Patents by Inventor Allison Thackston

Allison Thackston 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: 20190091865
    Abstract: Robot systems including a robot, an on-premise computing device, and a cloud services system are disclosed. An on-premise computing device includes a processor and a non-transitory memory device storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive raw sensor data from a robot, pre-process the sensor data to remove unnecessary information from the sensor data and obtain pre-processed data, transmit the pre-processed data to a cloud services system, receive, from the cloud services system, an object type, an object pose, and an object location of an object corresponding to the pre-processed data, and transmit a signal to the robot based on at least one of the object type, the object pose, and the object location of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Amacker, Arshan Poursohi, Allison Thackston
  • Publication number: 20190096134
    Abstract: A computing device configured to display a virtual representation of an environment of a robot includes a display device, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to receive data from the one or more sensors of the robot with respect to an object within an environment of the robot. The processor is also configured to display a virtual representation of the object within a virtual mapping of the environment based on the data received from the one or more sensors. The processor is further configured to receive input data selecting the virtual representation of the object. The processor is also further configured to send instructions to the robot to act in response to the received input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Amacker, Arshan Poursohi, Allison Thackston
  • Patent number: 10188580
    Abstract: A system for providing, to a user, navigation directions to a point of interest. The system includes a device having an output unit configured to output the navigation directions to the point of interest. The device is configured to communicate, to an unmanned vehicle, a point of interest identification. The system also includes the unmanned vehicle having a camera configured to detect image data. The unmanned vehicle is configured to determine whether the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine a point of interest location when the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine point of interest navigation data based on the point of interest location. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to communicate, to the device, the point of interest navigation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Dayal, Christopher P. Lee, Allison Thackston
  • Patent number: 10022753
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for an automated mailbox system. The automated mailbox system includes a personal device configured to manage a robot. The robot includes a base that forms a foundation for the robot and is coupled to a post. The robot includes a mailbox having a door. The mailbox is configured to receive documents when in the open position. The robot includes a transportation component that moves the robot in multiple directions among multiple locations. The transportation component is configured to move the robot in a first direction to a first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Suhas E. Chelian, Allison Thackston, Douglas Moore
  • Patent number: 10024680
    Abstract: A device for providing spatial information to a user. The device includes a camera configured to detect image data. The device also includes an accelerometer configured to determine step data. The device also includes a processor connected to the camera and the accelerometer and configured to determine a distance travelled per step of the user based on the image data and the step data. The processor is also configured to determine a distance to a reference point based on the image data. The processor is also configured to determine a number of steps corresponding to the distance to the reference point based on the distance travelled per step of the user. The device also includes an output unit connected to the processor and configured to output the spatial information indicating the number of steps corresponding to the distance to the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Lee, Carlo Cruz, Allison Thackston
  • Publication number: 20170326598
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for an automated mailbox system. The automated mailbox system includes a personal device configured to manage a robot. The robot includes a base that forms a foundation for the robot and is coupled to a post. The robot includes a mailbox having a door. The mailbox is configured to receive documents when in the open position. The robot includes a transportation component that moves the robot in multiple directions among multiple locations. The transportation component is configured to move the robot in a first direction to a first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Suhas E. Chelian, Allison Thackston, Douglas Moore
  • Publication number: 20170319426
    Abstract: A system for providing, to a user, navigation directions to a point of interest. The system includes a device having an output unit configured to output the navigation directions to the point of interest. The device is configured to communicate, to an unmanned vehicle, a point of interest identification. The system also includes the unmanned vehicle having a camera configured to detect image data. The unmanned vehicle is configured to determine Whether the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine a point of interest location when the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine point of interest navigation data based on the point of interest location. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to communicate, to the device, the point of interest navigation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Rajiv Dayal, Christopher P. Lee, Allison Thackston
  • Publication number: 20170261334
    Abstract: A device for providing spatial information to a user. The device includes a camera configured to detect image data. The device also includes an accelerometer configured to determine step data. The device also includes a processor connected to the camera and the accelerometer and configured to determine a distance travelled per step of the user based on the image data and the step data. The processor is also configured to determine a distance to a reference point based on the image data. The processor is also configured to determine a number of steps corresponding to the distance to the reference point based on the distance travelled per step of the user. The device also includes an output unit connected to the processor and configured to output the spatial information indicating the number of steps corresponding to the distance to the reference point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher P. Lee, Carlo Cruz, Allison Thackston