Patents by Inventor Ryan Estep

Ryan Estep 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).

  • Publication number: 20260132010
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for determining a position of a materials handling vehicle. One embodiment includes determining a proximity of a vehicle to a proximate guidewire, determining a recent location of the vehicle, and determining a first dimension of a position of the vehicle based on a known location of a proximate guidewire. Some embodiments include engaging with the proximate guidewire, determining that only a subset of the plurality of transceiver anchors have line of sight to the vehicle, and receiving data from a first transceiver anchor and second transceiver anchor of the subset of the plurality of transceiver anchors. Some embodiments include determining a second dimension of the position of the vehicle based on the received data from the first transceiver anchor and the second transceiver anchor and determining the position of the vehicle from the first dimension and the second dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2025
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250368481
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for determining a position of a materials handling vehicle. One embodiment includes determining a proximity of a vehicle to a proximate guidewire, determining a recent location of the vehicle, and determining a first dimension of a position of the vehicle based on a known location of a proximate guidewire. Some embodiments include engaging with the proximate guidewire, determining that only a subset of the plurality of transceiver anchors have line of sight to the vehicle, and receiving data from a first transceiver anchor and second transceiver anchor of the subset of the plurality of transceiver anchors. Some embodiments include determining a second dimension of the position of the vehicle based on the received data from the first transceiver anchor and the second transceiver anchor and determining the position of the vehicle from the first dimension and the second dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250370465
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include a method that includes creating a restriction zone policy for a plurality of covered environments that defines a first rule with a restriction range on a hypothetical materials handling vehicle that is located in a restriction zone in at least one of the plurality of covered environments, creating a first restriction zone for a first covered environment that includes defining a first location in the first covered environment of the first restriction zone, and associating the restriction zone policy with the first restriction zone, which includes defining a first value within the restriction range for the first rule. Some embodiments include applying the restriction zone and the restriction zone policy to the location in the first covered environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250370475
    Abstract: Embodiments provided include a method that includes determining a location of a restriction zone, where the restriction zone includes a first edge and a second edge, providing a user option to independently define a first policy for a materials handling vehicle when crossing into the restriction zone via the first edge and a second policy for the materials handling vehicle when crossing into the restriction zone via the second edge, and receiving user input defining the first policy and the second policy. Some embodiments include determining a location and an orientation from the materials handling vehicle, determining from the location and the orientation, that the materials handling vehicle is approaching the restriction zone via the first edge or the second edge, and communicating first policy data related to the first policy to the materials handling vehicle. Some embodiments include in response to determining communicating second policy data related to the second policy to the materials handling vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250368483
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for determining a two-dimensional position of a materials handling vehicle. One embodiment includes determining a position of a vehicle in a free range area of a covered environment, determining that the materials handling vehicle is entering an aisle in the covered environment, and in response to determining that the materials handling vehicle is entering the aisle, automatically enabling a second position system of the materials handling vehicle to determine a first dimension of the position using a vehicle sensor and determine a second dimension of the position using the vehicle transceiver receiving communications from a subset of transceiver anchors of the plurality of transceiver anchors. Some embodiments include utilizing the second position system to determine the position of the materials handling vehicle from the first dimension and the second dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250368484
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for utilizing shaped detection fields. One embodiment of method includes receiving data from a materials handling vehicle in a covered environment, determining, from the data, a vector of movement of the materials handling vehicle, and determining, based on the vector of movement of the materials handling vehicle, a shaped detection field. Some embodiments include implementing the shaped detection field for the materials handling vehicle, detecting an object that encroaches on the shaped detection field, and sending information to the materials handling vehicle to alter operation of the materials handling vehicle to move the materials handling vehicle such that the object is out of the shaped detection field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250370464
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for providing a zone. One embodiment includes a materials handling vehicle in a covered environment that includes a vehicle transceiver for detecting a location of the materials handling vehicle in the covered environment, a vehicle sensor for detecting an orientation of the materials handling vehicle and a vehicle computing device. The system may include a remotely located computing device that includes a processor and a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to determine that the materials handling vehicle is approaching a restriction zone and provide to the materials handling vehicle a distance to the restriction zone and a policy of the restriction zone, where the system determines, based on the policy and the first adjustment, a distance to begin the first adjustment to comply with the policy at the entrance edge of the restriction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250370471
