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).

  • Patent number: 10514693
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR DETECTION, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
  • Publication number: 20170329326
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
  • Patent number: 9789612
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
  • Publication number: 20170217021
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
  • Patent number: 9665096
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
  • Patent number: 9592604
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
  • Publication number: 20160243698
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
  • Patent number: 9283674
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Orin P. F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia, Brian J. Madge
  • Patent number: 9211648
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marshall Grinstead, Orin P.F. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20150355638
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
  • Patent number: 9146558
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P. F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser
  • Publication number: 20150190925
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Orin P.F. Hoffman, Peter Keefe, Eric Smith, John Wang, Andrew Labrecque, Brett Ponsler, Susan Macchia
  • Publication number: 20130268118
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: IRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marshall Grinstead, Orin P.F. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120185091
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Field, David F. Weatherwax, Orin P.F. Hoffman, Scott R. Lenser