Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Raj Sohmshetty

Constantin Chiriac

Peter A Friedman

S George Luckey, Jr

Elizabeth Bullard

Rohit Telukunta

Scott Mayberry

James Engle

Vikas Rajendra

Mohamed Ridha Baccouche

Saied Nusier

Michael Musa Azzouz

Torsten Hallfeldt

Sam Hoff

Jianbo Lu

Yifan Chen

Mario Anthony Santillo

Garret Sankey Huff

Sanghyun Hong

James Carthew

Meghna Menon

Justin Miller

Matthew Cui

Kevin VanNieulande

Anthony Mario D'Amato

David Jeffeory Berels

Justin Miller, Jr

Smruti Panigrahi

Nia R Harrison

Richard Howard Wykoff

Kurt Michael Lundeen

Mikhail Minevich

Varinder Singh Saini

Sridhar Santi Boyina

Dimitar Petrov Filev

Dragan B Stojkovic

Brian Joseph Robert

Pramita Mitra

Shawn Michael Morgans

Aindrea McKelvey Campbell

Shie Mannor

Jason Scott Balzer

Feng Ren

Shankar Narayan Mohan

Kent Snyder

Kevin Richard John Ellwood

James Wayne Lowe

Stephen Kernosky

Robert J Hess

Francis Maslar

Darryl Leigh Young

Liang Huang

Larry J Dupuis

Musa Azzouz

Rick H Wykoff

Kilian Vas

Erol Dogan Sumer

Sandeep Raj Gandiga

Nelson Brock

Brodie Schultz

Ireneusz Trybula

Jeremy John Malick

Ilya Popov

Saravanan Subramanian

Nguyen Phan

Nicholas P Warrick

Madhu R Deme

Paul E Geck

Zhiyong Cedrick Xia

James Berg

Alan Beltran

Tanveer Shaik

Kyle Saul

Ramesh Parameswaran

Jim E DeVries

Udy Danino

Doug Cantriel

Kyle Lee Fleeger

Kevin Robert Chauvin

Autonomous modular robots and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example system includes a first assembly includes a first controller having a first processor that causes a first assembly support to translate along a first axis and align with a container placed on the first assembly support which is connected to a third assembly. The third assembly is configured to release a lid when the container has been engaged with the lid. The lid and container form a second assembly that includes a second processor and a second sensor assembly located in the lid. A transfer assembly can transfer an object into and out of the container. The first processor can determine a position and orientation of a delivery platform, planned movement and position of the second assembly, and planned operations of the transfer assembly in order to deliver a package to the delivery platform.

Autonomous modular robots and methods of use

A method for automating a die fabrication process includes obtaining, by one or more controllers, die sensor data from one or more die sensors and image data from one or more image sensors, generating, by the one or more controllers, a command to perform one or more machining tool operations based on the die sensor data and the image data, and controlling, by the one or more controllers, a machining tool to perform the one or more machining tool operations. The method includes selectively adjusting, by the one or more controllers, a position of a robotic arm based on the one or more machining tool operations and training an artificial intelligence system to autonomously perform the die fabrication process based on the one or more machining tool operations, the position of the robotic arm, the image data, the die sensor data, or a combination thereof.

Robotic assisted tool and die making systems and methods

The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for determining preferred battery capacities. In an example method, a first set of data associated with scooter usage in a geographic area may be received. A first number of battery packs and a second number of battery packs for servicing the geographic area may be determined based at least on the first set of data, where the first number of battery packs has a first power capacity and the second number of battery packs has a second power capacity. A first cost associated with the first number of battery packs and a second cost associated with the second number of battery packs may be determined via a simulation model. The first cost may be determined to be lower than the second cost, and the first number of battery packs having the first power capacity may be selected to service the geographic area.

Systems and methods for determining preferred battery capacities

An identification apparatus for an equipped vehicle includes a camera configured to capture image data in a field of view directed to an exterior region proximate to the equipped vehicle and a controller in communication with the camera. The controller identifies an object in the image data and identifies a proportion of the object in response to pixels representing the object in the image data. The controller then communicates a notification indicating a trailing vehicle in response to the object approaching the camera in excess of a threshold.

System and method for approaching vehicle detection

A die apparatus including a first die element, a plurality of second die elements, a plurality of actuators, and a controller is provided. Each of the plurality of actuators is mounted to one of the plurality of second die elements. The controller is programmed to activate the actuators to contact and compress portions of a blank disposed between the die elements at separate pressures to influence microstructure forming for one of a geometry transition region, a deformation region, and a joining region. One of the separate pressures applied to one of the portions of the blank may be approximately 5 N/mmor less to form a soft strength zone. The pressure of approximately 5 N/mmor less may be applied to the one of the portions of the blank for approximately one to two seconds.

Method and apparatus for forming varied strength zones of a vehicle component

A method of inspecting stamped blanks on a stamping line includes identifying at least one target defect location for a given stamped blank configuration where a unique defect type is associated with each of the at least one target defect locations. One or more images of each of the least one identified target defect locations on blanks stamped per the given stamped blank configuration are acquired with one or more cameras assigned to each of the identified target defect locations. The method includes analyzing the one or more images of each of the least one identified target defect locations and detecting if the unique defect type associated with each of the at least one target defect locations is present. Also, each unique defect type is identified with a corresponding unique defect identification algorithm.

