Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Shanghai Jiaotong University

Other

Ningjian Huang

Dalong Gao

Pei-chung Wang

John Patrick Spicer

Xiang Zhao

Jorge F Arinez

Hamid Ghavami Kia

Feng Gao

Jing Sun

Qiao Sun

Xianbao Chen

Yhu-Tin Lin

Jeffrey A Abell

Richard Clemence Janis

Daniel C Hutchinson

Peter C Sun

Guoxian Xiao

Jinglin Li

Kenneth R Schmidt

Carlos Yuji Sakuramoto

Roberto Hirayama

James E O'Dell

Lei Zhang

Adriana Nunes

Greg Vanderheyden

Fabio Do Monte Sena

Changfu Ye

A robotic system includes a support structure, a motor mount assembly, first and second parallel chains, a serial translation assembly, a sensor and a control module. The motor mount assembly includes rotary motors, where the rotary motors include a first rotary motor and a second rotary motor. The first and second parallel chains are connected to the movable platform, the rotary motors and the motor mount assembly. The serial translation assembly is connected to the supporting structure and the motor mount assembly and includes a linear actuator and a third rotary motor. The sensor is connected to the movable platform and detects force applied by a human operator on the movable platform and generates a signal indicative of the force applied. The control module controls the rotary motors and the third rotary motor based on the signal to assist the human operator in moving the movable platform.

Three degree-of-freedom robotic systems for automatic and/or collaborative planar fastening operations

A robotic system includes a support structure, a platform, a center serial chain, outer serial chains, motors, a sensor, and a control module. The center serial chain connects a center of the platform to the support structure and includes first joints connected to a linear sliding shaft. The outer serial chains are disposed radially outward of the center serial chain. Each of the outer serial chains includes second joints connecting a bar to the platform and the supporting structure. The motors are connected to the outer serial chains. The sensor is connected to the platform and detects at least one of force or torque applied by a human operator on the platform and generates a signal indicative thereof. The control module controls the motors based on the signal to assist the human operator in at least one of moving or rotating the platform.

Six degree-of-freedom and three degree-of-freedom robotic systems for automatic and/or collaborative fastening operations

A power distribution system includes a charging station, a plurality of power socket assemblies, and at least one power line. The charging station includes a charging station control module. The plurality of power socket assemblies are operable to supply power to a vehicle. The at least one power line electrically connects the charging station to each of the plurality of power socket assemblies. The charging station is configured to supply power to any one of the plurality of power socket assemblies through the at least one power line.

Power distribution system including remotely controllable power receptacle and an electric vehicle mobile charger having an actuatable power connection mechanism

Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

Flexible robotic system using end-effector with pass-through suction modules

A method of autonomously charging an electric vehicle having a charge port is provided. The method comprises providing an electric charge system having a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is in communication with an electric charger and a movable charge arm. The movable charge arm is connected to the electric charger extends to an arm end comprising a charge plug and a camera. The movable charge arm has an idle position defining a charging zone and is movable via a predetermined number of degrees of freedom to connect the charge plug with the charge port for electrically charging the electric vehicle. The second controller disposed in the vehicle and in communication with the first controller. The method further comprises aligning the charge port with the charging zone by vehicle movement and aligning the charge plug with the charge port by the charge arm movement. The method further comprises connecting the charge plug to the charge port to electrically charge the electric vehicle.

System and method of autonomously charging an electric vehicle

A method to evaluate the integrity of spot welds includes one or more of the following: projecting light from a light source at a spot weld to illuminate the spot weld; capturing an image of the illuminated spot weld with a camera; transmitting information about the image of the illuminated spot weld to a central processing unit (CPU); and evaluating with the CPU the information about the image of the illuminated spot weld coupled with an artificial intelligence neural networked-based algorithm to determine the integrity of the spot weld in real time.

System and method to evaluate the integrity of spot welds

Systems and methods are provided for determining and correcting autonomous transport imbalances. A transport vehicle operates over a route. A fixture plate is coupled to the transport vehicle by a joint to carry a payload. A sensor determines a position of the joint. A controller modifies the operation of the transport vehicle in response to a change in the position of the joint to correct imbalances.

