Patents by Inventor Matthew Wilkie

Matthew Wilkie 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).

  • Robotic item handling using a variable area manipulator
    Patent number: 10902377
    Abstract: A manipulator can includes a frame, a first deployable support element configured to extend or retract with respect to the frame when acted on by an actuator, a static support element fixedly connected with the frame and comprising a second set of retention elements, and any suitable number of additional deployable support elements. Each support element can further include a respective set of retention elements configured to retain an item. In use, a manipulator can be used to move items by identifying an item contact area of an item to be moved, selectively deploying or retracting the deployable support elements based on the item contact area, and then contacting and retaining the item with the retention elements of the selected support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Murphy, Mark Stankiewicz, Matthew Wilkie
  • ROBOTIC ITEM HANDLING USING A VARIABLE AREA MANIPULATOR
    Publication number: 20190228371
    Abstract: A manipulator can includes a frame, a first deployable support element configured to extend or retract with respect to the frame when acted on by an actuator, a static support element fixedly connected with the frame and comprising a second set of retention elements, and any suitable number of additional deployable support elements. Each support element can further include a respective set of retention elements configured to retain an item. In use, a manipulator can be used to move items by identifying an item contact area of an item to be moved, selectively deploying or retracting the deployable support elements based on the item contact area, and then contacting and retaining the item with the retention elements of the selected support elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Sean Murphy, Mark Stankiewicz, Matthew Wilkie