Patents by Inventor Orin P.F. Hoffman
Orin P.F. Hoffman 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: 10514693Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot includes driving the robot according to a drive command issued by a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot, determining a driven path from an origin, and after experiencing a loss of communications with the operator control unit, determining an orientation of the robot. The method further includes executing a self-righting maneuver when the robot is oriented upside down. The self-righting maneuver includes rotating an appendage of the robot from a stowed position alongside a main body of the robot downward and away from the main body, raising and supporting the main body on the appendage, and then further rotating the appendage to drive the upright main body past a vertical position, causing the robot to fall over and thereby invert the main body.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: FLIR DETECTION, INC.Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
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Publication number: 20170329326Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot includes driving the robot according to a drive command issued by a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot, determining a driven path from an origin, and after experiencing a loss of communications with the operator control unit, determining an orientation of the robot. The method further includes executing a self-righting maneuver when the robot is oriented upside down. The self-righting maneuver includes rotating an appendage of the robot from a stowed position alongside a main body of the robot downward and away from the main body, raising and supporting the main body on the appendage, and then further rotating the appendage to drive the upright main body past a vertical position, causing the robot to fall over and thereby invert the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2017Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
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Patent number: 9789612Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
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Publication number: 20170217021Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
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Patent number: 9665096Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot includes driving the robot according to a drive command issued by a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot, determining a driven path from an origin, and after experiencing a loss of communications with the operator control unit, determining an orientation of the robot. The method further includes executing a self-righting maneuver when the robot is oriented upside down. The self-righting maneuver includes rotating an appendage of the robot from a stowed position alongside a main body of the robot downward and away from the main body, raising and supporting the main body on the appendage, and then further rotating the appendage to drive the upright main body past a vertical position, causing the robot to fall over and thereby invert the main body.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
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Patent number: 9592604Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
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Publication number: 20160243698Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
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Patent number: 9283674Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
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Patent number: 9211648Abstract: A robot system that includes an operator control unit, mission robot, and a repeater. The operator control unit has a display. The robot includes a robot body, a drive system supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot over a work surface, and a controller in communication with the drive system and the operator control unit. The repeater receives a communication signal between the operator control unit and the robot and retransmits the signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Marshall Grinstead, Orin P.F. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20150355638Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot includes driving the robot according to a drive command issued by a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot, determining a driven path from an origin, and after experiencing a loss of communications with the operator control unit, determining an orientation of the robot. The method further includes executing a self-righting maneuver when the robot is oriented upside down. The self-righting maneuver includes rotating an appendage of the robot from a stowed position alongside a main body of the robot downward and away from the main body, raising and supporting the main body on the appendage, and then further rotating the appendage to drive the upright main body past a vertical position, causing the robot to fall over and thereby invert the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
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Patent number: 9146558Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot that includes driving the robot according to a drive direction, determining a driven path of the robot from an origin, and displaying a drive view on a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot. The drive view shows a driven path of the robot from the origin. The method further includes obtaining global positioning coordinates of a current location of the robot and displaying a map in the drive view using the global positioning coordinates. The driven path of the robot is displayed on the map.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
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Publication number: 20150190925Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes electronically receiving images and augmenting the images by overlaying a representation of the robot on the images. The robot representation includes user-selectable portions. The method includes electronically displaying the augmented images and receiving an indication of a selection of at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation. The method also includes electronically displaying an intent to command the selected at least one user-selectable portion of the robot representation, receiving an input representative of a user interaction with at least one user-selectable portion, and issuing a command to the robot based on the user interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia
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Publication number: 20130268118Abstract: A robot system that includes an operator control unit, mission robot, and a repeater. The operator control unit has a display. The robot includes a robot body, a drive system supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot over a work surface, and a controller in communication with the drive system and the operator control unit. The repeater receives a communication signal between the operator control unit and the robot and retransmits the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: IRobot CorporationInventors: Marshall Grinstead, Orin P.F. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20120185091Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot that includes driving the robot according to a drive direction, determining a driven path of the robot from an origin, and displaying a drive view on a remote operator control unit in communication with the robot. The drive view shows a driven path of the robot from the origin. The method further includes obtaining global positioning coordinates of a current location of the robot and displaying a map in the drive view using the global positioning coordinates. The driven path of the robot is displayed on the map.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser