Patents by Inventor Christopher Hance

Christopher 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: 11157841
    Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10943210
    Abstract: Example methods and systems enable rearrangement of a warehouse to an optimal layout determined according to customizable goals. An example method includes receiving, at a warehouse management system (WMS), information of a warehouse and items of the warehouse, identifying an item shipment expectation including new items expected to be received at the warehouse at a future date and items present at the warehouse marked for delivery at the future date, determining an optimal layout of the items of the warehouse at a present date based on the item shipment expectation, determining an amount of time to rearrange the items, by one or more of robotic devices rearranging the items, to the optimal layout based on a time measurement for robotic devices to perform tasks, and determining to rearrange the items of the warehouse based on the amount of time to rearrange the items being less than a threshold amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10846625
    Abstract: Examples described may enable consolidating pallets of items in a warehouse. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and inventory of items arranged on the pallets; based on the real-time item information, identifying a set of pallets of which at least one pallet includes less than a threshold quantity of a type of item; receiving real-time robotics information and determining, based on the real-time item and robotics information, an amount of time to condense the items on the set of pallets into a single pallet and a quantity of pallets that will become empty as a result of condensing the items; and, based on the amount of time being less than a threshold time and the quantity of pallets exceeding a threshold quantity of pallets, causing robotic devices to condense the items into the single pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10759599
    Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device deployed in a warehouse environment including a plurality of inventory items. The system also includes a camera coupled to the robotic device, configured to capture image data. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive the captured image data. The computing system is configured to, based on the received image data, generate a navigation instruction for navigation of the robotic device. The computing system is also configured to analyze the received image data to detect one or more on-item visual identifiers corresponding to one or more inventory items. The computing system is further configured to, for each detected visual identifier, (i) determine a warehouse location of the corresponding inventory item, (ii) compare the determined warehouse location to an expected location, and (iii) initiate an action based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200210909
    Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10628763
    Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200097898
    Abstract: Example methods and systems enable rearrangement of a warehouse to an optimal layout determined according to customizable goals. An example method includes receiving, at a warehouse management system (WMS), information of a warehouse and items of the warehouse, identifying an item shipment expectation including new items expected to be received at the warehouse at a future date and items present at the warehouse marked for delivery at the future date, determining an optimal layout of the items of the warehouse at a present date based on the item shipment expectation, determining an amount of time to rearrange the items, by one or more of robotic devices rearranging the items, to the optimal layout based on a time measurement for robotic devices to perform tasks, and determining to rearrange the items of the warehouse based on the amount of time to rearrange the items being less than a threshold amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200087068
    Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device deployed in a warehouse environment including a plurality of inventory items. The system also includes a camera coupled to the robotic device, configured to capture image data. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive the captured image data. The computing system is configured to, based on the received image data, generate a navigation instruction for navigation of the robotic device. The computing system is also configured to analyze the received image data to detect one or more on-item visual identifiers corresponding to one or more inventory items. The computing system is further configured to, for each detected visual identifier, (i) determine a warehouse location of the corresponding inventory item, (ii) compare the determined warehouse location to an expected location, and (iii) initiate an action based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200005202
    Abstract: Examples described may enable consolidating pallets of items in a warehouse. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and inventory of items arranged on the pallets; based on the real-time item information, identifying a set of pallets of which at least one pallet includes less than a threshold quantity of a type of item; receiving real-time robotics information and determining, based on the real-time item and robotics information, an amount of time to condense the items on the set of pallets into a single pallet and a quantity of pallets that will become empty as a result of condensing the items; and, based on the amount of time being less than a threshold time and the quantity of pallets exceeding a threshold quantity of pallets, causing robotic devices to condense the items into the single pallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10518973
    Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device deployed in a warehouse environment including a plurality of inventory items. The system also includes a camera coupled to the robotic device, configured to capture image data. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive the captured image data. The computing system is configured to, based on the received image data, generate a navigation instruction for navigation of the robotic device. The computing system is also configured to analyze the received image data to detect one or more on-item visual identifiers corresponding to one or more inventory items. The computing system is further configured to, for each detected visual identifier, (i) determine a warehouse location of the corresponding inventory item, (ii) compare the determined warehouse location to an expected location, and (iii) initiate an action based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10504055
    Abstract: Example methods and systems enable rearrangement of a warehouse to an optimal layout determined according to customizable goals. An example method includes receiving, at a warehouse management system (WMS), information of a warehouse and items of the warehouse, identifying an item shipment expectation including new items expected to be received at the warehouse at a future date and items present at the warehouse marked for delivery at the future date, determining an optimal layout of the items of the warehouse at a present date based on the item shipment expectation, determining an amount of time to rearrange the items, by one or more of robotic devices rearranging the items, to the optimal layout based on a time measurement for robotic devices to perform tasks, and determining to rearrange the items of the warehouse based on the amount of time to rearrange the items being less than a threshold amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10453002
