 Patent Application Title |
Patent App Num. |
Date |
| Robotic catheter system with dynamic response | 20110021984 | 20110127 |
| An apparatus for maintaining a robotic catheter system in a responsive state includes a catheter, a plurality of linear translatable control elements, and a controller. In an embodiment, the catheter includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and at least two steering wires. The steering wires may be configured at one end to control the movement of at least a portion of the distal portion of the catheter and at the other end for connection to a control member. In an embodiment, each control element may be configured to engage or interface with a respective control member, and the controller may be configured to measure a force exerted on at least one control member by a respective control element and further configured to linearly translate the... |
| Chemical component and processing device assembly | 20110020947 | 20110127 |
| A substantially dimensionally-stable chemical component is assembled with a sample processing device via a computer-controlled apparatus. In one embodiment, surface mount technology is used to assemble the chemical component with the processing device. The chemical component may include, for example, chemicals used for sample preparation or detection, such as a reagent. In different embodiments, the chemical component may be a tablet, microtablet, lyophilized pellet, bead, film, and so forth. In some embodiments, the chemical components are stored within a carrier that packages a plurality of chemical components. The carrier may define a plurality of pockets, where each pocket defines a discrete space for holding at least one chemical component. In some embodiments, a robotic arm aligns with a pocket in order to locate and remove a... |
| Data cartridge and tape library including flash memory | 20110015778 | 20110120 |
| A data storage system for use with a plurality of tape cartridges is provided. Each tape cartridge includes a length of tape media and an amount of flash memory. The data storage system includes a tape cartridge library having a plurality of storage cells. Each storage cell is configured to store a tape cartridge. The tape cartridge library further includes a plurality of tape drives. Each tape drive is configured to access a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is received in the tape drive. The system further includes a robotic tape mover and a flash memory access mechanism. The robotic tape mover moves tape cartridges between the plurality of storage cells and the plurality of tape drives. The flash memory access mechanism is configured in... |
| Joints for prosthetic, orthotic and/or robotic devices | 20110015762 | 20110120 |
| An artificial foot device may include a talus body, a core operatively coupled with the talus body by a first joint, and a toe operatively coupled with the core by a second joint. The first joint may provide for constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core. The second joint may provide for constrained relative movement between the core and the toe. Constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core may substantially correspond to a coordinated movement of a first natural joint and a second natural joint during ambulation of a natural human foot.
... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015648 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
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| Robotic catheter system input device | 20110015569 | 20110120 |
| An input device for a robotic medical system includes a handle configured to be rotatable about a center axis, and to be longitudinally displaceable along the center axis. The input device also includes a deflection control element disposed on the handle and configured to selectively control deflection of the distal end of a flexible medical instrument electrically coupled to the input device. Longitudinal displacement of the handle may cause or result in a corresponding longitudinal motion or deflection of the flexible medical instrument. Rotation of the handle may cause or result in a corresponding rotation of the deflection plane. Longitudinal displacement and rotation of the handle may be detected or sensed electronically.
... |
| Means of tracking movement of bodies during medical treatment | 20110015521 | 20110120 |
| Methods and systems enable accurate control of robotic treatments of internal features of a body by tracking movements of the exterior of the body. Such tracking enables programmed and automated or semi-automated surgical operations to compensate for movement of the patient's body during surgery. A tracking system that includes a marker, which may be disposable, that is attached to the body and accurately tracked in a three-dimensional coordinate system by a tracking system. Compensation for body movements may be accomplished by adjusting the movement or position of a surgical instrument, a surgical robot, a radiation source collimator and/or the operating room table. The markers may include a radiofrequency identifier (RFID) chip or memory chip that can be interrogated by the tracking system.
... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015484 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015483 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
| Autonomous robotic platform | 20110010007 | 20110113 |
| The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus that may comprise a number of robotic platforms, a wireless communications system, and a computer system. The number of robotic platforms may be configured to move to a number of locations in an assembly area and interact with a number of robotic devices. The wireless communications system may be configured to provide communication with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices within the assembly area. The computer system may be configured to exchange information with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices using the wireless communications system.
... |
| Control system for reducing internally generated frictional and inertial resistance to manual positioning of a surgical manipulator | 20110009880 | 20110113 |
| A robotic control system is placed in clutch mode so that a slave manipulator holding a surgical instrument is temporarily disengaged from control by a master manipulator in order to allow manual positioning of the surgical instrument at a surgical site within a patient. Control systems implemented in a processor compensate for internally generated frictional and inertial resistance experienced during the positioning, thereby making movement more comfortable to the mover, and stabler from a control standpoint. Each control system drives a joint motor in the slave manipulator with a saturated torque command signal which has been generated to compensate for non-linear viscous forces, coulomb friction, cogging effects, and inertia forces subjected to the joint, using estimated joint angular velocities, accelerations and externally applied torques generated by... |
| Foup and robotic flange thereof | 20110005966 | 20110113 |
| A wafer container includes a container body, which comprises a plurality of sidewalls, a bottom, and a top to define a space for containing wafers, an opening being formed on one sidewall, and a door with an outer surface and an inner surface. The top of the container body is disposed with a robotic flange which comprises a foolproof structure and a hemi-circular snap-hook portion that are disposed at the center and its circumference of a lower surface of the robotic flange facing the top. The foolproof structure has a geometric hole for a protruding portion on the top of the container body to be plugged in. After the protruding portion is plugged into the geometric hole, the robotic flange is further rotated along the container... |
| Robotic vehicle | 20110005846 | 20110113 |
| A robotic vehicle includes a chassis supported on right and left driven tracks, right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis, and a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs. The battery unit holder includes a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position and a connector mount having locating features and communication features. The locating features receive corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit. The communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the... |
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| Automated robotic system for handling surgical instruments | 20110005342 | 20110113 |
| Systems and methods that process a plurality of surgical instruments for cleaning and/or packaging. A device identifies a robot-ready insert having a predetermined configuration for accepting at least one type of surgical instrument. The surgical instruments are identified and oriented according to type using an automated apparatus. Specialized tools are also provided for automatically opening and closing surgical instruments, flipping instruments and assisting in the processing and maintenance of surgical instruments. The automated apparatus then places each of the surgical instrument types in one or more predetermined areas of the insert, configured to accept a predetermined set of surgical instrument types.
... |
| Interface method between an operator and a multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device for moving the same | 20110004321 | 20110106 |
| The present invention refers to an interface method between an operator and a multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device for moving the same that is characterised in that it comprises the steps that consist of receiving (110) as an input a plurality of control signals whose number is less than a number of signals required by a plurality of actuators (12) used for moving a plurality of movable members (11, 13) of the multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device (10) and converting the plurality of input control signals into a number of output signals corresponding to the number of signals required by the actuators (12) by means of a plurality of principal components which characterize the movements of the device (10) within a moving space.
... |
| Method and system for operating a self-propelled vehicle according to scene images | 20110003640 | 20110106 |
| The present disclosure relates to a robotic system including one or more self-propelled motorized vehicles 120 (SPMV) whose motion is controlled in accordance with electronic image data acquired by one or more observing camera(s) 110 configured to image a scene including the SPMV 120. In some embodiments, the SPMV includes one or more on-board lights 124, and the SPMV is operated according to analyzing images acquired by the observing camera before and after an illumination transition of one or more of the point-lights. Some embodiments relate techniques to computer gaming and/or to stereoscopic image processing techniques.
... |
| Mitigating recoil in a ballistic robot | 20110000363 | 20110106 |
| Recoil mitigating devices and methods for use with projectile firing systems such as a disrupter mounted to a robotic arm. A pair of parallel spring provides dampening of axial recoil movement of the disrupter relative to the robotic arm. Forward ends of the springs are attachable to the barrel of the disrupter while rearward portions of the springs are attachable to the robotic arm by a robot mount block. The robot mount block at least partially encloses the barrel of the disrupter in connecting the parallel springs and permits axial movement of the disrupter along or through the mount during firing.
... |
| Robotic vacuum cleaner | 20100332067 | 20101230 |
| An Autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems.
... |
| Control of medical robotic system manipulator about kinematic singularities | 20100332033 | 20101230 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide relative to a remote center, and a controller configured to manage operation of the entry guide manipulator in response to operator manipulation of one or more input devices. As the entry guide manipulator approaches a yaw/roll singularity, the controller modifies its operation to allow continued movement of the entry guide manipulator without commanding excessive joint velocities while maintaining proper orientation of the entry guide.
... |
| Arm with a combined shape and force sensor | 20100332030 | 20101230 |
| A bend sensor is used to determine force applied to a robotic arm. The force may be an external force applied to the arm, an internal actuation force, or both. In some aspects, a stiffening element is used to restore the arm to a minimum kinematic energy state. In other aspects, the stiffening element is eliminated, and the arm is fully actuated.
... |
| Systems, devices, and methods for robot-assisted micro-surgical stenting | 20100331858 | 20101230 |
| Systems, devices, and methods for robot-assisted microsurgical stenting are described herein. In some embodiments a tele-robotic microsurgical system for eye surgery include: a tele-robotic master and a slave hybrid-robot; wherein the tele-robotic master has at least one master slave interface controlled by a medical professional; wherein the slave hybrid-robot has at least one robotic arm attached to a frame releasably attached to a patient's head; wherein the at least one robotic arm has a parallel robot and a serial robot; and wherein the serial robot includes a stenting unit which includes a support tube, a pre-bent tube mounted within the support tube and a guide wire extending from the support tube for carrying a stent and for piercing a blood vessel.
... |
| Multiple flexible and steerable elongate instruments for minimally invasive operations | 20100331856 | 20101230 |
| Configurations are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing elongate robotically controlled instruments and assemblies thereof. In one embodiment, a junction sheath may be utilized to facilitate surgical triangulation of two interventional instrument assemblies, while also directing them to the surgical theater through a minimal single wound or surgical port. One or more instrument drivers, and one or more master input devices comprising an operator workstation, may be utilized to independently and simultaneously control multiple degrees of freedom pertinent to each instrument comprising one or more instrument assembly.
... |
| Efficient vision and kinematic data fusion for robotic surgical instruments and other applications | 20100331855 | 20101230 |
| Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in telesurgical therapies through minimally invasive apertures make use of joint-based data throughout much of the robotic kinematic chain, but selectively rely on information from an image capture device to determine location and orientation along the linkage adjacent a pivotal center at which a shaft of the robotic surgical tool enters the patient. A bias offset may be applied to a pose (including both an orientation and a location) at the pivotal center to enhance accuracy. The bias offset may be applied as a simple rigid transformation from the image-based pivotal center pose to a joint-based pivotal center pose.
... |
| Robot crash protector | 20100327668 | 20101230 |
| A robotic crash protector device is configured for heavy payload applications. The device includes a housing, a piston and an actuator movably mounted within the housing, a cam member secured within the housing in fixed relation to the housing's base, and a switch. The cam member includes a cam surface with some portions being closer to the housing's base than other portions. The actuator includes bearing members that are configured to, responsive to a rotational force imparted to the actuator, move along the cam surface and thereby collectively displace the piston. The switch detects this displacement and indicates a crash. When moving along the cam surface, the bearing members are each configured to engage the surface along a line of contact, rather than at a single... |
| Testing system and method for video chip | 20100324866 | 20101223 |
| A testing system for a video chip to be tested stores a video file in advance. The testing system uses a sample video chip to play all frames of the video file and outputs first video data. A video chip to be tested is installed into the testing system to play a plurality of determined frames of the video file and outputs second video data. The first video data of corresponding frames and the second video data are compared to determine whether the video chip to be tested is acceptable or not, and a control signal is outputted according to the comparison to control a robotic arm to place the video chip to be tested at a determined place.
