Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Hicks
Gregory A. Hicks 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).
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Patent number: 11059583Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery vehicle. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery vehicle; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Patent number: 11053006Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Patent number: 10538327Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of facilitating movement of product-containing pallets include at least one forklift unit configured to lift and move the product-containing pallets, at least one motorized transport unit configured to mechanically engage and disengage a respective forklift unit, and a central computer system in communication with the at least one motorized transport unit. The central computer system is configured to transmit at least one signal to the at least one motorized transport unit. The signal is configured to cause the at least one motorized transport unit to control the at least one forklift unit to move at least one of the product-containing pallets.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Donald R. High, Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks
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Patent number: 10535037Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivery packages using unmanned delivery aircrafts. Some embodiments include product delivery systems, comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: receive, from a customer, an authorization to deliver a product by an unmanned delivery aircraft; receive, from a portable user interface unit associated with the customer, global location information of a current location of the user interface unit and that designates a delivery location where the customer would like the product delivered; and initiate a delivery, by an unmanned delivery aircraft, of the product to the delivery location defined by the global location information received from the user interface unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Donald R. High, Nathan G. Jones, Chandrashekar Natarajan, John P. Thompson, Gregory A. Hicks
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Patent number: 10501182Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20190248489Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20190248490Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery vehicle. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery vehicle; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Patent number: 10301021Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery aircraft; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Patent number: 10301020Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20190084674Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20190070995Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that for transporting and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles. The unmanned aerial vehicles may be deployed from mobile stations that include receptacles each configured to retain an unmanned aerial vehicle. The receptacles may be independently movable into relative positions that permit multiple unmanned aerial vehicles to be deployed simultaneously from the mobile stations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, Donald R. High, Brian G. McHale, Nicholas R. Antel, Gregory A. Hicks, Nathan G. Jones, John J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 10173774Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20170349282Abstract: At least one unmanned aerial vehicle operates in conjunction with a control circuit via a network interface. The control circuit receives informational content from the unmanned aerial vehicle and automatically processes that informational content to identify specific content of interest. The control circuit then automatically submits that identified specific content to at least one social networking service to thereby publicly share that content as social media.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: John P. Thompson, Donald R. High, Brian G. McHale, Gregory A. Hicks, David C. Winkle, Robert C. Taylor
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Publication number: 20170345033Abstract: Various partialities (including but not limited to partialities based on values, aspirations, preferences, and/or affinities) for individual persons are represented as corresponding vectors. The length and/or the angle of the vector represents the magnitude of the strength of the individual's belief in the good that comes from that imposed order. Vectors can also be specified to characterize corresponding products and/or services. These vectors for persons and products/services can be leveraged in any of a wide variety of ways. By one approach a particular partiality vector is used to identify a particular customization for a geographic region (i.e., a particular customization to employ with a base product).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Matthew A. Jones, Aaron J. Vasgaard, Robert J. Taylor, Balaraman Kirthigaivasan, Gregory A. Hicks, Nathan G. Jones, Todd D. Mattingly
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Publication number: 20170320572Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of facilitating movement of product-containing pallets include at least one forklift unit configured to lift and move the product-containing pallets, at least one motorized transport unit configured to mechanically engage and disengage a respective forklift unit, and a central computer system in communication with the at least one motorized transport unit. The central computer system is configured to transmit at least one signal to the at least one motorized transport unit. The signal is configured to cause the at least one motorized transport unit to control the at least one forklift unit to move at least one of the product-containing pallets.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Donald R. High, Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks
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Publication number: 20170293991Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and computer readable medium for drone dispatch and operation. Exemplary embodiments provide a group of drones, a server in communication with the drones, and a detachable basket coupled to a shopping cart including an optical machine-readable label that represents identifying data for the basket. The identifying data for the basket is received from a client device at a server. The basket is associated with a user profile corresponding to the client device. Information identifying a vehicle associated with the user profile is determined. A checkout message is received indicating that a user of the client device completed a purchase transaction and requested a drone for transporting the basket. In response to the checkout message, identifying data for the basket is transmitted to a selected drone in the group of drones, and instructions to carry the basket to the vehicle are also transmitted to the selected drone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Donald High, Nathan Glenn Jones, Gregory Hicks
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Publication number: 20170132566Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivery packages using unmanned delivery aircrafts. Some embodiments include product delivery systems, comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: receive, from a customer, an authorization to deliver a product by an unmanned delivery aircraft; receive, from a portable user interface unit associated with the customer, global location information of a current location of the user interface unit and that designates a delivery location where the customer would like the product delivered; and initiate a delivery, by an unmanned delivery aircraft, of the product to the delivery location defined by the global location information received from the user interface unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Donald R. High, Nathan G. Jones, Chandrashekar Natarajan, John P. Thompson, Gregory A. Hicks
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Publication number: 20170081043Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a portable unmanned delivery aircraft launch system is provided that comprises: a first portable launch pad system comprising: a package deck; an unmanned delivery aircraft deck secured with the package deck and positioned above and separated by a distance from the package deck; and multiple modular coupling structures fixed with a frame enabling temporary rigid coupling and decoupling between the first launch pad system and multiple additional portable launch pad systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20170081028Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20170081029Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery aircraft. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery aircraft; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Gregory A. Hicks, Donald R. High