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US 10,471,605 B2Granted
Programmable adapters for detachably connecting robotic peripherals to adaptively retool robots
AssigneeReady Robotics
InventorKelleher Guerin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for adaptively retooling robots include programmable adapters for detachably connecting at least one robotic peripheral to a robot, providing peripheral information associated with the robotic peripheral, and causing the robot to adaptively reconfigure based on the peripheral information.
Claims18
An apparatus for adaptive robotic retooling, comprising:
- a peripheral adapter including a first side that comprises a peripheral flange, a second side for connecting the peripheral adapter to a robotic peripheral, a peripheral data storage unit for storing a peripheral profile of the robotic peripheral, and a peripheral communication device for communicating peripheral information in the peripheral profile, wherein the peripheral data storage unit and the peripheral communication device are communicatively linked;
- a robotic adapter including a first side that comprises a robotic flange, a second side for connecting the robotic adapter to a robot, and a robotic communication device for providing a communication link with the peripheral communication device;
- a connector including a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling the peripheral flange to the robotic flange, thereby forming a detachable connection between the peripheral adapter and the robotic adapter and causing the robotic adapter to query, via the communication link, the peripheral adapter for the peripheral information;
- and
- a connection monitor for detecting a formation of the detachable connection between the peripheral adapter and the robotic adapter and generating, in response to detecting the formation of the detachable connection, a connection event,
- wherein the connection monitor includes at least one of a contact sensor for detecting the peripheral adapter being in physical contact with the robotic adapter, a proximity sensor for detecting the peripheral adapter being within a physical distance of the robotic adapter, or a force sensor for detecting one or more forces being applied to the robotic adapter.
3 more elements
An apparatus for adaptive robotic retooling, comprising:
- a peripheral adapter including a first side that comprises a peripheral flange, a second side for connecting the peripheral adapter to a robotic peripheral, a peripheral data storage unit for storing a peripheral profile of the robotic peripheral, and a peripheral communication device for communicating peripheral information in the peripheral profile, wherein the peripheral data storage unit and the peripheral communication device are communicatively linked;
- a robotic adapter including a first side that comprises a robotic flange, a second side for connecting the robotic adapter to a robot, and a robotic communication device for providing a communication link with the peripheral communication device;
- a connector including a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling the peripheral flange to the robotic flange, thereby forming a detachable connection between the peripheral adapter and the robotic adapter and causing the robotic adapter to query, via the communication link, the peripheral adapter for the peripheral information;
- and
- a docking unit including a docking monitor for detecting a formation of a docking connection between the peripheral adapter and a dock communication device for providing a communication link with the peripheral communication device of the peripheral adapter, wherein the docking unit obtains a current peripheral profile of the robotic peripheral and causes the peripheral adapter to store the current peripheral profile in the peripheral data storage unit,
- wherein the docking unit detects that the peripheral adapter lacks a unique identifier, generates a new unique identifier for the peripheral adapter, and assigns the new unique identifier to the peripheral adapter, thereby causing the peripheral adapter to store the new unique identifier.
3 more elements
An apparatus for adaptive robotic retooling, comprising:
- a peripheral adapter including a first side that comprises a peripheral flange, a second side for connecting the peripheral adapter to a robotic peripheral, a peripheral data storage unit for storing a peripheral profile of the robotic peripheral, and a peripheral communication device for communicating peripheral information in the peripheral profile, wherein the peripheral data storage unit and the peripheral communication device are communicatively linked;
- a robotic adapter including a first side that comprises a robotic flange, a second side for connecting the robotic adapter to a robot, and a robotic communication device for providing a communication link with the peripheral communication device;
- a connector including a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling the peripheral flange to the robotic flange, thereby forming a detachable connection between the peripheral adapter and the robotic adapter and causing the robotic adapter to query, via the communication link, the peripheral adapter for the peripheral information;
- and
- a plurality of docking units for docking a plurality of peripheral adapters, obtaining one or more peripheral profiles of robotic peripherals that are each designated for at least one of the plurality of peripheral adapters, and simultaneously programming the plurality of peripheral adapters each with a respective one of the one or more peripheral profiles.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.