... |
| Wafer center finding with a kalman filter | 20100324732 | 20101223 |
| A device is provided having a robotic arm for handling a wafer, the robotic arm including one or more encoders that provide encoder data identifying a position of one or more components of the robotic arm. The device also having a processor adapted to apply an extended Kalman Filter to the encoder data to estimate a position of the wafer.
... |
| System for managing inventories of reagents | 20100324722 | 20101223 |
| A system for managing the inventory of reagents for a laboratory automation system. The system for managing the inventory of reagents comprises a controller, software for the controller, and a refrigerator capable of refrigerating reagents, detecting the presence or absence of reagents in the refrigerator, and detecting the location of reagents in the refrigerator. The system for managing the inventory of reagents is connected to a laboratory automation system. The laboratory automation system comprises at least one clinical analyzer. A typical system for managing inventories of reagents includes an operator interface for the loading of boxes of reagents and other supplies, radio frequency identification system for identification of inventory and tracking, robotic mechanisms for loading containers onto the track system and removing containers from the track... |
| Model-based neuromechanical controller for a robotic leg | 20100324699 | 20101223 |
| A model-based neuromechanical controller for a robotic limb having at least one joint includes a finite state machine configured to receive feedback data relating to the state of the robotic limb and to determine the state of the robotic limb, a muscle model processor configured to receive state information from the finite state machine and, using muscle geometry and reflex architecture information and a neuromuscular model, to determine at least one desired joint torque or stiffness command to be sent to the robotic limb, and a joint command processor configured to command the biomimetric torques and stiffnesses determined by the muscle model processor at the robotic limb joint. The feedback data is preferably provided by at least one sensor mounted at each joint of the robotic... |
| Apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels | 20100319811 | 20101223 |
| An apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. The invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. The resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The invention includes a scanning device to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device to shave the internal surface... |
| Method and apparatus for robotic ocean farming for food and energy | 20100319252 | 20101223 |
| A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion... |
| Data cartridge and tape library including flash memory | 20110015778 | 20110120 |
| A data storage system for use with a plurality of tape cartridges is provided. Each tape cartridge includes a length of tape media and an amount of flash memory. The data storage system includes a tape cartridge library having a plurality of storage cells. Each storage cell is configured to store a tape cartridge. The tape cartridge library further includes a plurality of tape drives. Each tape drive is configured to access a tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is received in the tape drive. The system further includes a robotic tape mover and a flash memory access mechanism. The robotic tape mover moves tape cartridges between the plurality of storage cells and the plurality of tape drives. The flash memory access mechanism is configured in... |
| Joints for prosthetic, orthotic and/or robotic devices | 20110015762 | 20110120 |
| An artificial foot device may include a talus body, a core operatively coupled with the talus body by a first joint, and a toe operatively coupled with the core by a second joint. The first joint may provide for constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core. The second joint may provide for constrained relative movement between the core and the toe. Constrained relative movement between the talus body and the core may substantially correspond to a coordinated movement of a first natural joint and a second natural joint during ambulation of a natural human foot.
... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015648 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
| Robotic catheter system input device | 20110015569 | 20110120 |
| An input device for a robotic medical system includes a handle configured to be rotatable about a center axis, and to be longitudinally displaceable along the center axis. The input device also includes a deflection control element disposed on the handle and configured to selectively control deflection of the distal end of a flexible medical instrument electrically coupled to the input device. Longitudinal displacement of the handle may cause or result in a corresponding longitudinal motion or deflection of the flexible medical instrument. Rotation of the handle may cause or result in a corresponding rotation of the deflection plane. Longitudinal displacement and rotation of the handle may be detected or sensed electronically.
... |
| Means of tracking movement of bodies during medical treatment | 20110015521 | 20110120 |
| Methods and systems enable accurate control of robotic treatments of internal features of a body by tracking movements of the exterior of the body. Such tracking enables programmed and automated or semi-automated surgical operations to compensate for movement of the patient's body during surgery. A tracking system that includes a marker, which may be disposable, that is attached to the body and accurately tracked in a three-dimensional coordinate system by a tracking system. Compensation for body movements may be accomplished by adjusting the movement or position of a surgical instrument, a surgical robot, a radiation source collimator and/or the operating room table. The markers may include a radiofrequency identifier (RFID) chip or memory chip that can be interrogated by the tracking system.
... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015484 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
| Endoscopic robotic catheter system | 20110015483 | 20110120 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a elongate instrument interface including a plurality of instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The elongate instrument preferably comprises and/or defines other lumens to accommodate instruments such as an optics bundle, a light bundle, a laser fiber, and flush irrigation. The working lumen preferably is configured to accommodate a grasping or capturing tool, such as a collapsible basket or grasper, for use in procedures such as kidney... |
| Autonomous robotic platform | 20110010007 | 20110113 |
| The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus that may comprise a number of robotic platforms, a wireless communications system, and a computer system. The number of robotic platforms may be configured to move to a number of locations in an assembly area and interact with a number of robotic devices. The wireless communications system may be configured to provide communication with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices within the assembly area. The computer system may be configured to exchange information with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices using the wireless communications system.
... |
| Control system for reducing internally generated frictional and inertial resistance to manual positioning of a surgical manipulator | 20110009880 | 20110113 |
| A robotic control system is placed in clutch mode so that a slave manipulator holding a surgical instrument is temporarily disengaged from control by a master manipulator in order to allow manual positioning of the surgical instrument at a surgical site within a patient. Control systems implemented in a processor compensate for internally generated frictional and inertial resistance experienced during the positioning, thereby making movement more comfortable to the mover, and stabler from a control standpoint. Each control system drives a joint motor in the slave manipulator with a saturated torque command signal which has been generated to compensate for non-linear viscous forces, coulomb friction, cogging effects, and inertia forces subjected to the joint, using estimated joint angular velocities, accelerations and externally applied torques generated by... |
| Foup and robotic flange thereof | 20110005966 | 20110113 |
| A wafer container includes a container body, which comprises a plurality of sidewalls, a bottom, and a top to define a space for containing wafers, an opening being formed on one sidewall, and a door with an outer surface and an inner surface. The top of the container body is disposed with a robotic flange which comprises a foolproof structure and a hemi-circular snap-hook portion that are disposed at the center and its circumference of a lower surface of the robotic flange facing the top. The foolproof structure has a geometric hole for a protruding portion on the top of the container body to be plugged in. After the protruding portion is plugged into the geometric hole, the robotic flange is further rotated along the container... |
| Robotic vehicle | 20110005846 | 20110113 |
| A robotic vehicle includes a chassis supported on right and left driven tracks, right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis, and a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs. The battery unit holder includes a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position and a connector mount having locating features and communication features. The locating features receive corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit. The communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the... |
| Automated robotic system for handling surgical instruments | 20110005342 | 20110113 |
| Systems and methods that process a plurality of surgical instruments for cleaning and/or packaging. A device identifies a robot-ready insert having a predetermined configuration for accepting at least one type of surgical instrument. The surgical instruments are identified and oriented according to type using an automated apparatus. Specialized tools are also provided for automatically opening and closing surgical instruments, flipping instruments and assisting in the processing and maintenance of surgical instruments. The automated apparatus then places each of the surgical instrument types in one or more predetermined areas of the insert, configured to accept a predetermined set of surgical instrument types.
... |
| Interface method between an operator and a multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device for moving the same | 20110004321 | 20110106 |
| The present invention refers to an interface method between an operator and a multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device for moving the same that is characterised in that it comprises the steps that consist of receiving (110) as an input a plurality of control signals whose number is less than a number of signals required by a plurality of actuators (12) used for moving a plurality of movable members (11, 13) of the multiarticular robotic and/or prosthetic device (10) and converting the plurality of input control signals into a number of output signals corresponding to the number of signals required by the actuators (12) by means of a plurality of principal components which characterize the movements of the device (10) within a moving space.
... |
| Method and system for operating a self-propelled vehicle according to scene images | 20110003640 | 20110106 |
| The present disclosure relates to a robotic system including one or more self-propelled motorized vehicles 120 (SPMV) whose motion is controlled in accordance with electronic image data acquired by one or more observing camera(s) 110 configured to image a scene including the SPMV 120. In some embodiments, the SPMV includes one or more on-board lights 124, and the SPMV is operated according to analyzing images acquired by the observing camera before and after an illumination transition of one or more of the point-lights. Some embodiments relate techniques to computer gaming and/or to stereoscopic image processing techniques.
... |
| Mitigating recoil in a ballistic robot | 20110000363 | 20110106 |
| Recoil mitigating devices and methods for use with projectile firing systems such as a disrupter mounted to a robotic arm. A pair of parallel spring provides dampening of axial recoil movement of the disrupter relative to the robotic arm. Forward ends of the springs are attachable to the barrel of the disrupter while rearward portions of the springs are attachable to the robotic arm by a robot mount block. The robot mount block at least partially encloses the barrel of the disrupter in connecting the parallel springs and permits axial movement of the disrupter along or through the mount during firing.
... |
| Robotic vacuum cleaner | 20100332067 | 20101230 |
| An Autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems.
... |
| Control of medical robotic system manipulator about kinematic singularities | 20100332033 | 20101230 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide relative to a remote center, and a controller configured to manage operation of the entry guide manipulator in response to operator manipulation of one or more input devices. As the entry guide manipulator approaches a yaw/roll singularity, the controller modifies its operation to allow continued movement of the entry guide manipulator without commanding excessive joint velocities while maintaining proper orientation of the entry guide.
... |
| Arm with a combined shape and force sensor | 20100332030 | 20101230 |
| A bend sensor is used to determine force applied to a robotic arm. The force may be an external force applied to the arm, an internal actuation force, or both. In some aspects, a stiffening element is used to restore the arm to a minimum kinematic energy state. In other aspects, the stiffening element is eliminated, and the arm is fully actuated.
... |
| Systems, devices, and methods for robot-assisted micro-surgical stenting | 20100331858 | 20101230 |
| Systems, devices, and methods for robot-assisted microsurgical stenting are described herein. In some embodiments a tele-robotic microsurgical system for eye surgery include: a tele-robotic master and a slave hybrid-robot; wherein the tele-robotic master has at least one master slave interface controlled by a medical professional; wherein the slave hybrid-robot has at least one robotic arm attached to a frame releasably attached to a patient's head; wherein the at least one robotic arm has a parallel robot and a serial robot; and wherein the serial robot includes a stenting unit which includes a support tube, a pre-bent tube mounted within the support tube and a guide wire extending from the support tube for carrying a stent and for piercing a blood vessel.
... |
| Multiple flexible and steerable elongate instruments for minimally invasive operations | 20100331856 | 20101230 |
| Configurations are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing elongate robotically controlled instruments and assemblies thereof. In one embodiment, a junction sheath may be utilized to facilitate surgical triangulation of two interventional instrument assemblies, while also directing them to the surgical theater through a minimal single wound or surgical port. One or more instrument drivers, and one or more master input devices comprising an operator workstation, may be utilized to independently and simultaneously control multiple degrees of freedom pertinent to each instrument comprising one or more instrument assembly.
