Patents by Inventor Peter Martin Hess

Peter Martin Hess 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: 10289111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Romano, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, Peter K. Mansfield, Peter Martin Hess
  • Patent number: 9618932
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino
  • Publication number: 20160355297
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino
  • Patent number: 9422084
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino
  • Publication number: 20160130033
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino
  • Patent number: 9278840
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino
  • Publication number: 20150368078
    Abstract: An inventory system includes a pallet and a base for palletizing or unpalletizing a mobile drive unit. The pallet has a set of openings corresponding with features of the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit features may extend into the pallet openings. The base includes protrusions corresponding to the pallet openings. Engaging the pallet and base can position the base protrusions in the pallet openings. Positioning the base protrusions in the pallet openings can displace the mobile drive unit features from the pallet openings and/or provide a surface upon which the mobile drive unit can navigate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Martin Hess, Scot Douglas Davis, Stephen Aquilino