IP Library Granted Patent US 11,370,122
Granted Patent B2
US 11,370,122 · App. 17/123,862 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Systems and methods for providing contact detection in an articulated arm

Inventors: Thomas Wagner (Concord, MA); Kevin Ahearn (Nebo, NC); Michael Dawson-Haggerty (Pittsburgh, PA); Christopher Geyer (Arlington, MA); Thomas Koletschka (Cambridge, MA); Kyle Maroney (North Attleboro, MA); Matthew T. Mason (Pittsburgh, PA); Gene Temple Price (Cambridge, MA); Joseph Romano (Arlington, MA); Daniel Smith (Canonsburg, PA); Siddhartha Srinivasa (Seattle, WA); Prasanna Velagapudi (Pittsburgh, PA); Thomas Allen (Reading, MA)
Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
B25J9/1694B25J9/1638B25J13/088B25J15/0616B25J17/0208
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,370,122
App. No.
17/123,862
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensing manipulator of an articulated arm is disclosed. The sensing manipulator includes a compliant section and a movement detection system provided along a first direction of the compliant section such that movement of the compliant section along both the first direction and at least one direction transverse to said first direction, are detectable by the movement detection system.

Claims (48)

1. A programmable motion system for grasping and moving objects, said programmable motion system comprising an end effector coupled to the programmable motion system and a movement detection system for detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system in at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the movement detection system includes at least one force sensitive resistor.

2. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the programmable motion system includes an articulated arm.

3. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom include any of load, pitch, roll and yaw.

4. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end effector is coupled to a vacuum source.

5. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end effector includes a tubular or conical bellows.

6. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movement detection system includes at least three movement detectors.

7. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movement detection system includes a magnetic field sensor.

8. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the movement detection system includes an attachment band around a portion of the end effector.

9. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movement detection system detects any movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system during movement of the object.

10. A programmable motion system for grasping and moving objects, said programmable motion system comprising an end effector coupled to the programmable motion system and a movement detection system for detecting angular movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system, wherein the movement detection system includes at least one force sensitive resistor.

11. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the programmable motion system includes an articulated arm.

12. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the angular movement includes any of pitch, roll and yaw.

13. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the end effector is coupled to a vacuum source.

14. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the end effector includes a tubular or conical bellows.

15. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the movement detection system includes at least three movement detectors.

16. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the movement detection system includes a magnetic field sensor.

17. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the movement detection system includes an attachment band around a portion of the end effector.

18. The programmable motion system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the movement detection system detects any movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system during movement of the object.

19. A method of grasping and moving objects with an end effector of a programmable motion system, said method comprising:

grasping an object with the end effector;

lifting the object with the programmable motion system;

detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system in at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using at least one force sensitive resistor; and

adjusting any of a position or orientation of the end effector and the programmable motion device to reduce any movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the programmable motion system includes an articulated arm.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom include any of load, pitch, roll and yaw.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the end effector is coupled to a vacuum source.

23. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the end effector includes a tubular or conical bellows.

24. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using at least three movement detectors.

25. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using a magnetic field sensor.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the magnetic field sensor includes an attachment portion that is attached to a portion of the end effector.

27. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the method further includes thresholding deformation values upon contact with the object.

28. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the method further includes adjusting a grasp position of the end effector on the object.

29. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the method further includes detecting unexpected movement of end effector with respect to the programmable motion system during movement of the object.

30. A method of grasping and moving objects with an end effector of a programmable motion system, said method comprising:

grasping an object with the end effector and thresholding deformation values upon contact with the object;

lifting the object with the programmable motion system;

detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system in at least two degrees of freedom; and

adjusting any of a position or orientation of the end effector and the programmable motion device to reduce any movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the programmable motion system includes an articulated arm.

32. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom include any of load, pitch, roll and yaw.

33. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the end effector is coupled to a vacuum source.

34. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the end effector includes a tubular or conical bellows.

35. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using at least three movement detectors.

36. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using at least one force sensitive resistor.

37. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the detecting movement of the end effector with respect to the programmable motion system involves using a magnetic field sensor.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the magnetic field sensor includes an attachment portion that is attached to a portion of the end effector.

39. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the method further includes adjusting a grasp position of the end effector on the object.

40. The method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the method further includes detecting unexpected movement of end effector with respect to the programmable motion system during movement of the object.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: BERKSHIRE GREY, INC.; BERKSHIRE GREY OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
To: BERKSHIRE GREY OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058947/0548 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: WAGNER, THOMAS; AHEARN, KEVIN; DAWSON-HAGGERTY, MICHAEL; GEYER, CHRISTOPHER; KOLETSCHKA, THOMAS; MARONEY, KYLE; MASON, MATTHEW T.; PRICE, GENE TEMPLE; ROMANO, JOSEPH; SMITH, DANIEL; SRINIVASA, SIDDHARTHA; VELAGAPUDI, PRASANNA; ALLEN, THOMAS
To: BERKSHIRE GREY, INC.
Reel/Frame 055390/0479 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16743428 · Jan 15, 2020
Continuation 16545627 · Aug 20, 2019
Continuation 16212113 · Dec 6, 2018
Continuation 15242255 · Aug 19, 2016
Provisional Application 62210235 · Aug 26, 2015
Related Publication 20210101285A1 · Apr 8, 2021