Patents by Inventor Brian Dale Laughlin

Brian Dale Laughlin 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: 20180259964
    Abstract: An example autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface for receiving instructions to perform a first task in an environment using a first strategy, sensors for detecting conditions in the environment to carry out the first task, data storage storing a plurality of task interruption scenarios each having an associated priority setting, and a processor for executing instructions for autonomous decision-making to perform functions. The functions include during performance of the first task, identifying that the conditions in the environment are associated with one of the plurality of task interruption scenarios, determining that the identified task interruption scenario is associated with a second task that has a higher priority setting than the first task, determining an asset needed to perform the second task, and based on the autonomous vehicle having the asset, autonomously (i) stopping performance of the first task and (ii) changing to perform the second task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Patent number: 10026227
    Abstract: The different illustrative embodiments provide a method for augmenting reality that may be applied to repairs performed on a composite structure. An image may be recorded of a first layer of a composite component. The image may relate to a first repair performed at a first time. Physical data may be captured for the composite component from a surface layer of the composite component using a number of portable devices. A multi-dimensional representation of a combined augmented reality of the composite component including a display of various layers of the composite component selected by a user may be generated. A user selection may include a time restriction and a spatial restriction. The number of portable devices may display the multi-dimensional representation comprising physical data for an image of the surface of the composite component and digital data for an overlay of composite layers beyond the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, Richard Eugene Murrish, Jan H. Vandenbrande
  • Patent number: 9996082
    Abstract: An example autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface for receiving instructions to perform a first task in an environment using a first strategy, sensors for detecting conditions in the environment to carry out the first task, data storage storing a plurality of task interruption scenarios each having an associated priority setting, and a processor for executing instructions for autonomous decision-making to perform functions. The functions include during performance of the first task, identifying that the conditions in the environment are associated with one of the plurality of task interruption scenarios, determining that the identified task interruption scenario is associated with a second task that has a higher priority setting than the first task, determining an asset needed to perform the second task, and based on the autonomous vehicle having the asset, autonomously (i) stopping performance of the first task and (ii) changing to perform the second task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John W. Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Patent number: 9933470
    Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of an energy spectrum. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive input from sensors configured to measure emissions within an environment of a user, and provide a corresponding sensed input that includes a at least one energy frequency of the emissions and that indicates a spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions within the environment. The system may also include an energy spectrum system configured to generate from the sensed input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the at least one energy frequency and spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions from which a significance of the emissions is identifiable, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey
  • Patent number: 9904356
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes sensors(s) configured to provide sensed input including measurements of motion and/or orientation of a user during performance of a task to work a complex-system component. The system includes a front-end system configured to process the sensed input including the measurements to identify a known pattern that indicates a significance of the sensed input from which to identify operations of an electronic resource. The front-end system is configured to form and communicate an input to cause the electronic resource to perform the operations and produce an output. The operations include determination of an action of the user during performance of the task, or calculation of a process variable related to performance of the task, from the measurements. And the front-end system is configured to receive the output from the electronic resource, and communicate the output to a display device, audio output device or haptic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, Richard N. Blair, William David Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20170357263
    Abstract: An example autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface for receiving instructions to perform a first task in an environment using a first strategy, sensors for detecting conditions in the environment to carry out the first task, data storage storing a plurality of task interruption scenarios each having an associated priority setting, and a processor for executing instructions for autonomous decision-making to perform functions. The functions include during performance of the first task, identifying that the conditions in the environment are associated with one of the plurality of task interruption scenarios, determining that the identified task interruption scenario is associated with a second task that has a higher priority setting than the first task, determining an asset needed to perform the second task, and based on the autonomous vehicle having the asset, autonomously (i) stopping performance of the first task and (ii) changing to perform the second task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: John W. Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20170358194
