Other

Ethicon, Gmbh

Sri International

Novellus Systems Incorporated

Kubik Enterprises, Inc.

Xyratex Corporation

Fab-Hk Limited

Mr. Fun Guy, Inc.

Kenneth C Miller

Walt Froloff

Andrew T Beckman

Robert L Koch, Jr

Thomas P Low

Karen Shakespear Koenig

Thomas D Egan

Eliot K Broadbent

Jeffery Kirk

Pablo Eduardo Garcia Kilroy

Laszlo Sipos

Paul L Sipos

Arthur Maxwell Crittenden

Jeffrey S Swayze

Mark D Overmyer

Eric W Thompson

J Courtenay Heater

Carol L Miller

Warren D Hyland

David A Greenlee

Mike Wallis

A suspended automation system includes a rail array secured to a ceiling. A gantry moves in an X-Y plane defined by the rail array with a drive mechanism. A controller with a human user interface allows for selective movement of the gantry to transport, and in some instances store or manipulate articles. A motorized rotating platform and one or more of a robotic arm, a camera, or a counter-balance are added to the platform to facilitate storage and manipulation, as well as actions in the area below the ceiling. A rail array in some embodiments is equipped with storage modules located above the rail array that can take a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations for storage of an article, including a stack. A related process of article movement can be accomplished by the suspended automation system. Another related process is overhead storage and selective delivery of an article.

Suspended automation system

A structure for joining two or more robots to work in concert on a task is provided that includes a frame and an interface for joining the frame to the two or more robots. A remote-control device for controlling at least one robot is further provided that includes a smart device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, that is connected to a pedestal base via a pivot connection. A robotic system is further provided that includes a frame having a plurality of bracket arms extending from a hub, a distal end of each bracket arm having at least one of a plurality of interfaces. The robotic system also includes two or more robots each joined to the frame at at least one of the plurality of interfaces. The robotic system may further include a remote-control device, an attachment device connected to the frame, and/or an additional robot.

Multiplexed robotic game

Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the tool driver. The sterile barrier can have a housing configured to accommodate proximal portions of a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver when the sterile barrier is coupled to the tool driver. The housing can have at least partially disposed within it substantially cylindrical, longitudinally expandable bellows, each being configured to encompass and mate with a proximal portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of actuation members. In some cases, the sterile barrier can have a plurality of sterile barrier couplers each having a first portion configured to engage with an actuation member of a tool driver, and a second portion configured to engage with a tool actuation member of a surgical tool.

Methods and systems for coupling a surgical tool to a tool driver of a robotic surgical system

A multi-function modular robot apparatus provides a wide range of entertainment and functional use options that may be tailored by a user to the specific entertainment and functional purposes so desired. The specific entertainment and functional purposes of the multi-function modular robot apparatus are obtained through inclusion of multiple stackable modules. The interlocking mechanical and electric communications connections for each stackable module act as a power and electronic communication pass through to allow for each module to be arranged in any order and in any combination while still maintaining power and function.

Multi-function modular robot apparatus with stackable, interchangeable and interlocking modules

A suspended automation system includes a rail array secured to a ceiling. A gantry moves in an X-Y plane defined by the rail array with a drive mechanism. A controller with a human user interface allows for selective movement of the gantry to transport, and in some instances store or manipulate articles. A motorized rotating platform and one or more of a robotic arm, a camera, or a counter-balance are added to the platform to facilitate storage and manipulation, as well as actions in the area below the ceiling. A rail array in some embodiments is equipped with storage modules located above the rail array, the storage modules can take a variety of shapes and sizes for storage of an article. A related process of article movement and actions can be accomplished by the suspended automation system. Still another related process is overhead storage and selectively delivery of an article.

Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the driver. The tool has an elongate shaft and an end effector coupled thereto, as well as a mating interface member having a plurality of independently movable portions and a plurality of coupling features disposed about a perimeter of an outer wall of the mating interface member. The coupling features are configured to reversibly engage with a proximal end of a corresponding actuation member from a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver. The coupling features reversibly engage with the proximal ends of the actuation members so as to allow the actuation members to move in proximal and distal directions independently from one another to thereby control operation of the end effector.

A surgical tool includes a tool shaft, and end effector and a wrist that couples the end effector to the tool shaft. The tool includes a drive mechanism configured to effect movement of one or both of the wrist and the end effector in yaw and pitch via independent actuation of four independent cable ends of two or more independent cables that extend between the drive mechanism and the wrist.

Compact robotic wrist

An integrated multiaxial wrist and grasper system for use in a robotic tool can yaw, pitch and grasp via actuation of four independent cable ends of four cables. The tool includes a drive mechanism that effects movement of the multiaxial wrist and grasper via actuation of the cables that extend between the drive mechanism and the wrist.

A robotic gaming system is provided that includes a plurality of modular wall sections placed on playing surface. At least one robot is controlled by a player to navigate on the playing surface and interact with a plurality of scoring elements on the walls. A sensor associated with a scoring elements identifies when the robot successfully interacts with the scoring element to score a point.

Games played with robots

A floating garden for individually potted plants, comprising a buoyant body with a plurality of through-bores extending from the top to the bottom surfaces, the through-bores adapted to receive potted plants and potting soil. Each through-bore comprises a larger diameter upper portion and a smaller diameter lower portion aligned with each other, and a netting cup in the lower portion extending adjacent the bottom surface of the buoyant body. The netting cup holds a wicking material such as peat moss in the lower portion of the through-bore, while the upper portion of the through-bore holds potting soil and the plant.

Floating garden structure

Robot

A robotic gaming system is provided that includes at least one sensor placed on a playing surface. At least one robot is controlled by a player to navigate on the playing surface and manipulate at least one target towards a gate. The sensor is operative for identifying when the target is moved to a scoring region of the playing surface.

Placard

A chamber with a fluid distribution network for uniform fluid flow within the chamber is provided. The chamber includes a first chamber wall that has a first surface and an opposing interior surface. The first surface is formed with a first set of channels, and the interior surface is exposed to the interior of the chamber and includes a plurality of interior ports that are connected to a plurality of the first set of channels. The chamber also includes a second chamber wall that has a second surface and an opposing exterior surface. The second surface has a second set of channels that partially intersect the first set of channels when the first surface is mated with the second surface. The exterior surface also includes at least one exterior port that provides access to the second set of channels.

Growing community of inventors

Aptos, CA, United States of America

Kenneth C Miller