Patents by Inventor Michael Foster

Michael Foster 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: 20260182804
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium can include instructions for presenting a user interface, which when executed by a processor, can cause the processor to display an image on the user interface representing a mobile cleaning robot that is in communication with the processor. The processor can also display lines representing an environment of the mobile cleaning robot, where the image and the lines can together be indicative of a status of the mobile cleaning robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2026
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Cory White, Sam Hong, Craig Michael Butterworth, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20260139790
    Abstract: An assembly for moving a device includes roller elements for allowing the assembly to be moved by rolling the roller elements, a vertical track assembly comprising a device mount assembly for mounting the device to the vertical track assembly, a counterbalanced pulley system for allowing the device mount assembly to be controllably translated along the vertical track assembly, and a turntable, at least a portion of which is rotatable relative to the vertical track assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2024
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Applicant: Archi Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Alexander LeBlanc, Michael Foster
  • Patent number: 12593951
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium can include instructions for presenting a user interface, which when executed by a processor, can cause the processor to display an image on the user interface representing a mobile cleaning robot that is in communication with the processor. The processor can also display lines representing an environment of the mobile cleaning robot, where the image and the lines can together be indicative of a status of the mobile cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Cory White, Sam Hong, Craig Michael Butterworth, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20250386990
    Abstract: A method of prioritizing cleaning of rooms of an environment for a mobile cleaning robot can include generating a cleanliness score for each room of the environment using a controller. Each of the cleanliness scores can be indicative of an amount of debris expected in each respective room by the mobile cleaning robot. The method can also include generating a room cleaning priority based at least partially on the cleanliness score of each of the rooms. The method can also include scheduling operations of the mobile cleaning robot for a planned mission based on the room cleaning priority of each of the rooms of the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Steven J. Baron, Matthew Weyant, Ryan Schneider, Michael Foster, Clifton Eric Smith, Ajay Changulani, Collin Prather, Laura Tramontozzi, Jonathan Sanjeev Withers
  • Patent number: 12461528
    Abstract: A method of prioritizing cleaning of rooms of an environment for a mobile cleaning robot can include generating a cleanliness score for each room of the environment using a controller. Each of the cleanliness scores can be indicative of an amount of debris expected in each respective room by the mobile cleaning robot. The method can also include generating a room cleaning priority based at least partially on the cleanliness score of each of the rooms. The method can also include scheduling operations of the mobile cleaning robot for a planned mission based on the room cleaning priority of each of the rooms of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Baron, Matthew Weyant, Ryan Schneider, Michael Foster, Clifton Eric Smith, Ajay Changulani, Collin Prather, Laura Tramontozzi, Jonathan Sanjeev Withers
  • Publication number: 20250165008
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data collected by an autonomous mobile robot as the autonomous mobile robot moves about an environment, the sensor data being indicative of sensor events and locations associated with the sensor events. The method includes identifying a subset of the sensor events based on the locations. The method includes providing, to a user computing device, data indicative of a recommended behavior control zone in the environment, the recommended behavior control zone containing a subset of the locations associated with the subset of the sensor events. The method includes defining, in response to a user selection from the user computing device, a behavior control zone such that the autonomous mobile robot initiates a behavior in response to encountering the behavior control zone, the behavior control zone being based on the recommended behavior control zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Michael Foster, Frank Judge, Brandon Rohrer, Christopher Shumaker, Matthew Weyant, Alex Wong, Lauren D. Stern
  • Patent number: 12246453
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a handheld computing device, a graphical representation of a map including a plurality of selectable rooms, presenting, on the display, at least one selectable graphical divider representing boundaries of at least one of the plurality of selectable rooms, the at least one selectable graphical divider being adjustable to change at least one of the boundaries of the plurality of selectable rooms, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing a selection of an individual selectable graphical divider, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing at least one adjustment to the individual selectable graphical divider, the at least one adjustment including at least one of moving, rotating, or deleting the individual selectable graphical divider, and presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a map wherein the individual selectable graphical divider is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Vanessa Wiegel, Stephen O'Dea, Kathleen Ann Mahoney, Qunxi Huang, Michael Foster, Brian Ratta, Garrett Strobel, Scott Marchant
  • Publication number: 20250068161