Smart fixturing system and method

A method of assembling a manufactured item without a guide rail and an assembly system are provided. The method includes disposing a base item on an unmanned independent vehicle system, moving the unmanned independent vehicle system to an assembly station, and attaching an additional item to the base item. The assembly system includes a number of unmanned independent vehicle systems, each unmanned independent vehicle system having at least one wheel. Each unmanned independent vehicle system is configured to be loaded with a base item. A number of assembly stations are provided, each being configured to complete at least one assembly operation. Each unmanned independent vehicle system is configured to independently move to multiple of the assembly stations to have a different assembly operation performed at each assembly station, resulting in additional items being attached to each base item to form each manufactured item.

Nondeterministic assembly system and method

A vehicle charging station includes a track configured to extend across a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The charging station further includes a movable charging apparatus supported by the track and translatable along the track between the plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The charging station further includes a first contact wire extending approximately parallel to the track. The charging station further includes a first conductor pole configured to couple the movable charging apparatus to the first contact wire at a plurality of locations along a width of the first contact wire. The first conductor pole is configured to move with the movable charging apparatus. In such a manner, a one-to-many charging station can be accomplished.

Power delivery system for electric vehicle charging station

A method for joining a plurality of workpieces includes providing a rotating drive tool. A fastener is secured to the drive tool. The drive tool is then rotatably driven such that a distal end of the fastener rotates against a surface of the plurality of workpieces. A heated material zone is then generated on the plurality of workpieces as caused by friction from the rotation of the fastener against the surface of the plurality of workpieces. The distal end of the fastener is rotatably and axially driven through the heated material zone. Finally, the drive tool is removed from the fastener, such that when the heated material zone cools, a portion of the heated material zone is fused to the fastener.

Hybrid workpiece joining

Methods and devices for manufacturing paneled structures are provided. The methods include manufacturing a frame structure by additive manufacturing methods and scanning a surface of the frame structure to determine whether there is more than a nominal surface deviation at a location where a panel will be disposed. When there is more than a nominal surface deviation, the methods also include generating a panel to be disposed at the location of the frame structure, wherein the panel has an engagement surface that is complimentary to the surface deviation.

Additive manufacturing of a body component on a tube frame

Methods for manufacturing structures are provided. The methods include manufacturing a shell structure by additive manufacturing methods and sectioning panels with predetermined shapes from the shell structure. The panels are subsequently coupled to shell structure. Devices for performing various steps of the methods are also provided.

Additive manufacturing of a unibody vehicle

An automated guided vehicle system may include a plurality of automated guided vehicles arranged in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other for supporting a payload. Each of the automated guided vehicles has a plurality of rollers extending from the automated guided vehicle and engaging a ground surface. Furthermore, at least one locator extends from the automated guided vehicle and engages the payload. Each of the automated guided vehicles also has an on-board controller arranged within a housing thereof, with one on-board controller acting as a master controller and the remaining of the on-board controllers acting as slave controllers. The master controller communicates with the slave controllers to maintain position and speed control of each automated guided vehicle in both a lateral and a longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the slave controllers send feedback information to the master controller.

Reconfigurable automated guided vehicle system

Method and apparatus for detecting unacceptable misalignment of welding electrodes. An electrode-alignment station is positioned adjacent a welding station. A robot controls the movement of the electrodes, and occasionally moves the electrodes out of the welding station and into an electrode-alignment station. At the electrode-alignment station, the electrodes are closed on a fixture that transfers electrode-misalignment into movement of a plate that triggers an alarm if the misalignment is greater than a prescribed amount.

Electrode alignment inspector and method

A method for forming an electrical resistance weld between a metal tube and a metal sheet is disclosed. In the method, a plurality of generally circular protrusions having generally triangular cross sections is formed upon the sheet. Thereafter, electrodes are utilized to flex the tube, while an electrical current is generated for electric resistance welding the sheet to the tube.

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Bingham Farms, MI, United States of America

Ningjian Huang