Toyota Research Institute, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Andrew M Beaulieu

Alexander Alspach

Aimee S Goncalves

Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy

Adrien David Gaidon

Vitor Guizilini

Rares A Ambrus

Avinash Uttamchandani

Kristopher Lopez

Jessica Yin

Deformable sensors having a stereo depth sensor and an infrared sensor and methods of their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a deformable sensor includes an enclosure having a housing and a deformable membrane, wherein the deformable membrane is transparent to a wavelength band in the infrared spectrum, a stereo depth sensor that is disposed within the enclosure and is configured to view an underside of the deformable membrane, and output a deformation region of the deformable membrane as a result of contact with an object, wherein the deformation region includes depth information, and an infrared sensor that is disposed within the enclosure and is configured to view the object through the deformable membrane when the object contacts the deformable membrane and output a contact patch region corresponding with a region of the deformable membrane that contacts the object.

Deformable sensors having an internal stereo depth sensor and an infrared sensor

A system includes a processor, a robotic arm comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a plurality of ridges, a sensor configured to detect vibrations from the plurality of ridges, and a memory module. The memory module stores machine-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform operations including contacting, with the plurality of ridges, a target object, detecting, with the sensor, vibrations from the plurality of ridges caused by a movement between the target object and the plurality of ridges, determining an attribute of the movement based on the detected signals, and adjusting the end effector based on the attribute of the movement.

Systems and devices for surface slip detection

Robots including a lifting actuator for lifting object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rail system extending in a system direction, a body structure coupled to the rail system, the body structure comprising an array of flexible tactile sensors, wherein each flexible tactile sensor of the array of flexible tactile sensors is operable to produce a signal determinative of a magnitude and a direction of a force applied to the flexible tactile sensor, and a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system.

Robots including a lift actuator and body structure for lifting objects

Robots for lifting objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rail system, a body structure coupled to the rail system, a first arm coupled to a first side of the body structure, one or more first arm actuators providing the first arm with multiple degrees of freedom, a second arm coupled to a second side of the body structure, one or more second arm actuators providing the second arm with multiple degrees of freedom, and a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system. The one or more first arm actuators and the one or more second arm actuators are operable to wrap the first arm and the second arm around an object and hold the object against the body structure. The lift actuator is operable to move the body structure such that the object is lifted on the rail system.

Lifting robots

Robots and sensor systems having a compliant member for maintaining the position of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rigid surface, one or more compliant members attached to the rigid surface, and a sensor device. The sensor device includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed around the one or more compliant members, the inflatable diaphragm having a port, and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm. The one or more compliant members prevent lateral movement and rotational movement of the sensor device.

Robots and sensor systems having compliant members

A deformable sensor comprises an enclosure comprising a deformable membrane, the enclosure configured to be filled with a medium, and an imaging sensor, disposed within the enclosure, having a field of view configured to be directed toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The imaging sensor is configured to capture an image of the deformable membrane. The deformable sensor is configured to determine depth values for a plurality of points on the deformable membrane based on the image captured by the imaging sensor and a trained neural network.

Robust and perceptive manipulation through soft-bubble grippers and monocular depth

A pressure sensor device includes a base layer, a deformable layer bonded to the base layer such that the base layer and the deformable layer define at least one inflatable chamber, and at least one pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the at least one inflatable chamber and operable to produce a signal indicative of a pressure within the at least one inflatable chamber.

Pressure sensor devices and robots including the same

A sensor device includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed on a member, and an array of force sensors disposed about the inflatable diaphragm. The array of force sensors provides one or more signals indicative of a location of contact between an object and the inflatable diaphragm.

Sensor devices including force sensors and robots incorporating the same

A robot includes a rail system, a body structure coupled to the rail system, a first arm coupled to a first side of the body structure, one or more first arm actuators providing the first arm with multiple degrees of freedom, a second arm coupled to a second side of the body structure, one or more second arm actuators providing the second arm with multiple degrees of freedom, a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system, and a tilt structure coupled to the body structure. The first arm actuators and the second arm actuators are operable to wrap the first arm and the second arm around an object and hold the object against the body structure. The tilt structure is operable to tilt the body structure. The lift actuator is operable to move the body structure such that the object is lifted.

Robots having a lift actuator and a tilt structure for lifting and supporting large objects

A flexible tactile sensor includes a conductive target positioned in a first plane, at least three coils forming an array within a second plane, the second plane spaced apart from the first plane, a pliable material coupling the conductive target to the at least three coils, and an electronic device electrically coupled to each of the at least three coils, the electronic device configured to induce an AC signal within each of the at least three coils and measure a change in inductance in the at least three coils in response to movement of the conductive target.

Flexible tactile sensors for measuring contact surface normal force using inductive coupling

Structures and sensor assemblies having engagement structures for securing a compliant substrate assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly includes a compliant substrate assembly having a base layer, and a deformable layer heat-sealed to the base layer such that the base layer and the deformable layer define at least one inflatable chamber. The sensor assembly further includes a first member proximate to a first edge of the compliant substrate assembly, a second member proximate to a second edge of the compliant substrate assembly, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge, and at least one pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the at least one inflatable chamber and operable to produce a signal indicative of a pressure within the at least one inflatable chamber.

Structures and sensor assemblies having engagement structures for securing a compliant substrate assembly

Sensors having a deformable layer and an outer cover layer and robots incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed on a member, wherein the inflatable diaphragm includes a port. The sensor further includes an outer cover layer disposed around the inflatable diaphragm, wherein the outer cover layer is fabricated from a material having a strength of greater than or equal to 35 cN/dtex, and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm.

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, MA, United States of America

Andrew M Beaulieu