Patents by Inventor Stephen George Berard

Stephen George Berard 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: 11931898
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, when executed by data processing hardware of a robot having an articulated arm and a base, causes data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include determining a first location of a workspace of the articulated arm associated with a current base configuration of the base of the robot. The operations also include receiving a task request defining a task for the robot to perform outside of the workspace of the articulated arm at the first location. The operations also include generating base parameters associated with the task request. The operations further include instructing, using the generated base parameters, the base of the robot to move from the current base configuration to an anticipatory base configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen George Berard, Andrew James Barry, Benjamin John Swilling, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Publication number: 20230066592
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a robot causes the data processing hardware to receive sensor data associated with a door. The data processing hardware determines, using the sensor data, door properties of the door. The door properties can include a door width, a grasp search ray, a grasp type, a swing direction, or a door handedness. The data processing hardware generates a door movement operation based on the door properties. The data processing hardware can execute the door movement operation to move the door. The door movement operation can include pushing the door, pulling the door, hooking a frame of the door, or blocking the door. The data processing hardware can utilize the door movement operation to enable a robot to traverse a door without human intervention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Richard McRae Shanor, Stephen George Berard, Andrew James Barry
  • Publication number: 20220193905
    Abstract: Data processing hardware of a robot performs operations to identify a door within an environment. A robotic manipulator of the robot grasps a feature of the door on a first side facing the robot. When the door opens in a first direction toward the robot, the robotic manipulator exerts a pull force to swing the door in the first direction, a leg of the robot moves to a position that blocks the door from swinging in the second direction, the robotic manipulator contacts the door on a second side opposite the first side, and the robotic manipulator exerts a door opening force on the second side as the robot traverses a doorway corresponding to the door. When the door opens in a second direction away from the robot, the robotic manipulator exerts the door opening force on the first side as the robot traverses the doorway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen George Berard, Andrew James Barry, Matthew David Malchano, Benjamin John Swilling, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Publication number: 20220193900
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, when executed by data processing hardware of a robot having an articulated arm and a base, causes data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include determining a first location of a workspace of the articulated arm associated with a current base configuration of the base of the robot. The operations also include receiving a task request defining a task for the robot to perform outside of the workspace of the articulated arm at the first location. The operations also include generating base parameters associated with the task request. The operations further include instructing, using the generated base parameters, the base of the robot to move from the current base configuration to an anticipatory base configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen George Berard, Andrew James Barry, Benjamin John Swilling, Alfred Anthony Rizzi