... |
| Efficient vision and kinematic data fusion for robotic surgical instruments and other applications | 20100331855 | 20101230 |
| Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in telesurgical therapies through minimally invasive apertures make use of joint-based data throughout much of the robotic kinematic chain, but selectively rely on information from an image capture device to determine location and orientation along the linkage adjacent a pivotal center at which a shaft of the robotic surgical tool enters the patient. A bias offset may be applied to a pose (including both an orientation and a location) at the pivotal center to enhance accuracy. The bias offset may be applied as a simple rigid transformation from the image-based pivotal center pose to a joint-based pivotal center pose.
... |
| Robot crash protector | 20100327668 | 20101230 |
| A robotic crash protector device is configured for heavy payload applications. The device includes a housing, a piston and an actuator movably mounted within the housing, a cam member secured within the housing in fixed relation to the housing's base, and a switch. The cam member includes a cam surface with some portions being closer to the housing's base than other portions. The actuator includes bearing members that are configured to, responsive to a rotational force imparted to the actuator, move along the cam surface and thereby collectively displace the piston. The switch detects this displacement and indicates a crash. When moving along the cam surface, the bearing members are each configured to engage the surface along a line of contact, rather than at a single... |
| Testing system and method for video chip | 20100324866 | 20101223 |
| A testing system for a video chip to be tested stores a video file in advance. The testing system uses a sample video chip to play all frames of the video file and outputs first video data. A video chip to be tested is installed into the testing system to play a plurality of determined frames of the video file and outputs second video data. The first video data of corresponding frames and the second video data are compared to determine whether the video chip to be tested is acceptable or not, and a control signal is outputted according to the comparison to control a robotic arm to place the video chip to be tested at a determined place.
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| Wafer center finding with a kalman filter | 20100324732 | 20101223 |
| A device is provided having a robotic arm for handling a wafer, the robotic arm including one or more encoders that provide encoder data identifying a position of one or more components of the robotic arm. The device also having a processor adapted to apply an extended Kalman Filter to the encoder data to estimate a position of the wafer.
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| System for managing inventories of reagents | 20100324722 | 20101223 |
| A system for managing the inventory of reagents for a laboratory automation system. The system for managing the inventory of reagents comprises a controller, software for the controller, and a refrigerator capable of refrigerating reagents, detecting the presence or absence of reagents in the refrigerator, and detecting the location of reagents in the refrigerator. The system for managing the inventory of reagents is connected to a laboratory automation system. The laboratory automation system comprises at least one clinical analyzer. A typical system for managing inventories of reagents includes an operator interface for the loading of boxes of reagents and other supplies, radio frequency identification system for identification of inventory and tracking, robotic mechanisms for loading containers onto the track system and removing containers from the track... |
| Model-based neuromechanical controller for a robotic leg | 20100324699 | 20101223 |
| A model-based neuromechanical controller for a robotic limb having at least one joint includes a finite state machine configured to receive feedback data relating to the state of the robotic limb and to determine the state of the robotic limb, a muscle model processor configured to receive state information from the finite state machine and, using muscle geometry and reflex architecture information and a neuromuscular model, to determine at least one desired joint torque or stiffness command to be sent to the robotic limb, and a joint command processor configured to command the biomimetric torques and stiffnesses determined by the muscle model processor at the robotic limb joint. The feedback data is preferably provided by at least one sensor mounted at each joint of the robotic... |
| Apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels | 20100319811 | 20101223 |
| An apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. The invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. The resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The invention includes a scanning device to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device to shave the internal surface... |
| Method and apparatus for robotic ocean farming for food and energy | 20100319252 | 20101223 |
| A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion... |
| Remote fishing system | 20100319235 | 20101223 |
| A platform (e.g. a floating vessel) on or adjacent to the surface of a body of water is equipped with one or more fishing devices (e.g. a fishing rod and reel) that feeds out and reels in fishing line, at least one video camera, a satellite transmission and receiving unit, a cellular telephone signal transmission and receiving unit and robotic controls for operating the fishing device. A user (i.e. an angler) at a remote personal computer communicates with the platform on the Internet via satellite and/or cellular wireless telephone signals and is able to operate the fishing device with the use of a keyboard, computer mouse and/or a fishing remote controller (i.e. a mock fishing rod and reel). The video camera allows the remotely located angler... |
| Method and system for deploying a surveillance network | 20100318242 | 20101216 |
| A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment.
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| Apparatus | 20090326833 | 20091231 |
| An apparatus includes a deformable structure in which a neural network comprising a plurality of deformation sensors, e.g. nanowire sensors, and distributed in-situ processing circuits. The circuits generate a signal characterising features of the local deformation of the structure and/or a command signal corresponding to the detected deformation. The structure may be a wearable sleeve that conforms to deformations of a user's skin, part of an electronic device, such as a touch sensitive screen, or an object in itself. The apparatus can provide a user interface, wherein a command corresponding to a current shape of the structure is generated and acted upon by a integrated or remote device, or a device for monitoring a user's position or movement e.g. for replication by a robotic device. The... |
| Calibration for vehicle body assembly | 20090326712 | 20091231 |
| A system (10) and method for performing robotic vehicle body assembly with cyclical temperature calibration using laser position sensing.
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| Robotic arms | 20090326714 | 20091231 |
| A robotic arm of the “top following” type, which can advance into an environment is covered is covered by a sensorised skin. The arm can thus detect a parameter of the environment, and the shape can be adjusted accordingly.
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| System and method for data collection and analysis using robotic devices | 20090326709 | 20091231 |
| A system, method and computer program product for data collection and analysis using robotic devices. The system comprises creating a map of a facility, loading at least one position and at least one task onto a robotic device, autonomously navigating the robotic device to the at least one position to collect data, sending the data to a database for storage, processing and analyzing the data by a server, and presenting analysis of the data to a user.
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| Medical robotic system providing computer generated auxiliary views of a camera instrument for controlling the positioning and orienting of its tip | 20090326556 | 20091231 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. To supplement the view provided by an image captured by the camera, an auxiliary view including articulatable arms of the surgical tools and/or camera is generated from sensed or otherwise determined information about their positions and orientations and displayed on a display screen from the perspective of a specified viewing point. Intuitive control is provided to an operator with respect to the auxiliary view while the operator controls the positioning and orienting of the camera.
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| Medical robotic system providing an auxiliary view of articulatable instruments extending out of a distal end of an entry guide | 20090326553 | 20091231 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. To supplement the view provided by an image captured by the camera, an auxiliary view including articulatable arms of the surgical tools and/or camera is generated from sensed or otherwise determined information about their positions and orientations and displayed on a display screen from the perspective of a specified viewing point.
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| Medical robotic system having entry guide controller with instrument tip velocity limiting | 20090326552 | 20091231 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.
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| Robotic system for assisting in minimally-invasive surgery, which can position a surgical instrument in response to orders from a surgeon, is not attached to the operating table and does not require pre-calibration of the insertion point | 20090326324 | 20091231 |
| Robotic system for assisting in minimally-invasive surgery, which can position a surgical instrument in response to orders from a surgeon, is not attached to the operating table and does not require pre-calibration of the insertion point. The system includes: a manipulator robot having three active degrees of freedom, which is provided with an end actuator having two passive degrees of freedom, said actuator being used to attach a surgical instrument; a robot controller built into the structure thereof, which can perform a method for calculating the movement to be imparted to the carried surgical instrument so that it reaches the desired location without requiring pre-calibration and without the assembly having to be attached to the operating table; and an interface system for ordering the system to... |
| Medical robotic system with image referenced camera control using partitionable orientational and translational modes | 20090326322 | 20091231 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments such as surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. The camera instrument is manipulatable by a camera manipulator, which has a first mechanism for pivoting a focal point of the camera instrument about a pivot of the camera instrument and a second mechanism for positioning the pivot within a three-dimensional space in response to translational commands received from one or a coupled pair of input devices. The system also includes a controller which is configured to receive sensed movement of the input devices, and cause actuation of the first mechanism in response to the sensed movement if the system is in an orientational mode and cause actuation of the second mechanism... |
| Medical robotic system providing an auxilary view including range of motion limitations for articulatable instruments extending out of a distal end of an entry guide | 20090326318 | 20091231 |
| A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. To supplement the view provided by an image captured by the camera, an auxiliary view including articulatable arms of the surgical tools and/or camera is generated from sensed or otherwise determined information about their positions and orientations are displayed along with indications of range of motion limitations on a display screen from the perspective of a specified viewing point.
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| System and method for providing large scale, automated, fiber-optic, cross-connection | 20090324179 | 20091231 |
| A system and method for automatically inserting optical-fiber (fiber-optics) cable jumpers into a patch panel to connect optical signal source equipment to optical signal destination equipment, and for automatically removing those jumpers from that patch panel to disconnect that equipment. This is accomplished robotically under computer control. Large scale fiber-optical splicings can be made, on the order of ten thousand (10,000) separate optical splices or more. Previous embodiments required hand insertion of these jumpers. Embodiments of the present invention permit any un-occupied port to be connected to any other un-occupied port, regardless of their input or output port status, where previous embodiments required only unoccupied input ports to be connected to unoccupied output ports.
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| Rotating coupling for robotic tool changer with actuation mechanism | 20090322041 | 20091231 |
| In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam surface ring having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact a coupling surface in the other tool coupling unit. Mechanical energy captured and stored upon decoupling the units is used by an actuation mechanism, upon manual initiation, to at least partially automatically couple the two units by partially rotating the rotating cam surface ring. Further manual rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the coupling surface. A component of that force is directed by the coupling surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together.
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| Low-inertia multi-axis multi-directional mechanically scanned ion implantation system | 20090321631 | 20091231 |
| An ion implantation system configured to produce an ion beam is provided, wherein an end station has a robotic architecture having at least four degrees of freedom. An end effector operatively coupled to the robotic architecture selectively grips and translates a workpiece through the ion beam. The robotic architecture has a plurality of motors operatively coupled to the end station, each having a rotational shaft. At least a portion of each rotational shaft generally resides within the end station, and each of the plurality of motors has a linkage assembly respectively associated therewith, wherein each linkage assembly respectively has a crank arm and a strut. The crank arm of each linkage assembly is fixedly coupled to the respective rotational shaft, and the strut of each linkage... |
| Methods and systems for recycling and re-use of manufactured items | 20090321511 | 20091231 |
| The described embodiments involve the use of an information medium, such as a Barcode, Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) tag or other machine readable medium, such as may be readable by Optical Character Recognition (OCR), to identify a manufactured item. Alternatively, a Machine Vision Identification System (MVIS) may be used to facilitate the identification of the item. Once an item is identified, the materials and subassemblies it is made of may also be identified and used to facilitate its repair, replacement, refurbishment, remarketing and recycling by either a human or robotic device or combination thereof.
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| Robotic welder having fume extraction | 20090321403 | 20091231 |
| A method for extracting fumes from a robotic welder is disclosed. The method includes controlling a robotic welder to produce a weld and extracting fumes produced by the robotic welder via a vacuum source. The method also includes selectively varying the vacuum source as a function of the position of the robotic welder.
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| Linear actuated robotic packaging device and method | 20090320417 | 20091231 |
| An end of arm tool that is capable of handling fragile items such as eggs that are packaged in containers (e.g., egg cartons) that require special handling is provided. The end of arm tool comprises pivotal clamps operated by sliding-contact linear actuators and return springs. A retractable gripper for placing divider sheets between packages in the cases may be disposed above the clamps and oriented 90 degrees from the clamps, so that the clamps and gripper may be attached to the same tool without either obstructing the operation of the other. In addition, a method of loading packages, and optionally divider sheets, into cases using the end of arm tool apparatus of the present invention is provided.
