Patents by Inventor Alex Perkins

Alex Perkins 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: 20250178188
    Abstract: A robot includes a mobile base, a turntable rotatably coupled to the mobile base, a robotic arm operatively coupled to the turntable, and at least one directional sensor. An orientation of the at least one directional sensor is independently controllable. A method of controlling a robotic arm includes controlling a state of a mobile base and controlling a state of a robotic arm coupled to the mobile base, based, at least in part, on the state of the mobile base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murphy, Benjamin Zelnick, Malik Hansen, Vadim Chernyak, Christopher Everett Thorne, Alex Perkins
  • Publication number: 20250091220
    Abstract: A perception mast for mobile robot is provided. The mobile robot comprises a mobile base, a turntable operatively coupled to the mobile base, the turntable configured to rotate about a first axis, an arm operatively coupled to a first location on the turntable, and the perception mast operatively coupled to a second location on the turntable, the perception mast configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the first axis, wherein the perception mast includes disposed thereon, a first perception module and a second perception module arranged between the first imaging module and the turntable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Turpin, Benjamin Zelnick, Michael Murphy, Alex Perkins
  • Patent number: 12251831
    Abstract: A robot includes a mobile base, a turntable rotatably coupled to the mobile base, a robotic arm operatively coupled to the turntable, and at least one directional sensor. An orientation of the at least one directional sensor is independently controllable. A method of controlling a robotic arm includes controlling a state of a mobile base and controlling a state of a robotic arm coupled to the mobile base, based, at least in part, on the state of the mobile base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Murphy, Benjamin Zelnick, Malik Hansen, Vadim Chernyak, Christopher Everett Thorne, Alex Perkins
  • Patent number: 12186919
    Abstract: A perception mast for mobile robot is provided. The mobile robot comprises a mobile base, a turntable operatively coupled to the mobile base, the turntable configured to rotate about a first axis, an arm operatively coupled to a first location on the turntable, and the perception mast operatively coupled to a second location on the turntable, the perception mast configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the first axis, wherein the perception mast includes disposed thereon, a first perception module and a second perception module arranged between the first imaging module and the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Turpin, Benjamin Zelnick, Michael Murphy, Alex Perkins
  • Patent number: 12175742
    Abstract: A method for detecting boxes includes receiving a plurality of image frame pairs for an area of interest including at least one target box. Each image frame pair includes a monocular image frame and a respective depth image frame. For each image frame pair, the method includes determining corners for a rectangle associated with the at least one target box within the respective monocular image frame. Based on the determined corners, the method includes the following: performing edge detection and determining faces within the respective monocular image frame; and extracting planes corresponding to the at least one target box from the respective depth image frame. The method includes matching the determined faces to the extracted planes and generating a box estimation based on the determined corners, the performed edge detection, and the matched faces of the at least one target box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Perkins, Charles DuHadway, Peter Anderson-Sprecher
  • Patent number: 12139217
    Abstract: An example method may include i) determining a first distance between a pair of feet of a robot at a first time, where the pair of feet is in contact with a ground surface; ii) determining a second distance between the pair of feet of the robot at a second time, where the pair of feet remains in contact with the ground surface from the first time to the second time; iii) comparing a difference between the determined first and second distances to a threshold difference; iv) determining that the difference between determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference; and v) based on the determination that the difference between the determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference, causing the robot to react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, Alex Perkins, Marco da Silva
  • Publication number: 20240246623
    Abstract: An example method may include i) determining a first distance between a pair of feet of a robot at a first time, where the pair of feet is in contact with a ground surface; ii) determining a second distance between the pair of feet of the robot at a second time, where the pair of feet remains in contact with the ground surface from the first time to the second time; iii) comparing a difference between the determined first and second distances to a threshold difference; iv) determining that the difference between determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference; and v) based on the determination that the difference between the determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference, causing the robot to react.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, Alex Perkins, Marco da Silva
  • Patent number: 12036894
