Patents by Inventor Ian Gulliver

Ian Gulliver 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: 11180353
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a sensor on a vehicle, an initial plurality of sensor data points representing a position of a face of a pallet. The vehicle may include tines configured to engage the pallet. A baseline geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the initial plurality of sensor data points. The vehicle may be caused to reposition the tines relative to the pallet. A subsequent plurality of sensor data points representing the position of the face of the pallet after repositioning the tines may be received from the sensor. An updated geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the subsequent sensor data points. It may be determined that the updated geometric representation deviates from the baseline geometric representation by more than a threshold value and, in response, motion of the vehicle may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hemal Shah, Ian Gulliver
  • Publication number: 20200223676
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a sensor on a vehicle, an initial plurality of sensor data points representing a position of a face of a pallet. The vehicle may include tines configured to engage the pallet. A baseline geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the initial plurality of sensor data points. The vehicle may be caused to reposition the tines relative to the pallet. A subsequent plurality of sensor data points representing the position of the face of the pallet after repositioning the tines may be received from the sensor. An updated geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the subsequent sensor data points. It may be determined that the updated geometric representation deviates from the baseline geometric representation by more than a threshold value and, in response, motion of the vehicle may be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hemal Shah, Ian Gulliver
  • Patent number: 10640347
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a sensor on a vehicle, an initial plurality of sensor data points representing a position of a face of a pallet. The vehicle may include tines configured to engage the pallet. A baseline geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the initial plurality of sensor data points. The vehicle may be caused to reposition the tines relative to the pallet. A subsequent plurality of sensor data points representing the position of the face of the pallet after repositioning the tines may be received from the sensor. An updated geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the subsequent sensor data points. It may be determined that the updated geometric representation deviates from the baseline geometric representation by more than a threshold value and, in response, motion of the vehicle may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Hemal Shah, Ian Gulliver
  • Publication number: 20190194005
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving, from a sensor on a vehicle, an initial plurality of sensor data points representing a position of a face of a pallet. The vehicle may include tines configured to engage the pallet. A baseline geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the initial plurality of sensor data points. The vehicle may be caused to reposition the tines relative to the pallet. A subsequent plurality of sensor data points representing the position of the face of the pallet after repositioning the tines may be received from the sensor. An updated geometric representation of the face of the pallet may be determined based on the subsequent sensor data points. It may be determined that the updated geometric representation deviates from the baseline geometric representation by more than a threshold value and, in response, motion of the vehicle may be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Hemal Shah, Ian Gulliver