    Abstract: A method of prioritizing cleaning of rooms of an environment for a mobile cleaning robot can include generating a cleanliness score for each room of the environment using a controller. Each of the cleanliness scores can be indicative of an amount of debris expected in each respective room by the mobile cleaning robot. The method can also include generating a room cleaning priority based at least partially on the cleanliness score of each of the rooms. The method can also include scheduling operations of the mobile cleaning robot for a planned mission based on the room cleaning priority of each of the rooms of the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Steven J. Baron, Matthew Weyant, Ryan Schneider, Michael Foster, Clifton Eric Smith, Ajay Changulani, Collin Prather, Laura Tramontozzi, Jonathan Sanjeev Withers
  • Patent number: 12210360
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data collected by an autonomous mobile robot as the autonomous mobile robot moves about an environment, the sensor data being indicative of sensor events and locations associated with the sensor events. The method includes identifying a subset of the sensor events based on the locations. The method includes providing, to a user computing device, data indicative of a recommended behavior control zone in the environment, the recommended behavior control zone containing a subset of the locations associated with the subset of the sensor events. The method includes defining, in response to a user selection from the user computing device, a behavior control zone such that the autonomous mobile robot initiates a behavior in response to encountering the behavior control zone, the behavior control zone being based on the recommended behavior control zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Michael Foster, Frank Judge, Brandon Rohrer, Christopher Shumaker, Matthew Weyant, Alex Wong, Lauren D. Stern
  • Patent number: 11857088
    Abstract: An adjustable bench comprises a seat, a skirt extending from the seat, and a plurality of height adjustable leg assemblies coupled to the skirt. The seat is shaped to be selectively mated with the skirt to provide the bench with either a flat top or a sloped top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Allan Peter Leia, Lisa Ann Pedscalny, Craig Michael Drummond, Herbert Walter Bentz, Christopher Pond, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20230055838
    Abstract: An adjustable bench comprises a seat, a skirt extending from the seat, and a plurality of height adjustable leg assemblies coupled to the skirt. The seat is shaped to be selectively mated with the skirt to provide the bench with either a flat top or a sloped top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Allan Peter Leia, Lisa Ann Pedscalny, Craig Michael Drummond, Herbert Walter Bentz, Christopher Pond, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20230015508
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data collected by an autonomous mobile robot as the autonomous mobile robot moves about an environment, the sensor data being indicative of sensor events and locations associated with the sensor events. The method includes identifying a subset of the sensor events based on the locations. The method includes providing, to a user computing device, data indicative of a recommended behavior control zone in the environment, the recommended behavior control zone containing a subset of the locations associated with the subset of the sensor events. The method includes defining, in response to a user selection from the user computing device, a behavior control zone such that the autonomous mobile robot initiates a behavior in response to encountering the behavior control zone, the behavior control zone being based on the recommended behavior control zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Michael Foster, Frank Judge, Brandon Rohrer, Christopher Shumaker, Matthew Weyant, Alex Wong, Lauren D. Stem
  • Patent number: 11467585
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data collected by an autonomous mobile robot as the autonomous mobile robot moves about an environment, the sensor data being indicative of sensor events and locations associated with the sensor events. The method includes identifying a subset of the sensor events based on the locations. The method includes providing, to a user computing device, data indicative of a recommended behavior control zone in the environment, the recommended behavior control zone containing a subset of the locations associated with the subset of the sensor events. The method includes defining, in response to a user selection from the user computing device, a behavior control zone such that the autonomous mobile robot initiates a behavior in response to encountering the behavior control zone, the behavior control zone being based on the recommended behavior control zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Michael Foster, Frank Judge, Brandon Rohrer, Christopher Shumaker, Matthew Weyant, Alex Wong, Lauren D. Stern
  • Publication number: 20220151450
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for scheduling and controlling a mobile robot based on user location, user behavior, or other contextual information. In an example, a mobile cleaning robot comprises a drive system configured to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment in a user's residence, and a controller circuit configured to receive an indication of a user entering or exiting a pre-defined geographical zone with respect to a location of the user's residence. Such indication may be detected using location and geofencing services of a mobile device. Based on the indication of the user entering or exiting the geofence, the controller circuit may generate a motion control signal to navigate the mobile cleaning robot to conduct a mission in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Shannon Amelia Case, Alex Wong, Josua Gonzales-Neal, David C. Palafox, James Jackson, Nick Cuneo, Josie-Dee Seagren, Victoria Liceaga, Craig Michael Butterworth, Orjeta Taka, Christopher V. Jones, Steven J. Baron, David M. McSweeney, Kenrick E. Drew, Ryan Schneider, Isaac Vandermeulen, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20220015596