    Abstract: Examples described may enable consolidating pallets of items in a warehouse. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and inventory of items arranged on the pallets; based on the real-time item information, identifying a set of pallets of which at least one pallet includes less than a threshold quantity of a type of item; receiving real-time robotics information and determining, based on the real-time item and robotics information, an amount of time to condense the items on the set of pallets into a single pallet and a quantity of pallets that will become empty as a result of condensing the items; and, based on the amount of time being less than a threshold time and the quantity of pallets exceeding a threshold quantity of pallets, causing robotic devices to condense the items into the single pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10353395
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving image data captured by a sensor on a robotic device. The robotic device is in a warehouse, including multiple inventory items stored at storage locations in the warehouse. Each inventory item has an on-item identifier that identifies it in a warehouse management system (WMS), each storage location has a storage-location identifier that identifies it in the WMS, and a first on-item identifier for a first inventory item is associated in the WMS with a first storage-location identifier for a first storage location. The method includes analyzing the received sensor data to detect an identifier captured by the sensor. The detected identifier includes one or both of the first on-item identifier and the first storage-location identifier. The method includes determining a warehouse location associated with the detected identifier and, based on the warehouse location, determining a location of the robotic device within the warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10265871
    Abstract: An example method is carried out in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier. The method involves determining a target inventory item having a target on-item identifier. The method also involves determining that a first inventory item having a first on-item identifier is loaded onto a first robotic device. The method further involves transmitting a request to verify the first on-item identifier. The method still further involves receiving data captured by a sensor of the second robotic device. The method yet further involves (i) analyzing the received data to determine the first on-item identifier, (ii) comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, and (iii) responsive to comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, performing an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20190034839
    Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20180370046
    Abstract: An example method is carried out in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier. The method involves determining a target inventory item having a target on-item identifier. The method also involves determining that a first inventory item having a first on-item identifier is loaded onto a first robotic device. The method further involves transmitting a request to verify the first on-item identifier. The method still further involves receiving data captured by a sensor of the second robotic device. The method yet further involves (i) analyzing the received data to determine the first on-item identifier, (ii) comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, and (iii) responsive to comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, performing an action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20180370727
    Abstract: An example system includes a robotic device deployed in a warehouse environment including a plurality of inventory items. The system also includes a camera coupled to the robotic device, configured to capture image data. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive the captured image data. The computing system is configured to, based on the received image data, generate a navigation instruction for navigation of the robotic device. The computing system is also configured to analyze the received image data to detect one or more on-item visual identifiers corresponding to one or more inventory items. The computing system is further configured to, for each detected visual identifier, (i) determine a warehouse location of the corresponding inventory item, (ii) compare the determined warehouse location to an expected location, and (iii) initiate an action based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20180365603
    Abstract: Examples described may enable consolidating pallets of items in a warehouse. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and inventory of items arranged on the pallets; based on the real-time item information, identifying a set of pallets of which at least one pallet includes less than a threshold quantity of a type of item; receiving real-time robotics information and determining, based on the real-time item and robotics information, an amount of time to condense the items on the set of pallets into a single pallet and a quantity of pallets that will become empty as a result of condensing the items; and, based on the amount of time being less than a threshold time and the quantity of pallets exceeding a threshold quantity of pallets, causing robotic devices to condense the items into the single pallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10133990
    Abstract: Examples described may enable rearrangement of pallets of items in a warehouse to an optimal layout. An example method includes receiving real-time item information including pallet locations in a warehouse and real-time inventory of items arranged on the pallets; determining a likelihood of demand for future access to the pallets based on a pallet relocation history and item receiving/shipment expectations; based on the real-time item information and the likelihood of demand, determining an optimal controlled-access dense grid layout in which distances of the pallets from a center of the layout are related to the likelihood of demand; receiving real-time robotics information and using the real-time robotics information to determine an amount of time to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout; and, based on the amount of time to rearrange the pallets being less than a threshold, causing the robotic devices to rearrange the pallets to the optimal layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10099391
    Abstract: An example method is carried out in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier. The method involves determining a target inventory item having a target on-item identifier. The method also involves determining that a first inventory item having a first on-item identifier is loaded onto a first robotic device. The method further involves transmitting a request to verify the first on-item identifier. The method still further involves receiving data captured by a sensor of the second robotic device. The method yet further involves (i) analyzing the received data to determine the first on-item identifier, (ii) comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, and (iii) responsive to comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, performing an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hance, Daniel Shaffer