Patents by Inventor Ricky Houghton

Ricky Houghton 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: 9519882
    Abstract: A method and system for piece-picking or piece put-away within a logistics facility. The system includes a central server and at least one mobile manipulation robot. The central server is configured to communicate with the robots to send and receive piece-picking data which includes a unique identification for each piece to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the pieces to be picked, and a route for the robot to take within the logistics facility. The robots can then autonomously navigate and position themselves within the logistics facility by recognition of landmarks by at least one of a plurality of sensors. The sensors also provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a piece to be picked or put-away, and processors on the robots analyze the sensor information to generate movements of a unique articulated arm and end effector on the robot to pick or put-away the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: IAM Robotics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Galluzzo, Vladimir Altman, Ricky Houghton
  • Publication number: 20150332213
    Abstract: A method and system for piece-picking or piece put-away within a logistics facility. The system includes a central server and at least one mobile manipulation robot. The central server is configured to communicate with the robots to send and receive piece-picking data which includes a unique identification for each piece to be picked, a location within the logistics facility of the pieces to be picked, and a route for the robot to take within the logistics facility. The robots can then autonomously navigate and position themselves within the logistics facility by recognition of landmarks by at least one of a plurality of sensors. The sensors also provide signals related to detection, identification, and location of a piece to be picked or put-away, and processors on the robots analyze the sensor information to generate movements of a unique articulated arm and end effector on the robot to pick or put-away the piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: IAM Robotics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Galluzzo, Vladimir Altman, Ricky Houghton
  • Patent number: 8483270
    Abstract: A method for adapting use of a wireless link, such as a radio link, between a remotely controlled device and an operator control unit, and a remotely controlled device configured to perform the method, the method aimed at providing for more advantageous use of the wireless link in providing video to the operator control unit. In case of a radio link, a video-transmitting radio unit of the remotely controlled device provides a digital video feed over the radio link to a video-receiving radio unit of the operator control unit, and in so doing the remotely controlled device adapts the resolution and/or frames per unit time of the video feed based solely on measurements made by the remotely controlled device, measurements indicative of the quality of the radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ballistic Applications and Materials International, LLC
    Inventors: Ricky A. Houghton, Richard P. Lizotte
  • Publication number: 20100074625
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating spoken speech, based on switching on and off a visible or infrared light source in a pattern corresponding to the spoken speech. The communication system provides for rapid retransmission/rebroadcast of messages received from other communication systems, to allow communication over a longer range than would otherwise be possible, or between two points not along a line of sight. The system may include a light source also used (at the same time) for providing illumination, such as a light source that is part of a lightbar mounted on a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: John C. Northcott, James M. Helms, Ricky A. Houghton, Chris Wieland, Xiaolu Chen, James A. Retter
  • Publication number: 20090185617
    Abstract: A method for adapting use of a wireless link, such as a radio link, between a remotely controlled device and an operator control unit, and a remotely controlled device configured to perform the method, the method aimed at providing for more advantageous use of the wireless link in providing video to the operator control unit. In case of a radio link, a video-transmitting radio unit of the remotely controlled device provides a digital video feed over the radio link to a video-receiving radio unit of the operator control unit, and in so doing the remotely controlled device adapts the resolution and/or frames per unit time of the video feed based solely on measurements made by the remotely controlled device, measurements indicative of the quality of the radio link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Ricky A. Houghton, Richard P. Lizotte