Patents by Inventor Paul HVASS
Paul HVASS 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: 20240165828Abstract: An end effector for attaching to a robotic arm includes a gripper fixedly attached to a carriage, and a platform. The gripper is configured for being in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The platform has a distal end and a proximal end that is configured for being coupled to the robotic arm. The carriage is operatively coupled to the platform and is configured to move back and forth between the distal and proximal ends of the platform. The gripper may include a plurality of suction cups configured for engaging a package, and the carriage may be configured for lifting the gripper and dragging the package onto the platform while the package is engaged by the gripper.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Matthew Churchill, Wayne Kirk, Christopher Naville, Charles Costello, Paul Hvass
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Publication number: 20230356404Abstract: The present disclosure is for systems and methods for providing observational support. The invention comprises an observational support system which generally operates as a supplemental system to an existing automated decision support system, such as a primary vision system for robotic picking operations. The observational support system provides an auxiliary sensor module which is operable to obtain data associated with a pick scene independently of the primary vision system and provide the data to an intervention system for further review and processing. The observational support system is generally called upon in situations where the primary vision system fails or encounters circumstances it cannot handle in a timely manner. The observational support system in combination with the intervention system provides supplemental assistance in these circumstances so that robotic picking operations can continue more readily.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Daniel Grollman, Zach Keeton
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Patent number: 11806882Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may generate a binary intermediate mask model from 2D image data and 3D data obtained from a background image and a component image. Because the intermediate mask model is binary, erosion and dilation (e.g., 2D data processing) may be used to remove noise from the intermediate mask model. The augmented intermediate mask model with any erroneous and/or missing data corrected, may be applied to the second aligned model. The pixels in the second aligned model that correspond to pixels in the augmented intermediate mask model that are assigned a value of 1 may be identified as foreground pixels. Then, the vision system may generate foreground object data using the 2D image data and the 3D data in the foreground pixels from the second aligned model.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass
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Publication number: 20230205184Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may maintain an first dataset configured to select pick points for objects. The apparatus may receive, from a user device, a user dataset including a user selected pick point associated with at least one object and a first image of the at least one first object. The apparatus may generate a second dataset based at least in part on the first dataset and the user dataset. The apparatus may receive a second image of a second object. The apparatus may select a pick point for the second object using the second dataset and the second image of the second object. The apparatus may send information associated with the pick point selected for the second object to a robotics device for picking up the second object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Erik Nieves, Austin Deric, Jonathan Lwowski
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Patent number: 11688092Abstract: A package scanning conveyance system that integrates a first two-dimensional image with at least a second two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional point clouds to calculate or estimate a package's physical properties, and/or determine if there are two or more packages in a pile. The captured imaging data is transformed by the inventive system to provide real-time feedback to a human operator to enable the operator to maintain an understanding of the system's performance. The imaging data may also be used to perform quality-checks on other parts of the package delivery and conveyance systems and document the condition of packages that have passed through the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Erik Nieves, Paul Hvass, Joshua Justin Curtis
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Publication number: 20230139689Abstract: A vision system and control system for a robotic pack station is disclosed. Robotic pack stations typically include a work cell, which enables the transfer of items from a tote or a bin to a container. The work cell may include one or more of the following: a robotic arm, a vision system, a control system, a conveyor, and a pack platform. The vision system and control system of the present invention identify items and provide instructions to the robotic arm to pick and/or place items in a bin or a tote.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass
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Patent number: 11592806Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may maintain an first dataset configured to select pick points for objects. The apparatus may receive, from a user device, a user dataset including a user selected pick point associated with at least one object and a first image of the at least one first object. The apparatus may generate a second dataset based at least in part on the first dataset and the user dataset. The apparatus may receive a second image of a second object. The apparatus may select a pick point for the second object using the second dataset and the second image of the second object. The apparatus may send information associated with the pick point selected for the second object to a robotics device for picking up the second object.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: PLUS ONE ROBOTICS, INC.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Erik Nieves, Austin Deric, Jonathan Lwowski
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Publication number: 20220395987Abstract: A vacuum gripping system for grabbing and releasing an object has a base frame for operably engaging a robotic arm. The base frame includes a pneumatic source connector. The system also includes an extendable member configured to extend and retract relative to the base frame. The extendable member has a distal end and a proximal end. The extendable member also has an extended position and a retracted position defining a range of motion therebetween. The system further includes a vacuum cup coupled to the distal end of the extendable member. Still further, the system includes a pneumatic pathway extending from the vacuum cup to the pneumatic source connector. The pneumatic pathway passes through the extendable member such that the vacuum cup remains in pneumatic communication with the pneumatic source connector throughout the range of motion of the extendable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Paul Hvass, Matt Churchill