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| Physically-animated visual display | 20090319459 | 20091224 |
| A physically animated visual display is a robotic device, capable of multiple degree-of-freedom motion, that is adapted to improve a user's emotional state, cognitive performance, and comfort level through reactive and goal-directed manipulation of the position of the display. The affective-cognitive system comprises a feature extraction subsystem for deriving physical information about a user from data obtained from sensors, a perception subsystem for processing the data in order to determine the user's current emotional state, affective-cognitive state, or posture, an action selection subsystem for determining an action to be taken in response, and a motor system for physically animating the robotic device in accordance with the determined action. The system may include feedback modeling based on a reaction of the user to the movement of the... |
| Percutaneous medical devices and methods | 20090318935 | 20091224 |
| Apparatus and methods are described providing improved surgical and similarly invasive procedures. The components may be used individually or collectively as a system. They consist of new apparatus for insertion of transducers and transducer arrays into the body cavity, apparatus and procedures for controlling pressure differential between the body cavity and the atmosphere, imaging techniques to combine the now available real-time images with pre-procedure imaging, and robotic placement techniques that when combined with all of the above provide improved surgical and medical procedures.
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| Door breaching robotic manipulator | 20090317223 | 20091224 |
| A door breaching robotic manipulator comprises: two fingers, each finger comprising a gripper surface at a distal end thereof, the gripper surfaces being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance; a cable configured to be actuated to drive the gripper surfaces toward each other; and a selectively compliant wrist comprising a U-joint and a magnetic coupling having a predetermined magnetic force strength. The magnetic coupling comprises a metal member and a magnetic element attracted thereto. When a force overcomes the predetermined magnetic force strength of the selectively compliant wrist, the wrist becomes compliant.
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| Robotic vehicle | 20090314554 | 20091224 |
| A mobile robot includes a chassis defining at least one chassis volume and first and second sets of right and left driven flippers associated with the chassis. Each flipper has a drive wheel and defines a flipper volume adjacent to the drive wheel. The first set of flippers is disposed between the second set of flippers and the chassis. Motive power elements are distributed among the chassis volume and the flipper volumes. The motive power elements include a battery assembly, a main drive motor assembly, and a load shifting motor assembly.
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| Robotic gripper | 20090314112 | 20091224 |
| A robotic gripping apparatus includes one or more constraining plates each having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and a plurality of elongate members. The elongate members are independently movable relative to one another. Each elongate member extends through a respective hole or set of aligning holes in the constraining plate(s). A distal end portion of one or more of the elongate members is capable of exerting a force for drawing an object against the distal end portion to thereby hold or grip the object.
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| Modular portable motion control system | 20090309986 | 20091217 |
| A modular portable motion control camera system includes one or more motion control blocks that are connected together directly to each other, connected together with connecting hardware, or connected to other equipment to be moved by the motion control block to create robotic camera control systems. Each motion control block has its own mechanics, servo motor, control circuitry, and interface connections. The motion control blocks are networked together and controlled with a computer running custom motion control software to allow complex individual or synchronous control. Each motion control block includes a body with a rotating motorized plate. Inside the body each motion control block has its own motor control circuitry, servo motor, and gears to bring motion from the motor to the rotating motorized plate. Electrical... |
| Methodolgy and apparatus for programmable robotic rotary mill cutting of multiple nested tubulars | 20090308605 | 20091217 |
| A methodology and apparatus for cutting shape(s) or profile(s) through well tubular(s), or for completely circumferentially severing a well through multiple tubulars, including all tubing, pipe, casing, liners, cement, other material encountered in tubular annuli. This rigless apparatus utilizes a computer-controlled, downhole robotic three-axis rotary mill to effectively generate a shape(s) or profile(s) through, or to completely sever in a 360 degree horizontal plane wells with multiple, nested strings of tubulars. This is useful for well abandonment and decommissioning where complete severance is necessitated and explosives are prohibited, or in situations requiring a precise window or other shape to be cut through a single tubular or plurality of tubulars.
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| Detecting principal directions of unknown environments | 20090306881 | 20091210 |
| Apparatus and methods according to some embodiments of the present invention use a graphical model, such as a Markov random field model, to represent principal driving directions within an environment. The model has a plurality of nodes representing spatial locations within the environment, and the principal direction for each node is determined probabilistically using linear features detected within an image of the environment. Apparatus and methods according to embodiments of the present invention can be used in improved autonomous navigation systems, such as robotic vehicles.
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| Front-loadable refuse container having side-loading robotic arm with motors and other mass mounted at rear of container and use of same with front-loading waste-hauling vehicle having hydraulic front forks or other retractably engageable lift means | 20090306863 | 20091210 |
| A front-loading, refuse collecting vehicle is modularly provided with a combination of a low-profile, front-loadable waste bin (intermediate container) and one or more, side-loading robotic arms. To reduce mechanical stresses along couplings between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and the robotic arm(s), a major portion of the mass of the robotic arm mechanism is situated to the rear of the intermediate container so that a mass and beam combination is defined where the mass-supporting beam has reduced length. More specifically, hydraulic and/or other relatively massive motor means of the robotic arm mechanism are mounted to the rear of a refuse-containing wall of the intermediate container. Elastomeric and/or other dampening means may be interposed between the vehicle and the bulk mass of the... |
| Manipulation system and method | 20090306825 | 20091210 |
| A method, computer program product, and system for robotic manipulation is provided. The method may include receiving, at a computing device, an input indicating an existence of an object having at least one characteristic and identifying the at least one characteristic via the computing device. The method may further include determining a robotic manipulating algorithm for the object based upon, at least in part, the at least one characteristic, the robotic manipulating algorithm defining instructions for enabling a robot to manipulate the object. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
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| Multi-function robotic device | 20090306822 | 20091210 |
| A multi-function robotic device may have utility in various applications. In accordance with one aspect, a multi-function robotic device may be selectively configurable to perform a desired function in accordance with the capabilities of a selectively removable functional cartridge operably coupled with a robot body. Localization and mapping techniques may employ partial maps associated with portions of an operating environment, data compression, or both.
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| Method and system for robot generation | 20090306823 | 20091210 |
| A method is provided for the automatic generation of a robotic devices, where the method comprises the steps of receiving user input to determine a task specification for one or more tasks for the robotic device, determining a task list comprising one or more tasks based on the provided task specification, determining based on the task list provided, one or more mechanical components, one or more processing components, and logic components required to execute one or more tasks; and generating the logic components required to execute one or more tasks, and embedding the logic components onto a recordable medium associated with the robotic device.
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| System for robotic surgery training | 20090305210 | 20091210 |
| A system according to the invention may include a frame, a computer, a display, and two input devices. The frame may be adjustable, may be made from a lightweight material, and may fold for easier portability. The display and the computer may be in communication with each other and each may be attached to the frame. The display may be a binocular display, or may be a touchscreen display. Additional displays may be used. Two input devices may be used to simulate the master console of a surgical robot. The input devices may be articulated armature devices suitable for providing 3D input. The input devices may be attached to the frame in an “upside-down” configuration wherein a base of each input device is affixed to the... |
| Moving mirror projection and animation system | 20090303447 | 20091210 |
| A projection assembly and projection method for accurately reproducing animated and live characters, objects, and effects. The projection assembly uses a high precision robotic mirror system to achieve very high levels of image resolution, brightness, and contrast. The assembly includes a projector receiving an input image stream, and a mirror assembly is positioned proximate to the projector outlet. The mirror assembly uses positionable mirrors to reflect the projected images onto a display surface at positions that define an animation pattern on the display surface for the projected image or character. The assembly includes a motor controller assembly positioning the mirrors based on position data defining the animation pattern. The projected images may be provided in a projection area that is a fraction of the size of... |
| Robotic manipulator with remote center of motion and compact drive | 20080314181 | 20081225 |
| A robotic manipulator device includes a robotic linkage to rotate an insertion axis about a remote center of motion with two degrees of freedom. A driven link supports the insertion axis. Rigid links in a parallelogram arrangement constrain the driven link to move in parallel to a drive link and the insertion axis to rotate about the remote center of motion. A drive unit has an output shaft coupled to the drive link. Rotation of an input shaft causes the output shaft to rotate. The input and output shafts are at a substantial angle. A housing supports the output shaft. A first motor causes the input shaft to rotate the output shaft. A second motor causes the housing to rotate, rotating the output shaft about an... |
| Method and apparatus for weighing a stent | 20080312869 | 20081218 |
| An apparatus for weighing a stent includes a buffer for storing a stent support with a stent mounted thereon, a stent mounting and dismounting assembly that mounts and dismounts the stent from the stent support, a robotic arm for moving the stent support with the stent between the buffer and the stent mounting and dismounting assembly, and a scale assembly for weighing the stent. The stent mounting and dismounting assembly moves the stent into the scale assembly after the stent has been dismount from the stent support.
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| Robotic fighting system | 20080312937 | 20081218 |
| The patent is a new frame for the wars using robots instead of humans.
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| Wheelhouse hemming apparatus and method | 20080302159 | 20081211 |
| A robotic wheelhouse hemming apparatus includes a base. A multi-axis robot is mounted on the base. The robot includes an arm. A roller hemming head is mounted on an end of the arm for roller hemming. A slide mechanism is mounted for multi-directional movement on the base. A support is mounted on the slide mechanism. An anvil is supported on the support. A registration member is integral with the support and is engagable by the roller hemming head. The robot arm is operable to manipulate the roller hemming head into engagement with the registration member, and subsequent movement of the robot arm moves the support on the slide mechanism, thereby adjusting the position of the anvil relative to a workpiece to be hemmed.
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| Robotic exoskeleton for limb movement | 20080304935 | 20081211 |
| This invention relates to a robotic exoskeleton comprising mechanical linkages that couple to one or more selected joints of a limb of a subject. The robotic exoskeleton may be provided with means for obtaining data respecting angular position, torque, and/or acceleration of at least one of the joints or the links of the mechanical linkages, and may be used for assessing, studying, diagnosing a deficit, and/or treating an impairment in sensorimotor function of a limb of a subject.
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| Multi-angle, articulated-jig-supported, beam-end component welding | 20080296353 | 20081204 |
| Adjustable, elongate, beam-offset jig structure for assisting in welding a pair of beam-end, column-interface components to the opposite ends of an elongate beam. The jig structure includes spaced, adjustable head-stock and tail-stock structures, each capable of holding such a component adjacent a beam end for adjustment to an infinite number of different, pre-weld angular-offset dispositions relative to such a beam end in order to accommodate planned horizontal and vertical beam offsets which will be encountered when such beams are installed in a building frame. A computer-controlled, robotic welder is preferably provided adjacent each end of the jig structure to implement appropriate welding when any and all offset angles have been jig-established.
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| 3-d robotic vision and vision control system | 20080297590 | 20081204 |
| A robotic vision and vision control system includes a stereoscopic camera mounted on a robot and a remote three-dimensional display system that provides the operator of the robot with a good sense of depth or distance for more precisely maneuvering the robot. The stereoscopic display system can further include an eye-tracking system that monitors the operator's eyes to determine the direction in which the operator's eyes are looking and points the camera in that direction.
