHNOLOGIES INC. OF CANADA
    Inventors: Shih-Chung Kang, Liang-Ting Tsai, Cheng-Hsuan Yang
  • Patent number: 12073928
    Abstract: An example of a system for review of clinical data includes a medical device configured to receive patient data signals from patient interface devices coupled to the medical device, and an auxiliary device configured to communicatively couple to the medical device via a communication channel and including an output device, a memory, a communication interface, and a processor configured to establish the communication channel, estimate a transmission age for the patient data, receive the patient data from the medical device via the communication channel, determine a patient data age based on at least one of the transmission age and a playback selection age, select a patient data age threshold based on a patient data context, compare the patient data age to the patient data age threshold to determine a patient data age indication, and provide the patient data and the patient data age indication at the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Freeman, Timothy F. Stever, C. Shane Reid
  • Patent number: 12066822
    Abstract: A server (3) includes a route determination unit (3f1) that determines a route; a user dynamic data recognition unit (3a1) that recognizes, during guidance, user dynamic data; a guidance request estimation unit (3c) that estimates a guidance request of a user, based on the user dynamic data; a notification instruction unit (3h) that issues to a robot (2) an instruction for notification of inquiry information for inquiring about necessity of change of the route; and a reaction recognition unit (3i) that recognizes a reaction of the user to the notification. The route determination unit (3f1) determines a content of the change of the route, based on the guidance request, and determines whether the change of the route is performed, based on the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruomi Higashi
  • Patent number: 12064879
    Abstract: A method of planning a path for an articulated arm of robot includes generating a directed graph corresponding to a joint space of the articulated arm. The directed graph includes a plurality of nodes each corresponding to a joint pose of the articulated arm. The method also includes generating a planned path from a start node associated with a start pose of the articulated arm to an end node associated with a target pose of the articulated arm. The planned path includes a series of movements along the nodes between the start node and the end node. The method also includes determining when the articulated arm can travel to a subsequent node or the target pose, terminating a movement of the articulated arm towards a target node, and initiating a subsequent movement of the articulated arm to move directly to the target pose or the subsequent node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Paolini, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 12061006
    Abstract: An air flow control apparatus controls a fan. The air flow control apparatus includes an acquisition section, a detection section, and a control section. The acquisition section acquires image data obtained by an image capturing device installed in a target space. The detection section detects a specific object movable by an air flow sent from the fan, based on the image data acquired by the acquisition section. The control section executes first processing. The first processing includes controlling at least one of a direction and a volume of an air flow sent from the fan, based on a result of detection by the detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keita Kitagawa, Youichi Handa
  • Patent number: 12056452
    Abstract: Conversational agents (CAs) may analyze language input and generate and output a response to a user. For example, when receiving a user's support request, the CA may determine whether to conduct self-disclosure by including information about the CA's “self” in a response to the user. For example, based on performing sentiment analysis of a support request user input, the CA may determine that the user is expressing negative emotions. Based on the user's expression of negative emotions, the CA may perform self-disclosure as part of generating a response to the user. A CA that is configured to engage in self-disclosure, for instance by including information about a CA's self in an output response, may increase users' acceptance of the CA, which may make a user more likely to trust and/or interact with a CA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandra Coman, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 12053885
    Abstract: A robot control method includes: determining a planned capture point and a measured capture point of the robot so as to calculate a capture point error of the robot; obtaining positions of a left foot and a right foot of the robot, and a planned zero moment point (ZMP) of the robot so as to calculate desired support forces of the left foot and the right foot; calculating desired torques of the left foot and the right foot according to the capture point error, the desired support forces of the left foot and the right foot; obtaining measured torques of the left foot and the right foot so as to calculate desired poses of the left foot and the right foot; and controlling the robot to walk according to the desired poses of the left foot and the desired pose of the right foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Ligang Ge, Yizhang Liu, Chunyu Chen, Zheng Xie, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 12056581
