Patents by Inventor Christopher Stathis

Christopher Stathis 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: 20260084309
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for calibrating a humanoid robot, comprising obtaining a humanoid robot with original kinematic biasing values, controlling the humanoid robot through predetermined poses, capturing image data of body parts using vision sensors mounted on the humanoid robot while moving through the poses, determining revised kinematic biasing values by processing the image data using a bipedal spatial perception model trained using synthetic image data containing keypoints, and replacing the original kinematic biasing values with the revised kinematic biasing values. The bipedal spatial perception model processes captured image data to generate observed keypoint locations on robot components, which are compared with kinematic-based locations from joint encoder measurements to minimize discrepancies through optimization algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Hao Wu, Louis Foucard, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20260084314
    Abstract: A humanoid robot system comprises vision sensors for capturing image data, a computing architecture with processing hardware and memory, and a bipedal spatial perception model. The model includes a feature extractor that extracts hierarchical feature maps from input images, a robot data module that detects robot parts, and a robot vector data module that calculates three-dimensional spatial position and orientation data for each detected robot part. The feature extractor uses a feature pyramid network generating multi-scale feature maps through bottom-up and top-down pathways with lateral connections. The robot vector data module predicts 2D-to-3D point correspondences and solves perspective-n-point problems to obtain final position and orientation vectors, enabling real-time robot self-awareness and closed-loop visual servoing for precise object interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Hao Wu, Louis Foucard, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 12585292
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for detecting changes at a location based on image data by a mobile robot. A system can instruct navigation of the mobile robot to a location. For example, the system can instruct navigation to the location as part of an inspection mission. The system can obtain input identifying a change detection. Based on the change detection and obtained image data associated with the location, the system can perform the change detection and detect a change associated with the location. For example, the system can perform the change detection based on one or more regions of interest of the obtained image data. Based on the detected change and a reference model, the system can determine presence of an anomaly condition in the obtained image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian Ryde, Yi Dong, Marco da Silva, Christopher Stathis, Karthik Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20260042220
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include receiving a sensor pointing command that commands the robot to use a sensor to capture sensor data of a location in an environment of the robot. The sensor is disposed on the robot. The operations include determining, based on an orientation of the sensor relative to the location, a direction for pointing the sensor toward the location, and an alignment pose of the robot to cause the sensor to point in the direction toward the location. The operations include commanding the robot to move from a current pose to the alignment pose. After the robot moves to the alignment pose and the sensor is pointing in the direction toward the location, the operations include commanding the sensor to capture the sensor data of the location in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Christopher Stathis, Dion Gonano, Robert Eugene Paolini, Adam Komoroski
  • Patent number: 12466075
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include receiving a sensor pointing command that commands the robot to use a sensor to capture sensor data of a location in an environment of the robot. The sensor is disposed on the robot. The operations include determining, based on an orientation of the sensor relative to the location, a direction for pointing the sensor toward the location, and an alignment pose of the robot to cause the sensor to point in the direction toward the location. The operations include commanding the robot to move from a current pose to the alignment pose. After the robot moves to the alignment pose and the sensor is pointing in the direction toward the location, the operations include commanding the sensor to capture the sensor data of the location in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Stathis, Dion Gonano, Robert Eugene Paolini, Adam Komoroski
  • Publication number: 20250321586
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 12372982
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20250199535
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for instructing performance of a localization and an action by a mobile robot based on composite data. A system may obtain satellite-based position data and one or more of odometry data or point cloud data. The system may generate composite data by merging the satellite-based position data and the one or more of the odometry data or the point cloud data. The system may instruct performance of a localization by the mobile robot based on the composite data. Based on the localization by the mobile robot, the system may identify an action and instruct performance of the action by a mobile robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Joel Elliott Chestnutt, Matthew Jacob Klingensmith, Nicholas Otero, Samuel Frank Seifert, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20250065742
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware of a legged robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations including receiving sensor data corresponding to an area including at least a portion of a docking station. The operations include determining an estimated pose for the docking station based on an initial pose of the legged robot relative to the docking station. The operations include identifying one or more docking station features from the received sensor data. The operations include matching the one or more identified docking station features to one or more known docking station features. The operations include adjusting the estimated pose for the docking station to a corrected pose for the docking station based on an orientation of the one or more identified docking station features that match the one or more known docking station features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Dion Gonano, Eric Cary Whitman, Christopher Stathis, Matthew Jacob Klingensmith
  • Patent number: 12172537
