David D Winkle

US Patent:

20200270106, Aug 27, 2020

Filed:

Apr 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/858403

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
Brian G. McHale - Chadderton Oldham, GB
Michael D. Atchley - Springdale AR, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/06
G06Q 30/06
A47F 10/04
G05D 1/02
H04N 7/18
G06Q 50/28
G06T 7/73
G06T 7/593
H04W 4/029
H04W 4/30
H04W 4/80
H04W 4/40
H04N 13/282
B60L 53/36
B60L 53/63
A47F 13/00
A47L 11/40
B07C 5/28
B07C 5/342
B65F 3/00
E01H 5/06
E01H 5/12
G01S 1/02
G01S 1/70
G01S 1/72
G05B 19/048
G05D 1/00
G05D 1/04
G06F 3/01
G06K 9/00
G06K 9/18
G06K 9/32
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/78
G06Q 10/02
G06Q 10/06
G06Q 10/08
G06Q 10/10
G06Q 10/00
G06Q 30/00
G06Q 30/02
G06Q 50/30
G08G 1/00
G10L 13/04
G10L 15/22
G10L 17/22
H04B 10/116
H04L 29/08
H04N 5/77
H04W 4/021
H02J 7/00
B62B 5/00
B60P 3/06
H04W 4/33
H04W 4/02
A47F 3/08
G01C 21/20

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided to address incorrectly placed items. Some systems comprise: a plurality of motorized transport units that are each configured to perform multiple different tasks at a retail shopping facility; and a central computer system configured to instruct various ones of the plurality of motorized transport units to implement at least one of the multiple different tasks relative to the retail shopping facility, receive and analyze input data detected and provided by the motorized transport units while the motorized transport units perform the at least one of the tasks, and detect and categorize each item of multiple items that are incorrectly placed within the retail shopping facility according to one of multiple different predefined categories.

US Patent:

20190370874, Dec 5, 2019

Filed:

May 28, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/424171

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David Blair Brightwell - Bella Vista AR, US
Greg A. Bryan - Centerton AR, US
Bruce W. Wilkinson - Rogers AR, US
David G. Tovey - Rogers AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US

International Classification:

G06Q 30/06
B65G 1/137

Abstract:

There are provided systems and methods for presenting merchandise to customers at a shopping facility. In one form, the system includes: a shopping facility hosting an event for customers; merchandise items related to the event; an automated storage and retrieval system that includes a merchandise holding area at the shopping facility for the merchandise items related to the event and a robot for moving between the holding area and the hosting area; and customer characteristics or preferences of customers attending the event. In the system, a control circuit identifies and selects the merchandise items related to the event, instructs stocking of the merchandise holding area with these merchandise items, identifies and selects a subset of merchandise items based on the customer characteristics or preferences, instructs the robot to gather the subset of merchandise items from the merchandise holding area and to deliver the subset to the hosting area.

US Patent:

20190373476, Dec 5, 2019

Filed:

May 28, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/424101

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
John J. O'Brien - Farmington AR, US
Robert L. Cantrell - Herndon VA, US
Todd D. Mattingly - Bentonville AR, US

International Classification:

H04W 12/12
G06Q 10/08
G05D 1/02

Abstract:

Some embodiments provide systems and methods of enhancing protection of unmanned retail delivery vehicles. Some of these embodiments comprise: a plurality of unmanned delivery vehicles (UDV); a plurality of lure unmanned vehicles; and a procedure randomization system configured to randomly select a protection procedure that is not to be implemented by a first lure unmanned vehicle to enhance an attack vulnerability; and wherein a first lure vehicle control circuit of the first lure unmanned vehicle is configured to obtain a first lure route and control the first lure unmanned vehicle to travel along the first lure route while preventing the selected first protection procedure from being applied while applying at least a sub-set of the set of the plurality of protection procedures to a full capacity while the first lure unmanned vehicle travels along the first lure route.

US Patent:

20190302249, Oct 3, 2019

Filed:

Mar 19, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/357534

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
John J. O'Brien - Farmington AR, US
Robert L. Cantrell - Herndon VA, US
Todd D. Mattingly - Bentonville AR, US
Brian G. McHale - Chadderton Oldham, GB

International Classification:

G01S 11/12
G01S 7/48
B64C 39/02

Abstract:

Electromagnetic energy signals are transmitted to an aerial drone. A comparison of the identification information inherent to these signals is made with acceptable identification information in a ledger stored at the drone. When the comparison identifies a valid transmission station, the control circuit allows the processing of the electromagnetic energy signals from the valid transmission station. The processing is effective to ascertain the location of or fine-tune the location of the aerial drone.

