Patents by Inventor Chris Hance

Chris Hance has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10822170
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to coordinating warehouses and supply chains are provided. Respective first and second estimated times of arrival at a loading dock of a warehouse are determined for respective first and second vehicles, where the first estimated arrival time is before the second estimated arrival time. A pallet arrangement at the loading dock is determined that includes a first pallet for the first vehicle and a second pallet for the second vehicle, where the first pallet is closer to the loading dock than the second pallet. The first estimated arrival time later changes to be after the second estimated arrival time. After the first estimated arrival time changes to be after the second estimated arrival time, a robot is instructed to modify the arrangement so that the second pallet is closer to the loading dock than the first pallet before the second estimated arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin
  • Patent number: 10787315
    Abstract: A method includes providing a first route for a delivery vehicle that is associated with a first deadline to reach a first location. The method also includes receiving a cargo delivery request. The method further includes determining a second route for the delivery vehicle that includes a stop at an automated warehouse. The method additionally includes determining, based on scheduling information for robots at the warehouse, a projected availability time for cargo that satisfies the cargo delivery request to be available for pickup at the warehouse. The method also includes determining that the delivery vehicle is expected to reach the first location by the first deadline after traveling on the second route and picking up the cargo from the warehouse. The method further includes providing the second route to the delivery vehicle and causing a robot at the warehouse to prepare the cargo for pickup at the warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin
  • Patent number: 10723555
    Abstract: A method includes maintaining an inventory database for each warehouse of a plurality of warehouses, where a plurality of robots are deployed at each warehouse, where the inventory database for each warehouse is updated based on messages sent by the plurality of robots at the warehouse during performance of tasks by the plurality of robots at the warehouse. The method further includes receiving an order and determining, for each warehouse, a projected availability time for an item that satisfies the order to be available for pickup at the warehouse based on the inventory database for the warehouse. The method additionally includes selecting a warehouse from the plurality of warehouses based on the projected availability time determined for each warehouse. The method further includes causing at least one robot at the selected warehouse to prepare for pickup the item that satisfies the order at the selected warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin
  • Publication number: 20190066041
    Abstract: A method includes providing a first route for a delivery vehicle that is associated with a first deadline to reach a first location. The method also includes receiving a cargo delivery request. The method further includes determining a second route for the delivery vehicle that includes a stop at an automated warehouse. The method additionally includes determining, based on scheduling information for robots at the warehouse, a projected availability time for cargo that satisfies the cargo delivery request to be available for pickup at the warehouse. The method also includes determining that the delivery vehicle is expected to reach the first location by the first deadline after traveling on the second route and picking up the cargo from the warehouse. The method further includes providing the second route to the delivery vehicle and causing a robot at the warehouse to prepare the cargo for pickup at the warehouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin
  • Publication number: 20190066035
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to coordinating warehouses and supply chains are provided. Respective first and second estimated times of arrival at a loading dock of a warehouse are determined for respective first and second vehicles, where the first estimated arrival time is before the second estimated arrival time. A pallet arrangement at the loading dock is determined that includes a first pallet for the first vehicle and a second pallet for the second vehicle, where the first pallet is closer to the loading dock than the second pallet. The first estimated arrival time later changes to be after the second estimated arrival time. After the first estimated arrival time changes to be after the second estimated arrival time, a robot is instructed to modify the arrangement so that the second pallet is closer to the loading dock than the first pallet before the second estimated arrival time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin
  • Publication number: 20190062055
    Abstract: A method includes maintaining an inventory database for each warehouse of a plurality of warehouses, where a plurality of robots are deployed at each warehouse, where the inventory database for each warehouse is updated based on messages sent by the plurality of robots at the warehouse during performance of tasks by the plurality of robots at the warehouse. The method further includes receiving an order and determining, for each warehouse, a projected availability time for an item that satisfies the order to be available for pickup at the warehouse based on the inventory database for the warehouse. The method additionally includes selecting a warehouse from the plurality of warehouses based on the projected availability time determined for each warehouse. The method further includes causing at least one robot at the selected warehouse to prepare for pickup the item that satisfies the order at the selected warehouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Chris Hance, Thibault Vrevin