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for training of an action determining component of a computer character. In some implementations, actions are taken by the character in a 3D environment according to an action determining component of the character, where the character is rewarded or penalized for interactions associated with an object/concept in the 3D environment according to an assigned object/concept reward or penalty. In some implementations, the reward or the penalty assigned to the object/concept is modified, and the character is then rewarded or penalized for interactions associated with the object/concept according to the modified reward or the modified penalty. The action determining component of the character is trained using a reinforcement learning technique that accounts for rewards or penalties obtained by virtual character for interactions associated with the object/concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Novaira Masood, Bo Morgan, Shem Nguyen, Mark E. Drummond
  • Patent number: 12049012
    Abstract: A motion path generation device generates a motion path of a robot that has a plurality of joints and a plurality of shafts. Adjacent two of the plurality of shafts are connected by a corresponding one of the plurality of joints. The motion path generation device generates a via point candidate that is a candidate of a next via point to be connected to a parent via point. The motion path generation device adds the via point candidate as a new via point in response to determining that the via point candidate does not interfere with an obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shota Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 12042926
    Abstract: A cleaning robot is provided. The cleaning robot includes a motion device configured to move the cleaning robot in an environment, and an exterior housing. The cleaning robot also includes a motion sensor configured to obtain parameters relating to a motion of the cleaning robot, and a storage device configured to store data including at least one of the one or more images or the one or more motion parameters. The cleaning robot also includes a camera configured to capture one or more images of the environment. The camera is disposed internal to a slant surface located at a front end of the exterior housing and is pivotable relative to the slant surface. The slant surface inclines upwardly with respect to a forward moving direction. The camera and the slant surface face substantially a same direction. A direction of the camera and the forward moving direction form an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: QFEELTECH (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yiming Zhang, Zhen Chen
  • Patent number: 12042106
    Abstract: A movable electronic apparatus includes a mobile apparatus body, a contact-type detection apparatus and a control circuit. The mobile apparatus body is provided with an electrical drive assembly that drives the mobile apparatus body to move; the contact-type detection apparatus is mounted on the mobile apparatus body, and the contact-type detection apparatus is configured and when the contact-type detection apparatus contacts dispersed dirt, an electrical signal outputted by the contact-type detection apparatus changes; the control circuit is mounted on the mobile apparatus body, and the control circuit is configured to determine whether the dispersed dirt is detected according to the magnitude of the amount by which the electrical signal outputted by the contact-type detection apparatus changes, and to control the electrical drive assembly to drive the mobile apparatus body to execute a dirt dispersion prevention action when determined that dirt that may be dispersed is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA WHITE HOME APPLIANCE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTER CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungjin Kim, Pin Yang, Shuyun Wu, Xinjian Huang, Guangli Xu, Junge Zhang, Geng Yu, Jiefeng Cheng
  • Patent number: 12047833
    Abstract: A telepresence robot is provided including a controller. The controller is programmed to, after establishing a remote connection with a remote user, monitor movement of a tracked individual, detect when the tracked individual has entered an office space, and upon determination that the tracked individual has entered the office space, identify the office space and transfer a connection with the remote user from the telepresence robot to a device in the office space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagashima, John F. Daly, Adrian Lombard, Paul Li, Kruti Vekaria, Yasushi Onda, Kaya Onda
  • Patent number: 12037769
    Abstract: A robot generates a cell grid (e.g., occupancy grid) representation of a geographic area. The occupancy grid may include a plurality of evenly sized cells, and each cell may be assigned an occupancy status, which can be used to indicate the location of obstacles present in the geographic area. Footprints for the robot corresponding to a plurality of robot orientations and joint states may be generated and stored in a look-up table. The robot may generate a planned path for the robot to navigate within the geographic area by generating a plurality of candidate paths, each candidate path comprising a plurality of candidate robot poses. For each candidate robot pose, the robot may query the look-up table for a corresponding robot footprint to determine if a collision will occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: BUILT ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventors: Noah Austen Ready-Campbell, Martin Karlsson, Brian Lerner