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for location-based field shaping. One embodiment of a system includes a materials handling vehicle and a computing device that are configured to receive location data via at least one of the plurality of transceiver anchors, receive sensor data from at least one sensor related to the characteristic of operation of the materials handling vehicle, and determine a first location of the materials handling vehicle in the covered environment. Some embodiments may be configured to determine a vector of movement of the materials handling vehicle, determine a shaped detection field for the materials handling vehicle from the vector of movement, and detect an object that encroaches on the shaped detection field. Some embodiments may be configured to send information to the materials handling vehicle to alter operation of the materials handling vehicle to reduce a likelihood of collision with the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250368482
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for determining a position of a vehicle in a covered environment. The method may include monitoring the position of the vehicle in a free range area of the covered environment using a first data weighting that primarily favors data received from the plurality of transceiver anchors, and determining the position of the materials handling vehicle via a second data weighting. The second data weighting may include determining a first dimension of the position of the materials handling vehicle based primarily on data generated by the one or more vehicle sensors, receiving data from a subset of transceiver anchors of the plurality of transceiver anchors, and determining a second dimension of the position of the materials handling vehicle primarily based on the received data via the vehicle transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250368485
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for orienting a materials handling vehicle. Some embodiments of a system may include a materials handling vehicle that includes a single ultra wide band (UWB) antenna and at least one vehicle sensor and a computing device. The computing device may cause the system to receive data related to a first plurality of locations of the materials handling vehicle, determined via the UWB antenna, determine, from the data, a first initial orientation of the materials handling vehicle, and receive vehicle sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor on the materials handling vehicle. Some embodiments may be configured to determine an updated vehicle orientation and an updated vehicle location, based on the data and the vehicle sensor data and provide a user interface that includes a depiction of the materials handling vehicle in the updated vehicle orientation and the updated vehicle location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Morelli, Ryan Estep, Dustin Seger, Dave Seger, Mike Corbett, Mark Addison, Gary Wolters, Jamison Frady, Matt Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20250341835
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Patent number: 12393203
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Patent number: 12326737
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respectively mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Publication number: 20250004475
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Publication number: 20240361776
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respectively mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Patent number: 12066841
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respectively mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Publication number: 20220108613
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing UWB antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Publication number: 20220107635
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing UWB antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Estep, Justin Bennett, Mike Etienne Ciholas, Ben Morelli, Chad Lefeld, Trisha Marie Luthman
  • Patent number: 10962368
    Abstract: Warehouse mapping tools according to the present disclosure comprise a mobile mapping interface and a mobile computing device in communication with the mobile mapping interface. The mobile computing device can be configured to access waypoint data comprising location coordinates of a set of mapping waypoints, present graphical representations of the set of mapping waypoints at discrete locations in a representation of a warehouse environment, access mobile mapping data representing an elapsed travel path, access error metric data, present a graphical representation of the error metric data, and indicate a validation state of the elapsed travel path segment. In other embodiments, a warehouse mapping tool comprises a remote computer that is configured to communicate with a mapping vehicle and that can be used to facilitate navigation, localization, or odometry correction with respect to an industrial vehicle in the warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Callum Robinson, Amit Philip, Ryan Estep, Lisa Wong
  • Patent number: 10614588
    Abstract: A method for vehicle positioning or navigation utilizing associated feature pairs may include creating a plurality of associated feature pairs by retrieving an initial set of camera data from the camera comprising two-dimensional UV space information, forming pairs from the UV space information, and associating each pair from the UV space information with pairs from each of the plurality of three-dimensional global feature points of the industrial facility map, calculating a best estimate poses from calculated vehicle poses of the associated feature pairs, using an accumulated odometry to update the best estimate pose to a current localized position and setting a seed position as the current localized position. The navigation of the materials handling vehicle is tracked and/or navigated along the inventory transit surface navigate in at least a partially automated manner utilizing the current localized position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kashyap Chandrasekar, Ryan Estep, Jacob Thomson, Lucas Waltz