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware of a legged robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations including receiving sensor data corresponding to an area including at least a portion of a docking station. The operations include determining an estimated pose for the docking station based on an initial pose of the legged robot relative to the docking station. The operations include identifying one or more docking station features from the received sensor data. The operations include matching the one or more identified docking station features to one or more known docking station features. The operations include adjusting the estimated pose for the docking station to a corrected pose for the docking station based on an orientation of the one or more identified docking station features that match the one or more known docking station features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion Gonano, Eric Cary Whitman, Christopher Stathis, Matthew Jacob Klingensmith
  • Publication number: 20240377843
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for detecting changes at a location based on image data by a mobile robot. A system can instruct navigation of the mobile robot to a location. For example, the system can instruct navigation to the location as part of an inspection mission. The system can obtain input identifying a change detection. Based on the change detection and obtained image data associated with the location, the system can perform the change detection and detect a change associated with the location. For example, the system can perform the change detection based on one or more regions of interest of the obtained image data. Based on the detected change and a reference model, the system can determine presence of an anomaly condition in the obtained image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Julian Ryde, Yi Dong, Marco da Silva, Christopher Stathis, Karthik Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20240316762
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reacting to a feature in an environment of a robot based on a classification of the feature. A system can detect the feature in the environment using a first sensor on the robot. For example, the system can detect the feature using a feature detection system based on sensor data from a camera. The system can detect a mover in the environment using a second sensor on the robot. For example, the system can detect the mover using a mover detection system based on sensor data from a lidar sensor. The system can fuse the data from detecting the feature and detecting the mover to produce fused data. The system can classify the feature based on the fused data and react to the feature based on classifying the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Jacob Klingensmith, Adam Komoroski, Brian Masao Yamauchi, Michael James McDonald, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20220388174
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include receiving a sensor pointing command that commands the robot to use a sensor to capture sensor data of a location in an environment of the robot. The sensor is disposed on the robot. The operations include determining, based on an orientation of the sensor relative to the location, a direction for pointing the sensor toward the location, and an alignment pose of the robot to cause the sensor to point in the direction toward the location. The operations include commanding the robot to move from a current pose to the alignment pose. After the robot moves to the alignment pose and the sensor is pointing in the direction toward the location, the operations include commanding the sensor to capture the sensor data of the location in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Stathis, Dion Gonano, Robert Eugene Paolini, Adam Komoroski
  • Publication number: 20220374024
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 11416003
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20220194245
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware of a legged robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations including receiving sensor data corresponding to an area including at least a portion of a docking station. The operations include determining an estimated pose for the docking station based on an initial pose of the legged robot relative to the docking station. The operations include identifying one or more docking station features from the received sensor data. The operations include matching the one or more identified docking station features to one or more known docking station features. The operations include adjusting the estimated pose for the docking station to a corrected pose for the docking station based on an orientation of the one or more identified docking station features that match the one or more known docking station features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion Gonano, Eric Cary Whitman, Christopher Stathis, Matthew Jacob Klingensmith
  • Publication number: 20210041887
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 10698111
    Abstract: A method for imaging a moving object includes scanning a predetermined area with at least one distance sensor to form an image of a structure of a moving object using a safe sensing time window to periodically refresh the image. The images of the structure are compared to a known model of the structure to estimate rates of motion. A refined time window is determined based on the estimated rates of motion to monitor the moving object with increased accuracy and/or range compared to the safe time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Stathis, Jason C. Derenick
  • Patent number: 10676213
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method of optimal safe landing area determination for an aircraft includes accessing a probabilistic safe landing area map that includes a plurality of probabilistic indicators of safe landing areas for the aircraft. A processing subsystem that includes one or more processing resources generates a list of candidate safe landing areas based on the probabilistic safe landing area map and one or more constraints. At least two of the candidate safe landing areas are provided to a path planner. The list of candidate safe landing areas is ranked based on results from the path planner indicating an estimated cost to reach each of the candidate safe landing areas. Based on the ranking, an indicator of an optimal safe landing area is output as a desired landing location for the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuchu Ding, Jason C. Derenick, Brendan J. Englot, Igor Cherepinsky, Harshad S. Sane, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 10670396
    Abstract: A system for registering a target includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor. The first sensor measures a plurality of ranges from a source to a target, and the second sensor obtains a plurality of location measurements of the source. The system further includes a processor configured for determining one or more weighting criteria associated with each one of the plurality of location measurements based on an estimated reliability of each one of the plurality of location measurements. The processor calculates a plurality of target location values based on the plurality of ranges measured by the first sensor and the plurality of locations measured by the second sensor and calculates an estimated target location value based on the plurality of target location values weighted according to the weighting criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harshad S. Sane, Igor Cherepinsky, Christopher Stathis