Patents by Inventor John Gregory Longtine
John Gregory Longtine 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: 11200531Abstract: Features are disclosed for an overpackage that can contain an object and provide for automated identification and handling of the object by a robotic retrieval system. The automated identification and handling are enabled through self-identifying marks on the overpackage that indicate the identity of the overpackage as well as the relative location of the mark on the overpackage. Using the location information, a robot or other autonomous actor of the robotic retrieval system can identify a path to a pick point and detect whether the proper pick point is engaged through additional identifiers on the overpackage or a pick point.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, John Gregory Longtine, Timothy Stallman
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Patent number: 10576625Abstract: A grasp management system and corresponding methods are described. In some examples, information about a set of grasps of a robotic manipulator is accessed. The information is used by the robotic manipulator to attempt to grasp an item using the set of grasps associated with a first grasping orientation. An orientation of the robotic manipulator can be adjusted into a second grasping orientation and the robotic manipulator can attempt to grasp the item using the set of grasps associated with the second grasping orientation. Information about the attempts can be recorded and used to determine a richness measure that may represent a richness of the set of grasps for the item.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Andrew D. Marchese, John Gregory Longtine, Sarath Krishnaswamy, Moses Theodore Ort, Russell Charles Toris, Jacob Taylor Wachlin
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Patent number: 10395152Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Patent number: 10272566Abstract: Robotic arms or manipulators can be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information can be obtained about constraints relative to relevant elements of a process of transferring the item from place to place. Examples of such elements may include a grasping location from which an item is to be grasped, a receiving location in which a grasped item is to be placed, or a space between the grasping location and the receiving location. The information about the constraints can be used to select from multiple possible grasping options, such as by eliminating options that conflict with the constraints or preferring options that outperform others given the constraints.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine
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Patent number: 10029851Abstract: Item information such as an identity or arrangement of a selected inventory item of an inventory system can be determined. A classification of the selected inventory item can be obtained based at least in part on the item information. The selected inventory item can be routed based at least in part on the classification of the selected inventory item. For example, the selected inventory item may be routed for manual handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a human operator. Alternatively, the selected inventory item may be routed for automated handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a robotic manipulator.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Patent number: 9987748Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
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Publication number: 20180141211Abstract: Robotic arms or manipulators can be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information can be obtained about constraints relative to relevant elements of a process of transferring the item from place to place. Examples of such elements may include a grasping location from which an item is to be grasped, a receiving location in which a grasped item is to be placed, or a space between the grasping location and the receiving location. The information about the constraints can be used to select from multiple possible grasping options, such as by eliminating options that conflict with the constraints or preferring options that outperform others given the constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, JR., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine
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Patent number: 9975242Abstract: A grasp management system and corresponding methods are described. In some examples, information about a grasp by which an end of arm tool of a robotic manipulator successfully grasped an item is accessed. The grasp may be associated with contact points on the item. Other contact points may be simulated based on the contact points in order to define a grasping surface that includes at least a portion of the other contact points. Information about the grasping surface may be accessed to determine a primitive shape that represents a feature of the item. The primitive shape may be used determine other features on the item or other features on other items that may also be graspable by the end of arm tool or other end of arm tools.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Andrew D. Marchese, John Gregory Longtine, Sarath Krishnaswamy, Moses Theodore Ort, Russell Charles Toris, Jacob Taylor Wachlin
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Publication number: 20180082162Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
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Patent number: 9873199Abstract: Robotic arms or manipulators can be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information can be obtained about constraints relative to relevant elements of a process of transferring the item from place to place. Examples of such elements may include a grasping location from which an item is to be grasped, a receiving location in which a grasped item is to be placed, or a space between the grasping location and the receiving location. The information about the constraints can be used to select from multiple possible grasping options, such as by eliminating options that conflict with the constraints or preferring options that outperform others given the constraints.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine