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Publication number: 20210286342Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may maintain an first dataset configured to select pick points for objects. The apparatus may receive, from a user device, a user dataset including a user selected pick point associated with at least one object and a first image of the at least one first object. The apparatus may generate a second dataset based at least in part on the first dataset and the user dataset. The apparatus may receive a second image of a second object. The apparatus may select a pick point for the second object using the second dataset and the second image of the second object. The apparatus may send information associated with the pick point selected for the second object to a robotics device for picking up the second object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Erik Nieves, Austin Deric, Jonathan Lwowski
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Publication number: 20210237269Abstract: Described are approaches for assigning intervention requests from robots, robotic systems, and/or other smart systems to resources (e.g., human technicians, trained systems) in order to optimize system performance along a variety of different selection criteria specifying various performant dimensions, including, but not limited to improving system efficiency, reducing robot and/or robotics systems idle time, reducing technician idle time, improving triage outcomes, reducing data processing loads, maintaining client confidentiality that may be associated with one or more robotic picking systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Paul Hvass, Shaun Edwards, Christopher T. Hardee
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Publication number: 20210174039Abstract: A package scanning conveyance system that integrates a first two-dimensional image with at least a second two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional point clouds to calculate or estimate a package's physical properties, and/or determine if there are two or more packages in a pile. The captured imaging data is transformed by the inventive system to provide real-time feedback to a human operator to enable the operator to maintain an understanding of the system's performance. The imaging data may also be used to perform quality-checks on other parts of the package delivery and conveyance systems and document the condition of packages that have passed through the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Erik Nieves, Paul Hvass, Joshua Justin Curtis
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Patent number: 11022961Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may maintain an first dataset configured to select pick points for objects. The apparatus may receive, from a user device, a user dataset including a user selected pick point associated with at least one object and a first image of the at least one first object. The apparatus may generate a second dataset based at least in part on the first dataset and the user dataset. The apparatus may receive a second image of a second object. The apparatus may select a pick point for the second object using the second dataset and the second image of the second object. The apparatus may send information associated with the pick point selected for the second object to a robotics device for picking up the second object.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Erik Nieves, Austin Deric, Jonathan Lwowski
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Patent number: 10949635Abstract: A package scanning conveyance system that integrates a first two-dimensional image with at least a second two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional point clouds to calculate or estimate a package's physical properties, and/or determine if there are two or more packages in a pile. The captured imaging data is transformed by the inventive system to provide real-time feedback to a human operator to enable the operator to maintain an understanding of the system's performance. The imaging data may also be used to perform quality-checks on other parts of the package delivery and conveyance systems and document the condition of packages that have passed through the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Plus One Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Erik Nieves, Paul Hvass, Joshua Curtis
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Publication number: 20200324973Abstract: A package scanning conveyance system that integrates a first two-dimensional image with at least a second two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional point clouds to calculate or estimate a package's physical properties, and/or determine if there are two or more packages in a pile. The captured imaging data is transformed by the inventive system to provide real-time feedback to a human operator to enable the operator to maintain an understanding of the system's performance. The imaging data may also be used to perform quality-checks on other parts of the package delivery and conveyance systems and document the condition of packages that have passed through the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Erik Nieves, Paul Hvass, Joshua Curtis
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Publication number: 20200319627Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may maintain an first dataset configured to select pick points for objects. The apparatus may receive, from a user device, a user dataset including a user selected pick point associated with at least one object and a first image of the at least one first object. The apparatus may generate a second dataset based at least in part on the first dataset and the user dataset. The apparatus may receive a second image of a second object. The apparatus may select a pick point for the second object using the second dataset and the second image of the second object. The apparatus may send information associated with the pick point selected for the second object to a robotics device for picking up the second object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Shaun Edwards, Paul Hvass, Erik Nieves, Austin Deric, Jonathan Lwowski
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Patent number: 8838273Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, method and article which may be configured to autonomously dispense a medium onto a relatively large surface relatively accurately.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Paul Hvass, Paul Thomas Evans
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Publication number: 20100143089Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, method and article which may be configured to autonomously dispense a medium onto a relatively large surface relatively accurately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Paul HVASS, Paul Thomas EVANS