Patents by Inventor Steve Croft

Steve Croft 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: 11383380
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Hauke Strasdat
  • Publication number: 20200078938
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Hauke Strasdat
  • Patent number: 10518410
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Hauke Strasdat
  • Publication number: 20180243904
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Hauke Strasdat
  • Patent number: 9987746
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, Hauke Strasdat, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Steve Croft, John Zevenbergen
  • Patent number: 9492924
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide for robotic apparatuses that facilitate moving objects within an environment, such as to load or unload boxes or to construct or deconstruct pallets (e.g., from a container or truck bed). One example apparatus includes a horizontal conveyor and a robotic manipulator that are both provided on a moveable cart. A first end of the robotic manipulator is mounted to the moveable cart and a second end of the robotic manipulator has an end effector, such as a grasper. The apparatus also includes a control system configured to receive sensor data indicative of an environment containing a plurality of objects, and then cause the robotic manipulator to place an object from the plurality of objects on the horizontal conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Perception, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen
  • Publication number: 20160288324
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide for robotic apparatuses that facilitate moving objects within an environment, such as to load or unload boxes or to construct or deconstruct pallets (e.g., from a container or truck bed). One example apparatus includes a horizontal conveyor and a robotic manipulator that are both provided on a moveable cart. A first end of the robotic manipulator is mounted to the moveable cart and a second end of the robotic manipulator has an end effector, such as a grasper. The apparatus also includes a control system configured to receive sensor data indicative of an environment containing a plurality of objects, and then cause the robotic manipulator to place an object from the plurality of objects on the horizontal conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Industrial Perception, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen
  • Publication number: 20160221187
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, Hauke Strasdat, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Steve Croft, John Zevenbergen
  • Patent number: 9393686
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide for robotic apparatuses that facilitate moving objects within an environment, such as to load or unload boxes or to construct or deconstruct pallets (e.g., from a container or truck bed). One example apparatus includes a horizontal conveyor and a robotic manipulator that are both provided on a moveable cart. A first end of the robotic manipulator is mounted to the moveable cart and a second end of the robotic manipulator has an end effector, such as a grasper. The apparatus also includes a control system configured to receive sensor data indicative of an environment containing a plurality of objects, and then cause the robotic manipulator to place an object from the plurality of objects on the horizontal conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Perception, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen
  • Patent number: 9333649
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Perception, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, Hauke Strasdat, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Steve Croft, John Zevenbergen