Mobile Robot Patents (Class 901/1)
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11981025
    Abstract: A mobile robot includes a driver configured to provide a traveling function, a body disposed at an upper side of the driver, a concave portion recessed inward from a surface of the body, a vent hole formed at an upper side of the concave portion, and a guide inclined surface formed at a lower side of the concave portion. During traveling of the mobile robot, the mobile robot induces inflow of air so that the body can be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangwook Lee, Moonchan Kim, Iljae Lee, Sanghun Mun, Hyunjae Yang
  • Patent number: 11981031
    Abstract: A robot control system may be configured to control a robot having a plurality of limbs. The robot control system may control the robot to crawl, to open a door, to bound and or to climb stairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Gavin Kenneally, Avik De, Daniel E. Koditschek, Thomas Turner Topping
  • Patent number: 11975866
    Abstract: An aircraft control method includes: acquiring a current flight state of the aircraft, in response to the aircraft being in a night flight mode, the aircraft being provided with a visual sensor and a light supplementation lamp configured to provide a fill light function for the visual sensor; controlling the light supplementation lamp to emit light according to a light supplementation rule of the light supplementation lamp, in response to the aircraft being in a first flight state; and controlling the light supplementation lamp to emit light according to an alerting rule of the light supplementation lamp, in response to the aircraft being in a second flight state. The light supplementation rule is configured to control the light supplementation lamp to implement the fill light function in the night flight mode, and the alerting rule is configured to control the light supplementation lamp to implement an aircraft flight alerting function in the night flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yucheng Liu, Chuantang Xiong
  • Patent number: 11976940
    Abstract: A vehicle data collection system includes a vehicle-mounted sensor; a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions; and a processor connected to the non-transitory computer readable medium. The processor is configured to execute the instructions for generating an invariant feature map, using a first neural network; and comparing the invariant feature map to template data to determine a similarity between the invariant feature map and the template data, wherein the template data is received from a server. The processor is further configured to execute the instructions for determining whether the determined similarity is exceeds a predetermined threshold; and instructing a transmitter to send the sensor data to the server in response to a determination that the determined similarity exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WOVEN BY TOYOTA, INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11974813
    Abstract: One example method for improving the efficiency of robotic surgical procedures via surgical procedure data analysis. The method includes accessing surgical procedure data of a robotic surgical procedure. The surgical procedure data contains data or events associated with the robotic surgical system during the robotic surgical procedure. The method further includes accessing a procedure setup plan for the robotic surgical procedure corresponding to the surgical procedure data and determining an idle period of the surgical procedure based on the surgical procedure data. The method also includes analyzing the surgical procedure data to detect one or more events associated with the idle period to determine a cause of the idle period, and generating a recommendation for modifying the procedure setup plan for the robotic surgical procedure based on the determined cause of the idle period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Caitlin Donhowe, Antons Krumins
  • Patent number: 11964398
    Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous robot distributed processing are provided. A method includes receiving, at a robot, camera output from a camera located on the robot. The method may further include outputting the camera output to a mobile client device. The method may also further include receiving at the robot, from the mobile client device, object recognition metadata based upon the camera output. The method may additionally include outputting a notification from the robot to a user of the mobile client device based upon the object recognition metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micropharmacy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Pekarek-Kostka, John E. Kulesza
  • Patent number: 11958688
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that identifies a source area within a facility comprising a plurality of objects, and determines a destination area within the facility to which the plurality of objects are to be transported and unloaded. The system selects robots within the facility based a capability of the robots and/or a location of the robots within the facility. The system provides an instruction to the robots to transport the plurality of objects from the source area to the destination area. The robots are configured to autonomously select an object based on a position and location of the object within the source area, transport the selected object to a destination area along a route selected by the robot, and unload the selected object at a location within the destination area selected based on a number of objects yet to be unloaded within the destination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GIDEON BROTHERS D.O.O.
    Inventors: Josip Cesic, Tomislav Haus
  • Patent number: 11960296
    Abstract: A method executable by an autonomous mobile device includes moving in a work environment, obtaining environmental data acquired by a sensing device, and determining whether the sensing device is in a suspected ineffective state based on the environmental data. The method also includes based on a determination that the sensing device is in the suspected ineffective state, rotating at a same location for a first predetermined spin angle. The method also includes obtaining an estimated rotation angle based on one or more motion parameters acquired by a dead reckoning sensor, comparing the estimated rotation angle with the first predetermined spin angle, and based on a determination that a difference between the estimated rotation angle and the first predetermined spin angle is greater than a first predetermined threshold value, executing escape instructions to move backwardly for a first predetermined distance and move along a curve or a folded line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: QFEELTECH (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuailing Li, Wulin Tian, Huizhong An, Xin Wu, Yiming Zhang, Zhen Chen
  • Patent number: 11946749
    Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for driver data guided spatial planning. A spatial structure is generated comprising a plurality of nodes connected by edges. At least some of the nodes and edges represent a path to navigate a vehicle from a first point to a second point. Edges of the spatial structure are labeled as useful based on a distance metric. The spatial structure is pruned by removing one or more edges from the spatial structure according to a respective label of the edges, wherein an extent of the removal is based on a predetermined graph size, a predetermined performance, or any combinations thereof to obtain a pruned graph. A path from the first point to the second point on the pruned graph is identified and the vehicle is navigated in accordance with the path from the first point to the second point on the pruned graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Bence Cserna, Tianyi Gu, Eric Wolff, Elena Corina Grigore, Mochan Shrestha
  • Patent number: 11944876
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for autonomous tennis assistant systems. Example methods include determining, by a device, an outer boundary line of a tennis court, generating a digital representation of the tennis court using the outer boundary line, where the digital representation includes at least a portion of an out-of-bounds area adjacent to the outer boundary line, determining a first location of a first tennis ball, and causing a tennis ball retrieval robot to move to the first location to retrieve the first tennis ball, where the tennis ball retrieval robot is wirelessly connected to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TENNIBOT INC.
