Patents by Inventor Alex Yu Khripin

Alex Yu Khripin 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).

  • Patent number: 12097609
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for mitigating slip of a robot appendage. In one aspect, a method for mitigating slip of a robot appendage includes (i) receiving an input from one or more sensors, (ii) determining, based on the received input, an appendage position of the robot appendage, (iii) determining a filter position for the robot appendage, (iv) determining a distance between the appendage position and the filter position, (v) determining, based on the distance, a force to apply to the robot appendage, (vi) causing one or more actuators to apply the force to the robot appendage, (vii) determining whether the distance is greater than a threshold distance, and (viii) responsive to determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance, the control system adjusting the filter position to a position, which is the threshold distance from the appendage position, for use in a next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Alex Yu Khripin, Benjamin Swilling
  • Patent number: 12054208
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Publication number: 20240075998
    Abstract: An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Patent number: 11851120
    Abstract: An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Publication number: 20220134576
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for mitigating slip of a robot appendage. In one aspect, a method for mitigating slip of a robot appendage includes (i) receiving an input from one or more sensors, (ii) determining, based on the received input, an appendage position of the robot appendage, (iii) determining a filter position for the robot appendage, (iv) determining a distance between the appendage position and the filter position, (v) determining, based on the distance, a force to apply to the robot appendage, (vi) causing one or more actuators to apply the force to the robot appendage, (vii) determining whether the distance is greater than a threshold distance, and (viii) responsive to determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance, the control system adjusting the filter position to a position, which is the threshold distance from the appendage position, for use in a next iteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Alex Yu Khripin, Benjamin Swilling
  • Patent number: 11319005
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Patent number: 11247344
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for mitigating slip of a robot appendage. In one aspect, a method for mitigating slip of a robot appendage includes (i) receiving an input from one or more sensors, (ii) determining, based on the received input, an appendage position of the robot appendage, (iii) determining a filter position for the robot appendage, (iv) determining a distance between the appendage position and the filter position, (v) determining, based on the distance, a force to apply to the robot appendage, (vi) causing one or more actuators to apply the force to the robot appendage, (vii) determining whether the distance is greater than a threshold distance, and (viii) responsive to determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance, the control system adjusting the filter position to a position, which is the threshold distance from the appendage position, for use in a next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Alex Yu Khripin, Benjamin Swilling
  • Publication number: 20210309310
    Abstract: An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Patent number: 11059532
    Abstract: An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Publication number: 20210147017
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Patent number: 10704570
    Abstract: An example robot includes movable members, a hydraulic system including at least (i) hydraulic actuators configured to operate the movable members, and (ii) a source of hydraulic fluid, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine a task to be performed by the robot, where the task includes a plurality of phases; cause hydraulic fluid having a first pressure level to flow from the source to the hydraulic actuators for the robot to perform a first phase of the plurality of phases of the task; based on a second phase of the task, determine a second pressure level for the hydraulic fluid; and adjust, based on the second pressure level, operation of the hydraulic system before the robot begins the second phase of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Alex Yu Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 10688667
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for mitigating slip of a robot appendage. In one aspect, a method for mitigating slip of a robot appendage includes (i) receiving an input from one or more sensors, (ii) determining, based on the received input, an appendage position of the robot appendage, (iii) determining a filter position for the robot appendage, (iv) determining a distance between the appendage position and the filter position, (v) determining, based on the distance, a force to apply to the robot appendage, (vi) causing one or more actuators to apply the force to the robot appendage, (vii) determining whether the distance is greater than a threshold distance, and (viii) responsive to determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance, the control system adjusting the filter position to a position, which is the threshold distance from the appendage position, for use in a next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Alex Yu Khripin, Benjamin Swilling
  • Publication number: 20190344845
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Patent number: 10399621
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Publication number: 20190210673
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Patent number: 10266220
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Publication number: 20190063468
    Abstract: An example robot includes movable members, a hydraulic system including at least (i) hydraulic actuators configured to operate the movable members, and (ii) a source of hydraulic fluid, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine a task to be performed by the robot, where the task includes a plurality of phases; cause hydraulic fluid having a first pressure level to flow from the source to the hydraulic actuators for the robot to perform a first phase of the plurality of phases of the task; based on a second phase of the task, determine a second pressure level for the hydraulic fluid; and adjust, based on the second pressure level, operation of the hydraulic system before the robot begins the second phase of the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Alex Yu Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Publication number: 20190054965
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay
  • Patent number: 10145392
    Abstract: An example robot includes movable members, a hydraulic system including at least (i) hydraulic actuators configured to operate the movable members, and (ii) a source of hydraulic fluid, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine a task to be performed by the robot, where the task includes a plurality of phases; cause hydraulic fluid having a first pressure level to flow from the source to the hydraulic actuators for the robot to perform a first phase of the plurality of phases of the task; based on a second phase of the task, determine a second pressure level for the hydraulic fluid; and adjust, based on the second pressure level, operation of the hydraulic system before the robot begins the second phase of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Alex Yu Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 10144465
    Abstract: A legged robot may seek to operate according to a target gait. The legged robot may include leg members and leg joints. Possibly based on the target gait and state of the legged robot, an ordered list of gait controllers may be obtained. The gait controllers in the ordered list may define respective gaits of the legged robot, and may include respective validity checks and output parameters for the respective gaits. The ordered list may begin with a target gait controller that defines the target gait. The ordered list may be traversed in order from the target gait controller until a validity check associated with a particular gait controller passes. The legged robot may be instructed to actuate the leg members and/or leg joints according to output parameters of the particular gait controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Swilling, Eric Whitman, Stephen Berard, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Alex Yu Khripin, Gina Christine Fay