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium can include instructions for presenting a user interface, which when executed by a processor, can cause the processor to display an image on the user interface representing a mobile cleaning robot that is in communication with the processor. The processor can also display lines representing an environment of the mobile cleaning robot, where the image and the lines can together be indicative of a status of the mobile cleaning robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Cory White, Sam Hong, Craig Michael Butterworth, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20210268655
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a handheld computing device, a graphical representation of a map including a plurality of selectable rooms, presenting, on the display, at least one selectable graphical divider representing boundaries of at least one of the plurality of selectable rooms, the at least one selectable graphical divider being adjustable to change at least one of the boundaries of the plurality of selectable rooms, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing a selection of an individual selectable graphical divider, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing at least one adjustment to the individual selectable graphical divider, the at least one adjustment including at least one of moving, rotating, or deleting the individual selectable graphical divider, and presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a map wherein the individual selectable graphical divider is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Vanessa Wiegel, Stephen O'Dea, Kathleen Ann Mahoney, Qunxi Huang, Michael Foster, Brian Ratta, Garrett Strobel, Scott Marchant
  • Patent number: 11104459
    Abstract: Capture assemblies and compliant extension assemblies may be utilized for insertion into a nozzle of a liquid engine of a spacecraft. The capture assembly may include an apparatus such as a probe for insertion into the nozzle and an assembly at least partially enclosed in a forward portion of the probe. The assembly may include a plurality of actuated fingers for deploying outwardly from the probe when the probe is inserted into the nozzle. The compliant extension assembly may be at least partially enclosed in a housing connected to the capture assembly for axial movement of the probe. The compliant extension assembly may facilitate axial movement of the probe between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the probe is extended forwardly, relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Peter O. Sorensen, Matthew Alan Michel, William A. Llorens, David M. Murphy, Jeffrey Braden, Michael Edward McEachen, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20210252708
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a handheld computing device, a graphical representation of a map including a plurality of selectable rooms, presenting, on the display, at least one selectable graphical divider representing boundaries of at least one of the plurality of selectable rooms, the at least one selectable graphical divider being adjustable to change at least one of the boundaries of the plurality of selectable rooms, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing a selection of an individual selectable graphical divider, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing at least one adjustment to the individual selectable graphical divider, the at least one adjustment including at least one of moving, rotating, or deleting the individual selectable graphical divider, and presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a map wherein the individual selectable graphical divider is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Vanessa Wiegel, Stephen O'Dea, Kathleen Ann Mahoney, Qunxi Huang, Michael Foster, Brian Ratta, Garrett Strobel, Scott Marchant
  • Patent number: 11007644
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a handheld computing device, a graphical representation of a map including a plurality of selectable rooms, presenting, on the display, at least one selectable graphical divider representing boundaries of at least one of the plurality of selectable rooms, the at least one selectable graphical divider being adjustable to change at least one of the boundaries of the plurality of selectable rooms, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing a selection of an individual selectable graphical divider, receiving input, at the handheld computing device, representing at least one adjustment to the individual selectable graphical divider, the at least one adjustment including at least one of moving, rotating, or deleting the individual selectable graphical divider, and presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a map wherein the individual selectable graphical divider is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Vanessa Wiegel, Stephen O'Dea, Kathleen Ann Mahoney, Qunxi Huang, Michael Foster, Brian Ratta, Garrett Strobel, Scott Marchant
  • Publication number: 20210138659
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor data collected by an autonomous mobile robot as the autonomous mobile robot moves about an environment, the sensor data being indicative of sensor events and locations associated with the sensor events. The method includes identifying a subset of the sensor events based on the locations. The method includes providing, to a user computing device, data indicative of a recommended behavior control zone in the environment, the recommended behavior control zone containing a subset of the locations associated with the subset of the sensor events. The method includes defining, in response to a user selection from the user computing device, a behavior control zone such that the autonomous mobile robot initiates a behavior in response to encountering the behavior control zone, the behavior control zone being based on the recommended behavior control zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Michael Foster, Frank Judge, Brandon Rohrer, Christopher Shumaker, Matthew Weyant, Alex Wong, Lauren D. Stern