  • Patent number: 12039749
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory media are provided for low-power visual tracking systems. An example method can include receiving one or more images captured by each image sensor system from a set of image sensor systems on a first device, the one or more images capturing a set of patterns on a second device, wherein the first device has lower power requirements than the second device, the set of patterns having a predetermined configuration on the second device; determining, from the one or more images captured by each image sensor system, a set of pixels corresponding to the set of patterns on the second device; determining, based on the set of pixels corresponding to the set of patterns, a location and relative pose in space of each pattern; and determining, based on the location and relative pose of each pattern, a pose of the first device relative to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ravishankar Sivalingam, Donald William Kidwell, Russell Gruhlke, Edwin Chongwoo Park, Khurshid Syed Alam
  • Patent number: 12039476
    Abstract: The present application provides an AGV scheduling control system and method. The AGV scheduling control system includes: an AGV scheduling controller configured to generate an AGV scheduling instruction; an AGV configured to execute a task according to the AGV scheduling instruction; and a server that is communicatively coupled with the AGV scheduling controller and the AGV respectively, the server being configured to transfer messages between the AGV scheduling controller and the AGV, and provide adaptation to AGVs from different manufacturers. The AGV scheduling control system in the present application further includes a virtual AGV scheduling controller and a virtual AGV that serve as digital twins of the AGV scheduling controller and the AGV, and the programs used to control the virtual entity and the real entity are equivalently exchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Deqiang Shi, Liyong Lin, Shurui Chen
  • Patent number: 12039774
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for drone-assisted thermal monitoring. One of the methods includes determining a first temperature measurement at a first location of a property, navigating from the first location to a second location of the property, determining a second temperature measurement at the second location, generating a thermal model for the property based on the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement, and providing the thermal model for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Babak Rezvani, Ahmad Seyfi, Glenn Tournier, Donald Gerard Madden, Ethan Shayne
  • Patent number: 12024199
    Abstract: An autonomous traveling system includes: an information storage unit storing beforehand, for each of points on a target route from a departure place to a destination, turnability information indicating whether an autonomous traveling body traveling autonomously along the target route can turn to change a traveling posture thereof; and a travel planning unit determining the traveling posture with respect to each of traveling sections connecting the points, and determines, from among the points, a turn execution point at which the autonomous traveling body turns in order to take the determined traveling posture in each of the traveling sections, based on the turnability information, wherein the autonomous traveling body includes a travel control execution unit executing control for causing the autonomous traveling body to turn every time the autonomous traveling body reaches the turn execution point and to advance in each of the traveling sections in the determined traveling posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Andrii Pydin
  • Patent number: 12023119
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for alignment and docking of robotic arm of a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the system includes a robotic arm, a drive mechanism attached to the robotic arm, and a cannula. The system may further include a first sensor coupled to either the robotic arm or the drive mechanism configured to direct automatic movement of the robotic arm towards the cannula, and a second sensor, that is different than the first sensor, coupled to either the robotic arm or the drive mechanism configured to direct manual movement of the robotic arm towards the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Mao, Yanan Huang, Aren Calder Hill, Nicholas J. Eyre, Eloi Le Roux, Mitchell Arthur Phillips, Benjamin Robert Fredrickson
  • Patent number: 12025960
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate generally to integration of a printing device to a smart space meeting room (“meeting room”). In an example, a virtual assistant: receives a request to schedule a meeting; obtains a list of attendees; determines availability of attendees and the meeting room; confirms the availability of the attendees; reserves the meeting room; sends invitations to each of the attendees; generates a query for searching a content management system on a server; and locates materials on the content management system for the meeting. The server loads the materials for the meeting from the content management system and sends the materials to the printing device. A bot of the printing device checks status of the printing device. The printing device prints the materials personalized to each of the attendees. The virtual assistant requests the printed materials to be picked up by a robot for delivery to the meeting room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Dilinur Wushour
