IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,569,986
Granted Patent B2
US 12,569,986 · App. 18/189,101 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Robotic arm system

Inventors: Brian T. Hart (Bedford, MA); Mischa deRuijter (Harvard, MA)
Assignee: BLACK-I ROBOTICS, INC.
B25J9/162B25J9/14B25J19/005B25J19/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,569,986
App. No.
18/189,101
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A self-contained robotic arm system includes: an operating platform; a robotic arm subsystem coupled to the operating platform; a control subsystem coupled to the operating platform and configured to effectuate movement of the robotic arm assembly; and a power subsystem including an internal battery system that is configured to provide electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem.

Claims (78)

1 . A self-contained robotic arm system comprising:

an operating platform;

a robotic arm subsystem coupled to the operating platform;

a control subsystem coupled to the operating platform and configured to effectuate movement of the robotic arm subsystem; and

a power subsystem including an internal battery system that is configured to provide electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem, wherein the internal battery system of the power subsystem includes:

a non-swappable battery portion, wherein the non-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem and provides the electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem; and

a hot-swappable battery portion that is readily removeable/replaceable, wherein the hot-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled to the non-swappable battery portion and charges the non-swappable battery portion without being electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem.

2 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , wherein the power subsystem includes:

an AC power charging system configured to receive power from an external line voltage source so that the internal battery system of the power subsystem is charged.

3 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , wherein the power subsystem includes:

a DC power charging system configured to receive power from the operating platform so that the internal battery system is charged.

4 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a machine vision system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to visually monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

5 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an audio system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to audibly monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

6 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem includes one or more of:

a pneumatic control subsystem;

a electric control subsystem; and

a hydraulic control subsystem.

7 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 6 , wherein the pneumatic control subsystem includes one or more of:

pneumatic controls;

one or more pneumatic actuators;

an air compressor; and

an air storage tank.

8 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 6 , wherein the electric control subsystem includes one or more of:

electronic controls; and

one or more electronic actuators.

9 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic control subsystem includes one or more of:

hydraulic controls;

one or more hydraulic actuators;

a hydraulic pump; and

a hydraulic fluid storage tank.

10 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , wherein the robotic arm subsystem includes one or more of:

an arm base assembly;

a shoulder joint assembly coupled to the arm base assembly;

an upper arm assembly coupled to the should joint assembly;

an elbow joint assembly coupled to the upper arm assembly;

a lower arm assembly coupled to the elbow joint assembly;

a wrist joint assembly coupled to the lower arm assembly; and

a gripper assembly coupled to the wrist joint assembly.

11 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 10 , wherein the shoulder joint assembly is configured to enable rotation about one or more of the X, Y and Z axis.

12 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 10 , wherein the elbow joint assembly is configured to enable rotation about one or more of the X, Y and Z axis.

13 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 10 , wherein the wrist joint assembly is configured to enable rotation about one or more of the X, Y and Z axis.

14 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 1 , wherein the operating platform is a moveable operating platform.

15 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 14 , wherein the moveable operating platform includes one or more of:

an autonomous mobile base;

a non-autonomous mobile base;

a forklift; and

a truck.

16 . A self-contained robotic arm system comprising:

an operating platform;

a robotic arm subsystem coupled to the operating platform;

a control subsystem coupled to the operating platform and configured to effectuate movement of the robotic arm subsystem; and

a power subsystem including:

an AC power charging system configured to receive power from an external line voltage source so that the internal battery system of the power subsystem is charged;

a DC power charging system configured to receive power from the operating platform so that the internal battery system of the power subsystem is charged; and

an internal battery system that is configured to provide electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem, wherein the internal battery system of the power subsystem includes:

a non-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem; and

a hot-swappable battery portion that is readily removeable/replaceable, wherein the hot-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled to the non-swappable battery portion and charges the non-swappable battery portion without being electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem and is housed in a battery bay with a roller floor that slides the hot-swappable battery portion to slide into and out of the battery bay.

17 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a machine vision system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to visually monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

18 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 16 , further comprising:

an audio system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to audibly monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

19 . A self-contained robotic arm system comprising:

an operating platform;

a robotic arm subsystem coupled to the operating platform;

a control subsystem coupled to the operating platform and configured to effectuate movement of the robotic arm subsystem; and

a power subsystem including an internal battery system that is configured to provide electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem, wherein the internal battery system of the power subsystem includes:

a non-swappable battery portion, wherein the non-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem and provides the electrical power to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem; and

a hot-swappable battery portion that is readily removeable/replaceable, wherein the hot-swappable battery portion is electrically coupled to the non-swappable battery portion and charges the non-swappable battery portion without being electrically coupled directly to the robotic arm subsystem and the control subsystem and is housed in a battery bay with a roller floor that slides the hot-swappable battery portion to slide into and out of the battery bay.

20 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 19 , wherein the power subsystem includes:

an AC power charging system configured to receive power from an external line voltage source so that the internal battery system of the power subsystem is charged.

21 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 19 , wherein the power subsystem includes:

a DC power charging system configured to receive power from the operating platform so that the internal battery system of the power subsystem is charged.

22 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a machine vision system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to visually monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

23 . The self-contained robotic arm system of claim 19 , further comprising:

an audio system configured to enable a user of the self-contained robotic arm system to audibly monitor areas proximate the self-contained robotic arm system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2023
From: HART, BRIAN T.; DERUIJTER, MISCHA
To: BLACK-I ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064552/0524 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63323361 · Mar 24, 2022
Related Publication 20230302633A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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