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Patent number: 9868207Abstract: Robotic arms may be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information about an inventory item to be grasped can be detected and used to determine a grasping strategy in conjunction with information from a database. Instructions for grasping an inventory item can be generated based on the detected information and the database.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine
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Publication number: 20170297200Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
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Patent number: 9718188Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
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Patent number: 9694494Abstract: A grasp management system and corresponding methods are described. In some examples, information about a grasp by which an end of arm tool of a robotic manipulator successfully grasped an item is accessed. The grasp may be associated with contact points on the item. Other contact points may be simulated based on the contact points in order to define a set of grasping surfaces that include at least a portion of the other contact points. Information about the grasping surfaces may be accessed to determine a primitive shape that represents a feature of the item. The primitive shape may be used determine other features on the item or other features on other items that may also be graspable by the end of arm tool or other end of arm tools.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Andrew D. Marchese, John Gregory Longtine, Sarath Krishnaswamy, Moses Theodore Ort, Russell Charles Toris, Jacob Taylor Wachlin
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Patent number: 9688472Abstract: Embodiments are described for implementing a mobile inventory transfer station within a workspace of an inventory management system. In embodiments, inventory transfer instructions for moving inventory stored within container holders in a workspace may be received. A portion of container holders within the workspace may be identified based on characteristics associated with the items of the inventory transfer instructions and first information identifying the items stored in the portion of container holders. A mobile container unit and a mobile manipulator unit may be selected based on distances between the units and the identified portion of container holders within the workspace. Instructions may be transmitted to the mobile container unit and mobile manipulator unit for navigating to the identified portion of container holders in the workspace and transferring inventory between a particular container holder and a container associated with the mobile container unit by the mobile manipulator unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski
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Publication number: 20170166399Abstract: Embodiments are described for implementing a mobile inventory transfer station within a workspace of an inventory management system. In embodiments, inventory transfer instructions for moving inventory stored within container holders in a workspace may be received. A portion of container holders within the workspace may be identified based on characteristics associated with the items of the inventory transfer instructions and first information identifying the items stored in the portion of container holders. A mobile container unit and a mobile manipulator unit may be selected based on distances between the units and the identified portion of container holders within the workspace. Instructions may be transmitted to the mobile container unit and mobile manipulator unit for navigating to the identified portion of container holders in the workspace and transferring inventory between a particular container holder and a container associated with the mobile container unit by the mobile manipulator unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski
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Patent number: 9669543Abstract: A grasp management system and corresponding method are described. In some examples, it is determined whether an end of arm tool of a robotic manipulator is capable of grasping an item in a first orientation and a second orientation. Information regarding success of the attempts may be retained in a database. A richness measure for each of the first orientation and the second orientation may be determined based upon a spatial variation of successful attempted grasps in the respective orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Andrew D. Marchese, John Gregory Longtine, Sarath Krishnaswamy, Moses Theodore Ort, Russell Charles Toris, Jacob Taylor Wachlin
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Publication number: 20170106532Abstract: Robotic arms or manipulators can be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information can be obtained about constraints relative to relevant elements of a process of transferring the item from place to place. Examples of such elements may include a grasping location from which an item is to be grasped, a receiving location in which a grasped item is to be placed, or a space between the grasping location and the receiving location. The information about the constraints can be used to select from multiple possible grasping options, such as by eliminating options that conflict with the constraints or preferring options that outperform others given the constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, JR., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine
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Publication number: 20170080566Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
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Patent number: 9561587Abstract: Robotic arms or manipulators can be utilized to grasp inventory items within an inventory system. Information about an item to be grasped can be detected and/or accessed from one or more databases to determine a grasping strategy for grasping the item with a robotic arm or manipulator. For example, one or more accessed databases can contain information about the item, characteristics of the item, and/or similar items, such as information indicating grasping strategies that have been successful or unsuccessful for such items in the past.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski, Andrew Stubbs, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Ennio Claretti, Boris Aronchik, John Gregory Longtine