    Inventors: Haitham Ahmed Reda Eletrabi, Xianglin Wang
  • Patent number: 11938583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transport device (100) for receiving one or more module units having machine tool accessory devices and for transporting the one or more received module units to a machine tool (1000) set up on a base surface for use of the machine tool accessory devices of the one or more received module units on the machine tool (1000), wherein the transport device (100) is freely movable on the base surface for positioning the one or more received module units relative to the machine tool (1000), in particular within a region in front and/or next to the machine tool (1000) and/or in front and/or next to a working space of the machine tool (1000).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Geissler, Michael Trenkle, Sebastian Riedel
  • Patent number: 11940800
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot includes a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations including moving the autonomous cleaning robot along a first portion of a path toward a waypoint, detecting, with a ranging sensor of the autonomous cleaning robot, an obstacle along the path between the first portion of the path and a second portion of the path, navigating the autonomous cleaning robot about the obstacle along a trajectory that maintains at least a clearance distance between the autonomous cleaning robot and the obstacle, and moving the autonomous cleaning robot along the second portion of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Justin H. Kearns
  • Patent number: 11939162
    Abstract: A system-directed robotic cart picking system is described. In an example implementation, the system may generate a picking itinerary including pick-to-cart routing based on locations of items in an order fulfillment center and received order data identifying the items, and may transport the carts in the order fulfillment center according to the pick-to-cart routing. The system may determine a zone of the order fulfillment center to which to assign a picker based on the picking itinerary and may determine tasks, such as picking at least one item from the locations to the carts, for the picker located in the zone. In some instances, the system may output pick instructions to a picker client device directing the picker to perform the tasks and may transport the carts to a defined point in the order fulfillment center in response to completion of the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Douglas, Stephen Nilsen, Paolo Gerli Amador, Gregory Patrick Cox
  • Patent number: 11934203
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring information on a sound associated with a robot call in a serving place; determining a call target robot associated with the sound, among a plurality of robots in the serving place, on the basis of the acquired information; and providing feedback associated with the sound by the call target robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bear Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: John Jungwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11934181
    Abstract: A system for order fulfillment using one or more robots includes: a server configured to receive an order comprising an order item; inventory storage operably connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising order items; an actor robot operably connected to and selected by the server, the actor robot configured to perform one or more of picking the order item from inventory storage, moving the order item, and positioning the order item; and an order robot operably connected to the server, the order robot configured to collect the order item, wherein the order item is positioned by the actor robot so as to be accessible to the order robot, so as to perform order fulfillment using one or more robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Melonee Wise, Michael Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11927961
    Abstract: A method for constraining robot autonomy language includes receiving a navigation command to navigate a robot to a mission destination within an environment of the robot and generating a route specification for navigating the robot from a current location in the environment to the mission destination in the environment. The route specification includes a series of route segments. Each route segment in the series of route segments includes a goal region for the corresponding route segment and a constraint region encompassing the goal region. The constraint region establishes boundaries for the robot to remain within while traversing toward the goal region. The route segment also includes an initial path for the robot to follow while traversing the corresponding route segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Fay, Joel Chestnutt, Marco da Silva, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 11919543
    Abstract: Multi-mode personal transportation and delivery devices and methods of use are disclosed herein. A device can include a communications interface, the communications interface configured to provide vehicle-to-everything communications, a device controller comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to: receive a first message from a service provider that the transportation device is to relocate to a location based on user demand; and activate a redistribution mode to cause the transportation device to autonomously navigate to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edmund Pengfei He, Chelsia Ka Po Lau, James Yu-Hsin Kuo, Joseph Ian Halaszynski
  • Patent number: 11921508
    Abstract: A method for estimating a ground plane includes receiving a pose of a robotic device with respect to a gravity aligned reference frame, receiving one or more locations of one or more corresponding contact points between the robotic device and a ground surface, and determining a ground plane estimation of the ground surface based on the orientation of the robotic device with respect to the gravity aligned reference frame and the one or more locations of one or more corresponding contact points between the robotic device and the ground surface. The ground plane estimation includes a ground surface contour approximation. The method further includes determining a distance between a body of the robotic device and the determined ground plane estimation and causing adjustment of the pose of the robotic device with respect to the ground surface based on the determined distance and the determined ground plane estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, Gabriel Nelson, Neil Neville
  • Patent number: 11918175