US Patent:

20190292030, Sep 26, 2019

Filed:

Jun 14, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/442134

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
Shuvro Chakrobartty - Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
Robert C. Taylor - Round Rock TX, US
Michael D. Atchley - Eureka Springs AR, US
Karl Kay - Gentry AR, US
Brian G. McHale - Chadderton-Oldham, GB
John P. Thompson - Bentonville AR, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/06
H04N 7/18
G06Q 30/06
G06Q 30/02
G06Q 10/06
G01S 1/72
G01S 1/70
G01S 1/02
G05D 1/02
G06Q 50/30
G06Q 10/02
G06Q 10/08
H04N 5/77
G06Q 30/00
E01H 5/12
G05D 1/00
A47F 3/08
B60L 53/63
B60L 53/36
G05D 1/04
H04W 4/33
G01C 21/20
H04W 4/021
H04W 4/029
H04W 4/80
A47F 10/04
G06K 9/00
H04N 13/282
G06T 7/73
G06T 7/593
A47F 13/00
H04W 4/30
A47L 11/40
H04L 29/08
H04B 10/116
H02J 7/00
G10L 17/22
G10L 15/22
G10L 13/04
G08G 1/00
G06K 9/78
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/32
G06K 9/18
G06F 3/01
G05B 19/048
B65F 3/00
B07C 5/342
B07C 5/28
H04W 4/40
H04W 4/02
B60P 3/06
B62B 5/00
G06Q 50/28
G06Q 10/10
G06Q 10/00
E01H 5/06

Abstract:

Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.

US Patent:

20190295385, Sep 26, 2019

Filed:

Jun 10, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/435778

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
Greg A. Bryan - Centerton AR, US
Benjamin D. Enssle - Bella Vista AR, US
Cristy C. Brooks - Cassville MO, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US

International Classification:

G08B 7/02
H04Q 9/00
G08B 21/18

Abstract:

In some embodiments, systems and methods are configured to track palletized products. Some embodiments comprise: a first array of sensors positioned relative to multiple products collectively arranged on a first transport pallet configured to support the multiple products while being transported; a wirelessly transceiver; and a pallet control circuit communicatively coupled with the wireless transceiver and the first array of sensors, wherein the pallet control circuit is configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors of the first array of sensors, determine a condition of one or more products of the multiple products at least as the multiple products are transported based on the sensor data, and cause condition information to be wirelessly transmitted to a separate notification system configured to provide notification to a worker regarding the condition of the one or more products.

US Patent:

20190263644, Aug 29, 2019

Filed:

May 9, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/408335

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
Donald R. High - Noel MO, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/06
H04N 7/18
G06Q 30/06
G06Q 30/02
G06Q 10/06
G01S 1/72
G01S 1/70
G01S 1/02
G05D 1/02
G06Q 50/30
G06Q 10/02
G06Q 10/08
H04N 5/77
G06Q 30/00
E01H 5/12
G05D 1/00
A47F 3/08
B60L 53/63
B60L 53/36
G01C 21/20
H04W 4/80
A47F 10/04
G06K 9/00
G05D 1/04
H04N 13/282
G06T 7/73
G06T 7/593
H04W 4/33
A47F 13/00
H04W 4/30
A47L 11/40
H04L 29/08
H04B 10/116
H02J 7/00
G10L 17/22
G10L 15/22
G10L 13/04
G08G 1/00
G06K 9/78
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/32
G06K 9/18
G06F 3/01
G05B 19/048
B65F 3/00
B07C 5/342
B07C 5/28
H04W 4/40
H04W 4/02
B60P 3/06
B62B 5/00
G06Q 50/28
G06Q 10/10
G06Q 10/00
E01H 5/06

Abstract:

A central computer system directs a motorized transport unit through a retail shopping facility to a particular mobile item container having at least one item disposed therein, that item being designated for return to a particular department within the retail shopping facility such that this item can then again be presented for sale. After causing that motorized transport unit to physically attach to this mobile item container, the central computer system then directs that motorized transport unit through the retail shopping facility with the attached particular mobile item container to the one or more departments to which the item or items are to be so returned.

US Patent:

20190268371, Aug 29, 2019

Filed:

Feb 11, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/272385

Inventors:

- Bentonville AR, US
David C. Winkle - Bella Vista AR, US
John J. O'Brien - Farmington AR, US
Robert L. Cantrell - Herndon VA, US
Todd D. Mattingly - Bentonville AR, US

International Classification:

H04L 29/06
B64C 39/02
H04B 17/318
H04W 4/80

Abstract:

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to identifying a hacked data communication received by an unmanned vehicle (UV). In some embodiments, there is provided a system for identifying a hacked data communication received by a UV including a retail UV a first antenna; a second antenna; a timing device; a memory device; a transport device; and a control circuit configured to determine whether data communication is hacked based on at least: an estimated location of a signal source, a determined timestamp, a determined source device identifier, a determined data type of a data content, and a source antenna; and in response to a determination that the data communication is not hacked, modify a first mission data to a second mission data; and initiate operation of the transport device to move the UV through a modified route based on the second mission data.