Patents by Inventor Christopher BRETT

Christopher BRETT 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: 20250136375
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 12030718
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20230376047
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 11650601
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 11640176
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 11635769
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20220300009
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20220300010
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20220155797
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 11079770
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 11066239
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport containers in stacks arranged in a facility, the facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the at least one transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the system. A receiving unit is configured to receive information about a product to be returned to a container in a stack, wherein the product is located at a workstation; and a control unit is configured to select a container located in the stacks into which the product is to be placed and instruct a transporting device to move the selected container to a location of the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20210149382
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 10955834
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 10901404
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20200012268
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
  • Patent number: 10474141
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimization unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Patent number: 10086999
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for controlling the movement of transporting devices and/or operations conducted at various workstations are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems and computer-readable media for controlling the movement of transporting devices configured for fully—and/or partly automated handling of goods and/or controlling operations conducted at various workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20180276606
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
  • Publication number: 20180276607
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
  • Publication number: 20180276608
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport containers in stacks arranged in a facility, the facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the at least one transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the system. A receiving unit is configured to receive information about a product to be returned to a container in a stack, wherein the product is located at a workstation; and a control unit is configured to select a container located in the stacks into which the product is to be placed and instruct a transporting device to move the selected container to a location of the workstation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT