Patents by Inventor Steven D. Potter
Steven D. Potter 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: 20250042703Abstract: A monolithic, polymer ramp for elevating a tire of a vehicle from ground level to an elevated position includes a slanted portion having a slanted surface extending from a front end, the slanted surface configured to engage the tire and elevate the tire to the elevated position. The ramp includes a wheel supporting portion having a substantially flat surface extending from the slanted surface and a first chock molded therein proximate a back end, wherein the slanted surface and the substantially flat surface comprise a plurality of spaced apart rows of spaced apart columns wherein the spaced apart columns extend from apertures in the slanted surface and the substantially flat surface and terminate at a distal end that is proximately even with the front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: Ernest DELANGHE, Steven W. POTTER, William D. BUTTERFIELD, Kasey L. PIPO, Jon LEIKVOLD, Nathaniel CHRISTIAN
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Publication number: 20250017367Abstract: A shelving system includes a support post having a mounting surface and a plurality of vertically spaced retention members extending from the mounting surface. A shelf includes a bracket member configured for coupling to a first of the vertically spaced retention members. A support bracket includes an attachment portion configured for coupling to a second of the vertically spaced retention members adjacent the first vertically spaced retention member and a support portion configured for coupling to the bracket member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Arturo Gonzalez, Steven M. Kessell, Michael D. Potter
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Patent number: 12123481Abstract: A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2023Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Publication number: 20240093766Abstract: A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Publication number: 20230287982Abstract: The present disclosure provides: at least one component of a rotary valve subassembly; a rotary valve assembly including the rotary valve subassembly; a hydraulic circuit including the rotary valve assembly; an assembly including a robot that incorporates the hydraulic circuit; and a method of operating the rotary valve assembly. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a spool. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Christopher Everett Thorne, John Aaron Saunders
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Patent number: 11754155Abstract: A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Patent number: 11624447Abstract: The present disclosure provides: at least one component of a rotary valve subassembly; a rotary valve assembly including the rotary valve subassembly; a hydraulic circuit including the rotary valve assembly; an assembly including a robot that incorporates the hydraulic circuit; and a method of operating the rotary valve assembly. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a spool. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Christopher Everett Thorne, John Aaron Saunders
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Patent number: 11590013Abstract: The present disclosure provides a brace system including an upper portion and a lower portion. The brace system may also include a first pulley rotatably coupling the upper portion to a first intermediate link positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The brace system may also include a second pulley rotatably coupling the first intermediate link to a second intermediate link positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The brace system may also include a third pulley rotatably coupling the second intermediate link to the lower portion. Further, the brace system may include at least one tension-bearing element substantially encircling each of the first pulley, the second pulley, and the third pulley.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.Inventors: Christopher Everett Thorne, Steven D. Potter, Michael Patrick Murphy
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Publication number: 20220003297Abstract: A robot leg assembly including a hip joint and an upper leg member. A proximal end portion of the upper leg member rotatably coupled to the hip joint. The robot leg assembly including a knee joint rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of the upper leg member, a lower leg member rotatably coupled to the knee joint, a linear actuator disposed on the upper leg member and defining a motion axis, and a motor coupled to the linear actuator and a linkage coupled to the translation stage and to the lower leg member. The linear actuator includes a translation stage moveable along the motion axis to translate rotational motion of the motor to linear motion of the translation stage along the motion axis, which moves the linkage to rotate the lower leg member relative to the upper leg member at the knee joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Patent number: 11131368Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Patent number: 10962033Abstract: An actuation pressure to actuate one or more hydraulic actuators may be determined based on a load on the one or more hydraulic actuators of a robotic device. Based on the determined actuation pressure, a pressure rail from among a set of pressure rails at respective pressures may be selected. One or more valves may connect the selected pressure rail to a metering valve. The hydraulic drive system may operate in a discrete mode in which the metering valve opens such that hydraulic fluid flows from the selected pressure rail through the metering valve to the one or more hydraulic actuators at approximately the supply pressure. Responsive to a control state of the robotic device, the hydraulic drive system may operate in a continuous mode in which the metering valve throttles the hydraulic fluid such that the supply pressure is reduced to the determined actuation pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Murphy, John Aaron Saunders, Steven D. Potter