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| Amphibious robotic device | 20080300722 | 20081204 |
| A robotic device for navigating in at least a liquid medium, includes a legged propulsion system having a series of legs external of a body of the robotic device, each of the legs being independently driven and mounted to the body for pivotal movement about a respective transverse axis. The legs oscillating relative to the body about the respective transverse axis such that interaction between the legs and the liquid medium produces propulsive forces that displace the robotic device within the liquid medium. A control system is operatively connected to the legged propulsion system for autonomous control and operation of the robotic device based on information received from at least one sensor providing data about an environment of the device.
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| End effector with collision detection sensor | 20080289705 | 20081127 |
| In a robotic assembly, a body adapted for mounting on an arm is provided. A connection is adapted to couple the body and an end effector to allow deflection of the end effector with respect to the body between an open position and a closed position. A conduit allows fluid flow between the body and the end effector. A seal is adapted to engage the conduit to provide a fluid seal when the end effector is in the closed position and allow fluid flow when the end effector is in the open position. Further, end effector deflection can be detected based on the fluid flow and utilized to regulate movement of the robotic assembly.
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| Energy efficient robotic system | 20080290743 | 20081127 |
| An energy efficient biped robotic system with passive-dynamic locomotion includes a body having a frame. An energy recapture mechanism is suspended within the frame. The energy recapture mechanism includes a load, a mechanical energy storage mechanism that interconnects the load and the frame, and a guide means secured to the load and the frame. A mechanical energy input mechanism interconnects the load with an electric energy generating mechanism. An output means transfers the generated electric energy to an energy storage device. The robot also includes a leg connected to the body portion. The cyclical movement of the leg during passive-dynamic locomotion is transferred to the load through the mechanical energy storage mechanism, and the resulting oscillatory movement of the load is transferred by the mechanical energy... |
| Apparatus for assembling lens module | 20080291558 | 20081127 |
| An apparatus for assembling lens module (10) includes a firs tray (122), a second tray (142), and a robotic arm (16) with an optical element pick-up device (18). The first tray is configured for supporting a plurality of barrels thereon. The second tray is configured for supporting a plurality of optical elements thereon. The robotic arm with an optical element pick-up device is configured for picking up the optical elements from the second tray and assembling the optical elements into the barrels. The optical element pick-up device includes a plurality of suction mouths configured for picking up the plurality of optical elements at the same time.
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| Batch equipment robots and methods of array to array work-piece transfer for photovoltaic factory | 20080292433 | 20081127 |
| The present invention generally comprises equipment for an automated high volume batch work-piece manufacturing factory comprising work-piece handling and work-piece processing in a high productivity factory architecture capable of producing 1,000 or more work-piece an hour. The work-pieces may be presented to the equipment from a stacked supply to a parallel array. Additionally, the work-pieces may be transferred between manufacturing architectures by an array to array batch transfer. The work-pieces may be transferred within the manufacturing architecture in a parallel to parallel batch transfer operation. The robotic operations may be between robotic devices, between robotic devices and processing equipment, and within processing equipment.
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| Robotic training system with multi-orientation module | 20080294074 | 20081127 |
| The present invention relates a system and method to allow users to train different joints of a limb in different planes. The rotation of the system can be driven by a motor to assist or resist the motion for training purpose. By the present invention, the user can use the device to switch training between the vertical and horizontal planes, without changing the device and any module. The system is also adjustable to meet different users' body sizes.
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| Multiple robotic injections of anesthesia based on scanned image | 20080294106 | 20081127 |
| A system for relieving pain caused by a tumor within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an anesthetic within the body to relieve the pain caused by the tumor, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at a plurality of specified, spaced-apart injection locations within the body. A method of relieving pain caused by a tumor within a body may include: generating an image of the tumor within the body; identifying, based on the image, a plurality of locations within the body at which an injection of an anesthetic that relieves the pain caused by the tumor should be made; and making injections of the anesthetic at the locations, under the control of a robotic system that... |
| Multiple robotic injections of prenatal medications based on scanned image | 20080294107 | 20081127 |
| A system for delivering a prenatal medication to an unborn fetus within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject the prenatal medication into or in the vicinity of the fetus, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at one or more injection locations within the body. A method of delivering a prenatal medication to an unborn fetus within a body may include generating an image of the fetus within the body; identifying, based on the image, one or more locations within the body at which an injection of the prenatal medication should be made; and making injections into the fetus of the prenatal medication at the locations, under the control of a robotic system that is programmed to... |
| Microscopic tumor injection treatment | 20080294115 | 20081127 |
| A tumor treatment system for treating a tumor within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an injection within the body that treats the tumor, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at a plurality of specified, spaced-apart treatment locations within the body. A tumor treatment process for treating a tumor within a body may include generating an image of the tumor within the body, identifying a plurality of locations within the body at which an injection that treats the tumor should be made based on the image, and making the injections at the locations under the control of a robotic system that is programmed to make the injections at the identified locations without human intervention.
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| Multiple robotic injections of immunosuppressive drugs based on scanned image | 20080294141 | 20081127 |
| A system for delivering an immunosuppressive drug to a transplanted organ within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an immunosuppressive drug into the transplanted organ, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at one or more injection locations within the body. A method of delivering an immunosuppressive drug to a transplanted organ within a body may include injecting the immunosuppressive drug into one or more locations within the transplanted organ so as to suppress white cell infiltration into the transplanted organ without affecting white cell activity at locations outside of the transplanted organ.
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| Verification system for robot pose | 20080294285 | 20081127 |
| An apparatus and method for assuring effective backup for sensor failure in robots, by utilizing a single extra sensor attached between the end actuator and the base. The single extra sensor provides absolute back-up for any single encoder failure that may occur in the system, and statistically significant back-up for any double encoder failure. A single additional sensor effectively provides the robotic system with one redundant information input to the robot control algorithm, which can be used in order to determine whether any of the other control sensors, or even the additional sensor itself, has failed and is delivering an erroneous reading, and hence to warn the operator of the failure. A single additional sensor also provides useful warning of the simultaneous failure of two sensors,... |
| Predictive robot, control method for predictive robot, and predictive robotic system | 20080294286 | 20081127 |
| A predictive robot includes a prediction-related item storage to store terms related to prediction performance, a first communicator which transmits stored prediction-related terms and receives a search result of information search with regard to the prediction-related terms, a search controller to control information search of the prediction-related terms stored in the prediction-related item storage via the first communicator, a media converter to convert the search result into a notification medium, and a notification section to provide the search result by the notification medium. Preferably, predictive information is provided spontaneously.
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| Apparatus and process for in-molding labels onto plastic | 20080284061 | 20081120 |
| An apparatus and process for fusing labels onto plastic parts having multiple contoirs and/or holes during the molding process is presented. According to the invention, a label having art work or wording on its interior surface and made of the same material as the plastic piece to which it is to be applied, is positioned onto a mold. Placement is accomplished through the use of a robotic arm having an insulated plate at its operational end to eliminate electrical charge transfer to the tool. The interior side of the label is insulated. An electrical charge is then applied to the front surface of the label enabling it to be positioned and held in place on an irregularly shaped mold. In the preferred embodiment, polypropylene is used... |
| Optical fiber shape sensing systems | 20080285909 | 20081120 |
| A medical instrument system includes an elongate flexible instrument body with an optical fiber substantially encapsulated in a wall of the instrument body, the optical fiber including one or more fiber gratings. A detector is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and configured to detect respective light signals reflected by the one or more fiber gratings. A controller is operatively coupled to the detector, and configured to determine a twist of at least a portion of the instrument body based on detected reflected light signals. The instrument may be a guide catheter and may be robotically or manually controlled.
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| Hospital operating room re-design | 20080287924 | 20081120 |
| An improved operating room design is disclosed. Interfering connection devices, such as wires, cables, and hoses, are eliminated from the working area by use of disappearing floor pods mounted between a sub-floor and a finished floor. The floor pods recess flush with said finished floor, thereby allowing floor cleaning by a robotic device that incorporates disposable, sterile cleaning cartridges. Movable carts, such as an anesthesiology cart, are adapted for docking with said pods on the upper surface of said pods with connectors presented underneath said carts. Said pods provide numerous utility connections such as gas, vacuum, and electric. Gas and vacuum lines are preferably supplied from a universal adaptor. A surgical table is mounted on the sub-flooring of the operating room. AU utilities are fed to... |
| Method and apparatus for squeezing parts such as fasteners | 20080276444 | 20081113 |
| An end effector squeezes parts such as rivets to upset the rivets in place within a workpiece. The end effector includes a C-shape frame slidably mounted on a support, such as a robotic arm. The frame includes opposing jaws respectively carrying tools for engaging opposite ends of the rivet, and forming a button on one end of the rivet. A single actuator moves one of the tools into engagement with a factory head on the rivet, and then displaces the frame relative to the first tool in order to bring the second tool into engagement with and deform the other end of the rivet.
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| Surgical robotic system | 20080276746 | 20081113 |
| A surgical robotic system comprising a robotic arm, an end effector movably connected thereto and provided with a movable end effector element driven by an actuator, and a force sensor arranged between the robotic arm and the end effector. The actuator is formed by a hydraulic cylinder. The robotic arm is provided with a hydraulic line connected to said hydraulic cylinder of the end effector.
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| Mobile, robotic crate | 20080277391 | 20081113 |
| Disclosed are a mobile robotic, packaging create and a method of moving a cargo item using that packaging crate. The mobile packaging crate comprises a crate body for holding a given item, a self-propelled driving assembly secured to the crate body for moving the crate body, and an operating module connected to the driving assembly for operating the driving assembly to move the crate body. This operating module may include a processor unit to control operation of the driving assembly in a pre-defined manner. For instance, the processor unit may be programmed to operate the driving assembly to move the packaging crate along a predefined path from a first location to a second location.
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| Robotic end effector and clamping method | 20080277953 | 20081113 |
| An end effector for use on a robotic arm includes a clamping assembly for clamping a workpiece, and a tool such as a drill for performing an operation on the clamped workpiece. The clamping assembly is slidably mounted on the robotic arm and self adjusts its position relative to the workpiece before a clamping operation is performed. Linear actuators independently control the movements of the clamping members. The actuators are operated by a controller, based in part on position information produced by sensors that sense the position of the clamping members.
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| Robotic manipulator using rotary drives | 20080278105 | 20081113 |
| A two degree-of-freedom positioning and manipulating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first driven member rotatable about a first driven axis, a first driver member coupled to a first driven member for rotating the first driven member about the first driven axis, and a link member fixedly connected to the first driven member. The apparatus further includes a second driven member rotatably mounted to the link member for rotating about a second driven axis, with the second driven axis generally parallel to the first driven axis, and a second driver member coupled at a drive point to the second driven member for rotating the second driven member about the second driven axis. The drive point is generally coincident with the first driven axis.
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| Batch equipment robots and methods within equipment work-piece transfer for photovoltaic factory | 20080279658 | 20081113 |
| The present invention generally comprises equipment for an automated high volume batch work-piece manufacturing factory comprising work-piece handling and work-piece processing in a high productivity factory architecture capable of producing 1,000 or more work-piece an hour. The work-pieces may be presented to the equipment from a stacked supply to a parallel array. Additionally, the work-pieces may be transferred between manufacturing architectures by an array to array batch transfer. The work-pieces may be transferred within the manufacturing architecture in a parallel to parallel batch transfer operation. The robotic operations may be between robotic devices, between robotic devices and processing equipment, and within processing equipment.