  • Patent number: 12028928
    Abstract: A semantic sensing system includes a processor, a memory, a plurality of wireless communication enabled devices and at least one sensing element, the memory storing a plurality of mapped endpoints wherein the processor is configured to apply semantic drift or entropy to determine affirmative and non-affirmative circumstances based on inputs from the at least one sensing element to cause the system to perform semantic augmentation towards a first endpoint supervisor in relation with the affirmative and non-affirmative determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucian Cristache
  • Patent number: 12017343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tactile sensor, a tactile stimulation sensing method using the same, and a robot skin and a robot comprising the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to a tactile sensor comprising an input layer for receiving an external tactile stimulus; a microphone member; and a medium layer disposed between the input layer and the microphone member, and including gas therein to transmit vibrations by the stimulus, a tactile stimulation sensing method using the same, and a robot skin and a robot comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jung Kim, Min Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 12019453
    Abstract: The present application relates to a multi-sensor-fusion-based autonomous mobile robot indoor and outdoor positioning method and a robot. The method includes: acquiring GPS information and three-dimensional point cloud data of a robot at a current position; acquiring, a two-dimensional map corresponding to the GPS information of the robot at the current position; projecting the three-dimensional point cloud data of the robot at the current position onto a road surface where the robot is currently moving, to obtain two-dimensional point cloud data of the robot at the current position; and matching the two-dimensional point cloud data of the robot at the current position with the two-dimensional map corresponding to the GPS information of the robot at the current position, to determine the current position of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing, GDAS
    Inventors: Zerong Su, Xuefeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 12012320
    Abstract: A system for reconfiguring a factory having equipment at different workstations throughout the factory and a plurality of sensors disposed throughout the factory includes a factory configuration module configured to store a plurality of predetermined factory configurations and a plurality of mobile transporters configured to engage and transport the equipment to the different workstations throughout the factory based on the predetermined factory configurations and dynamic inputs, where the dynamic inputs include a status of the equipment, a status of the plurality of mobile transporters, sensor data output by the plurality of sensors, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Yesh, Anthony Mario D'Amato, Shankar Narayan Mohan, Mario Anthony Santillo, Gregory P. Linkowski, Meghna Menon
  • Patent number: 12011139
    Abstract: A robotic device comprising: an energy storage device; and a controller configured to determine whether a quantity of energy stored in the energy storage device is below a predetermined energy level, wherein: the robotic device is configured to perform a cleaning task if the determined quantity of energy is not below the predetermined energy level; if the determined quantity of energy is below the predetermined energy level: the controller is configured to estimate a likelihood of the robotic device being capable of locating a recharging base station; and in dependence on the estimated likelihood, the robotic device is configured to seek the recharging base station or perform the cleaning task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Bone
  • Patent number: 12011837
    Abstract: A method performed by an autonomous device includes identifying a current movement of an operator based on monitoring the operator of the autonomous device. The method also includes inferring an intended direction of travel for the autonomous device based identifying the current movement. The method further includes identifying one or more objects in a current environment and limitations of the current environment. The method still further includes determining the action to be performed based on inferring the intended direction of travel and also identifying the one or more objects and the limitations of the current environment. The method also includes performing, by the autonomous device, the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Allison Thackston, Samuel Zapolsky, Katarina Miller, Laura Stelzner, Ron Goldman
  • Patent number: 12005588
    Abstract: Industrial robotic platforms are described. The robotic platform includes a universal platform configured to attach to interchangeable task-specific tooling systems and mobility systems. The robots may be mining robots, with a mining-specific tooling system attached to the universal platform, and configured for mining tasks. The platform is modular and may be used for other industrial applications and/or robot types, such as construction, satellite swarms, fuel production, disaster recovery, communications, remote power, and others. The robot may be included in a swarm or colony as part of an overall autonomous architecture. The robot may be part of an architecture having a colony or remote control center that communicates with and monitors the robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Off-World, Inc.
