Patents by Inventor Matthew Malchano

Matthew Malchano 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).

  • Publication number: 20220374024
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 11416003
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Publication number: 20210041887
    Abstract: A method of constrained mobility mapping includes receiving from at least one sensor of a robot at least one original set of sensor data and a current set of sensor data. Here, each of the at least one original set of sensor data and the current set of sensor data corresponds to an environment about the robot. The method further includes generating a voxel map including a plurality of voxels based on the at least one original set of sensor data. The plurality of voxels includes at least one ground voxel and at least one obstacle voxel. The method also includes generating a spherical depth map based on the current set of sensor data and determining that a change has occurred to an obstacle represented by the voxel map based on a comparison between the voxel map and the spherical depth map. The method additional includes updating the voxel map to reflect the change to the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitman, Gina Christine Fay, Alex Khripin, Max Bajracharya, Matthew Malchano, Adam Komoroski, Christopher Stathis
  • Patent number: 9987745
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for robust robotic task execution. An example method includes obtaining a task-level goal for a robot associated with one or more sub-goals, where accomplishment of the one or more sub-goals accomplishes the task-level goal. Carrying out an operation in pursuance of a given sub-goal may involve controlling at least one actuator of the robot. The method also includes determining one or more parameters indicative of a state of a system that includes the robot and an environment proximate to the robot. The method further includes selecting a particular sub-goal based on at least one of the one or more parameters. Additionally, the method includes selecting at least one controller based on at least one of the one or more parameters and the selected sub-goal. Further, the method includes causing the robot to operate in accordance with the at least one selected controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Benjamin Swilling, Matthew Malchano
  • Patent number: 9969082
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving robotic task selection and execution. An example method includes determining an external environment state based on receiving information indicative of at least one aspect of an environment proximate to a robotic system having at least one actuator. The method also includes optionally determining a goal to be accomplished by a robotic system and determining a plurality of possible tasks each including at least one task involving the at least one actuator that may be carried out by the robotic system in pursuance of the goal. For each possible task group, the method includes determining a respective task group score based on an expected performance capability. The expected performance capability is based, at least in part, on the external environment state. The method includes selecting a task group based on the respective task group scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Benjamin Swilling, Matthew Malchano
  • Patent number: 9662791
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for self-righting a robotic device are provided. An example method may include determining an orientation of a bottom surface of a legged robotic device with respect to a ground surface. The method may also include determining that the robotic device is in an unstable position, based on the determined orientation. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the robotic device to a stable position. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position. The method may also include performing a second action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position, if the legged robotic device is in the unstable position after the first action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Perkins, Matthew Malchano, Shervin Talebinejad
  • Patent number: 9308648
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for self-righting a robotic device are provided. An example method may include determining an orientation of a bottom surface of a legged robotic device with respect to a ground surface. The method may also include determining that the robotic device is in an unstable position, based on the determined orientation. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the robotic device to a stable position. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position. The method may also include performing a second action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position, if the legged robotic device is in the unstable position after the first action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Perkins, Matthew Malchano, Shervin Talebinejad
  • Publication number: 20160023354
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for self-righting a robotic device are provided. An example method may include determining an orientation of a bottom surface of a legged robotic device with respect to a ground surface. The method may also include determining that the robotic device is in an unstable position, based on the determined orientation. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the robotic device to a stable position. The method may also include performing a first action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position. The method may also include performing a second action configured to return the legged robotic device to the stable position, if the legged robotic device is in the unstable position after the first action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Perkins, Matthew Malchano, Shervin Talebinejad