Remotely operated manipulator and ROV control systems and methods
AssigneeControl Interfaces LLC
InventorDaniel J. Dockter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Manipulator systems and methods are provided in which there is at least one slave manipulator assembly and at least one controller assembly in communication with the slave manipulator assembly. The controller assembly is configured to remotely operate the slave manipulator assembly, and the slave manipulator assembly provides feedback information to the controller assembly. The feedback information may include a measure of an amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly. The systems and methods may be configured to automatically switch between at least two modes of operation when an amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly fluctuates above and below a threshold amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly.
Claims21
A manipulator system comprising:
- at least one slave manipulator assembly;
- at least one controller assembly in communication with the slave manipulator assembly, the controller assembly being configured to remotely operate the slave manipulator assembly;
- wherein the slave manipulator assembly provides feedback information to the controller assembly, the feedback information including a measure of an amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly;
- and
- wherein the controller assembly moves independently of the slave manipulator assembly until a joint position of the slave manipulator assembly is synchronized with a joint position of the controller assembly.
A manipulator system comprising:
- at least one slave manipulator assembly;
- at least one controller assembly in communication with the slave manipulator assembly and configured to remotely operate the slave manipulator assembly, the controller assembly moving independently of the slave manipulator assembly until a joint position of the slave manipulator assembly is synchronized with a joint position of the controller assembly;
- the system being configured to automatically switch between at least two modes of operation when an amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly fluctuates above and below a threshold amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly.
A method of controlling a remotely operated system, comprising:
- using a controller assembly to control and position a slave manipulator assembly, the controller assembly moving independently of the slave manipulator assembly until a joint position of the slave manipulator assembly is synchronized with a joint position of the controller assembly;
- receiving feedback information from the slave manipulator assembly, the feedback information including a measure of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly;
- automatically switching between at least two modes of operation when an amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly fluctuates above and below a threshold amount of resistance or movement on the slave manipulator assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.