Patents by Inventor Charles Burton

Charles Burton 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).

  • DUAL-MODE DATA CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR COLLISION DETECTION AND OBJECT DIMENSIONING
    Publication number: 20200079370
    Abstract: A dual-mode data capture system includes a capture controller, a point cloud generator, a collision detector, a plurality of cameras viewing a capture volume, and a motion sensor to generate a detection signal when an object arrives at a capture position within the volume. The controller: activates a subset of cameras in a collision detection mode to capture sequences of images of the volume; responsive to receiving the detection signal, activates the cameras in a dimensioning mode to capture a synchronous set of images of the capture position. The collision detector: determines whether the sequences of images indicate a potential collision; and responsive to detection of a potential collision, generates a warning. The point cloud generator: receives the synchronous set of images and generates a point cloud representing the object based on the synchronous set of images, for use in determining dimensions of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventor: Charles Burton Swope
  • Methods and apparatus to facilitate proximity detection and location tracking
    Patent number: 10542382
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate proximity detection and location tracking. An example method includes receiving messages collected by a badge in an environment, the messages including signal strength and a timestamp. The example method also includes assigning a location in the environment to the badge based on a first subset of the messages. The example method also includes identifying an asset in a second subset of the messages. The example method also includes updating a current location associated with the asset based on a relative proximity of the asset to the badge, wherein the current location corresponds to a first time and the updated location corresponds to a second time, and wherein a change in location between the current location and the updated location indicates movement of the asset in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Stephen Good, Charles Burton Theurer, Shaopeng Liu, Robert Lee Wallace
  • Robotic repair or maintenance of an asset
    Patent number: 10518411
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, via at least one sensor of a robot, sensor data indicating one or more characteristics of an asset. The method includes detecting, based on the sensor data, an existing or imminent defect of the asset. The method includes fabricating a part suitable for use in correcting the defect. The structure of the part is derived using one or both of a digital representation of the asset generated using the sensor data or stored reference data related to the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Robert Gilman, Mauricio Castillo-Effen, Charles Burton Theurer
  • DATA CAPTURE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBJECT DIMENSIONING
    Publication number: 20190370990
    Abstract: A data capture system for object dimensioning includes: a motion sensor configured to generate a detection signal responsive to detecting an object at a capture position within a capture volume; a capture controller connected to the motion sensor and configured, responsive to receiving the detection signal, to generate and transmit a shutter command substantially simultaneously to each of a plurality of cameras that causes each camera to capture a respective image of a synchronous set of images of the capture volume; an image processing server connected to each of the plurality of cameras and configured to receive the synchronous set of images from the cameras, and to store the synchronous set of images in a common repository; the image processing server further configured to generate a point cloud representing the object based on the synchronous set of images, for use in determining dimensions of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Burton Swope, Miguel X. Gines, Stanko Jelavic
  • Multisensory data fusion system and method for autonomous robotic operation
    Patent number: 10493629
    Abstract: A robotic system includes one or more optical sensors configured to separately obtain two dimensional (2D) image data and three dimensional (3D) image data of a brake lever of a vehicle, a manipulator arm configured to grasp the brake lever of the vehicle, and a controller configured to compare the 2D image data with the 3D image data to identify one or more of a location or a pose of the brake lever of the vehicle. The controller is configured to control the manipulator arm to move toward, grasp, and actuate the brake lever of the vehicle based on the one or more of the location or the pose of the brake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Arpit Jain, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Shiraj Sen, Pramod Sharma, Shuai Li, Shubao Liu
  • Dimensioning system for, and method of, dimensioning freight in motion along an unconstrained path in a venue
    Patent number: 10451405
    Abstract: A ranging system captures successive point clouds from moving freight, and a tracking system tracks successive positions and orientations of the moving freight. A computing device correlates each successive point cloud with each successive position and orientation and time of the moving freight, combines the correlated point clouds to obtain a composite point cloud of the moving freight, and processes the composite point cloud to dimension the moving freight. Once the freight is dimensioned, it may, for example, be efficiently loaded into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Charles Burton Swope
