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SonyGranted patentRobots & automationInterest 6/10

Sony patents robot safety system that maps safe and unsafe movements

Sony has been granted a patent for a method to control actuators, which are the motors that move parts of a machine or robot. The system creates a grid of possible positions and speeds, labeling each one as safe or unsafe based on whether the motor can stop or change direction without breaking its limits. If the motor enters an unsafe zone, the system automatically triggers a safety procedure.

Why it mattersThis approach helps ensure that robotic arms and automated machinery can operate safely by predicting potential failures before they happen.

In the filing’s own words

Provided herein are methods for classifying and/or controlling motion of an actuator. The concept is based on classifying potential motion states located within motion limits of the actuator as safe or unsafe based on one or more potential motion trajectories and motion state constraints. Then, a current motion state of the actuator may be determined, and the actuator may be controlled based on the actuator's current motion state and a grid of motion states classified as safe or unsafe.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising: determining a grid of initial motion states, wherein each gridpoint of the grid represents an initial potential motion state, and each initial motion state is defined as a position-velocity-acceleration triplet located within motion limits of the actuator; classifying each initial potential motion states of the grid as safe or unsafe by determining whether there exists a feasible jerk trajectory, starting from the initial motion state, that satisfies motion constraints on position, velocity, and acceleration, and jerk over a defined time horizon, wherein a safe state is one for which such a feasible trajectory exists, and an unsafe state is one for which no such trajectory exists; determining a current motion state of the actuator; and controlling the actuator based on the classification of the actuator's current motion state desired motion states as safe or unsafe, wherein unsafe states trigger execution of a predefined safety procedure.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
Apparatuses and methods for classifying and/or controlling motion of an actuator
Patent number
US12728535B2
Application number
18706863
Filed
Nov 18, 2022
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

B25J 9/1674 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.