Patents by Inventor Matthew A. Bitterman

Matthew A. Bitterman 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: 11564357
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Patent number: 11409260
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Publication number: 20220009100
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for use of a graphical interface to cause one or more robotic devices to construct an output product. One example method includes causing a graphical interface to be displayed on a display device, receiving input data corresponding to one or more interactions with the graphical interface indicating at least one motion path and at least one sequence of tool actions to execute at one or more points within the at least one motion path for use in construction of an output product, generating a plurality of digital nodes including at least one robot node, at least one motion command node, and at least one tool command node, and providing instructions for the at least one robot actor to move according to the sequence of robot motion commands determined by the at least one motion command node and execute the sequence of tool commands determined by the at least one tool command node to construct the output product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 11103997
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for use of a graphical interface to cause one or more robotic devices to construct an output product. One example method includes causing a graphical interface to be displayed on a display device, receiving input data corresponding to one or more interactions with the graphical interface indicating at least one motion path and at least one sequence of tool actions to execute at one or more points within the at least one motion path for use in construction of an output product, generating a plurality of digital nodes including at least one robot node, at least one motion command node, and at least one tool command node, and providing instructions for the at least one robot actor to move according to the sequence of robot motion commands determined by the at least one motion command node and execute the sequence of tool commands determined by the at least one tool command node to construct the output product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 10987812
    Abstract: A robotic system includes end-effector(s) that combine a plurality of objects in a production process. The system includes sensor(s) that obtain measurement(s) relating to a combination of a first object and one or more other objects during the production process. The system includes a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor(s). The control system stores specifications relating to the combination of the plurality of objects. The control system receives the measurement(s) from the sensor(s), determines a difference based on the measurement(s) and the specifications, determines adjustment(s) to the production process based on the determined difference, and sends, for the end-effector(s), instruction(s) based on the specifications and the one or more adjustment(s). The end-effector(s) combine a second object with the first object and the one or more objects based on the specifications and the one or more adjustment(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Linnell, Anthony Jules, Marek Michalowski, Kendra Byrne, Jonathan Proto, Brandon Kruysman, Eli Reekmans, Matthew Bitterman, Michael Beardsworth
  • Publication number: 20210051860
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Patent number: 10820531
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Patent number: 10801684
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may relate to a system comprising a plurality of optical elements, comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements, a heliostat comprising the first optical element, where the heliostat is operable to move the first optical element to continuously reflect light from a non-stationary light source in a beam towards a first of the secondary optical elements, and where the secondary optical elements are arranged to re-direct the reflected beam of light towards an illumination target. The system further includes a controller configured to receive position data indicative of the position of the non-stationary light source over time, and in response to the position data, control at least the heliostat to continuously direct the beam of light towards the first of the secondary optical elements, such that the beam of light is continuously re-directed towards the illumination target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Bitterman, Eli Reekmans
  • Patent number: 10638667
    Abstract: Systems and Methods for Augmented-Human Field Inspection Tools for Automated Phenotyping Systems and Agronomy Tools. In one embodiment, a method for plant phenotyping, includes: acquiring a first set of observations about plants in a field by a trainer. The trainer carries a sensor configured to collect observations about the plant, and the first set of observations includes ground truth data. The method also includes processing the first set of observations about the plants by a trait extraction model to generate instructions for a trainee; and acquiring a second set of observations about the plants by a trainee while the trainee follows the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: William Regan, Matthew Bitterman, David Brown, Elliott Grant, Zhiqiang Yuan
  • Publication number: 20200117168
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 10617064
    Abstract: Systems and methods for plant phenotyping using mechanical manipulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for plant phenotyping includes: agitating a plant with an agitator; acquiring images of the plant with a camera while agitating the plant; and analyzing the images of the plant to determine properties of the plant. The plant may be at least partially agitated at a resonance frequency of oscillation of a stalk of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: William Regan, Benoit Schillings, David Brown, Matthew Bitterman, Christopher Van Arsdale
  • Patent number: 10589428
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to methods and systems for determining operational modes for a particular arrangement of controllers. Accordingly, a computing device may detect that a first controller is within a threshold distance of a second controller. Responsively, the device may determine a spatial arrangement of the first and second controllers. The device may then determine a set of operational modes that corresponds to the spatial arrangement, where the set includes (i) a first operational mode that corresponds to a first location in the spatial arrangement and (ii) a second operational mode that corresponds to a second location in the spatial arrangement. The device may then load (i) the first operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the first location and (ii) the second operational mode to whichever of the first and second controllers is in the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman, Tobias Kinnebrew
  • Publication number: 20200077596
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Publication number: 20200061821
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for use of a graphical interface to cause one or more robotic devices to construct an output product. One example method includes causing a graphical interface to be displayed on a display device, receiving input data corresponding to one or more interactions with the graphical interface indicating at least one motion path and at least one sequence of tool actions to execute at one or more points within the at least one motion path for use in construction of an output product, generating a plurality of digital nodes including at least one robot node, at least one motion command node, and at least one tool command node, and providing instructions for the at least one robot actor to move according to the sequence of robot motion commands determined by the at least one motion command node and execute the sequence of tool commands determined by the at least one tool command node to construct the output product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 10509392
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 10492374
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Patent number: 10486308
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for use of a graphical interface to cause one or more robotic devices to construct an output product. One example method includes causing a graphical interface to be displayed on a display device, receiving input data corresponding to one or more interactions with the graphical interface indicating at least one motion path and at least one sequence of tool actions to execute at one or more points within the at least one motion path for use in construction of an output product, generating a plurality of digital nodes including at least one robot node, at least one motion command node, and at least one tool command node, and providing instructions for the at least one robot actor to move according to the sequence of robot motion commands determined by the at least one motion command node and execute the sequence of tool commands determined by the at least one tool command node to construct the output product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 10370136
    Abstract: Example methods and systems are disclosed for on-demand packaging of one or more items. According to one example, a method can include receiving an order for the item(s) and determining characteristic-information for the item(s) using a computer system. The characteristic-information includes an indication of at least a size and a shape of the item(s). The method also includes processing the characteristic-information based on design criteria to determine an arrangement of the item(s) within at least one container volume, and a configuration for a protective structure to hold the item(s) in the arrangement within the container volume(s). The method can further include, in response to the processing the characteristic-information, forming the protective structure according to the configuration, placing the item(s) into the protective structure according to the arrangement, and placing the protective structure and the item(s) in the container volume(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Linnell, Matthew Bitterman, Tobias Kinnebrew
  • Publication number: 20190200535
    Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: William R. Regan, Matthew A. Bitterman, Benoit G. Schillings, David R. Brown, Elliott Grant
  • Publication number: 20190191631
    Abstract: Systems and methods for plant phenotyping using mechanical manipulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for plant phenotyping includes: agitating a plant with an agitator; acquiring images of the plant with a camera while agitating the plant; and analyzing the images of the plant to determine properties of the plant. The plant may be at least partially agitated at a resonance frequency of oscillation of a stalk of the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: William Regan, Benoit Schillings, David Brown, Matthew Bitterman, Christopher Van Arsdale