Patents by Inventor Gene Brown Merewether

Gene Brown Merewether 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).

  • Patent number: 11660752
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether, Gina Christine Fay, Benjamin Swilling
  • Publication number: 20230143315
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether
  • Patent number: 11599128
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether
  • Publication number: 20220388170
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a robot causes the data processing hardware to perform operations including obtaining a topological map including waypoints and edges. Each edge connects adjacent waypoints. The waypoints and edges represent a navigation route for the robot to follow. Operations include determining, that an edge that connects first and second waypoints is blocked by an obstacle. Operations include generating, using image data and the topological map, one or more alternate waypoints offset from one of the waypoints. For each alternate waypoint, operations include generating an alternate edge connecting the alternate waypoint to a waypoint. Operations include adjusting the navigation route to include at least one alternate waypoint and alternate edge that bypass the obstacle. Operations include navigating the robot from the first waypoint to an alternate waypoint along the alternate edge connecting the alternate waypoint to the first waypoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventor: Gene Brown Merewether
  • Publication number: 20210331317
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether, Gina Christine Fay, Benjamin Swilling
  • Publication number: 20210333804
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether
  • Patent number: 11073842
    Abstract: A method for perception and fitting for a stair tracker includes receiving sensor data for a robot adjacent to a staircase. For each stair of the staircase, the method includes detecting, at a first time step, an edge of a respective stair of the staircase based on the sensor data. The method also includes determining whether the detected edge is a most likely step edge candidate by comparing the detected edge from the first time step to an alternative detected edge at a second time step, the second time step occurring after the first time step. When the detected edge is the most likely step edge candidate, the method includes defining, by the data processing hardware, a height of the respective stair based on sensor data height about the detected edge. The method also includes generating a staircase model including stairs with respective edges at the respective defined heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Cary Whitman, Gene Brown Merewether