Altec Industries, Inc.

Other

Altech Industries, Inc.

Robert Nichols

Timothy J Mourlam

David Lindquist

Jonathan Westin Sykes

William Naber

Robert Alan Berry

Austin Graham

Marques King

Sebastian Orellana

Cole Schlup

Maria Evers

Nathan House

Alan Masterson

Timothy L McHugh

Dusty Jazwick

Stephen J Driscoll

Douglas E Frazier

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for establishing and utilizing virtual barriers for remotely operated equipment. Remotely operated equipment may be used to perform operations within a remote operating environment based on control inputs from an operator at a distinct location from the remote operating environment. The virtual barriers are established within a control system of the remotely operated equipment to alert the operator or modify operation based on proximity of the remotely operated equipment to the virtual barriers.

Virtual barriers for remotely operated equipment

Systems and methods for providing a virtual reality interface operable to control a robot system by an operator are disclosed. In some embodiments, the robot system is provided on a boom of an aerial device. The robot system is operable to carry out instructions for performing work-related tasks in a work environment. An operator may interact with a virtual reality system providing the virtual reality interface to operate the robot system. The virtual reality interface may provide various menus and icon features that, when selected, cause display of menus and functions of the virtual reality interface. The virtual reality interface may provide a list of tasks to be performed and instructions to perform those tasks. In some embodiments, the icon features are presented based on the tasks to be performed and selection of the icon features initiates automated actions of the robot system to perform certain tasks.

Intuitive virtual reality interface for controlling robots

Systems and methods for performing a task in an aerial work environment by a robot system are described herein. An aerial robot system may be provided at a boom tip of an aerial device for performing work on aerial power/telecommunication systems. The aerial robot system may comprise manipulators including one or more robot unit manipulators and one or more auxiliary arms provided in a side-by-side configuration. The side-by-side configuration reduces a vertical profile of the aerial robot system over standard systems providing methods for accessing all points on standard aerial work environments. Furthermore, the aerial robot system may be configured to provide all necessary tools and replacements parts as well as storage for removal of parts in the aerial work environment. Aerial tasks may be performed by an operator, autonomously, or a combination of manual and autonomous.

Aerial robotic systems

Systems and methods for cutting aerial objects by a remotely operated cutting system disposed on a boom tip of an aerial device are disclosed. In some embodiments, a remotely operated cutting system may be operable to translate and rotate in three dimensions to obtain an optimal cutting position. The cutting device may be configured to cut tree limbs, power lines, metal bars, or the like. A sensor may detect electrical energy in proximity to a cutting location associated with the cutting device. The cutting device may be controlled by an operator at a remote location communicatively connected to control the cutting device and view the cutting device by a camera mounted on the boom tip or the cutting system. The cutting device may further be automatically operated based on stored computer-executable instructions.

Remotely operated cutting device

Systems and methods for performing a task in an operation environment of an aerial device with an autonomous or semi-autonomous robot are described. In some embodiments, a robot is disposed at an end of a boom of an aerial device. The robot may comprise cameras, actuators, sensors, processors, and manipulators that work together to perform tasks fully autonomously or semi-autonomously. Furthermore, the robot may comprise tools for performing the tasks and computer-executable instructions for performing the tasks may be based on the various sensory inputs, the tools, and the tasks to be performed.

Autonomous and semi-autonomous control of aerial robotic systems

A system, method, and device for a remotely controlled robot unit affixed to a boom assembly. The robot unit comprises at least one arm for performing an action, a remotely controlled movable six-degree-of freedom camera mount, at least one camera disposed on the camera mount to capture visual information, and at least one depth camera disposed on the camera mount to capture three-dimensional depth information. Captured sensory information may be transmitted to an operator using a head mount and motion controls for controlling movement of the robot unit. Operator movement captured by the head mount and motion controls may be compared to a digital representation generated from the three-dimensional depth information to aid in positioning and moving the robot unit.

Manual operation of a remote robot assembly

Systems, methods, assemblies, and devices for monitoring and controlling a battery notification system for an electric utility vehicle. A battery level and vehicle range may be determined and monitored over time. A notification may be generated including information indicative of the battery level and vehicle range to thereby prevent electrical operations from draining the battery level below a predetermined threshold while the vehicle is parked.

