Patents by Inventor Robert STADIE
Robert STADIE 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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Publication number: 20210086802Abstract: A robotic service device for a robotic picking system grid. The robotic service device can be configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to restart malfunctioning robotic load handling devices or to perform maintenance operations or cleaning in situ. Additionally, the service device may be used to rescue robotic load handling devices operational in the picking system. The robotic service device can include a releasable docking mechanism to enable it to dock and latch on to malfunctioning load handling devices. A deployable, releasable electrical connecting device is shaped to conform to a charging, powering, or battery component of one or more of the load handling devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Matthew WHELAN
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Patent number: 10955834Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Patent number: 10901404Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Patent number: 10882540Abstract: A robotic service device for a robotic picking system grid. The robotic service device can be configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to restart malfunctioning robotic load handling devices or to perform maintenance operations or cleaning in situ. Additionally, the service device may be used to rescue robotic load handling devices operational in the picking system. The robotic service device can include a releasable docking mechanism to enable it to dock and latch on to malfunctioning load handling devices. The service device can also be provided with a cleaning device and camera device to enable a condition of a grid and other robotic devices to be monitored.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Matthew Whelan
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Publication number: 20200363819Abstract: A controller is provided to control movement of transporting devices. Embodiments limit the loads imparted on a grid of pathways structure of transporting devices to prevent non-safety-critical damage from excess loads and/or fatigue. A controller is arranged to control movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in a facility. The facility includes pathways arranged in cells to form a grid-like structure which extends in first and second directions. A route determination unit determines a route from one location to another, and a clearance unit to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the determined route. A constraint area determination unit determines constraint areas based on the grid-like structure and a calculation unit calculates a constraint limit in each constraint area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Ocado Innovation LimitedInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Gareth SIRET
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Publication number: 20200012268Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Patent number: 10474141Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimization unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20190054932Abstract: A robotic service device for a robotic picking system grid. The robotic service device can be configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to restart malfunctioning robotic load handling devices or to perform maintenance operations or cleaning in situ. Additionally, the service device may be used to rescue robotic load handling devices operational in the picking system. The robotic service device can include a releasable docking mechanism to enable it to dock and latch on to malfunctioning load handling devices. The service device can also be provided with a cleaning device and camera device to enable a condition of a grid and other robotic devices to be monitored.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD
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Patent number: 10086999Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for controlling the movement of transporting devices and/or operations conducted at various workstations are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems and computer-readable media for controlling the movement of transporting devices configured for fully—and/or partly automated handling of goods and/or controlling operations conducted at various workstations.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20180276608Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of at least one transporting device arranged to transport containers in stacks arranged in a facility, the facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the at least one transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the system. A receiving unit is configured to receive information about a product to be returned to a container in a stack, wherein the product is located at a workstation; and a control unit is configured to select a container located in the stacks into which the product is to be placed and instruct a transporting device to move the selected container to a location of the workstation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20180276606Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers stored in stacks arranged in a facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above the stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A movement optimisation unit is configured to determine a route of a transporting device from one location on a grid-like structure to another location on the grid-like structure for each transporting device. A reservation unit is configured to reserve a path on the grid-like structure for each transporting device based on the determined route. A clearance unit is configured to provide clearance for each transporting device to traverse a portion of the reserved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT
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Publication number: 20180276607Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert Stadie, Matthew Whelan, Christopher Brett
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Publication number: 20180075402Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for controlling the movement of transporting devices and/or operations conducted at various workstations are disclosed. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems and computer-readable media for controlling the movement of transporting devices configured for fully—and/or partly automated handling of goods and/or controlling operations conducted at various workstations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITEDInventors: Robert STADIE, Matthew WHELAN, Christopher BRETT