IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,741,678
Granted Patent B2
US 12,741,678 · App. 17/134,331 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Human-robot collaboration

Inventors: Javier Felip Leon (Hillsboro, OR); Leobardo Campos Macias (Guadalajara, MX); David Israel Gonzalez Aguirre (Hillsboro, OR); David Gomez Gutierrez (Tlaquepaque, MX); Rafael De La Guardia Gonzalez (Guadalajara, MX); Nilesh Ahuja (Cupertino, CA); Ranganath Krishnan (Hillsboro, OR); Anthony Kyung Guzman Leguel (Guadalajara, MX); Jose Ignacio Parra Vilchis (Guadalajara, MX)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
B60W60/00276B25J9/1653G05B13/048G05D1/0214B60W2554/4026B60W2554/4029B60W2554/4046B60W2554/406B60W2556/10B60W2556/45
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,741,678
App. No.
17/134,331
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A human-robot collaboration system, including at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: predict a human atomic action based on a probability density function of possible human atomic actions for performing a predefined task; and plan a motion of the robot based on the predicted human atomic action.

Claims (48)

1 . A human-robot collaboration system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

predict a human atomic action by applying a probability density function over a set of possible human atomic actions associated with a predefined task, wherein each human atomic action is defined by pre-conditions specifying a required stable configuration of an element in a scene and post-conditions specifying a resulting stable configuration of the element in the scene after completion of that action;

plan a motion of the robot based on the predicted human atomic action; and

generate an instruction to cause the robot to perform the motion.

2 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 1 , wherein the predefined task is defined by a state machine comprising:

a set of categorical states of stable configurations of elements in a scene, wherein the possible human atomic actions navigate between the categorical states; and

a dynamic probability density function of the possible human atomic actions at respective categorical states of the state machine.

3 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause at least one processor to:

parameterize the dynamic probability density function based on crowdsourced data of behavioral patterns exhibited by humans performing the predefined task.

4 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

parameterize the dynamic probability density function based on a prior human atomic action.

5 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 2 , wherein the dynamic probability density function is non-conservative.

6 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 1 , wherein a sequence of human atomic actions of the predefined task depends on the predefined task's collaboration mode.

7 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

generate the dynamic probability density function of the possible human atomic actions using a generative model.

8 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 7 , wherein the generative model considers a prior human atomic action.

9 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 7 , wherein the generative model comprises an obstacle avoidance factor.

10 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 7 , wherein the robot is an autonomous vehicle and the generative model predicts non-motorized road user behavior.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor of a human-robot collaboration system to:

predict a human atomic action by applying a probability density function over a set of possible human atomic actions associated with a predefined task, wherein each human atomic action is defined by pre-conditions specifying a required stable configuration of an element in a scene and post-conditions specifying a resulting stable configuration of the element in the scene after completion of that action;

plan a motion of the robot based on the predicted human atomic action; and

generate an instruction to cause the robot to perform the motion.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the predefined task is defined by a state machine comprising:

a set of categorical states of stable configurations of elements in a scene, wherein the possible human atomic actions navigate between the categorical states; and

a dynamic probability density function of the possible human atomic actions at respective categorical states of the state machine.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

parameterize the dynamic probability density function based on crowdsourced data of behavioral patterns exhibited by humans performing the predefined task.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

parameterize the dynamic probability density function based on a prior human atomic action.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the dynamic probability density function is non-conservative.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a sequence of human atomic actions of the predefined task depends on the predefined task's collaboration mode.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

generate dynamic probability density function of the possible human atomic actions using a generative model.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the generative model considers a prior human atomic action.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the generative model comprises an obstacle avoidance factor.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the robot is an autonomous vehicle and the generative model predicts non-motorized road user behavior.

21 . A human-robot collaboration system, comprising:

a prediction means for predicting a human atomic action by applying a probability density function over a set of possible human atomic actions associated with a predefined task, wherein each human atomic action is defined by pre-conditions specifying a required stable configuration of an element in a scene and post-conditions specifying a resulting stable configuration of the element in the scene after completion of that action;

a planning means for planning a motion of the robot based on the predicted human atomic action; and

instruction generation means for generating an instruction to cause the robot to perform the motion.

22 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 21 , wherein the predefined task is defined by a state machine comprising:

a set of categorical states of stable configurations of elements in a scene, wherein the possible human atomic actions navigate between the categorical states; and

a dynamic probability density function of the possible human atomic actions at respective states of the state machine.

23 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 22 , further comprising:

a parameterization means for parameterizing the dynamic probability density function based on crowdsourced data of behavioral patterns exhibited by humans performing the predefined task.

24 . The human-robot collaboration system of claim 1 , wherein the predefined task is represented using a quasi-probabilistic Petri network that maintains multiple concurrent state beliefs via probabilistic tokens.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2026
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: INTEL PRODUCTS IP LLC
Reel/Frame 075990/0703 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2021
From: AHUJA, NILESH
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055292/0532 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: CAMPOS MACIAS, LEOBARDO; DE LA GUARDIA GONZALEZ, RAFAEL
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055083/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2021
From: GONZALEZ AGUIRRE, DAVID
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055059/0826 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: KRISHNAN, RANGANATH; FELIP LEON, JAVIER; GOMEZ GUTIERREZ, DAVID; GUZMAN LEGUEL, ANTHONY KYUNG; PARRA VILCHIS, JOSE
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055047/0977 →
Continuity (1)
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