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| Batch equipment robots and methods of stack to array work-piece transfer for photovoltaic factory | 20080279672 | 20081113 |
| The present invention generally comprises equipment for an automated high volume batch work-piece manufacturing factory comprising work-piece handling and work-piece processing in a high productivity factory architecture capable of producing 1,000 or more work-piece an hour. The work-pieces may be presented to the equipment from a stacked supply to a parallel array. Additionally, the work-pieces may be transferred between manufacturing architectures by an array to array batch transfer. The work-pieces may be transferred within the manufacturing architecture in a parallel to parallel batch transfer operation. The robotic operations may be between robotic devices, between robotic devices and processing equipment, and within processing equipment.
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| Robotic construction cubes | 20080280522 | 20081113 |
| This invention generally relates to a set of parallelepipedal bodies (generally, cubes) capable of matingly compatible engagement for interconnection with substantially similar cubes. When a number of cubes are assembled into a cubic array, there can be slab movement, row movement or solo cube movement. Each cube is constructed from six plates with an interior physical configuration adapted for connective assembly and the strategic placement of electrostatic or electromagnetic motors or motor halves therein.
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| Robotic handling system and method with independently operable detachable tools | 20070295113 | 20071227 |
| An analytical system and method that enables more efficient transport of movable devices (22) among stations (24, 25, 26). According to one aspect of the invention, the system and method permit operational timesharing of a transport mechanism (34) for the movable devices. According to another aspect of the invention, control of the transport mechanism is effected on an event-driven basis. The invention has particular application to an adaptive, motion and fluids system for automating the sample handling/management process associated with analytical processes and especially bioanalytical processes such as introducing samples into LC and HPLC systems.
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| Wireless control system for ground-mobile robotic vehicles | 20070297320 | 20071227 |
| A wireless control system for ground-mobile robotic systems in which communication between the operator control unit and the unmanned ground vehicle is transmitted via a plurality of spectrally efficient simplex communication links.
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| Methods and apparatus for rehabilitation and training | 20070299371 | 20071227 |
| The invention relates to a rehabilitation device which guides a patient to perform a motion with a correct spatial trajectory, by the device applying one or more pushing, assisting, reminding, responding and/or resisting forces during a motion (or intent to move) by the patient. The forces are applied by an actuator, for example, a robotic articulated arm or a spherically jointed lever. The applied forces act as a force fields, optionally continuous, which impeded and/or guides a patient. The device can be programmable with various trajectories (paths and/or velocities) and/or forces. The forces at one point in the trajectory can vary responsive to an actual trajectory by the patient and/or responsive to a rehabilitation plan and/or improvement of the patient. The device can learn a motion... |
| Surgical manipulator | 20070299427 | 20071227 |
| The present invention provides a surgical manipulator including a manipulator arm, an end-effector held by the robotic arm, surgical tools held by the end-effector and manipulator joints, particularly right-angle drive devices for transmitting rotational motion in one axis to a perpendicular axis.
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| Nesting negotiation for self-mobile devices | 20070299549 | 20071227 |
| Disparate robotic devices can be automatically recharged and reprogrammed by self-scheduling individual time slots for the available recharging area(s) of a charging station. These charging stations provide a nest to which each robot must return periodically for power. These nests can also provide new tasking or patches for the robotic devices. The charging station and the robotic devices are both provided with communications capabilities and a protocol by which they can negotiate to find a time slot in which the device can be recharged, as well as determining a correct connector and a battery type.
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| Robot system and method for scrap bundling in metal smelting and refining processes | 20070299556 | 20071227 |
| The scrap, which is the residual left from the anodes used, is obtained as waste material from the electrorefining process. The scrap should be bundled for commercialization purposes, and the current bundling process is performed manually, which implies high operating costs and a high physical demand from operators. Due to the above, a robot system and method have been developed for carrying out automatic scrap bundling processes through the use of robotic manipulators. The robotic system is composed mainly of an anthropomorphous robotic manipulator of at least 6 degrees of freedom, and a gripping mechanism which allows to take the scraps and assemble the bundles.
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| Wire-guide nozzle assembly for a robotic tig welding torch | 20070289951 | 20071220 |
| The invention relates to a wire-guide/nozzle assembly (11, 13) for an electric arc welding torch, comprising at least one nozzle (11) for delivering gas and at least one wire-guide system (13) for guiding at least one consumable wire, characterized in that the downstream end (20) of the wire-guide system (13) runs into the nozzle (11). The peripheral wall of the nozzle (11) has at least one cut-out (10) through which the wire-guide system (13) passes. The wire-guide system (13) is fastened to the nozzle (11). The TIG welding torch comprises a wire-guide/nozzle assembly (11, 13).
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| Dual purpose media drive providing control path to shared robotic device in automated data storage library | 20070291595 | 20071220 |
| A dual purpose media drive exchanges data with removable media items. The drive includes at least one port to receive various control signals, including (1) data exchange commands directing the drive to read and/or write data to a media item mounted by the drive, and (2) robotic device management commands. The drive includes a processor that responds to incoming data exchange commands by reading and/or writing to the loaded media item. The processor responds to at least some robotic device management signals by forwarding them to a robotic media transport device. The processor withholds the data exchange commands from the robotic device, since they are only pertinent to operations of the drive itself. The robotic device may be configured to restrict host access to library components... |
| Multi-level load lock chamber, transfer chamber, and robot suitable for interfacing with same | 20070292244 | 20071220 |
| A new apparatus for processing substrates is disclosed. A multi-level load lock chamber having four environmentally isolated chambers interfaces with a transfer chamber that has a robotic assembly. The robotic assembly has two arms that each can move horizontally as the robotic assembly rotates about its axis. The arms can reach into the isolated chambers of the load lock to receive substrates from the bottom isolated chambers, transport the substrates to process chambers, and then place the substrates in the upper chambers. The isolated chambers in the load lock chamber may have a pivotably attached lid that may be opened to access the inside of the isolated chambers.
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| Methods and apparatus for surgical planning | 20070293734 | 20071220 |
| Methods and apparatus for enhancing surgical planning provide enhanced planning of entry port placement and/or robot position for laparoscopic, robotic, and other minimally invasive surgery. Various embodiments may be used in robotic surgery systems to identify advantageous entry ports for multiple robotic surgical tools into a patient to access a surgical site. Generally, data such as imaging data is processed and used to create a model of a surgical site, which can then be used to select advantageous entry port sites for two or more surgical tools based on multiple criteria. Advantageous robot positioning may also be determined, based on the entry port locations and other factors. Validation and simulation may then be provided to ensure feasibility of the selected port placements and/or robot positions. Such... |
| Multiple mode system with multiple controllers | 20070293989 | 20071220 |
| The present invention relates to a system and method for intelligent mobile vehicles that can be used in unmanned robotic or manned modes, the system having a plurality of controllers, with a low-level controller that controls basic operating functions for the mobile vehicles, and a high-level controller used to issue commands for unmanned robotic operation. Division of features between different controllers enables an ability to operate the mobile vehicle even if the high-level controller should fail or experience faults.
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| Bracing of bundled medical devices for single port entry, robotically assisted medical procedures | 20070283970 | 20071213 |
| Medical devices robotically manipulated by a medical robotic system for performing a medical procedure on a patient are bundled together as a bundled unit and inserted into the patient through a single entry port. Bracing of the bundled unit at the surgical site so as to be constrained in one or more degrees of freedom of movement may be performed using an anchor secured to an anatomic structure at the surgical site and physically coupled to the bundled unit, or using a tool extending out of a distal end of the bundled unit that extends out to an anatomic structure at the surgical site.
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| Self-service autonomous merchandising machine | 20070284442 | 20071213 |
| A solution for consumer self-service merchandise order placement, payment, and pick up, integrated with a merchant's Internet e-commerce site and with an effective merchant point-of-sale management system. The solution includes a system and apparatus and of a set of specific business methods. A self-service merchandising machine for un-attended, autonomous, and automatic dispensing of retail products includes an input/output subsystem; a control subsystem having and being based upon a computer; a specially configured storage subsystem; a unique pick-and-place robotic-based product retrieval subsystem with an adaptive material handling system; and a product extraction subsystem. A related method of using the machine includes the steps of enabling self-service retail sale; permitting Internet sale with local merchandise pick-up; managing the business operations of the system; replenishing inventory using Kanban methods;... |
| Synthetic nervous system for robotics | 20070285040 | 20071213 |
| A synthetic nervous system (10) capable of rudimental learning and self-organization for robotic applications having a control circuit (190) and servo actuators (224) using oscillating continuously variable analog voltages to mimic natural bio-neural processes. Simple oscillators (1-8) capable of being modulated in frequency, phase, amplitude, and DC offset act as analog processing elements or oscillating infinite state machines. A central pattern generator (140) utilizing periodic, quasi-periodic, or chaotic oscillators or phase shifters, or a combination thereof, along with a basic motor neuron circuit (314) enables multiple servos to coordinate their behavior to enable bio-inspired locomotion such as walking, swimming, flapping, crawling, and the like. Sensors (200) interfaced to the control circuit (190) provide a wide range of adaptive behavior such as following a light source, avoiding... |
| Stereo imaging system and method for use in telerobotic systems | 20070285508 | 20071213 |
| This invention relates to a stereo imaging system for use in telerobotic systems. A method of imaging a target site in a stereo imaging system is provided. The method typically includes capturing a right and a left optical image of the target site and transforming the right and the left optical images preferably into digital information. The method further includes converting the digital information into opposed images of the target site displayed on a stereo display of the stereo imaging system, one of the opposed images being associated with the right optical image and the other of the opposed images being associated with the left optical image. The method further includes regulating the digital information to cause the positions of the target site displayed on the... |
| Efficient and accurate alignment of stereoscopic displays | 20070285663 | 20071213 |
| A method and apparatus for aligning the left and right image channels a two-image stereoscopic three-dimensional display is disclosed. A left and right alignment pattern may be shown on the left-eye and right-eye image screens, respectively, pre-computed for any given input imaging geometry. The operator (or alignment processor) then adjust the displays to converge the superimposed left-eye and right-eye test patterns by moving the display elements using display positioning equipment and/or software. This ensures that the stereoscopic three-dimensional display geometry matches the three-dimensional camera imaging geometry in order to produce a minimally-distorted visual depth perception of objects in space. Such precision alignment can be essential for efficient and safe telerobotic operation applications, as in the case of remote aerial refueling operations, for example.
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| Compliant, low profile, independently releasing, non-protruding and genderless docking system for robotic modules | 20070286674 | 20071213 |
| An apparatus for coupling with a mating coupling module to facilitate the joining of two disjoined structures without requiring precise alignment between the disjoined structures during the coupling of them may include a rotating drive mechanism, a hollow cylindrical body operatively connected to the rotating drive mechanism, wherein the hollow cylindrical body has at least one internal spiral channel, and at least one connector claw positioned within the hollow cylindrical body and guided by the internal spiral channel, wherein the at least one connector claw is configured to extend outwardly from the coupling module to engage the mating coupling module when brought in close proximity but not necessarily in precise alignment with the mating coupling module.
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| Extendable suction surface for bracing medial devices during robotically assisted medical procedures | 20070287884 | 20071213 |
| Medical devices robotically manipulated by a medical robotic system for performing a medical procedure on a patient are bundled together as a bundled unit and inserted into the patient through a single entry port. Bracing of the bundled unit at a surgical site is performed by extending a suction surface disposed at a distal end of the bundled unit towards a bracing surface at the surgical site and applying a suction force between the suction surface and the bracing surface. The suction surface is ring-shaped with holes distributed about the ring so that controllably extendable and retractable tubes coupled at distal ends to the holes provide suction to the suction surface when coupled at proximal ends to a vacuum source.
