Patents by Inventor Gerald Brantner

Gerald Brantner 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: 20260072452
    Abstract: A robot is operated in an autonomous mode of operation to perform a plurality of tasks. It is determined that a later task of the plurality of tasks needs human assistance while performing a current task of the plurality of tasks. The human assistance is scheduled for the later task. A teleoperator is communicated with to perform the human assistance associated with the later task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Patent number: 12455568
    Abstract: A robot is operated in an autonomous mode of operation to perform a plurality of tasks. It is determined that a later task of the plurality of tasks needs human assistance while performing a current task of the plurality of tasks. The human assistance is scheduled for the later task. A teleoperator is communicated with to perform the human assistance associated with the later task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Publication number: 20250178761
    Abstract: A system includes an actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processor. The actuator is configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval. The plurality of sensors are configured to monitor one or more pickup zones. The processor is coupled to the actuator and configured to provide a control signal to the actuator. The control signal increases or decreases a speed at which items are provided to the one or more pickup zones based on an output from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Patent number: 12263977
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Publication number: 20240319725
    Abstract: A robot is operated in an autonomous mode of operation to perform a plurality of tasks. It is determined that a later task of the plurality of tasks needs human assistance while performing a current task of the plurality of tasks. The human assistance is scheduled for the later task. A teleoperator is communicated with to perform the human assistance associated with the later task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Patent number: 12045052
    Abstract: A robot is operated in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot autonomously selects a strategy to pick up an item. The item is moved from an initial location to a destination location using the selected strategy. It is determined whether one or more strategies are available to pick up the item in response to the item being dropped while the item is being moved from the initial location to the destination location. It is determined that a further strategy is not available to pick up the item. In response to the determination that the further strategy is not available, a human intervention mode of operation is entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Publication number: 20230331411
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Publication number: 20230305543
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for enhancing autonomous operation in robotic devices with human intervention are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of enhancing autonomous operation in robotic devices with human intervention includes identifying, by an autonomous robotic device, that a state of an autonomous operation requires human intervention; transmitting, by the autonomous robotic device to a service controller, a service request based on the state; receiving, by the autonomous robotic device, a service response from the service controller, wherein the service response is generated by the service controller based on a plurality of interventionist responses from a plurality of human interventionists; and performing, by the autonomous robotic device, the autonomous operation in accordance with the service response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: GERALD BRANTNER
  • Publication number: 20230266757
    Abstract: A robot is operated in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot autonomously selects a strategy to pick up an item. The item is moved from an initial location to a destination location using the selected strategy. It is determined whether one or more strategies are available to pick up the item in response to the item being dropped while the item is being moved from the initial location to the destination location. It is determined that a further strategy is not available to pick up the item. In response to the determination that the further strategy is not available, a human intervention mode of operation is entered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Patent number: 11731792
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Patent number: 11675350
    Abstract: An autonomous robot with on demand human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robot operates in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot performs one or more tasks autonomously without human intervention. The robot determines that a strategy is not available to perform a next task autonomously. In response to the determination, the robot enters a human intervention mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Publication number: 20230088336
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device includes a service controller selecting from a first plurality of human interventionists, by a service controller, a first set of human interventionists to respond to a request associated with an autonomous device; transmitting, by the service controller, the request to a first set of interventionist devices, each interventionist device of the first set of interventionist devices associated with a particular human interventionist in the first set of human interventionists; and receiving from the first set of interventionist devices, by the service controller, a first set of interventionist responses to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: GERALD BRANTNER
  • Patent number: 11513505
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device includes a service controller selecting from a first plurality of human interventionists, by a service controller, a first set of human interventionists to respond to a request associated with an autonomous device; transmitting, by the service controller, the request to a first set of interventionist devices, each interventionist device of the first set of interventionist devices associated with a particular human interventionist in the first set of human interventionists; and receiving from the first set of interventionist devices, by the service controller, a first set of interventionist responses to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Gerald Brantner
  • Publication number: 20220014476
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device includes a service controller selecting from a first plurality of human interventionists, by a service controller, a first set of human interventionists to respond to a request associated with an autonomous device; transmitting, by the service controller, the request to a first set of interventionist devices, each interventionist device of the first set of interventionist devices associated with a particular human interventionist in the first set of human interventionists; and receiving from the first set of interventionist devices, by the service controller, a first set of interventionist responses to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: GERALD BRANTNER
  • Publication number: 20220011758
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of facilitating human intervention in an autonomous device includes a service controller selecting from a first plurality of human interventionists, by a service controller, a first set of human interventionists to respond to a request associated with an autonomous device; transmitting, by the service controller, the request to a first set of interventionist devices, each interventionist device of the first set of interventionist devices associated with a particular human interventionist in the first set of human interventionists; and receiving from the first set of interventionist devices, by the service controller, a first set of interventionist responses to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: GERALD BRANTNER
  • Publication number: 20210018914
    Abstract: An autonomous robot with on demand human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robot operates in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot performs one or more tasks autonomously without human intervention. The robot determines that a strategy is not available to perform a next task autonomously. In response to the determination, the robot enters a human intervention mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Patent number: 10824142
    Abstract: An autonomous robot with on demand human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robot operates in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot performs one or more tasks autonomously without human intervention. The robot determines that a strategy is not available to perform a next task autonomously. In response to the determination, the robot enters a human intervention mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner
  • Publication number: 20200094997
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Publication number: 20190339693
    Abstract: An autonomous robot with on demand human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, a robot operates in an autonomous mode of operation in which the robot performs one or more tasks autonomously without human intervention. The robot determines that a strategy is not available to perform a next task autonomously. In response to the determination, the robot enters a human intervention mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Zhouwen Sun, Gerald Brantner