Patents by Inventor Neil Whitney
Neil Whitney 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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Patent number: 11610493Abstract: An automated system is provided that receives and utilizes travel related data from unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) for optimizing the scheduling and routing of deliveries by UAVs. Travel routes through delivery areas are planned and when it is determined that a first UAV has deviated from a planned travel route to avoid a location in an area, a second UAV (e.g., which may have additional sensors and/or recording capabilities) may be sent to collect updated travel related data regarding the location. The updated travel related data (e.g., which may indicate that there is a new obstacle, a source of magnetic interference, a wind, etc. at the location) may be utilized for planning future travel routes for deliveries.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Asaf Gilboa-Amir, Jon T. Hanlon, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 11275375Abstract: Techniques for facilitating an autonomous operation, such as an autonomous navigation, of an unmanned vehicle based on one or more fiducials. For example, image data of a fiducial may be generated with an optical sensor of the unmanned vehicle. The image data may be analyzed to determine a location of the fiducial. A location of the unmanned vehicle may be estimated from the location of the fiducial and the image. The autonomous navigation of the unmanned vehicle may be directed based on the estimated location.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Gregory Dunn, Carl Ryan Kelso, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 10553122Abstract: An automated system is provided that receives and utilizes travel related data from unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) and other sources (e.g., data aggregators, weather services, obstacle databases, etc.) for optimizing the scheduling and routing of deliveries by UAVs. The travel related data that is received from the sensors of UAVs and other sources may indicate the locations and characteristics of obstacles, weather, crowds of people, magnetic interference, etc., which may be evaluated and utilized for determining and updating flight plans for UAVs. In various implementations, the travel related data received from the sensors of a UAV may be combined with other travel related data and stored (e.g., at a central management system, in UAVs, etc.) for further analysis and use in determining UAV delivery schedules and related operations of materials handling facilities.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Asaf Gilboa-Amir, Jon T. Hanlon, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 10460276Abstract: A method for comparing predictive data models based on a predictive model search is provided. The method may include receiving a first and second portion of a set of data. The method may also include identifying a first and second variation of the second portion, wherein the first variation is different from the second variation. The method may further include generating first predictive data models based on the first variation, and second predictive data models based on the second variation. Additionally, the method may include applying a criteria to rank the first and second predictive data models based on predictive strength. The method may also include presenting a display of the ranked criteria, comprising the first portion, and a portion of the first and second predictive data models, wherein the portion of the first and second predictive data models are collectively ranked and presented according to the predictive strength.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc Altshuller, Jing-Yun Shyr, Damir Spisic, Margaret J. Vais, Neil Whitney
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Patent number: 10460275Abstract: A method for comparing predictive data models based on a predictive model search is provided. The method may include receiving a first and second portion of a set of data. The method may also include identifying a first and second variation of the second portion, wherein the first variation is different from the second variation. The method may further include generating first predictive data models based on the first variation, and second predictive data models based on the second variation. Additionally, the method may include applying a criteria to rank the first and second predictive data models based on predictive strength. The method may also include presenting a display of the ranked criteria, comprising the first portion, and a portion of the first and second predictive data models, wherein the portion of the first and second predictive data models are collectively ranked and presented according to the predictive strength.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc Altshuller, Jing-Yun Shyr, Damir Spisic, Margaret J. Vais, Neil Whitney
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Patent number: 10364026Abstract: A UAV tethering system provides an environment in which to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) where the tether is selected to prevent the UAV from unintentional contact with the ground or other objects within the flight area. A tether may connect the UAV to a shuttle that slides along a track. The tether may be used to provide efficient, robust and accurate positioning information. The system can be configured to detect the angle at which the tethering line extends from the shuttle, the length of the extended tethering line, and then compute the position of the UAV relative to the shuttle. Furthermore, by knowing the position of the shuttle, the absolute position of the UAV can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jon T. Hanlon, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 10289116Abstract: Techniques for facilitating an autonomous operation, such as an autonomous navigation, of an unmanned vehicle based on one or more fiducials. For example, image data of a fiducial may be generated with an optical sensor of the unmanned vehicle. The image data may be analyzed to determine a location of the fiducial. A location of the unmanned vehicle may be estimated from the location of the fiducial and the image. The autonomous navigation of the unmanned vehicle may be directed based on the estimated location.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Gregory Dunn, Carl Ryan Kelso, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 9964951Abstract: Techniques for facilitating an autonomous operation, such as an autonomous navigation, of an unmanned vehicle based on one or more fiducials. For example, image data of a fiducial may be generated with an optical sensor of the unmanned vehicle. The image data may be analyzed to determine a location of the fiducial. A location of the unmanned vehicle may be estimated from the location of the fiducial and the image. The autonomous navigation of the unmanned vehicle may be directed based on the estimated location.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Gregory Dunn, Carl Ryan Kelso, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 9586683Abstract: This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a thrusting motor and propeller assembly that is oriented at approximately ninety degrees to one or more of the lifting motors. When the UAV is moving horizontally, it may be determined if the horizontal airspeed of the UAV exceeds an airspeed threshold. If the horizontal airspeed exceeds the airspeed threshold, the thrusting motor may be engaged and the thrusting propeller will aid in the horizontal propulsion of the UAV.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Buchmueller, Gur Kimchi, Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III, Samuel Park, Christopher Hammond Sczudlo, Ricky Dean Welsh, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Publication number: 20160253324Abstract: A method for comparing predictive data models based on a predictive model search is provided. The method may include receiving a first and second portion of a set of data. The method may also include identifying a first and second variation of the second portion, wherein the first variation is different from the second variation. The method may further include generating first predictive data models based on the first variation, and second predictive data models based on the second variation. Additionally, the method may include applying a criteria to rank the first and second predictive data models based on predictive strength. The method may also include presenting a display of the ranked criteria, comprising the first portion, and a portion of the first and second predictive data models, wherein the portion of the first and second predictive data models are collectively ranked and presented according to the predictive strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Marc Altshuller, Jing-Yun Shyr, Damir Spisic, Margaret J. Vais, Neil Whitney
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Publication number: 20160253330Abstract: A method for comparing predictive data models based on a predictive model search is provided. The method may include receiving a first and second portion of a set of data. The method may also include identifying a first and second variation of the second portion, wherein the first variation is different from the second variation. The method may further include generating first predictive data models based on the first variation, and second predictive data models based on the second variation. Additionally, the method may include applying a criteria to rank the first and second predictive data models based on predictive strength. The method may also include presenting a display of the ranked criteria, comprising the first portion, and a portion of the first and second predictive data models, wherein the portion of the first and second predictive data models are collectively ranked and presented according to the predictive strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Marc Altshuller, Jing-Yun Shyr, Damir Spisic, Margaret J. Vais, Neil Whitney
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Patent number: 9292986Abstract: A secured storage container for transporting storage devices from a data center to a destruction center for degaussing or other destruction techniques. The secured storage container can include a scanner for reading a barcode on the storage devices for inventory tracking. The container can also include a lid that is opened via a security badge for removing the storage devices from the container. A GPS-based tracking module can be used to ensure the container's location is aligned with a route to the destruction center. Finally, the container can have a moveable floor that moves upward as storage devices are removed so that a technician can easily remove all of the storage devices in the container.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Neil Whitney Woodward, III, Christopher Wayne Turner, Shane Drexler, Laura Lynn Legel