The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 08, 2018

Filed:

Apr. 07, 2015
Applicant:

Mobile Tool Management, Inc., Mukilteo, WA (US);

Inventors:

David James Whalen-Robinson, Mountlake Terrace, WA (US);

Robert Allen Brown, Denver, CO (US);

Chace Howard Fadlovich, Bothell, WA (US);

Michael Gary Woogerd, Seattle, WA (US);

Assignee:

MTM ROBOTICS, LLC, Mukilteo, WA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/16 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/1674 (2013.01); B25J 9/1633 (2013.01);
Abstract

A system and method for maneuvering a robotic end-effector using one or more motors that have a force limiter that is adaptable to take into account any effects of a changing gravitational force as the system moves. In one embodiment, the system includes an actuator, such as a drive motor, for applying a force vector to actuate a function of the end effector, such as moving the end-effector along a track that is attached to a contoured surface. Further, a force limiter coupled to the actuator is configured to interrupt the actuating if the force exceeds a first threshold. Further, the system includes an orientation detector to determine any changes in orientation with respect to gravity so as to adjust the force limit accordingly. Thus, if the force limiter determines that a threshold has been exceeded, the force limiter may limit or interrupt the motion while taking changing gravitational forces into account.


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