Stamping line defect quality monitoring systems and methods of monitoring stamping line defects

Stackable battery assemblies and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example battery assembly includes an energy storage device, a housing having a locking unit, a receiver unit, and a sidewall that are interconnected to form an enclosure that retains the energy storage device. The locking unit can include a plate that is spaced apart from the sidewall of the housing by a second sidewall, the plate supporting a first electrical connector that is electrically coupled to the energy storage device via a locking member. The receiver unit can include a third sidewall that defines a cavity that is shaped to correspond with the locking unit, the third sidewall having a lock notch and a second electrical connector that is electrically coupled to the energy storage device.

Stackable battery assemblies and methods of use

A method includes defining, in an image, bounding boxes about an electrical connector assembly, identifying an edge of each of the bounding boxes, and determining one or more metrics based on the edge of each the bounding boxes, where the one or more metrics indicate a positional relationship between the edges of the bounding boxes. The method includes determining a state of the electrical connector assembly based on the one or more metrics and transmitting a notification based on the state.

Systems and methods for image-based electrical connector assembly detection

A locking system for retractable and removable bins, and methods of use thereof, are provided. The locking system includes a retractable latch disposed within a carrier sized and shaped to receive one or more delivery bins. The locking system further includes a first retention feature disposed on the bin and configured to receive the latch in a first locked configuration where horizontal and vertical movement of the bin relative to the latch is prohibited. Additionally, the locking system includes a second retention feature disposed on the bin distal to the first retention feature and configured to receive the latch in a second locked configuration. The second retention feature has an opening such that, in the second locked configuration, vertical movement of the bin relative to the latch is permitted to thereby remove the bin from the latch through the opening.

Locking system for retractable and removable delivery bin

Systems and methods for protecting privacy for safety, comfort, and infotainment of one or more occupants of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. For example, the system may capture image data indicative of an interior of the autonomous vehicle via one or more cameras integrated with the autonomous vehicle. The captured image data is then transformed to remove personal identification information of the one or more occupants, and the transformed image data may be analyzed to identify a concern, e.g., an occupant safety concern or a vehicle safety concern. The level of concern may be determined, and a mitigation strategy may be deployed based on the safety concern identified.

Systems and methods for ensuring privacy in an autonomous vehicle

A distributed control system for an autonomous modular robot (AMR) vehicle includes a top module processor disposed in communication with a lower module processor, and memory for storing executable instructions of the top module processor and the lower module processor. The instructions are executable to cause the top module processor and the lower module processor to navigate a bottom module, via the bottom module processor, the AMR vehicle to a target destination. The instructions are further executable to determine, via the bottom module processor, that the AMR vehicle is localized at a target destination, transmit a request for a cargo unloading instruction set, and receive, via a top module processor, a response to a cargo unloading instruction set sent from the bottom module processor. The instructions further cause the top module processor to unload the cargo to a target destination surface via an unloading mechanism associated with the top module.

Modular autonomous robot distributed control

An inspection apparatus includes a portable housing and at least one handle structure integrally formed with the portable housing. The inspection apparatus further includes a vision data system, a lighting system, a user interface system, a wireless communication system, and a controller. The vision data system includes one or more cameras provided on the first face of the portable housing. The vision data system is operable to capture component data. The lighting system is arranged with the vision data system at the first face. The lighting system includes diffused light emitting diode (LED) ring arranged around at least one of the one or more cameras. The manufacturing inspection apparatus is a stand-alone and all-in-one computing device. The manufacturing inspection apparatus processes and stores inspection data locally.

Stand-alone inspection apparatus for use in a manufacturing facility

A robotic system includes a robotic arm, a robotic end-effector detachably coupled to the robotic arm, and a control system. The robotic end-effector includes a locomotion device to move the robotic end-effector independent of the robotic arm, and the control system configured to control the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector to detach and attach the robotic arm and the robotic end-effector.

Robotic arm with a detachable and mobile end-effector

The present disclosure is directed to multi-use mobile robots that cater to both goods delivery and people mobility. These robots allow for seamless and dynamic transition between a rideable personal transport vehicle that may be driven by a user sitting in a removable robot seat, driven by the user standing onboard the vehicle, or driven by a second individual walking behind the multi-use robot. The multi-use robot may also function as an autonomous delivery vehicle, and can provide an option to allow both people and goods to be transported simultaneously. The multi-use robots can also integrate with mobile warehouses and neighborhood storage lockers and mobile warehouses, and provide last-mile handling of goods and supplies.

Multi-use mobile robot and methods of use

A battery expansion cradle is attachable to an electric scooter (eScooter) handlebar. The battery expansion cradle includes a battery connection terminal disposed on a face of the battery expansion cradle, where the battery connection terminal electrically connects with a power bus of the electric scooter. A battery module is removably attachable to the face of the battery expansion cradle and the back terminal of another battery. The battery module includes a connector electrically coupling the first rechargeable battery to the eScooter power bus, and includes a mobile device holder disposed on a face of the first battery module with holding means for securing a mobile device to the face of the battery module, which may be offset from the center of the external battery to allow for a clear forward view of the scooter using the smartphone's front camera, and the user's face using the rear camera.

Smartphone and battery integration module for an electric scooter

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Raj Sohmshetty