Patents by Inventor Nicholas Hoyne

Nicholas Hoyne 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).

  • Publication number: 20230157227
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for watering plants on a rack. Sensor data is analyzed to generate a status of a plant on a rack and updated water instructions are generated. A robotic device moves the selected plant rack to a watering zone. A release of water onto the selected plant rack within the watering zone is detected and a set of rotational maneuvers is initiated to enable equal water distribution across the selected plant rack. The selected plant rack is then return to the original, assigned location based on a cessation of water emissions being detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Ryan DeJarnette, Kevin Reed, Nicholas Hoyne
  • Patent number: 11582925
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for watering plants on a rack. A robotic device attaches to a portion of the rack and pulls or pushes the rack to a watering zone. A sprinkler device sprays water to evenly distribute water across all plants on the rack. The system determines quantity of water, duration of watering, and frequency of watering based on real-time sensor data and context data associated with the environment, historical watering data, condition of the plants on the rack and a set of customized maintenance rules based on the type of plants on the rack. When watering is complete, the robotic device returns the rack to a designated location and detaches from the rack. The robotic device then attaches to another rack having plants on it scheduled for watering. The watering schedule is updated dynamically based on changing weather and plant state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Ryan DeJarnette, Kevin Reed, Nicholas Hoyne
  • Publication number: 20200037522
    Abstract: Examples provide a robotic plant-watering device including a set of articulated robotic arms connected to a main body. One or more adjustable water sprinkler devices attach to one or more of the robotic arms for watering one or more selected plants. One or more gripper devices removably attach to one or more of the robotic arms to grip a portion of a plant or plant container. The gripper device is utilized to modify a plant's position or location. A set of sensor devices generate sensor data associated with the plants or the conditions within a live plant center. A plant maintenance component analyzes the sensor data using a set of plant maintenance rules to generate a dynamic plant watering schedules based on the plant status and ambient conditions. The plant-watering device autonomously sprays a predetermined amount of water specified in the dynamic plant watering schedule onto a selected plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Ryan DeJarnette, Nicholas Hoyne, Kevin Reed
  • Publication number: 20200037521
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for watering plants on a rack. A robotic device attaches to a portion of the rack and pulls or pushes the rack to a watering zone. A sprinkler device sprays water to evenly distribute water across all plants on the rack. The system determines quantity of water, duration of watering, and frequency of watering based on real-time sensor data and context data associated with the environment, historical watering data, condition of the plants on the rack and a set of customized maintenance rules based on the type of plants on the rack. When watering is complete, the robotic device returns the rack to a designated location and detaches from the rack. The robotic device then attaches to another rack having plants on it scheduled for watering. The watering schedule is updated dynamically based on changing weather and plant state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Ryan DeJarnette, Kevin Reed, Nicholas Hoyne
  • Publication number: 20200009586
    Abstract: A water dispensing apparatus comprises a first tubular elongated element including a first inlet at a proximal end of the first tubular elongated element, an outlet at a distal end of the first tubular elongated element, and an uninterrupted first flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet for outputting a source of fluid to the outlet; a second tubular elongated element including a second inlet at a proximal end of the second tubular elongated element, a second flow path extending along a length of the second tubular elongated element from the inlet in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of outlets along the length of the second tubular elongated element for outputting a source of fluid; a nozzle coupled to the outlet of the first tubular elongated element; and a control valve system coupled to each of the first and second inlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Yurgis Mauro Bacallao, Nicholas Hoyne
  • Publication number: 20190231096
    Abstract: Described is a shopping bag distribution station can be used by customers to obtain shopping bags to bag their purchases as they shop. The disclosed shopping bag distribution station includes a shopping bag dispenser and a wire rack. The shopping bag dispenser holds shopping bags, and is hung from the wire rack in a retail store so the shopping bags in the shopping bag dispenser are available to customers as they shop. The shopping bag dispenser includes a box front portion and a back plate that couple together to form a rectangular enclosure for the shopping bags. The box front portion has a bag holder hook inside the enclosure that shopping bags are hung from. An opening in the box front portion allows access to the shopping bags hanging from the bag holder hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Yurgis Mauro Bacallao, Nicholas Hoyne, Jim Enneking