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| Retraction of tissue for single port entry, robotically assisted medical procedures | 20070287889 | 20071213 |
| A single port entry surgical instrument has an elongated structure with lumens through which surgical tools and an image capturing device may be inserted and controllably extended out of its distal end for performing a medical procedure, a tubular-shaped balloon disposed around the elongated structure, and an expandable retractor disposed around the balloon so that when the balloon is inflated, the retractor expands and locks in an expanded configuration to retract extraneous tissue. The port entry may be secured using the expandable retractor or sealed using another inflatable balloon disposed around the proximal end of the elongated structure and centered in the port entry.
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| Control system configured to compensate for non-ideal actuator-to-joint linkage characteristics in a medical robotic system | 20070287992 | 20071213 |
| A medical robotic system having non-ideal actuator-to-joint linkage characteristics, includes a control system including a proximal control loop with actuator sensor feedback to control dynamic response of an actuator coupled to a distal joint which in turn, is coupled to an end effector to provide a degree of freedom movement of the end effector, a distal control loop with distal joint sensor feedback and feedforward to the actuator to ensure steady-state convergence of the distal joint position, and an end effector control loop with end-point sensor feedback to control the end effector position to reach a commanded end effector position.
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| Method and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor photolithography tools | 20070277851 | 20071206 |
| A system for cleaning semiconductor lithography tools provides for cycling a polished-side down semiconductor wafer through the lithography tool using conventional automated robotics for loading and unloading the wafer from a vacuum chuck of the lithography tool. The vacuum chuck may provide a continuous clamping vacuum feature and may include a vacuum ring that surround the periphery of the vacuum chuck. The chuck and vacuum ring may advantageously be formed of a high accuracy ceramic or plastic such as ZeroDur ceramic. The polished side of the semiconductor wafer includes grooves in a polished surface and which extend inwardly from a peripheral edge of the wafer, the grooves provide gaps between the wafer and chuck allowing the wafer to be released by a slow loss of vacuum-pressure... |
| Methods for controlling plasma spray coating porosity on an article and articles manufactured therefrom | 20070281074 | 20071206 |
| Disclosed herein is a spray coating process for a robotic spray gun assembly comprising importing a discretized model of an object geometry to be coated; importing a numerically characterized spray pattern file; importing a robot motion file comprising a plurality of motion positions, dwell times and orientations defining a spray direction of the robotic spray gun; reading each motion position within the motion file; determining which portions of the object geometry are visible at each motion position; computing a void volume fraction at each visible portion of the object geometry based on the core compression, the incident angle of the robotic spray gun and the ricocheting of the spray for each motion position; and calculating total coating thickness on portions of the object geometry for the... |
| Robotic master controller | 20070282483 | 20071206 |
| A robotic master controller having a series of linking members interconnected by pivots to each other and a hand grip with relative position sensors therein and sensing yaw and pitch of the hand grip due to movement of the user. The final linking member including an arched section that terminates in a pivot for the hand grip that is located within the user's hand during use and has an axis of rotation that generally aligns with a roll axis of rotation of the arm when the user's hand rotates between a palm up configuration to a palm down configuration. The final linking member also includes an arched section that extends over and cradles the outer palm of the hand when the hand is in the palm... |
| Omni-directional robot cleaner | 20070272463 | 20071129 |
| An omni-directional robot cleaner, composed of a platform and a plurality of driving units for driving and controlling the movement of the platform, in which the platform further comprises: a sensing unit, for obstacle detection; a-cleaning unit, for collecting and removing dust and dirt; a processing unit, capable of receiving signals transmitted from the sensing unit while planning and mapping a travel path accordingly; and a power unit, for providing power to the omni-directional robot cleaner while managing the same. Moreover, each driving unit of the plural driving units is comprised of an omni-directional wheel and an actuator for driving the corresponding omni-directional wheel to rotate omni-directionally, by which the platform is enabled to move continuously while changing its moving direction simultaneously so as to free... |
| Robotic head for palletizing full boxes, tray packs and spot packs | 20070272515 | 20071129 |
| A robotic head for use in palletizing products includes a body having opposed ends. A portion of a first clamping assembly is pivotably connected at one end of the body and extends to a first lip, the portion having an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the first lip. A second clamping assembly is disposed at the opposite end of the body and is movable both toward and away from the first clamping assembly. The second clamping assembly includes a second segment having a second lip, the second segment being pivotably connected with respect to the rest of the second clamping assembly. The second segment has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the second lip of the second segment. The first... |
| Engine exhaust for modifying a target | 20070272797 | 20071129 |
| A method for modifying a target includes directing exhaust from multiple engines, preferably jet engines, towards the target. The target being modified can be, for example, a fire, an atmospheric system, a storm, snow, a gathering, a spill, an emission, a discharge, a mud slide, or a dust. The operation and/or deployment of the engines can be by remote control or robotics. In one example, a system for modifying a target includes a support for securing multiple jet engines and a fuel source. Preferably, the jet engines are mounted on turrets that are capable of being rotated.
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| Roll-pitch-roll wrist methods for minimally invasive robotic surgery | 20070276423 | 20071129 |
| A teleoperator system with telepresence is shown which includes right and left hand controllers (72R and 72L) for control of right and left manipulators (24R and 24L) through use of a servomechanism that includes computer (42). Cameras (46R and 46L) view workspace (30) from different angles for production of stereoscopic signal outputs at lines (48R and 48L). In response to the camera outputs a 3-dimensional top-to-bottom inverted image (30I) is produced which, is reflected by mirror (66) toward the eyes of operator (18). A virtual image (30V) is produced adjacent control arms (76R and 76L) which is viewed by operator (18) looking in the direction of the control arms. Use of the teleoperator system for surgical procedures also is disclosed.
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| System and method of robotically engaging an object | 20070276539 | 20071129 |
| Briefly described, one embodiment is a method for imprecisely engaging an object or tool, the method comprising capturing an image of an imprecisely-engaged object with an image capture device, processing the captured image to identify a pose of the imprecisely-engaged object, and determining a pose deviation based upon the pose of the imprecisely-engaged object and the pose of a corresponding ideally-engaged object.
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| Method for opening an automotive fuel door | 20070266541 | 20071122 |
| A tool having a grip head and a stem is placed behind the body panel to which the fuel door is hinged. The grip head interfaces with the goose neck of the fuel door at a location not visible to an onlooker when the fuel door is at its open position. The grip head has a predetermined shape which allows it to grasp the goose neck, whereby rotation of the stem (manually or robotically) results in opening and closing of the fuel door selectively as needed for a painting process to ensue.
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| Robot system and method for washing and unclogging procedures of machines under maintenance | 20070267043 | 20071122 |
| The robotic system for washing and unclogging the machines under maintenance is composed mainly of an anthropomorphous robotic manipulator of at least 5 degrees of freedom (1), provided with a set of tools (2) which allows to wash and remove the material from the machine (3), all of the system is mounted on a structure specially designed for the activity (4). The operator indicates the beginning of the activity as well as the key parameters for the development of the activity. Due to the above, most of the problems associated to the safety of the personnel and the decrease of available times are eliminated. An increase in the useful life of the equipment is obtained
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| Surface treating device with top load cartridge-based cleaning systsem | 20060288519 | 20061228 |
| A robotic surface treating device that can perform carpet sweeping, hard-surface dry sweeping/wiping, and hard-surface sweeping/mopping is disclosed. The robotic surface treating device includes a sweeper brush, a dust bin for collecting debris from the brush, a reel-to-reel sheet of cleaning material, and a fluid delivery system for delivering fluid from a fluid reservoir onto the sheet of cleaning material and/or onto the surface to be treated. The dust bin, reel-to-reel sheet of cleaning material, and the fluid reservoir are separately installed from the top of the device, and may be separately removed for replacement.
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| Robotic compliance mechanism | 20060288808 | 20061228 |
| A mechanism provides compliance between a tool and a robotic arm and includes a base with a first face. The mechanism includes a post assembly with a thrust washer and a mounting post attached to the thrust washer. The thrust washer engages the first face to form a compliance joint that permits a compliance range of sliding translational motion along the first face. The mechanism comprises springs that slideably engage an outer rim surface of the post assembly and providing a compliance force resisting the sliding translational motion. A retainer is mounted to the base and compresses the thrust washer against the first face and limits rotational motion of the assembly out of a plane of the first face.
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| Waterless system and method for cleaning robotic coverings | 20060289040 | 20061228 |
| A waterless system for cleaning robotic/mechanical linkage coverings, and associated method. The system can include a blower for blowing air over the robotic covering. The blower can include a fan, a blower duct, an air inlet, and an air outlet. The system can also include inlet and outlet air filters.
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| Compact robotic painting booth | 20060292308 | 20061228 |
| A system for painting an article, such as an automotive vehicle body, includes a painting booth, a conveyor for transporting articles through the painting booth, a first rail located beside and extending along the conveyor, a second rail located beside and extending along the conveyor at a lower elevation than an elevation of the first rail, a paint robot including an articulating arm mounted on the first rail for displacement along the first rail, a panel opener robot mounted on the second rail for displacement along the second rail such that the paint robot and the panel opener robot can move past each other on the rails without interference.
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| Robotic endoscope with wireless interface | 20060293563 | 20061228 |
| An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically... |
| Motion-tracking improvements for hifu ultrasound therapy | 20060293598 | 20061228 |
| High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for medically treating tumors is automatically administered under robotic control in dosage intervals that alternate with ultrasonic imaging intervals. The HIFU transmitter is re-aimed for each dosage to compensate for motion of the tumor due to heart beats and other events.
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| Robotic catheter system | 20060293643 | 20061228 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device, and an instrument driver in communication with the controller, the instrument driver configured for independently controlling each of number of desired motions of a flexible, elongate guide instrument in a body of a patient in response to control signals generated by the controller, the desired motions selected from the group comprising axial advancement, axial retraction, axial rotation, and radial bending. Integrated haptics capability may be provided, in which one or more motors provide tactile feedback to an operator through the master input device.
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| Robotic floor care appliance with improved remote management | 20060293788 | 20061228 |
| A robotic floor care appliance with flexible web-enabled scheduling and status information/diagnostics systems. The robotic floor care appliance is supplied with a wireless network interface unit, which enables the appliance to establish network connections with remote network entities. The appliance may be provided with web and/or e-mail server(s) to enable the user to easily access the status/diagnostic information of the appliance and to furnish scheduling information to the appliance via various web-enabled protocols. The status/diagnostic information may be displayed to the user as a web page or sent to the user via e-mail. The scheduling information may be received from the user and transmitted to the appliance via HTTP protocol. The appliance may use web or e-mail connections to automatically notify the user of the status... |
| Regenerative actuation in motion control | 20060293791 | 20061228 |
| A motion controlled system for a robotic system stores energy when the robotic system uses negative power and releases the stored energy when the robotic system uses positive power. The motion controlled system calculates the power for causing the robotic system to follow a prescribed motion and applies the appropriate control signals to the robotic system in response to detected parameters of the robotic system.