    Abstract: A profile for an occupant is stored. The profile includes a plurality of clusters of sitting positions for the occupant in a seat and classifications of respective clusters as preferred or nonpreferred. Respective clusters are classified as preferred or nonpreferred based on sitting scores for the respective sitting positions in that cluster. A higher sitting score increases a likelihood of the classification being preferred. A series of pressure maps indicating a respective series of sitting positions of the occupant in the seat are received. The pressure maps include a current pressure map. One of the sitting positions is assigned to one of the clusters that is classified as preferred in response to the sitting score of that sitting position being greater than a threshold score. A physical configuration of the seat is adjusted in response to the current sitting position being in one of the clusters that is classified as nonpreferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Finn Tseng, Himanshu Verma, Swati Johar Rawat, Kalyani Purushottam Sonawane, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Alex Perkins, Patrick Maloney
  • Patent number: 11932142
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Megan Romelfanger, Victoria Leigh Schein, Brian Boland, Patrick Maloney, Alex Perkins, Marcos Silva Kondrad
  • Publication number: 20240059199
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Megan Romelfanger, Victoria Leigh Schein, Brian Boland, Patrick Maloney, Alex Perkins, Marcos Silva Kondrad
  • Publication number: 20240037936
    Abstract: A method for detecting boxes includes receiving a plurality of image frame pairs for an area of interest including at least one target box. Each image frame pair includes a monocular image frame and a respective depth image frame. For each image frame pair, the method includes determining corners for a rectangle associated with the at least one target box within the respective monocular image frame. Based on the determined corners, the method includes the following: performing edge detection and determining faces within the respective monocular image frame; and extracting planes corresponding to the at least one target box from the respective depth image frame. The method includes matching the determined faces to the extracted planes and generating a box estimation based on the determined corners, the performed edge detection, and the matched faces of the at least one target box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Perkins, Charles DuHadway, Peter Anderson-Sprecher
  • Patent number: 11836974
    Abstract: A method for detecting boxes includes receiving a plurality of image frame pairs for an area of interest including at least one target box. Each image frame pair includes a monocular image frame and a respective depth image frame. For each image frame pair, the method includes determining corners for a rectangle associated with the at least one target box within the respective monocular image frame. Based on the determined corners, the method includes the following: performing edge detection and determining faces within the respective monocular image frame; and extracting planes corresponding to the at least one target box from the respective depth image frame. The method includes matching the determined faces to the extracted planes and generating a box estimation based on the determined corners, the performed edge detection, and the matched faces of the at least one target box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Perkins, Charles DuHadway, Peter Anderson-Sprecher
  • Patent number: 11832019
    Abstract: An image processing method for harmonizing images acquired by a first camera and a second camera connected to a vehicle and arranged in such a way as their fields of view cover a same road space at different times as the vehicle travels along a travel direction is disclosed. The method includes: acquiring by a selected camera, a first image at a first time; selecting a first region of interest bounding a road portion from the first image; sampling the first region of interest; acquiring by the other camera, a second image in such a way that the road portion is included in a second region of interest; sampling the second region of interest; and determining one or more correction parameters for harmonizing images acquired by the first and second cameras, based on a comparison between the image content of the first and second regions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Connaught Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Griffin, Aidan Casey, Emre Turgay, Alex Perkins
  • Patent number: 11780355
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures. Each air bladder may include a release valve for releasing air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Megan Romelfanger, Patrick Maloney, Brian Boland, Alex Perkins, Victoria Leigh Schein, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Sangram Tamhankar
  • Patent number: 11654984
    Abstract: An example method may include i) determining a first distance between a pair of feet of a robot at a first time, where the pair of feet is in contact with a ground surface; ii) determining a second distance between the pair of feet of the robot at a second time, where the pair of feet remains in contact with the ground surface from the first time to the second time; iii) comparing a difference between the determined first and second distances to a threshold difference; iv) determining that the difference between determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference; and v) based on the determination that the difference between the determined first and second distances exceeds the threshold difference, causing the robot to react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, Alex Perkins, Marco da Silva
