Patents by Inventor Peter N. Steele

Peter N. Steele 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).

  • High resolution vacuum grippers that utilize bi-stable flow valves
    Patent number: 10604359
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing enhanced vacuum gripping techniques. One embodiment is a method that includes locating an array of valves for an end effector, selectively switching valves within the array between open states and closed states based on a shape of a work piece that the end effector will transport, selectively applying vacuum through a plurality of valves in a shape that corresponds with the shape of the work piece, disposing the end effector at the work piece while the vacuum is applied to grip the work piece, and picking up the work piece by moving the end effector while the vacuum is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ashleigh Raoul Nesbit, Peter N. Steele
  • HIGH RESOLUTION VACUUM GRIPPERS THAT UTILIZE BI-STABLE FLOW VALVES
    Publication number: 20190248600
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing enhanced vacuum gripping techniques. One embodiment is a method that includes locating an array of valves for an end effector, selectively switching valves within the array between open states and closed states based on a shape of a work piece that the end effector will transport, selectively applying vacuum through a plurality of valves in a shape that corresponds with the shape of the work piece, disposing the end effector at the work piece while the vacuum is applied to grip the work piece, and picking up the work piece by moving the end effector while the vacuum is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Ashleigh Raoul Nesbit, Peter N. Steele