Assistive robot systems for container tilting

US11420338B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. · US

Inventors

• Joseph Bondaryk · Boston, US
• James D. C. Lent · Burlington, US
• Aimee S. Goncalves · Kingston, US
• Paul W. Baim · Natick, US
• Christopher Gidwell · Sherborn, US
• Toffee Albina · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 4, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 23, 2022
• Expiry date: May 5, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66F9/20
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to an assistive robot system. The assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly coupled to the lifting mechanism, a container tilting arm assembly, a processing device communicatively coupled to the lifting mechanism and the movable arm assembly, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium causes the processing device to transmit a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that the container tilting arm assembly makes contact with a container and transmits one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the container within the movable arm assembly is pivoted against the container tilting assembly to tilt the container within the movable arm assembly.