Toyota Research Institute, Inc.

Joseph Bondaryk

Toffee A Albina

Paul W Baim

Aimee S Goncalves

Christopher Gidwell

Suhas Subhaschandra Malghan

Eric Krotkov

James D C Lent

Embodiments described herein related to a robotic system for transporting a container. The robotic system includes a lifting mechanism and a container storage assembly coupled to the lifting mechanism. The container storage assembly includes at least one bracket assembly that further includes a bracket elongated member. The bracket elongated member includes a surface having at least one slot and a locking mechanism within the at least one slot. The at least one slot and the locking mechanism are configured to slidably receive and positively lock at least one locking member of the container.

Assistive robot systems for transporting containers

An assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The processing device transmits a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that a container is gripped within the movable arm assembly, transmits a first one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the movable arm assembly grips the container. The movable arm assembly is positioned at a release location and transmits a second one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system lateral direction such that the container gripped within the movable arm assembly is released from the movable arm assembly at the release location.

Assistive robot systems for container lifting

A robotic system that includes a body, a hitch assembly coupled to the body, and a sensor array coupled to the body. The robotic system includes a processor and operating logic containing programming instructions thereon that, when executed, causes the processor to detect, via the sensor array, a location of a vehicle relative to the body. The programming instructions of the operating logic further cause the processor to detect, via the sensor array, a position of a hitch receiver along the vehicle and move the body toward the vehicle to position the hitch assembly proximate to the hitch receiver. The programming instructions of the operating logic further cause the processor to move the hitch assembly relative to the body and in alignment with the hitch receiver and engage the hitch assembly to the hitch receiver to securely couple the body to the vehicle.

Devices including deployable hitch assemblies and autonomous engagement systems incorporating the same

Embodiments are directed to an assistive robot system. The assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly coupled to the lifting mechanism, a container tilting arm assembly, a processing device communicatively coupled to the lifting mechanism and the movable arm assembly, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium causes the processing device to transmit a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that the container tilting arm assembly makes contact with a container and transmits one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the container within the movable arm assembly is pivoted against the container tilting assembly to tilt the container within the movable arm assembly.

Assistive robot systems for container tilting

An assistive robot includes a manipulator, a base coupled to the manipulator, the base defining a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end, the base including a chassis body, a front conveyor assembly positioned at the front end of the base, the front conveyor assembly including a front conveyor defining a conveyor pathway that extends at least partially within the chassis body and a front toe extending outward from the front conveyor, and a rear conveyor assembly positioned at the rear end of the base, the rear conveyor assembly including a rear conveyor defining a conveyor pathway that extends at least partially within the chassis body and a rear toe extending outward from the rear conveyor.

Assistive robots including assemblies for accommodating obstacles and methods for using the same

Hitch mounted robot systems and methods for operating the same are disclosed. A hitch mounted robot system includes a coupling mechanism that is insertable into a hitch receiver on a vehicle and a height adjustment mechanism coupled to the coupling mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism automatically moves the coupling mechanism in a system vertical direction to lift the hitch mounted robot system off a ground surface when the coupling mechanism is inserted into the hitch receiver.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

Joseph Bondaryk