Patents by Inventor Matthew Whelan
Matthew Whelan 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).
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Publication number: 20200361707Abstract: An exemplary robotic parking device of the present disclosure includes a number of stacks of containers. The stacks being positioned within a frame structure including uprights and a horizontal grid disposed above the stacks. The grid having substantially perpendicular rails on which load handling devices can run. Cars or vehicles are positioned in containers and are moved into and out of the stacks by the robotic handling devices running on the grid. The cars are put into the grid at entry points that may be positioned at points under the stacks.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture LINDBO, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Pawel KAROLINCZAK, Matthew WHELAN
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Publication number: 20200363819Abstract: A controller is provided to control movement of transporting devices. Embodiments limit the loads imparted on a grid of pathways structure of transporting devices to prevent non-safety-critical damage from excess loads and/or fatigue. A controller is arranged to control movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in a facility. The facility includes pathways arranged in cells to form a grid-like structure which extends in first and second directions. A route determination unit determines a route from one location to another, and a clearance unit to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the determined route. A constraint area determination unit determines constraint areas based on the grid-like structure and a calculation unit calculates a constraint limit in each constraint area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Ocado Innovation LimitedInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Gareth SIRET
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Patent number: 10766698Abstract: A robotic parking device is described. The device includes a number of stacks of containers as shown in FIG. 3, the stacks being positioned within a frame structure including uprights and a horizontal grid disposed above the stacks, the grid having substantially perpendicular rails on which load handling devices can run. Cars or vehicles are positioned in containers that are moved in to and out of the stacks by the robotic handling devices running on the grid. The cars are put in to the grid at entry points that may be positioned at points under the stacks.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Pawel Karolinczak, Matthew Whelan
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Patent number: 10752440Abstract: A system and method for handling shipping containers is described. The container handling system includes a crane, the crane having crane load handling devices. The container handling system includes a conveyance device, the conveyance device including transversal load handling devices. The system provides storage and sortation for storing the containers in a series of stacks disposed beneath a grid, the grid having a series of load handling devices operable thereon. The crane load handling device removes a container from a ship, transports it to transversal load handling device operable on a conveyor. The container is moved on the conveyor to a transfer point where it is collected by a robotic load handling device for transport to the storage and sortation area.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Pawel Karolinczak, Matthew Whelan
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Patent number: 10612995Abstract: Electronic nondestructive inspection tools for timber distribution poles are provided herein. An electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a vibration sensor configured to perform a vibration measurement of a timber distribution pole. In some embodiments, the electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a processor configured to perform operations including estimating decay of the timber distribution pole, using the vibration measurement and a physics model of the timber distribution pole; and outputting an indication of the decay of the timber distribution pole. Related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignees: Duke Energy Corporation, The University of North Carolina at CharlotteInventors: Matthew Whelan, Jerry Ivey, Steven Mitchell Dulin
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Publication number: 20200012268Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20190375588Abstract: A robotic cargo handling system and method provides an interchange for moving shipping containers and semi-trailers between trains, between train and road vehicles and between road vehicles. The interchange includes a structure located above a series of railway tracks forming part of a rail network and a series of roads forming part of a road network. Tracks supported by the structure form a grid-like pattern above the transport network tracks and roads. Robotic load handlers operable on the tracks or rails of the grid structure pick up containers from beneath the structure and move the containers to alternative locations-by moving the containers between vehicles located beneath the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2017Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Ocado Innovation LimitedInventors: Lars Sverker Ture LINDBO, Matthew WHELAN, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Gion-Otto PRESSER-VELDER
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Patent number: 10474141Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimization unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20190240517Abstract: A fire extinguishing robotic service device is described for use with a robotic picking system grid. The fire extinguishing robotic service device is configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to extinguish a fire. The service device may also be provided with a camera sensor to locate the fire.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Paul CLARKE, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Matthew WHELAN, Pawel KAROLINCZAK
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Publication number: 20190017896Abstract: Electronic nondestructive inspection tools for timber distribution poles are provided herein. An electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a vibration sensor configured to perform a vibration measurement of a timber distribution pole. In some embodiments, the electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a processor configured to perform operations including estimating decay of the timber distribution pole, using the vibration measurement and a physics model of the timber distribution pole; and outputting an indication of the decay of the timber distribution pole. Related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Matthew Whelan, Jerry Ivey, Steven Mitchell Dulin
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Patent number: 10086999Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for controlling the movement of transporting devices and/or operations conducted at various workstations are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems and computer-readable media for controlling the movement of transporting devices configured for fully—and/or partly automated handling of goods and/or controlling operations conducted at various workstations.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20180276606Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20180276608Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport containers in stacks arranged in a facility, the facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the at least one transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the system. A receiving unit is configured to receive information about a product to be returned to a container in a stack, wherein the product is located at a workstation; and a control unit is configured to select a container located in the stacks into which the product is to be placed and instruct a transporting device to move the selected container to a location of the workstation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20180276607Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20180086559Abstract: A robotic parking device is described. The device includes a number of stacks of containers as shown in FIG. 3, the stacks being positioned within a frame structure including uprights and a horizontal grid disposed above the stacks, the grid having substantially perpendicular rails on which load handling devices can run. Cars or vehicles are positioned in containers that are moved in to and out of the stacks by the robotic handling devices running on the grid. The cars are put in to the grid at entry points that may be positioned at points under the stacks.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Lars Sverker Ture LINDBO, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Pawel KAROLINCZAK, Matthew WHELAN
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Publication number: 20180075402Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for controlling the movement of transporting devices and/or operations conducted at various workstations are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems and computer-readable media for controlling the movement of transporting devices configured for fully—and/or partly automated handling of goods and/or controlling operations conducted at various workstations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20180050869Abstract: A system and method for handling shipping containers is described. The container handling system includes a crane, the crane having crane load handling devices. The container handling system includes a conveyance device, the conveyance device including transversal load handling devices. The system provides storage and sortation for storing the containers in a series of stacks disposed beneath a grid, the grid having a series of load handling devices operable thereon. The crane load handling device removes a container from a ship, transports it to transversal load handling device operable on a conveyor. The container is moved on the conveyor to a transfer point where it is collected by a robotic load handling device for transport to the storage and sortation area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Applicant: Ocado Innovation LimitedInventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Pawel Karolinczak, Matthew Whelan