    Abstract: A control method for carpet drift in robot motion, a chip, and a cleaning robot are disclosed. The control method includes: performing fusion calculation on a current position coordinate of the robot according to data sensed by a sensor every first preset time, calculating amount of drift, relative to a preset direction, of the robot, according to a relative position relationship between a current position and an initial position of the robot, and accumulating to obtain a drift statistical value; and calculating the number of acquisitions of the position coordinate within a second preset time, averaging to obtain a drift average value, determining a state of the robot deviating from the preset direction according to the drift average value, and setting a corresponding Proportion Integration Differentiation (PID) proportionality coefficient to synchronously adjust speeds of left and right drive wheels of the robot while reducing a deviation angle of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianfeng Dai
  • Patent number: 11911906
    Abstract: A method for controlling a patrolling robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring, as first situation information on the patrolling robot, at least one of weight information on a support coupled to the patrolling robot and image information on the support and information on a location of the patrolling robot in a patrolling place; and determining a task and a travel route of the patrolling robot on the basis of the first situation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Bear Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: John Jungwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11911912
    Abstract: A robot device according to various embodiments comprises a camera, a robot arm, and a control device electrically connected to the camera and the robot arm, wherein the control device can be configured to collect a robot arm control record about a random operation, acquire, from the camera, a camera image in which a working space of the robot arm is photographed, implement an augmented reality model by rendering a virtual object corresponding to an object related to objective work in the camera image, and update a control policy for the objective work by performing image-based policy learning on the basis of the augmented reality model and the control record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sohee Lee, Junhong Min, Kyungshik Roh, Sukjune Yoon, Minyong Choi
  • Patent number: 11911704
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing real world assistance by a robot utility and interface device (RUID) are provided. A method provides for identifying a position of a user in a physical environment and a surface within the physical environment for projecting an interactive interface. The method also provides for moving to a location within the physical environment based on the position of the user and the surface for projecting the interactive interface. Moreover, the method provides for capturing a plurality of images of the interactive interface while the interactive interface is being interacted with by the use and for determining a selection of an input option made by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Fernandez Rico, Erik Beran, Michael Taylor, Ruxin Chen
  • Patent number: 11903539
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a proximity-triggered user interface, and configured to provide one or more indicia to a user based on the proximity of the user to the surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaning apparatus can be provided with one or more proximity sensors, and the user interface is configured to receive input from the one or more proximity sensors and provide one or more indicia to the user based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Miller
  • Patent number: 11906973
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for controlling a robot is provided. The electronic device includes a wireless communication unit, a camera, a touch display, a memory, and a processor configured to be operatively connected to the wireless communication unit, the camera, the touch display, and the memory. The processor is configured to recognize a marker of the robot photographed using the camera; generate an indicator indicating a space around the recognized robot; acquire location information for moving the robot to an area within the indicator by using the touch display; and transmit the acquired location information to the robot to move the robot to a location corresponding to the acquired location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jinseon Yoo, Harkjoon Kim, Sungbin Kuk, Jimin Kim, Eunjoo Mo, Chiyoung Ahn, Heeyoung Cho
  • Patent number: 11904475
    Abstract: A robot and an operating system, a control device, a control method and a storage medium thereof, wherein the robot includes a processor configured to execute the following operation commands: controlling the robot to move to a designated position corresponding to an interaction scenario, wherein the interaction scenario is a scenario in which the robot interacts with a user; controlling the robot to perform an operation corresponding to an operation of the user in the interaction scenario, thereby realizing the robot can perform a complex interaction with the user based on the colorful interaction scenario and solving the technical problem of the prior art that the interaction scenario and the interactive content between the user and the robot are excessively monotonous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING MAGIC PAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peng Liu
  • Patent number: 11904470
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for robotic learning and execution of skills. A robotic apparatus can include a memory, a processor, sensors, and one or more movable components (e.g., a manipulating element and/or a transport element). The processor can be operatively coupled to the memory, the movable elements, and the sensors, and configured to obtain information of an environment, including one or more objects located within the environment. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to learn skills through demonstration, exploration, user inputs, etc. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills and/or arbitrate between different behaviors and/or actions. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills and/or behaviors using cached trajectories or plans. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute skills requiring navigation and manipulation behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Diligent Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Lockerd Thomaz, Vivian Yaw-Wen Chu, Peter Worsnop, Reymundo Gutierrez, Lauren Hutson, Shuai Li, Anjana Nellithimaru, Frank Mathis