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE ORIENTATION IN A VEHICLE CONSIST
    Publication number: 20190263430
    Abstract: A system and method includes determining, with a sensor assembly disposed onboard a first aerial vehicle, a direction in which a fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle, and determining an orientation of the first aerial vehicle relative to a second aerial vehicle based at least in part on the direction in which the fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Eugene Smith, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Martin Paget, Daniel Rush, Sameh Fahmy, Brad Thomas Costa, Seneca Snyder, Jerry Duncan, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffret James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico, Suresh Govindappa, Manibabu Pippalla, Sethu Madhavan, Jared Klineman Cooper, Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick, Brad Thomas Costa, James D. Brooks, Micahel Scott Miner, Harry Kirk Matthews, JR., Bradford Wayne Miller, Neeraja Subrahmaniyan, Brian Joseph McManus, Frank Wawrzyniak, Ralph C. Haddock, III, Robert James Foy, James Glen Corry, Steven Andrew Kellner, Joseph Mario Nazareth, Brian William Schroeck, Shawn Arthur McClintic
  • CONTROL SYSTEM WITH TASK MANAGER
    Publication number: 20190232498
    Abstract: A system includes a first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with a target object on stationary equipment; a second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object; and a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks. The task manager can assign a first sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and a second sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities. The first and second robotic machines can coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick
  • CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING FORCE TO GRASP A TARGET OBJECT
    Publication number: 20190193275
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an automation system. The systems and methods calculate a motion trajectory of a manipulator and an end-effector. The end-effector is configured to grasp a target object. The motion trajectory defines successive positions of the manipulator and the end-effector along a plurality of via-points toward the target object. The systems and methods further acquire force/torque (F/T) data from an F/T sensor associated with the end-effector, and adjusts the motion trajectory based on the F/T data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Douglas Forman, Charles Burton Theurer, Omar Al Assad, Romano Patrick, Balajee Kannan, Yonatan Gefen
  • Vehicle control system with task manager
    Patent number: 10300601
    Abstract: A locomotive control system may include first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and/or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick
  • ROBOTIC INSPECTION SYSTEM WITH DATA TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20190146462
    Abstract: The present approach relates to streaming data derived from inspection data acquired using one or more robots performing inspections of an asset or assets. Such inspections may be fully or partially automated, such as being controlled by one or more computer-based routines, and may be planned or dynamically altered in response to inputs or requirements associated with an end-user of the inspection data, such as a subscriber to the data in a publication/subscription distribution scheme. Thus, an inspection may be planned or altered based on the data needs or subscription levels of the user or customers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Huan Tan, Li Zhang, Romano Patrick, Viktor Holovashchenko, Charles Burton Theurer, John Michael Lizzi, JR., Arpit Jain, Shiraj Sen, Todd William Danko, Kori U. MacDonald
  • INTEGRATED ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
    Publication number: 20190134821
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a controller configured to obtain image data from one or more optical sensors and to determine one or more of a location and/or pose of a vehicle component based on the image data. The controller also is configured to determine a model of an external environment of the robotic system based on the image data and to determine tasks to be performed by components of the robotic system to perform maintenance on the vehicle component. The controller also is configured to assign the tasks to the components of the robotic system and to communicate control signals to the components of the robotic system to autonomously control the robotic system to perform the maintenance on the vehicle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Romano Patrick, Shiraj Sen, Arpit Jain, Huan Tan, Yonatan Gefen, Shuai Li, Shubao Liu, Pramod Sharma, Balajee Kannan, Viktor Holovashchenko, Douglas Forman, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Omar Al Assad, Ghulam Ali Baloch, Frederick Wilson Wheeler, Tai-Peng Tian
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INITIALIZING OBJECT DIMENSIONING SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20190141308
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for initializing a dimensioning system based on a location of a vehicle carrying an object to be dimensioned. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving, from a location system, location data indicating a location of a vehicle carrying an object; responsive to the location data indicating that the vehicle is approaching an imaging area, initializing, using a logic circuit, a sensor to be primed for capturing data representative of the object; receiving, from a motion detector carried by the vehicle, motion data indicating a speed of the vehicle; and triggering, using the logic circuitry, the sensor to capture data representative of the object at a sample rate based on the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Burton Swope, Matthew Hayes
