Matthew D Summer

US Patent:

8473101, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Aug 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/545367

Inventors:

Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

G05B 19/04
G05B 19/418

US Classification:

700247, 700245, 700248, 700251, 700253, 700255, 700257, 700264, 31856811, 31856812, 31856819, 318580, 318586

Abstract:

A coordinated action robotic system may include a plurality of robotic vehicles, each including a platform and at least one manipulator movable relative thereto. The robotic system may also include a remote operator control station that may include a respective controller for each manipulator. The remote operator control station may also include a mapping module to map movement of each manipulator relative to its platform. Operation of the controllers for manipulator movement in a given direction produces corresponding movement of the respective manipulators in the given direction such that the robotic vehicles may be controlled as if they were one robotic vehicle. The coordinated movement may result in increased operational efficiency, increased operational dexterity, and increased ease of controlling the robotic vehicles.

US Patent:

8504205, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Mar 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/049982

Inventors:

Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US
Paul M. Bosscher - West Melbourne FL, US
Loran J. Wilkinson - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

G05B 15/00
G05B 19/00

US Classification:

700260, 700258, 901 34, 901 46

Abstract:

A robotic grasping device () has a first finger (), a second finger () and an actuator (). The first finger has a first fingertip (), a first base () and a first actuator engagement end (). A first gripping surface () of the first finger lies between the first fingertip and the first base. Similarly, the second finger has a second fingertip (), a second base (), a second actuator engagement end (). A second gripping surface () of the second finger is between the second fingertip and the second base. The actuator () mechanically engages with the first actuator engagement end and the second actuator engagement end to open and close the fingers. A first force sensor () is disposed on the base of the first finger to measure a first operative force on the first finger, and a second force sensor () is disposed on the base of the second finger to measure a second operative force on the second finger.

US Patent:

8534728, Sep 17, 2013

Filed:

Nov 19, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/680412

Inventors:

Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

B25J 15/10

US Classification:

294 864, 294207, 294902, 269266

Abstract:

A method for grasping an object includes moving a first and second gripping pad () respectively to first and second locations in which a first face () of the first gripping pad is opposed from a second face () of the second gripping pad and spaced apart a distance. Two or more of pins () included in each gripping pad are extended from at least the first face in a direction toward the second face. Thereafter, an extension distance for each of the pins is independently determined responsive to a resistance encountered by each of the pins as a result of the extending. As a result of the independently determining step, an object-defined gripping contour is provided as formed by distal ends of the pins.

US Patent:

8534729, Sep 17, 2013

Filed:

Aug 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/197933

Inventors:

Loran J. Wilkinson - Palm Bay FL, US
Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US
John B. Rust - Palm Bay FL, US
Paul M. Bosscher - West Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

B25J 15/02
B25J 15/08

US Classification:

294106, 901 34, 901 38

Abstract:

A robotic gripper () has fingers () that are configured to grasp an object, and an actuator () for driving the fingers. The actuator has a drive train () connected to the fingers for driving the fingers, an impact mechanism () mechanically connected to the drive train for driving the drive train, and a motor () connected to the impact mechanism for driving the impact mechanism. The impact mechanism generates a series of impacts that are delivered to the drive train when the impact mechanism is loaded beyond a threshold torque. The drive train is a back-drive inhibited drive train provided by a worm drive () that is mechanically coupled to the impact mechanism.

US Patent:

8602456, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Dec 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/963964

Inventors:

Paul M. Bosscher - West Melbourne FL, US
Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US
John B. Rust - Palm Bay FL, US
Loran J. Wilkinson - Palm Bay FL, US
William S. Bowman - Melbourne FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

F16L 27/04

US Classification:

285261, 74471 XY

Abstract:

A ball joint () is provided having a ball housing () that defines a socket (), and a ball pivot () with a ball head () and ball pin (), where the ball head () is disposed in the socket (). A ball housing passageway () passes through the ball housing (); a ball pin passageway () passes through the ball pin (), and a ball head passageway () passes through the ball head (). The ball pin passageway (), ball head passageway () and ball housing passageway () are in communication with each other for routing a cable () through the ball joint (). A limiter () may extend from an internal surface () of the socket () having a passageway () connected to the ball housing passageway (). The limiter () prevents unlimited spinning of the ball head () within the socket ().

US Patent:

8606403, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/967267

Inventors:

John B. Rust - Palm Bay FL, US
Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US
Paul M. Bosscher - West Melbourne FL, US
William S. Bowman - Melbourne FL, US
Loran J. Wilkinson - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

G05B 19/04
G05B 19/18
G05B 15/00
G05B 19/00

US Classification:

700258, 700257, 700260, 901 11, 901 33, 901 34

Abstract:

Method and system for telematic control of a slave device () includes a hand control () type control interface which includes a hand grip () having an elongated body (). One or more sensors () are provided for sensing a physical displacement of a trigger () disposed on the hand grip. An actuator or motor () is disposed in the hand grip that is responsive to a control signal from a control system () for dynamically controlling a force applied by the trigger to a user of the hand control interface.

US Patent:

8639386, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

May 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/112366

Inventors:

Matthew D. Summer - Melbourne FL, US
Paul M. Bosscher - West Melbourne FL, US
Loran J. Wilkinson - Palm Bay FL, US
William S. Bowman - Melbourne FL, US
John B. Rust - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

G05B 15/00

US Classification:

700264, 700245, 700247, 701 2, 901 1, 901 2

Abstract:

An interface () for converting human control input gestures to telematic control signals includes a plurality of articulating arms () each mounted at a base end () to an interface base and coupled at an opposing end to a housing (). The articulating arms are operable to permit linear translational movement of the housing in three orthogonal directions. At least one sensor () of a first kind is provided for measuring the linear translational movement. A pivot member () is disposed in the housing and is arranged to pivot about a single pivot point. A grip () is provided and is attached to the pivot member so that a user upon grasping the grip can cause the pivot to rotate within the housing. A button () is provided to switch between at least two modes, wherein when in a first mode control signals are used to control a vehicle base (), and when in the second mode control signals are used to control a robotic arm () coupled to the vehicle base ().

US Patent:

20060214622, Sep 28, 2006

Filed:

Aug 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/205384

Inventors:

Matthew Summer - Melbourne FL, US
Robert Varley - Melbourne FL, US
Laurance Davis - Malabar FL, US
James Stiver - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

B25J 5/00

US Classification:

318568120

Abstract:

A robot body includes a front half and rear half and a rotatable and driven articulating joint interconnecting the front half and rear half. Multi-limbed legs extend from the robot body and are adapted to engage a ground surface to form a support polygon for each half and for the robot body. A controller is operative with each leg for determining the position and orientation of the robot body with respect to a support polygon, mapping the posture of the robot body with respect to the ground surface via the articulating joint, and determining a direction and magnitude of locomotion and translating a trajectory of locomotion to specific limb motions for each leg.