Optimizations for an electric utility vehicle

Automatic bond on techniques for remote operations on energized power lines are disclosed. A remote assembly may comprise a robot unit and a jib. The jib may have an end effector at a distal end, a proximal end coupled to the robot unit, and an insulating section between the distal end and the proximal end. The end effector may couple to the energized power line, and the insulating section may electrically isolate the robot unit from the energized power line. An actuator at the proximal end may be selectively actuatable to electrically connect to the end effector, thereby electrically bonding the robot unit to the energized power lines to enable operations on energized power line components. The jib may toggle the robot unit between the electrically bonded and grounded or floating states to allow the robot unit to operate on both grounded and energized components.

Automatic bond on to energized power line for remote operations

Systems and methods for tensioning an electrical cable adapted to be manipulated by one or more remotely operated robotic appendages. Tensioners mounted to a rigid object configured to adjust the tension of a connecting line attached to an electrical cable such that the tension of the connecting line is applied to a length of the electrical cable such that another portion of the electrical cable becomes slack, thereby allowing one or more robotic appendages to remove, replace, repair, or conduct any alteration or modification to said electrical cable or to a rigid object that supports the electrical cable.

Wire tensioning system

Rotary tools for operating on energized power lines are described herein. The rotary tool may be used to manipulate wire ties wrapped around the conductors and to clean the conductors. The rotary tool may comprise a planetary gear set. A ring gear may comprise a receiving portion through which an end of the wire tie is received and, as the ring gear rotates, the wire tie is fed through the receiving portion and unwound about the conductor. A spring-loaded rod assembly may also be used, having a rod that is kept proximal to the conductor by the spring. The rod may be inserted between the conductor and the wire tie and rotated along with the ring gear to unwind the wire tie. The rod may comprise wire bristles to abrade corrosive material off the conductor. The rotary tool may be remotely operated by a robotic unit.

Rotary tool for remote power line operations

A modular subbase may comprise an upper surface, a longitudinal supporting structure coupled to the upper surface, one or more outrigger boxes coupled to the longitudinal supporting structure and the upper surface. The longitudinal supporting structure may comprise a wide sheet of metal comprising two upwardly-facing arms and a medial section adapted to be lightweight and to provide structural support to the upper surface. The longitudinal supporting structure and upper surface may comprise struts configured to prevent buckling of the medial section and the upper surface The modular subbase may be configured to couple to one or more modular bodies. The modular bodies may couple directly to the upper surface. A boom-arm pedestal for operating a boom-arm may be integrated into the upper surface and may be structurally supported by the modular subbase.

Modular body compartment

An edge adapter for electrical box extension rings includes a flexible adapter body enclosing and defines an adapter channel, the flexible adapter body has a continuous sidewall defining at least four sides, each side having an inner wall surface facing the adapter channel and an outer wall surface opposite to the inner wall surface. A first pair of retention flanges are adjacent one another and disposed on and radially projecting from the outer wall surface on a first side of the adapter body. A second pair of retention flanges are adjacent one another and disposed on and radially projecting from the outer wall surface on the first side of the adapter body, the first pair of retention flanges and the second pair of retention flanges together defining a first retention slot shaped and dimensioned to receive a first inner wall of an electrical box extension ring. A third pair of retention flanges are adjacent one another and disposed on and radially projecting from the outer wall surface on the second side of the adapter body opposite the first side. A fourth pair of retention flanges are adjacent one another and disposed on and radially projecting from the outer wall surface on the second side of the adapter body, the third pair of retention flanges and the fourth pair of retention flanges together defining a second retention slot shaped and dimensioned to receive a second inner wall of the electrical box extension ring.

Edge adapter for electrical box extension rings

An edge adapter for electrical box extension rings or extenders operably configured to prevent injury or damage to electrical circuit wires and individuals manipulating the same, and comprising an adapter body of a polymeric material, with a front edge, a rear edge, a sidewall, and enclosing and defining an adapter channel, and with a first plurality of retention flanges radially projecting from, and disposed in a tightly-spaced configuration on, an outer wall surface on a first side of the adapter body, the first plurality of retention flanges defining a first retention slot; and a second plurality of retention flanges radially projecting from, and disposed in a tightly-spaced configuration on, an outer wall surface on a second side of the adapter body opposing the first side of the adapter body, the first and second plurality of retention flanges selectively removably coupled to the electrical box extension ring in a retained configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Joseph, MO, United States of America

Robert Nichols