... Skip to content
World IP Day 2026 — Recognized Innovator

Jim Serstad

  • VP Robotics Engineering
  • Tompkins Robotics, Inc

Recognized for engineering leadership in warehouse robotics and robotic sortation.

Jim Serstad helped advance the modular robotic sortation systems behind Tompkins Robotics, supporting fulfillment and distribution operations across retail, healthcare, grocery, 3PL, and parcel logistics.

Certificate of Recognition

Top IP Innovator — Warehouse Robotics & Sortation · 2026

Tompkins Robotics Patents (last 5 years)
0
First Filing
2017
USPTO Art Unit Focus
3655 / 3653 / 3651
Role
VP Robotics Engineering
Presented by InspireIP

World IP Day Recognition Series · 2026

Tompkins Robotics patents, last 5 years
0
Filed in 2025 alone
0
Recognition category
0 Transport & E-Commerce
The Recognition

Making warehouse sortation more flexible

On World IP Day 2026, InspireIP recognizes Jim Serstad, VP of Robotics Engineering at Tompkins Robotics, for his engineering leadership in warehouse robotics and sortation systems.

The recognition is based on Tompkins Robotics’ patent activity. Jim is named on filings covering mobile sorter platforms and parcel and article sorting systems.

Jim holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Purdue University. Before Tompkins Robotics, he spent years as a supply chain management consultant at Tompkins International. 

He joined Tompkins Robotics in 2017 as Director of Product Development and later became VP of Robotics Engineering. His work supports the development of robotics systems and hardware for the company’s tSort platform and related warehouse automation products.

What makes this recognition notable is the combination of deep logistics domain knowledge and engineering capability. Jim’s experience designing distribution networks across Asia and North America informs the product engineering behind systems that now sort items for CVS, Komar Distribution Services, and customers across 3PL, retail, grocery, healthcare, and post & parcel.

Robotic Sortation
Autonomous Mobile Robots
Warehouse Automation
Modular Fulfillment
E-Commerce Logistics
Parcel & Post Sorting
Patent Footprint

A portfolio shaped around sorting anything, anywhere, at any scale

2015–2017

Tompkins Robotics is established as a division of Tompkins International. Jim Serstad joins as Director of Product Development in 2017. The company's first patent filings arrive, covering mobile sorter platforms and parcel sorting methods. The tSort robotic sortation system begins development.

2018–2020

9 filings across 2020–2021. Jim is promoted to VP of Robotics Engineering. Tompkins Robotics launches the tSort system commercially, a modular robotic sortation platform where autonomous robots carry items to designated sort destinations. The company begins deployments across 3PL and e-commerce fulfillment operations.

2021–2023

26 patent filings across three years. The product line expands with tSort3D, tSortLift, tSortPost and more. Tompkins Robotics surpasses 100 system deployments and processes over 2.5 billion items in 2025.

2024–2025

17 more filings, peaking at 12 in 2024. The company launches the Transcend Robotics Execution Platform for warehouse management and continues expanding its integration ecosystem with partners including AutoStore, GreyOrange, and KPI Solutions.

Warehouse Robotics & Sortation

A small-entity company filing like a much larger one

Tompkins Robotics is classified by the USPTO as a Small Entity, yet its five-year filing volume of 44 patents sits well above what is typical for warehouse robotics companies of its size. Much of that activity is concentrated in the transport and e-commerce art units that protect robotic sortation systems, autonomous mobile platforms, and parcel handling methods.

Patents, last 5 years
Peak year (2024)
Filings
USPTO entity status
Small Entity
Art unit focus
3655 / 3653 / 3651
"Leading an innovation program is harder than inventing on your own. It means choosing what to file, who to credit, and where to invest, over and over, for years. The leaders we recognize on World IP Day have done that consistently, and built something that compounds."

Sam Zellner

Founder, InspireIP · Inventor · Innovation Leader

About Tompkins Robotics, Inc

Built in Orlando, sorting billions of items worldwide

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Tompkins Robotics develops modular robotic automation systems for warehouse sortation, fulfillment, and distribution.

The company’s product line includes tSort, tSortPost, xChange, PickPallet, and Transcend. These systems support sorting, parcel handling, post-sort fulfillment, pallet transport, and robotics execution across warehouse environments.

Tompkins Robotics has completed over 100 system deployments and sorted more than 2.5 billion items in 2025. Their customers include CVS, Komar Distribution Services, and operations across 3PL, retail, grocery, healthcare, and post & parcel industries. 

IP Day 2027

Know an IP innovator who deserves recognition?

Each year we recognize the inventors and IP leaders behind the portfolios that protect what their companies create. That includes founder-inventors whose contributions often go unmarked. Nominate someone for next year’s list.

Subscribe to Trust Center Updates

Subscribe to get notifications about important update to InspireIP's compliance journey.
By signing up for email notifications you agree to the privacy policy.

InspireIP has restricted access for 'System Acquisition and Development Lifecycle Policy'. We need your work email to validate OR request your access to this item.