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Robotic arm system and object avoidance methods

  • US 10,213,923 B2
  • Filed: 09/09/2016
  • Issued: 02/26/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a robotic arm, the method comprising:

  • moving the robotic arm through a trajectory;

    at a first time in which the robotic arm occupies a first position along the trajectory, measuring a first capacitance of a first sense circuit comprising a first electrode extending over a first arm segment of the robotic arm;

    at a second time in which the robotic arm occupies a second position along the trajectory, the second time succeeding the first time, measuring a second capacitance of the first sense circuit;

    calculating a first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit based on a difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance;

    transforming the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit into a speed of the first electrode relative to an external object;

    in response to the first rate of change in capacitance of the first sense circuit exceeding a threshold rate of change and in response to the speed of the first electrode relative to an external object approximating a speed of the robotic arm from the first position to the second position, issuing a proximity alarm for motion toward a static object; and

    reducing a current speed of the robotic arm moving through the trajectory to a fraction of a maximum speed of the robotic arm while the proximity alarm for motion toward a static object is current.

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