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DIMENSIONING AN OBJECT USING PROXIMATE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20190141312
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dimensioning an object by enlisting proximate devices to obtain image data representative of the object from multiple perspectives are provided. An example method includes capturing, by a first image capture device, first image data representative of an object from a first perspective; determining whether a second image capture device is within proximity of the first image capture device; and when the second image capture device is within proximity of the first image capture device, sending a request to the second image capture device for second image data representative of the object from a second perspective, wherein the first image data and the second image data are combinable to form a composite representative of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Burton Swope, Nicole Daphne Tricoukes, Matthew Louis Kowalski, Michael J. Giannetta
  • SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR ROBOTIC INDUSTRIAL INSPECTION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190137995
    Abstract: An asset inspection system includes a robot and a server. The server receives a request for data from the robot, wherein the requested data comprises an algorithm, locates the requested data in a database stored on the server, encrypts the requested data, and transmits the requested data to the robot. The robot is configured to collect inspection data corresponding to an asset based at least in part on the requested data and transmit the collected inspection data to the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Huan Tan, Li Zhang, Romano Patrick, Viktor Holovashchenko, Charles Burton Theurer, John Michael Lizzi, JR.
  • Control system and method for applying force to grasp a brake lever
    Patent number: 10272573
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an automation system. The systems and methods calculate a motion trajectory of a manipulator and an end-effector. The end-effector is configured to grasp a target object. The motion trajectory defines successive positions of the manipulator and the end-effector along a plurality of via-points toward the target object. The systems and methods further acquire force/torque (F/T) data from an F/T sensor associated with the end-effector, and adjusts the motion trajectory based on the F/T data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Douglas Forman, Charles Burton Theurer, Omar Al Assad, Romano Patrick, Balajee Kannan, Yonatan Gefen
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE PROXIMITY DETECTION AND LOCATION TRACKING
    Publication number: 20190082298
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate proximity detection and location tracking. An example method includes receiving messages collected by a badge in an environment, the messages including signal strength and a timestamp. The example method also includes assigning a location in the environment to the badge based on a first subset of the messages. The example method also includes identifying an asset in a second subset of the messages. The example method also includes updating a current location associated with the asset based on a relative proximity of the asset to the badge, wherein the current location corresponds to a first time and the updated location corresponds to a second time, and wherein a change in location between the current location and the updated location indicates movement of the asset in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Brandon Stephen Good, Charles Burton Theurer, Shaopeng Liu, Robert Lee Wallace
  • LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH TASK MANAGER
    Publication number: 20180361586
    Abstract: A locomotive control system may include first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and/or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick
  • Control system for coordinating robotic machines to collaborate on tasks
    Patent number: 10065317
    Abstract: A system includes first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and/or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick
  • Methods and apparatus to facilitate proximity detection and location tracking
    Patent number: 10068116
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate proximity detection and location tracking. An example method includes receiving messages collected by a badge in an environment, the messages including signal strength and a timestamp. The example method also includes assigning a location in the environment to the badge based on a first subset of the messages. The example method also includes identifying an asset in a second subset of the messages. The example method also includes updating a current location associated with the asset based on a relative proximity of the asset to the badge, wherein the current location corresponds to a first time and the updated location corresponds to a second time, and wherein a change in location between the current location and the updated location indicates movement of the asset in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Stephen Good, Charles Burton Theurer, Shaopeng Liu, Robert Lee Wallace