    Inventors: James Keravala, Alicia Teresa Kavelaars, James Jason Murray, Mark Eugene Nall, Joshua Jeremy Izenberg, Amaresh Kollipara
  • Patent number: 11999423
    Abstract: A method of planning a swing trajectory for a leg of a robot includes receiving an initial position of a leg of the robot, an initial velocity of the leg, a touchdown location, and a touchdown target time. The method also includes determining a difference between the initial position and the touchdown location and separating the difference between the initial position and the touchdown location into a horizontal motion component and a vertical motion component. The method also includes selecting a horizontal motion policy and a vertical motion policy to satisfy the motion components. Each policy produces a respective trajectory as a function of the initial position, the initial velocity, the touchdown location, and the touchdown target time. The method also includes executing the selected policies to swing the leg of the robot from the initial position to the touchdown location at the touchdown target time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Whitman
  • Patent number: 11998150
    Abstract: A docking station for a vacuum cleaner may include a receptacle configured to engage at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner such that, in response to engaging the receptacle, a vacuum cleaner flow path extending within the vacuum cleaner is transitioned from a cleaning flow path to an evacuation flow path, a suction motor of the vacuum cleaner being configured to urge air along the vacuum cleaner flow path and a docking station dust cup configured to receive debris from a vacuum cleaner dust cup of the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Innes, Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Kai Xu, Sam Liu
  • Patent number: 12000923
    Abstract: Sensor data are received from a multiplicity of sensors, wherein the multiplicity of sensors image a common scene using a multiplicity of measurement modalities. For each sensor of the multiplicity of sensors, at least one corresponding feature is determined in the respective sensor data and corresponding performance specification data are also obtained. In addition, mutual correspondence analysis between the features of the sensor data is carried out taking into account the corresponding performance specification data. Sensor fusion is also carried out on the basis of the correspondence analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Daniel Spies, Matthias Karl
  • Patent number: 11999057
    Abstract: A continuum arm robot system comprising at least a first continuum arm robot and a second continuum arm robot, each continuum arm robot being controlled by its own actuator pack, and each actuator pack being coupled to a single control computer, wherein at least the second continuum arm robot comprises a releasable connection mechanism to engage in gripping the first continuum arm robot in a workspace, so as to link the at least two continuum arm robots into a single redundant robotic system with at least the second continuum arm robot providing support for the first continuum arm robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Andrew D Norton, Dragos A Axinte, Matteo Russo, Xin Dong
  • Patent number: 11987330
    Abstract: A method of controlling a robot configured to clean a hull of a vessel whilst travelling over said hull, the method comprising: receiving at least one signal indicative of a speed of the vessel; during cleaning being performed by the robot, detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused based on (i) determining, from said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel exceeds a predetermined speed threshold, or (ii) predicting, using said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel will exceed the predetermined speed threshold within a predetermined time period; in response to said detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused, outputting a pause cleaning signal indicating that said cleaning is to be paused; whilst said cleaning is paused, detecting that cleaning performed by the robot is to be restarted based on the determining that the speed of the vessel has dropped below the predetermined threshold, and in response, outputting a restart cleaning signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Jotun A/S
    Inventor: Geir Axel Oftedahl
  • Patent number: 11986953
    Abstract: A mobile robot includes a driver configured to provide a traveling function, a body disposed at an upper side of the driver and configured to include a head coupling hole formed at an upper portion thereof, and a head configured to include a head bracket inserted into the head coupling hole of the body. The body includes a head fixing frame fastened to the head bracket, a first bolt configured to fix the head fixing frame and the head bracket, and a repair cover coupled to an opening formed in a backward direction. The head is separated from the body when the first bolt is released by opening the repair cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunjae Yang, Moonchan Kim, Iljae Lee, Sangwook Lee, Sanghun Mun
  • Patent number: 11982566
    Abstract: A system for photon correlation of an illuminated object and/or a light source is provided. The system includes a light source for illuminating the object and an optical system having an object-facing side configured to face the object or the light source and a projection side with the projection side having a focal plane. The system also includes a single-chip single photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) array arranged at the focal plane and a timing circuit associated with the single-chip SPAD array for measuring arrival times of photons detected by the single-chip SPAD array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), YEDA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Ivan Michel Antolovic, Claudio Bruschini, Edoardo Charbon, Gur Lubin, Ron Tenne, Dan Oron, Uri Rossman