Patents by Inventor Matthew David Verminski
Matthew David Verminski 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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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: 9588519Abstract: Short range transmissions are used to identify potential interactions between warehouse workers and warehouse robots in automated warehouses. The robot can be equipped with one or more short range transmission tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, while the warehouse worker can be equipped with a short range transmission reader, such as an RFID reader. The robot can detect a warehouse worker that is within range when the RFID tags on the robot are written to by the RFID reader. The warehouse robots and warehouse workers can also be equipped with one or more cameras to identify fiducials in the automated warehouse and to report their positions. A central control or interaction server can ensure that warehouse robots and warehouse workers are routed appropriately to avoid incidents.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Stephen Caldara, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Gregory Edward Tierney, Peter K. Mansfield
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Patent number: 9572426Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, mobile drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders that include fabric pods to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders may be operated upon. Such fabric pods may include one or more fabric bin arrays.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Curtis H. Nauseda, Matthew David Verminski, Timothy Aaron Bragg
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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
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Publication number: 20170021499Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: 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: 9517899Abstract: A system for unloading inventory items includes an inventory holder, an unloading station, and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder stores inventory items. The unloading station includes a barrier that is operable to prevent inventory items from moving past the barrier as the inventory holder moves past the barrier. The mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder toward the unloading station and to move the inventory holder past the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William James Watt, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, John P. Dugan
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Patent number: 9492923Abstract: 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: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: 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: 20160274586Abstract: Short range transmissions are used to identify potential interactions between warehouse workers and warehouse robots in automated warehouses. The robot can be equipped with one or more short range transmission tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, while the warehouse worker can be equipped with a short range transmission reader, such as an RFID reader. The robot can detect a warehouse worker that is within range when the RFID tags on the robot are written to by the RFID reader. The warehouse robots and warehouse workers can also be equipped with one or more cameras to identify fiducials in the automated warehouse and to report their positions. A central control or interaction server can ensure that warehouse robots and warehouse workers are routed appropriately to avoid incidents.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Stephen Caldara, Robert Michael Shydo, JR., Gregory Edward Tierney, Peter K. Mansfield
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Publication number: 20160271800Abstract: Short range transmissions are used to identify potential interactions between warehouse workers and warehouse robots in automated warehouses. The robot can be equipped with one or more short range transmission tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, while the warehouse worker can be equipped with a short range transmission reader, such as an RFID reader. The robot can detect a warehouse worker that is within range when the RFID tags on the robot are written to by the RFID reader. The warehouse robots and warehouse workers can also be equipped with one or more cameras to identify fiducials in the automated warehouse and to report their positions. A central control or interaction server can ensure that warehouse robots and warehouse workers are routed appropriately to avoid incidents.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Stephen Caldara, Robert Michael Shydo, JR.
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Patent number: 9440790Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Oleksandr Glazkov, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Matthew David Verminski, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Peter R. Wurman, John W. Cullen, Michael T. Barbehenn
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Patent number: 9371184Abstract: Some examples include charging an onboard power source of a mobile drive unit (MDU) of an inventory system while the MDU is operating in the inventory system, rather than removing the MDU from service for recharging. As an example, the MDU may receive instructions to retrieve an inventory holder, and an onboard power source of the MDU may be charged while the MDU and the inventory holder are located at the charging station.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Ryan Dingle, Matthew David Verminski, Peter K. Mansfield, Andrew Stubbs, Sean Hugh Breheny, Peter R. Wurman
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Publication number: 20160167228Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: 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: 20160167227Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: 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: 9280157Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
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Publication number: 20160062345Abstract: Techniques for making a physical area safe for a human to enter when mobile drive units (e.g., robots) are operating in the physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device may stop sending the activity command. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman
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Patent number: 9067317Abstract: A mobile drive unit that freely and independently moves about a facility to transport inventory holders. The mobile drive unit may operate through communications with other drive units, or under a more centralized control of a management module. For various operating scenarios, the mobile drive unit is directed to shuffle the inventory holders in a manner that minimizes travel of the mobile drive unit, thereby improving overall system efficiency. One or more mobile drive units may be used to transport inventory holders to and from a region, and to sequentially reposition or slide each of the inventory holders within the region according to a priority ordering.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz
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Publication number: 20150151912Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Oleksandr Glazkov, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Matthew David Verminski, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Peter R. Wurman, John W. Cullen, Michael T. Barbehenn
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Publication number: 20150088302Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Oleksandr Glazkov, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Matthew David Verminski, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Peter R. Wurman, John W. Cullen, Michael T. Barbehenn
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Publication number: 20150066283Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
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Patent number: 8972045Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Oleksandr Glazkov, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Matthew David Verminski, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Peter R. Wurman, John W. Cullen, Michael T. Barbehenn