公开(公告)号：US20200218285A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-09

申请号：US16434613

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: ABB Schweiz Ag

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Daniel T. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Luiz V. Cheim ,  Poorvi Patel ,  Biao Zhang ,  Saumya Sharma ,  Andrew Salm ,  Sanguen Choi

IPC: G05D1/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01R31/02 ,  B63B21/66 ,  B63G8/42 ,  B63G8/00 ,  B63G8/08 ,  B63B59/00

Abstract: A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.

公开(公告)号：US20190325668A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-24

申请号：US16434371

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Daniel T. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Carlos Morato ,  Luiz V. Cheim ,  Poorvi Patel ,  Biao Zhang ,  Sanguen Choi ,  Gregory F. Rossano ,  Andrew M. Salm ,  Saumya Sharma ,  Stefan Rakuff ,  Nolan W. Nicholas

IPC: G07C5/00 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01N1/10

Abstract: A submersible inspection system for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers having a wirelessly controlled submersible inspective device. A submersion depth of the submersible can be controlled using a ballast system. The system can also include an input/output selector to switch between camera images from the submersible. A heartbeat signal indicative of a health of the transmitted signal can be transmitted to the submersible, and redundant channel selection logic can facilitate switching to a channel that includes a current heartbeat. A plurality of status interrogation systems disposed on the submersible can capture data regarding inspection procedures performed on the transformer, and the submersible can include tools for repair procedures. Data transmitted from the submersible, and overlayed with input data from an operator, can facilitate real time inspection analysis. The system can also form a model of an internal in the transformer, as well as produce a three-dimensional field of view.

公开(公告)号：US11813951B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US17331243

申请日：2021-05-26

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Matthew Hetrich ,  Gregory A. Cole

IPC: B60L53/37 ,  B60L53/60 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H01R13/631 ,  H01R13/66 ,  G05B13/02 ,  G06T7/73 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B60L53/16 ,  G06V20/59

CPC classification number: B60L53/37 ,  B25J9/163 ,  B25J9/1697 ,  B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/60 ,  G05B13/027 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06V20/59 ,  H01R13/631 ,  H01R13/6691 ,  H02J7/0045 ,  G06T2207/20081 ,  G06T2207/20084 ,  G06T2207/30268 ,  H01R2201/26

Abstract: An automated charging system for an electric vehicle is disclosed that includes a plug with a built-in camera assembly. The camera assembly captures images of a charging port of the electric vehicle, which are processed by one or more processors to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. A control system generates signals for one or more actuators to move the plug relative to the charging port, thereby inserting the plug into the charging port to connect a power supply to the electric vehicle. The images may be processed via an image recognition algorithm and/or one or more machine learning algorithms. In an embodiment, the images are processed by a neural network to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. The plug can also include a tapered structure to make fine adjustments to the position or orientation of the plug during connection.

公开(公告)号：US11628735B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-18

申请号：US17568501

申请日：2022-01-04

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Sree Shankar ,  Daniel T. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah

IPC: B60L53/37 ,  B60L53/36 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/04 ,  B60L53/53

Abstract: A charge head is connected to a charge inlet of an electric vehicle to supply an electric charge to recharge the battery of the vehicle. The charge head is attached to a connecting device that moves the charge head to the charge inlet. Multiple light detectors are provided on the charge head to sense light emitted from the vehicle. The system then uses a difference in the amount of light received by different light detectors to determine a direction to move the charge head toward the charge inlet.

公开(公告)号：US11169509B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-09

申请号：US16365244

申请日：2019-03-26

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Carlos W. Morato

IPC: G05B19/418 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B25J11/00

Abstract: A robotic unit for manipulating items and products may receive assistance from a product management system if an exception occurs indicating the robotic unit cannot complete a given task with respect to handling the product. The product management system may be associated with a plurality of different assistance centers and response centers providing different types or levels of assistance. The product management system can classify the exception according to hierarchal tiers to determine the type of assistance required. The product management system can then generate and direct an intervention request to one of the response centers based on the classification. The assistance and response centers may be equipped and staffed to provide particularized assistance to the robotic unit. In an example, the robotic unit may store data and instructions received from the assistance and response center for future implementation.

公开(公告)号：US11014465B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-25

申请号：US16580648

申请日：2019-09-24

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Martin Krucinski ,  Alex Riley ,  William J. Eakins ,  Sang Choi

IPC: B60L53/35 ,  B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/14

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic charging of electric vehicles in which a plug head of a charging unit is automatically received in a receiving compartment of a vehicle charger actuation device. A push wall of the vehicle charger actuation device is displaced into contact the plug head in a manner that facilitates rotation of the plug head into angular alignment with the plug head receptacle. The charging unit can align a position of the plug head with the plug head receptacle such that continued displacement of the push wall displaces the plug head to a position at which the plug head is electrically coupled to the plug head receptacle. After a charging event, the push wall moves away from the plug head receptacle and engages a pull rod that is coupled to a pin skirt such that the pin skirt is displaced in a direction that ejects the plug head from the plug head receptacle.

公开(公告)号：US11014240B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-25

申请号：US16122439

申请日：2018-09-05

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Mark Ruth

IPC: B25J9/16

Abstract: A robot is disclosed which includes a dynamic safety zone feature capable of defining a space around the robot to be monitored to provide safe operating conditions for personnel or property. The dynamic safe zones can be a volume around one or more moving components of the robot. Such dynamic safe zones can be scaled depending on the nature of the operation (fast moving robot having a larger dynamic safety zone). Multiple different zones can be used in some embodiments. The zones can further be scaled depending on the nature of the sensors used in the operation of the robot. Multiple different moving components can have different dynamic safety zones.

公开(公告)号：US20210086636A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US16578541

申请日：2019-09-23

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Martin Krucinski ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  Harshang Shah

IPC: B60L53/30 ,  H02J7/00 ,  B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/65 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/02 ,  G01S17/88

Abstract: A charge head is connected to a charge inlet of an electric vehicle to supply an electric charge to recharge the battery of the vehicle. The charge head is attached to a connecting device that moves the charge head to the charge inlet. A sensor is provided to sense the locations of the tires of the vehicle. The system then uses the relative location of the charge inlet to the tires to determine the location of the charge inlet in order to move the charge head.

公开(公告)号：US10951044B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-16

申请号：US16182115

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Sangeun Choi ,  William J. Eakins ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  Martin Krucinski ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  B08B1/00 ,  B08B9/00 ,  H01R13/52

Abstract: A protective arrangement for an electric vehicle charging system includes a floor unit forming a recess and a linkage disposed in the recess. The linkage is extendable from the recess from a stowed position to an extended position. A cleaning device is disposed to discourage accumulation of debris into the recess and on the linkage when the linkage is in the stowed position.

公开(公告)号：US20200324975A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-15

申请号：US16380351

申请日：2019-04-10

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Harald Staab ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Carlos Martinez ,  Sangeun Choi ,  Gregory F. Rossano ,  Jianjun Wang

IPC: B65G1/137

Abstract: A product manipulation tool for interacting with products and containers at, for example, a retail facility can include a securing mechanism to secure an exposed portion of the container with respect to a horizontal surface such as a shelf. The product manipulation tool can also include a stabilizing device to stabilize the container with respect to the horizontal surface prior to securing the container. The product manipulation tool can also include a support structure for insertion underneath the container to support the load. The stabilizing mechanism may lift or tilt the container prior to insertion of the support structure. In an example, the product manipulation tool may be disposed on a mobile unit configured for locomotion about the retail facility.