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| Rfid navigational system for robotic floor treater | 20060293794 | 20061228 |
| Disclosed herein are navigational systems for automated robotic floor cleaners. RFID passive tags are positioned at specified areas of a floor to be treated so as to increase or decrease dwell time of the cleaning device adjacent the tags. An RFID interrogator on the robot learns from each tag its nature, and based thereon instructs the device to change the dwell time over specified areas. This permits areas of a carpet or other surface requiring extra or less treatment to be cleaned in an optimal manner.
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| Method and apparatus for reconditioning tools used to machine sanitaryware and the like | 20060283484 | 20061221 |
| Described is a method for reconditioning a tool (1) made of porous material or sponge used to machine sanitaryware (2) or the like, especially ceramic sanitaryware (2), that undergoes finishing processes in a working area (3) of a production plant (4) equipped with a robotic unit (5) for processing the sanitaryware (2). The method comprises at least the following steps: moving the sponge (1), which has the shape of a solid of revolution, from the working area (3) to a non-working sponge (1) reconditioning area (6); rotating the sponge (1) about its axis (Z) using related drive means (7); spraying a cleaning/rinsing liquid on the sponge (1); and squeezing the sponge (1) using rotatable pressure means (8) simultaneously along a plurality of lines substantially transversal to... |
| Method and apparatus for a cleanspace fabricator | 20060286920 | 20061221 |
| A fab can be constructed as a round or rectangular annular tube with a primary cleanspace located in-between its inner and outer tubes. The fab can be encircled with levels upon which tools can be densely packed while preserving unidirectional air flow. If only tool ports are inside, and robotics are used, primary cleanspace size can be minimized. Highly simplified robotics can be used. Tools can be removed and repaired centrally. A secondary cleanspace can be added for tool bodies. Multilevel construction enhances use of prefabricated units for fab build or maintenance. Curves or folds, applied to a conventional planar cleanroom, can construct a wide range of fab geometries, including a tubular non-annular fab. A fab can also be constructed according to a curved or non-curved... |
| Robotic arm for use with pharmaceutical unit of use transport and storage system | 20060287771 | 20061221 |
| A robotic arm (10) for use with a pharmaceutical unit of use transport and storage system (200) comprises a base plate (14) with a first cam track segment (16) and a second cam track segment (18). A first arm segment (20) is rotatably attached to the base plate (14) and a second arm segment (26) is rotatably attached to the first arm segment (20) and includes a cam track follower (110) that engages with the first and second cam track segments (16, 18) to guide the movement of the second arm segment (26). A platform (36) is secured to an end of the second arm segment (26) and is adapted to engage a product (214). A series of orientation sprockets (102, 124, 126, 142) and drive... |
| Network transaction discovery | 20060287948 | 20061221 |
| Disclosed herein is a computer implemented technique for discovering the information technology resources that are involved in a particular networked business transaction. The system comprises three basic components. A robotic transaction playback client records the various steps in a particular transaction and can repetitively execute these steps to analyze the results. A network record collector observes the traffic throughout the network in response to the repeated instances of the transaction executed by the robotic transaction playback client. A backend processor analyzes the observations of network traffic to determine which ones are possibly tied to the transaction, and from this information determine which network components are part of the transaction being analyzed. Event timing information from a plurality of executions of a particular transaction are used to... |
| Chain-driven robotic arm | 20060280587 | 20061214 |
| A robotic arm for transporting products in a product storage and dispensing system is disclosed. The robotic arm broadly includes a base operable to couple the arm to the dispensing system; a sprocket coupled with the base; an extendible arm segment coupled with the base; and a chain coupled with the sprocket and the extendible arm segment such that rotation of the sprocket causes movement of the chain and extension of the extendible arm segment. The robotic arm provides a compact and effective retrieval tool that is compatible with closely spaced and densely packed product shelves.
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| Tape library storage bridge | 20060282194 | 20061214 |
| A digital data storage unit, such as tape library, has a multiplicity of storage media slots, each storage media slot for receiving a storage media, such as a tape, one or more of data transfer drives, such as tape drives, for writing data to and reading data from the storage media, a robotic device to transport the storage media between the slots or between the drives and the slots, at least one interface bridge which is connected to one or more host computers to one or more tape drives and to the robotic device, the interface bridge is performing bridging and switching operations for commands sent by the host on the basis of sub addresses, such as LUN, to send robotic mover commands to the robotic... |
| Robotic catheter system | 20060276775 | 20061207 |
| A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may... |
| Robotic web browser | 20060277249 | 20061207 |
| A robotic web browser (120, 122) is disclosed capable of rendering high level program instructions received via an electronic network (150) such as the Internet. Upon rendering the downloaded instructions, the robotic web browser (120, 122) performs three-dimensional movements and plays back video and audio streams.
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| Gripper with parts ejector system | 20060265866 | 20061130 |
| A robotic tool picks and places a clinging part in an assembly. Two gripper jaws each have gripper fingers spaced apart from each other by a central spacing. The gripper jaws are movable between a grip position and a release position. The robotic tool also has an ejector. The ejector has a part pusher that is cling resistant and movable in the central spacings between a retracted position, and an eject position in which the cling resistant part pusher ejects the clinging part.
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| Vacuum actuated end effector | 20060267360 | 20061130 |
| An end effector for a robot arm couples to the arm at a mounting fixture. The end effector includes a first paddle head assembly, the assembly including a paddle head and a solenoid controlling extension and retraction of the paddle head away from and toward the mounting fixture. In addition, the effector includes a vacuum region positioned in the first paddle head assembly adapted to receive a disk and coupled to an extendable vacuum arm. A method for operating a dual paddle end effector includes the steps of: connecting at least a first paddle head assembly including a paddle head to a robotic arm; positioning the arm adjacent to a disk in a carrier; and providing a vacuum suction to a vacuum region in the paddle... |
| Dynamic carosel robotic workcell | 20060269384 | 20061130 |
| A dynamic workcell includes a three dimensional positioning robot positioned adjacent a plurality of operation stations. A plurality of movable part fixtures located adjacent to the robot is also provided. A fixture location controller directing positioning of the part fixtures relative to the plurality of operation stations to minimize travel between an operation station and a part fixture is provided. A method for operating a workcell may include the steps of: mapping ones of a plurality of testers to the plurality of movable part fixtures; maintaining the position of each movable part fixture; determining a current location of an active part fixture relative to a mapped tester; and minimizing the distance between the mapped tester and the active part fixture.
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| Robotically driven ultrasonic tools | 20060260451 | 20061123 |
| A method for portioning a food product at a single location with a single cutting system includes transporting a food product to a cutting station, activating a multi-axis robotic arm to position at least one ultrasonic cutting blade in proximity to the food product, cutting the food product along a first axis, activating the robotic arm to reposition the at least one ultrasonic cutting blade, and cutting the food product along a second axis. The robotic arm may be programmed to perform a variety of cutting motions and/or cutting patterns. Additionally, the method may include the step of cutting the food product along a third axis.
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| Machine assisted laminator and method | 20060260751 | 20061123 |
| A system to fabricate a composite item includes an end effector, robotic vehicle, sensor, and cutting system. The end effector applies a course to a layup form. The robotic vehicle positions the end effector. The sensor senses an edge of a previously applied course. The cutting system cuts a profile on the course in response to the sensed edge.
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| Robotic paint applicator and method of protecting a paint robot having an explosion proof electric motor | 20060261192 | 20061123 |
| A robotic paint applicator and a method of protecting a paint robot having an explosion proof electric motor. A plurality of electric motors are enclosed by a substantially air-tight motor housing and have a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A robot enclosure is also substantially air-tight and houses at least one electric motor. A source of non-combustible gas supplies gas at pressures sufficient to purge and to maintain positive non-combustible gas pressures. The plurality of electric motors is serially connected and receives gas through a first gas inlet. A first discharge conduit is coupled to an air outlet of the final electric motor for expelling gas. A second conduit transmits gas from the source to the robot enclosure, and a second discharge conduit expels gas... |
| Apparatus and methods for providing a retractable mast | 20060261207 | 20061123 |
| Apparatus and methods for raising a retractable mast comprise engaging at least three flat flexible strips such that each strip forms a side of a mast. Each strip comprises a set of tabs and slots disposed along opposite edges of the strips. The housing may further comprise a feed mechanism operable to interlock the at least three lengths of flexible strips by drawing the strips together causing each tab of each strip to engage with a slot of an adjacent flexible strip. In addition, the apparatus may comprise a controller module operable to control extending and retracting the mast. The apparatus may be incorporated in a robotic device operable to travel in at least a horizontal plane and extend the retractable mast.
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| Mechanical hand kit with remote control system | 20060263175 | 20061123 |
| The invention claimed herein presents a kit that allows the user to build a functioning model of the type of mechanical hand used in prosthetics and robotics. The finger segments 4 of each digit are connected in a fashion that results in adjustable joints. The completed hand opens and closes via motor and gearbox 8. (FIGS. 1 and 2). Limit switches 38 restrict travel of the fingers to the grip range of the human hand. The hand is operated using a electrical, radio, infrared or digital remote control system, with receiver 22 mounted in the hand and transmitter 28 concealed within a glove or cuff 30 which can be worn by the user (FIG. 2). This system allows the invention to be operated via motion of... |
| Robotic grip and twist assembly | 20060263270 | 20061123 |
| A microtiter plate transport device is configured to grip a microtiter plate in a first location. The microtiter plate transport device is configured to make a vertical approach to the microtiter plate and grip the microtiter plate in either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation along either the opposing longer sides or the opposing shorter sides of the microtiter plate. The device comprises a Cartesian coordinate robot including a first gripping member and a second gripping member opposed to the first gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are supported by an arm configured to move along a vertical axis which extends between the first gripping member and the second gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member... |
| Solid state orientation sensor with 360 degree measurement capability | 20060265178 | 20061123 |
| A miniature, self-contained solid state orientation sensor is described. One aspect is a solid state inclinometer sensor system, comprising a digital network of devices. Each device of the network includes a solid state inclinometer attached to a mounting structure. The inclinometer includes gravity sensors and a processor. The gravity sensors are mounted to provide components of earth's gravity. The processor uses data derived from the gravity sensors to calculate inclination of the mounting structure and provide a digital output for transmission on the digital network. Each device can use three magnetometers and three accelerometers to calculate pitch, roll, and yaw (compass heading) angles relative to the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. The three orientation angles can be output in digital RS232 or optional multi-drop RS485. The... |
| Flexible modular sensor systems | 20060254369 | 20061116 |
| Sensor systems, methods of making sensor modules and circuit modules, and methods of making expanded sensor systems including the sensor modules and circuit modules. A sensor module can include a flexible substrate, internal conductor lines, edge conductor lines for module interconnection, and sensors integrated thereon. One sensor module includes an array of interconnected capacitive pressure tactile sensors (taxels), being row addressable from address lines and readable through data lines. The sensor modules can be bonded to each other to form a larger array of sensors. One bonding method utilizes anisotropic conductive paste (ACP). The sensor system provided can be flexible and easy to expand to cover large areas. By using various sensor modules, the sensor system can be used for various applications. Readout modules can be... |
| Milking parlor for the forward straight line animal ambulation and individual presentation of an animal to be milked in a milking stall located intermediate a holding area and a release area | 20060254523 | 20061116 |
| A milking parlor has a holding gate and a parallel spaced individually loaded-occupied-unloaded milking stall with an operator pit located intermediate the holding gate and the milking stall. The operator pit can be recessed from the holding gate and the milking stall, wherein a bridge or a bridge cart selectively connects a holding gate to an unoccupied milking stall. A robotic or human operator can function from the operator pit to implement the milking process.
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