    Abstract: A system for monitoring one or more environmental conditions associated with a working environment includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a worker and one or more environmental sampling sensors configured to monitor the one or more environmental conditions associated with the working environment and determine environmental sampling information based on the monitoring of the one or more environmental conditions. The system further includes a positioning sensor configured to determine positioning information for the worker, the positioning information for the worker including information regarding positioning of the worker relative to the working environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John William Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20170300852
    Abstract: A manufacturing materiel management system. The system includes a product inventory monitor including at least one processor having a memory and a communications link, and at least one of a minimum-maximum item matrix and an item supplier dependency matrix. The system includes a manufacturing line item sensor network coupled to the product inventory monitor and configured to monitor in real-time inventory levels of a plurality of components, sub-assemblies, and assemblies in the product inventory used for a manufacturing line for manufacturing an object. The system includes a disruption pattern detector in communication with the manufacturing line item sensor network, and configured to detect normal and abnormal inventory turns, and to generate therefrom normal and disruption patterns. The system includes a resource allocator configured to monitor the normal and disruption patterns and to allocate resources to different projects when a disrupted pattern occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: John W. Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Patent number: 9648091
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for modifying an entity sensory representation. An entity sensory representation representing an entity is received. The entity sensory representation comprises a plurality of sensory representations that represent a plurality of items that are part of the entity. Each of the plurality of items is associated with a set of values for a set of measurable factors of interest. A set of scale factors is calculated for each of the plurality of sensory representations based on the set of values associated with the each of the plurality of items. The plurality of sensory representations is modified using the set of scale factors to form a plurality of modified sensory representations that establish a relative relationship between the plurality of items represented by the plurality of modified sensory representations with respect to the set of measurable factors of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Emily Louise Howard, Brian Dale Laughlin, Wayne Richard Howe
  • Publication number: 20170061690
    Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of an energy spectrum. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive input from sensors configured to measure emissions within an environment of a user, and provide a corresponding sensed input that includes a at least one energy frequency of the emissions and that indicates a spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions within the environment. The system may also include an energy spectrum system configured to generate from the sensed input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the at least one energy frequency and spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions from which a significance of the emissions is identifiable, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20170063640
    Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of a computing architecture. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive signals communicated and carrying messages between source and destination network nodes separate and distinct from the system in a communication network composed of a plurality of network nodes within an environment of a user, interpret the messages to identify the source and destination network nodes, and generate data input for the signals that indicates the source and destination network nodes. The environmental visualization system may also include a computing architecture system configured to generate from the data input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the communication network, including the source and destination network nodes and signals communicated therebetween, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20160357599
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for implementation of back-end system for providing point-of-use toolkits. The apparatus may receive an assignment of work tasks assigned to a technician for manufacture of a tangible product. In response, the apparatus may compile a point-of-use toolkit including comprehensive information regarding the work tasks, and transmit the point-of-use toolkit to a front-end system associated with the technician. The apparatus may determine an occurrence of a delay associated with the schedule that impacts the assignment of the one or more work tasks, and transmit information associated with the delay to the manufacturing scheduling system. In response to receiving an update to the assignment of the tasks from the manufacturing scheduling system, the apparatus may compile an update of the point-of-use toolkit, and transmit the update of the point-of-use toolkit to the front-end system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: John William Glatfelter, Brian Dale Laughlin, Brian A. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 9395810
    Abstract: A system is provided for that includes sensor(s) configured to provide sensed input characteristic of a user, the user's environment or the user's interaction with their environment, and including from a 3D scanner, measurements of points on a surface of an object in the user's environment. A front-end system may receive and process the sensed input including the measurements to identify a known pattern that indicates a significance of the sensed input from which to identify operations of electronic resource(s). The front-end system may form and communicate an input to the electronic resource(s) to cause the resource(s) to perform the operations, including generation of a point cloud from the measurements, and transformation of the point cloud to a 3D model of the object. And the front-end system may receive an output including the 3D model from the resource(s), and communicate the output for display by a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey, Richard N. Blair
