Patents by Inventor Peter K. Mansfield
Peter K. Mansfield 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: 10962956Abstract: Techniques for controlling mobile drive units (e.g., robots) in proximity to humans in a physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device or another mobile drive unit may send an activity command instructing a mobile drive unit to stop, reduce the speed at which it is traveling, to change its path of travel, or to continue performing its set of activities. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman
-
Patent number: 10486901Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
-
Patent number: 10328836Abstract: An inventory system includes an inventory holder and an actively balanced mobile drive unit. A control module of the mobile drive unit can receive sensing information about the inventory holder and/or the mobile drive unit and use the sensing information to control a drive module of the mobile drive unit so as to maintain the inventory holder and/or the mobile drive unit within a predetermined deviation amount from an equilibrium state.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Oliver Christoph Purwin, Dragan Pajevic, David William Guerin, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Mark Anthony Messina, Parris S. Wellman, Kevin John Trenholme, Peter Thomas Colantonio, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 10289111Abstract: Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Romano, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter Martin Hess
-
Patent number: 10112771Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
-
Publication number: 20180181104Abstract: Techniques for controlling mobile drive units (e.g., robots) in proximity to humans in a physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device or another mobile drive unit may send an activity command instructing a mobile drive unit to stop, reduce the speed at which it is traveling, to change its path of travel, or to continue performing its set of activities. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman
-
Patent number: 9927797Abstract: Techniques for making a physical area safe for a human to enter when mobile drive units (e.g., robots) are operating in the physical area are described. A management device may send an activity message to the mobile drive units instructing the mobile drive units to perform a set of activities. If a human is detected in the physical area, the management device may stop sending the activity command. If the mobile drive units do not receive the activity command, the mobile drive units may stop performing the set of activities. After the management device determines that the human has left the physical area, the management device may resume sending the activity message.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman
-
Publication number: 20180068261Abstract: Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and an arm of a worker interacting with the inventory holder. Data can be received from a sensor, a gesture of the arm can be determined from the data, and a bin location or other information can be determined based on the gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Ned Lecky, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic
-
Patent number: 9824328Abstract: Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and an arm of a worker interacting with the inventory holder. Data can be received from a sensor, a gesture of the arm can be determined from the data, and a bin location or other information can be determined based on the gesture.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ned Lecky, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic
-
Patent number: 9682483Abstract: Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Romano, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 9665095Abstract: Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Romano, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 9663296Abstract: Some examples include charging an onboard power source of a mobile drive unit (MDU) of an inventory system while the MDU is operating in the inventory system, rather than removing the MDU from service for recharging. As an example, the MDU may receive instructions to retrieve an inventory holder, and an onboard power source of the MDU may be charged while the MDU and the inventory holder are located at the charging station.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Ryan Dingle, Matthew David Verminski, Peter K. Mansfield, Andrew Stubbs, Sean Hugh Breheny, Peter R. Wurman
-
Publication number: 20170083020Abstract: An inventory system includes an inventory holder and an actively balanced mobile drive unit. A control module of the mobile drive unit can receive sensing information about the inventory holder and/or the mobile drive unit and use the sensing information to control a drive module of the mobile drive unit so as to maintain the inventory holder and/or the mobile drive unit within a predetermined deviation amount from an equilibrium state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Oliver Christoph Purwin, Dragan Pajevic, David William Guerin, Robert Michael Shydo, JR., Mark Anthony Messina, Parris S. Wellman, Kevin John Trenholme, Peter Thomas Colantonio, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 9588519Abstract: Short range transmissions are used to identify potential interactions between warehouse workers and warehouse robots in automated warehouses. The robot can be equipped with one or more short range transmission tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, while the warehouse worker can be equipped with a short range transmission reader, such as an RFID reader. The robot can detect a warehouse worker that is within range when the RFID tags on the robot are written to by the RFID reader. The warehouse robots and warehouse workers can also be equipped with one or more cameras to identify fiducials in the automated warehouse and to report their positions. A central control or interaction server can ensure that warehouse robots and warehouse workers are routed appropriately to avoid incidents.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Stephen Caldara, Robert Michael Shydo, Jr., Gregory Edward Tierney, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 9580245Abstract: Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and associated inventory items. Data can be received from a sensor, a boundary corresponding to a face of the inventory holder can be determined from the data, and items projecting across the boundary can be determined as items protruding from the inventory holder.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter K. Mansfield, Ned Lecky, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, David Levy
-
Publication number: 20170022010Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
-
Publication number: 20160334799Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael C. Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
-
Publication number: 20160274586Abstract: Short range transmissions are used to identify potential interactions between warehouse workers and warehouse robots in automated warehouses. The robot can be equipped with one or more short range transmission tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, while the warehouse worker can be equipped with a short range transmission reader, such as an RFID reader. The robot can detect a warehouse worker that is within range when the RFID tags on the robot are written to by the RFID reader. The warehouse robots and warehouse workers can also be equipped with one or more cameras to identify fiducials in the automated warehouse and to report their positions. A central control or interaction server can ensure that warehouse robots and warehouse workers are routed appropriately to avoid incidents.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, Stephen Caldara, Robert Michael Shydo, JR., Gregory Edward Tierney, Peter K. Mansfield
-
Patent number: 9436184Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
-
Patent number: 9371184Abstract: Some examples include charging an onboard power source of a mobile drive unit (MDU) of an inventory system while the MDU is operating in the inventory system, rather than removing the MDU from service for recharging. As an example, the MDU may receive instructions to retrieve an inventory holder, and an onboard power source of the MDU may be charged while the MDU and the inventory holder are located at the charging station.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Ryan Dingle, Matthew David Verminski, Peter K. Mansfield, Andrew Stubbs, Sean Hugh Breheny, Peter R. Wurman