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Publication number: 20200362972Abstract: The present disclosure provides: at least one component of a rotary valve subassembly; a rotary valve assembly including the rotary valve subassembly; a hydraulic circuit including the rotary valve assembly; an assembly including a robot that incorporates the hydraulic circuit; and a method of operating the rotary valve assembly. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a spool. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Christopher Everett Thorne, Aaron Saunders
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Patent number: 10808736Abstract: An example valve includes a sleeve having a plurality of openings. A spool is rotatable within the sleeve and includes a respective plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of openings of the sleeve. A rotary actuator coupled to the spool is configured for rotating the spool within the sleeve to one of at least eight rotary positions. The rotary actuator can rotate the spool to a given rotary position in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction to cause at least a partial alignment between a subset of the respective plurality of openings of the spool and a subset of the plurality of openings of the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, John Aaron Saunders
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Patent number: 10802508Abstract: A robot includes an inverted pendulum body having first and second end portions, a counter-balance body disposed on the inverted pendulum body and configured to move relative to the inverted pendulum body, at least one leg having first and second ends, and a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the second end of the at least one leg. The first end of the at least one leg is prismatically coupled to the second end portion of the inverted pendulum body.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: John Aaron Saunders, Kevin Blankespoor, Steven D. Potter
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Patent number: 10780578Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes driving a robot to approach a reach point, extending a manipulator arm forward of the reach point, and maintaining a drive wheel and a center of mass of the robot rearward of the reach point by moving a counter-balance body relative to an inverted pendulum body while extending the manipulator arm forward of the reach point. The robot includes the inverted pendulum body, the counter-balance body deposed on the inverted pendulum body, the manipulator arm connected to the inverted pendulum body, at least one leg having a first end prismatically coupled to the inverted pendulum body, and the drive wheel rotatably coupled to a second end of the at least one leg.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, John Aaron Saunders, Steven D. Potter, Vadim Chernyak, Shervin Talebinejad
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Publication number: 20190258275Abstract: A robot includes an inverted pendulum body having first and second end portions, a counter-balance body disposed on the inverted pendulum body and configured to move relative to the inverted pendulum body, at least one leg having first and second ends, and a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the second end of the at least one leg. The first end of the at least one leg is prismatically coupled to the second end portion of the inverted pendulum body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: John Aaron Saunders, Kevin Blankespoor, Steven D. Potter
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Publication number: 20190255701Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes driving a robot to approach a reach point, extending a manipulator arm forward of the reach point, and maintaining a drive wheel and a center of mass of the robot rearward of the reach point by moving a counter-balance body relative to an inverted pendulum body while extending the manipulator arm forward of the reach point. The robot includes the inverted pendulum body, the counter-balance body deposed on the inverted pendulum body, the manipulator arm connected to the inverted pendulum body, at least one leg having a first end prismatically coupled to the inverted pendulum body, and the drive wheel rotatably coupled to a second end of the at least one leg.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Blankespoor, John Aaron Saunders, Steven D. Potter, Vadim Chernyak, Shervin Talebinejad
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Publication number: 20190226503Abstract: An actuation pressure to actuate one or more hydraulic actuators may be determined based on a load on the one or more hydraulic actuators of a robotic device. Based on the determined actuation pressure, a pressure rail from among a set of pressure rails at respective pressures may be selected. One or more valves may connect the selected pressure rail to a metering valve. The hydraulic drive system may operate in a discrete mode in which the metering valve opens such that hydraulic fluid flows from the selected pressure rail through the metering valve to the one or more hydraulic actuators at approximately the supply pressure. Responsive to a control state of the robotic device, the hydraulic drive system may operate in a continuous mode in which the metering valve throttles the hydraulic fluid such that the supply pressure is reduced to the determined actuation pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Murphy, John Aaron Saunders, Steven D. Potter
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Publication number: 20190186604Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
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Publication number: 20190154063Abstract: An example valve includes a sleeve having a plurality of openings. A spool is rotatable within the sleeve and includes a respective plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of openings of the sleeve. A rotary actuator coupled to the spool is configured for rotating the spool within the sleeve to one of at least eight rotary positions. The rotary actuator can rotate the spool to a given rotary position in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction to cause at least a partial alignment between a subset of the respective plurality of openings of the spool and a subset of the plurality of openings of the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Boston Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Potter, John Aaron Saunders