  • Patent number: 9262641
    Abstract: A system for authorizing data to be provided to a mobile computing device is provided. The system includes the mobile computing device and a server computer that includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions for performing the steps of storing, in the memory, parameters for authorizing data to be provided to the mobile computing device and determining at least one contextual cue associated with at least one of a task to be performed, the mobile computing device, and a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the at least one contextual cue is associated with the parameters. The processor-executable instructions also perform the steps of authorizing data to be provided to the mobile computing device when the at least one contextual cue aligns with the parameters and providing the data to the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey, Richard N. Blair
  • Publication number: 20160019674
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for modifying an entity sensory representation. An entity sensory representation representing an entity is received. The entity sensory representation comprises a plurality of sensory representations that represent a plurality of items that are part of the entity. Each of the plurality of items is associated with a set of values for a set of measurable factors of interest. A set of scale factors is calculated for each of the plurality of sensory representations based on the set of values associated with the each of the plurality of items. The plurality of sensory representations is modified using the set of scale factors to form a plurality of modified sensory representations that establish a relative relationship between the plurality of items represented by the plurality of modified sensory representations with respect to the set of measurable factors of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Emily Louise Howard, Brian Dale Laughlin, Wayne Richard Howe
  • Patent number: 9113050
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information. A camera system generates video data for an object from a viewpoint of the camera system at a location of the object. Information is identified about the object. The information is displayed on images in the video data on a display system at a number of locations. The display of the images with the information on the images in the video data at the number of locations is from the viewpoint of the camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Brian Dale Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20150084989
    Abstract: The different illustrative embodiments provide a method for augmenting reality that may be applied to repairs performed on a composite structure. An image may be recorded of a first layer of a composite component. The image may relate to a first repair performed at a first time. Physical data may be captured for the composite component from a surface layer of the composite component using a number of portable devices. A multi-dimensional representation of a combined augmented reality of the composite component including a display of various layers of the composite component selected by a user may be generated. A user selection may include a time restriction and a spatial restriction. The number of portable devices may display the multi-dimensional representation comprising physical data for an image of the surface of the composite component and digital data for an overlay of composite layers beyond the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, Richard Eugene Murrish, Jan H. Vandenbrande
  • Publication number: 20140354529
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes sensors(s) configured to provide sensed input including measurements of motion and/or orientation of a user during performance of a task to work a complex-system component. The system includes a front-end system configured to process the sensed input including the measurements to identify a known pattern that indicates a significance of the sensed input from which to identify operations of an electronic resource. The front-end system is configured to form and communicate an input to cause the electronic resource to perform the operations and produce an output. The operations include determination of an action of the user during performance of the task, or calculation of a process variable related to performance of the task, from the measurements. And the front-end system is configured to receive the output from the electronic resource, and communicate the output to a display device, audio output device or haptic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, Richard N. Blair, William David Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20140354528
    Abstract: A system is provided for that includes sensor(s) configured to provide sensed input characteristic of a user, the user's environment or the user's interaction with their environment, and including from a 3D scanner, measurements of points on a surface of an object in the user's environment. A front-end system may receive and process the sensed input including the measurements to identify a known pattern that indicates a significance of the sensed input from which to identify operations of electronic resource(s). The front-end system may form and communicate an input to the electronic resource(s) to cause the resource(s) to perform the operations, including generation of a point cloud from the measurements, and transformation of the point cloud to a 3D model of the object. And the front-end system may receive an output including the 3D model from the resource(s), and communicate the output for display by a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, William David Kelsey, Richard N. Blair
  • Patent number: 8902254
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a processor unit, a sensor system, and a user interface. The processor unit is configured to execute a data manipulation process. The sensor system is configured to retrieve physical data about a number of physical objects. The user interface has data manipulation controls for the data manipulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Dale Laughlin, Richard Eugene Murrish, John Costello, Jan H. Vandenbrande