  • Publication number: 20230113821
    Abstract: A profile for an occupant is stored. The profile includes a plurality of clusters of sitting positions for the occupant in a seat and classifications of respective clusters as preferred or nonpreferred. Respective clusters are classified as preferred or nonpreferred based on sitting scores for the respective sitting positions in that cluster. A higher sitting score increases a likelihood of the classification being preferred. A series of pressure maps indicating a respective series of sitting positions of the occupant in the seat are received. The pressure maps include a current pressure map. One of the sitting positions is assigned to one of the clusters that is classified as preferred in response to the sitting score of that sitting position being greater than a threshold score. A physical configuration of the seat is adjusted in response to the current sitting position being in one of the clusters that is classified as nonpreferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Finn Tseng, Himanshu Verma, Swati Johar Rawat, Kalyani Purushottam Sonawane, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Alex Perkins, Patrick Maloney
  • Publication number: 20230096840
    Abstract: A method for detecting boxes includes receiving a plurality of image frame pairs for an area of interest including at least one target box. Each image frame pair includes a monocular image frame and a respective depth image frame. For each image frame pair, the method includes determining corners for a rectangle associated with the at least one target box within the respective monocular image frame. Based on the determined corners, the method includes the following: performing edge detection and determining faces within the respective monocular image frame; and extracting planes corresponding to the at least one target box from the respective depth image frame. The method includes matching the determined faces to the extracted planes and generating a box estimation based on the determined corners, the performed edge detection, and the matched faces of the at least one target box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Alex Perkins, Charles DuHadway, Peter Anderson-Sprecher
  • Patent number: 11613218
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a series of pressure maps indicating a respective series of sitting positions of an occupant in a seat, wherein the pressure maps include a current pressure map; update a profile of the occupant based on the pressure maps, wherein the profile includes a plurality of clusters of sitting positions and classifications of the clusters as preferred or nonpreferred, and updating the profile includes sorting one of the sitting positions into one of the clusters that is classified as preferred in response to the occupant remaining in that sitting position for greater than a threshold time; and adjust a physical configuration of the seat in response to the current sitting position being in one of the clusters that is classified as nonpreferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Finn Tseng, Shiqi Qiu, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Patrick Maloney, Alex Perkins, Himanshu Verma, Nikhil Kailas Jamdade, Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar, Victoria Leigh Schein, Samuel Laidlaw, Bhagyashri Satyabodha Katti, Kalyani Purushottam Sonawane
  • Publication number: 20230064558
    Abstract: An image processing method for harmonizing images acquired by a first camera and a second camera connected to a vehicle and arranged in such a way as their fields of view cover a same road space at different times as the vehicle travels along a travel direction is disclosed. The method includes: acquiring by a selected camera, a first image at a first time; selecting a first region of interest bounding a road portion from the first image; sampling the first region of interest; acquiring by the other camera, a second image in such a way that the road portion is included in a second region of interest; sampling the second region of interest; and determining one or more correction parameters for harmonizing images acquired by the first and second cameras, based on a comparison between the image content of the first and second regions of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Connaught Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Griffin, Aidan Casey, Emre Turgay, Alex Perkins
  • Patent number: 11562552
    Abstract: A method for detecting boxes includes receiving a plurality of image frame pairs for an area of interest including at least one target box. Each image frame pair includes a monocular image frame and a respective depth image frame. For each image frame pair, the method includes determining corners for a rectangle associated with the at least one target box within the respective monocular image frame. Based on the determined corners, the method includes the following: performing edge detection and determining faces within the respective monocular image frame; and extracting planes corresponding to the at least one target box from the respective depth image frame. The method includes matching the determined faces to the extracted planes and generating a box estimation based on the determined corners, the performed edge detection, and the matched faces of the at least one target box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Perkins, Charles DuHadway, Peter Anderson-Sprecher