Patents Examined by Alex C Dunn
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Patent number: 11145043Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to inspect autonomous vehicles. An autonomous vehicle carries a UAV (or “drone”) in a protected area, for example, in a glove compartment, trunk, etc. Between rides, the UAV can be deployed to inspect the autonomous vehicle. Images from the UAV can be sent to other components for image analysis. When an inspection is completed, the UAV can return to the protected area. The UAV can inspect both the interior and exterior of an autonomous vehicle. When an inspection is passed, the autonomous vehicle can begin a new ride. When an inspection is failed, the autonomous vehicle can report for repairs or summon a tow vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Mark Crawford, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Alexandru Mihai Gurghian, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Alexandro Walsh, Lisa Scaria
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Patent number: 11136031Abstract: A method for controlling a trailer driven by an electric motor comprises defining a distance between the trailer and a towing vehicle as a neutral position and determining an actual distance between the trailer and the towing vehicle. A deviation between the actual distance and the neutral position is determined and output as a distance value. The braking of the trailer is electrically-actuated when the actual distance is decreased relative to the neutral position by at least a first distance value. The braking of the trailer is mechanically-actuated when the actual distance is decreased relative to the neutral position by at least a second distance value, wherein the second distance value is greater than the first distance value. The trailer is accelerated by the electric motor when the actual distance is increased relative to the neutral position by a third distance value.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Nuewiel GmbHInventors: Sandro Rabbiosi, Fahad Aman Khan, Natalia Tomiyama
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Patent number: 11117592Abstract: A method for automatic adjustment of the performance of a vehicle including the steps of detecting at least one significant physical quantity for checking the performance of the vehicle; defining at least one pair of reference indicators correlated with that physical quantity; saving at least one value of a said reference indicator in a predetermined nominal reference condition; detecting at least one value of a said reference indicator in a real operating condition of the vehicle; comparing said nominal reference indicator and real reference indicator and, if their values are different from each other, and implementing a correction of the driving power of the vehicle to compensate for the difference ascertained.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.Inventor: Samuele Mazzini
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Patent number: 11117580Abstract: Disclosed are a method for recognizing whether an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system operates abnormally based on information on a turn-on state of a brake lamp of a preceding vehicle, and a vehicle terminal therefor. One or more of a vehicle, a vehicle terminal, and an autonomous vehicle disclosed in the present invention may work in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a robot, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, a 5G service related device, etc.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Taekyung Lee, Hyeonju Bae, Sangyol Yoon
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Patent number: 11105641Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for navigating an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) that utilizes an-onboard computer and/or one or more ADV control system nodes in an ADV network platform. The on-board computer receives physiological and ADV occupant identification sensor data concerning one or more occupants occupying an ADV, sensor data concerning the items being transported within the ADV, and information concerning the ADV itself to aid border security agencies in protecting their respective borders and territories (e.g., international borders, security zone borders, geographical borders, etc.). The relevant border agency can receive certain information over a network concerning one or more ADVs and make a determination if a heightened security screening should be requested.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Zoltan Szubbocsev
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Patent number: 11107358Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including equipment configured to provide one or more services to a user in the presence of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a device processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by the device processor to perform the following steps: receiving and executing dispatch instructions by autonomously driving to a location designated by a user; and providing the one or more services to the user at the designated location.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventor: Ruthie D. Lyle
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Patent number: 11106223Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions. When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the UAV to perform operations including: recognizing a first gesture of a hand; responsive to a recognition of the first gesture, moving the unmanned aerial vehicle to hover above the hand; detecting a distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the hand; responsive to a determination that the distance falls in a range, monitoring the hand to recognize a second gesture of the hand; and responsive to a recognition of the second gesture, landing the unmanned aerial vehicle on the hand.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: GEOSAT AEROSPACE & TECHNOLOGYInventors: Cheng-Fang Lo, Yung-Chieh Huang, Chien-Ming Shao
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Patent number: 11097734Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: an operation detection unit that detects an operation input of a user for an operation input unit; a speed setting unit that sets travel speed of a host vehicle on the basis of the operation input that is detected by the operation detection unit; and a lane change control unit that controls lane change. If the operation input that decreases, by more than or equal to a predetermined degree, setting travel speed that is the speed set by the speed setting unit, or the operation input that decreases the setting travel speed to be lower than current travel speed of the host vehicle, is performed after the lane change is started, the lane change control unit cancels the lane change.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daichi Kato, Tadahiko Kanoh, Kanta Tsuji, Atsushi Ishioka, Katsuya Yashiro, Nozomu Hirosawa
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Patent number: 11092963Abstract: A system for operating an autonomous vehicle includes a passenger-detector and a controller-circuit. The passenger-detector is operable to determine a passenger-count of passengers present in a host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the passenger-detector and vehicle-controls of the host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is configured to operate the host-vehicle in an autonomous-mode and in accordance with a parameter. The parameter is set to an empty-value when passenger-count is equal to zero, and the parameter is set to an occupied-value different from the empty-value when the passenger count is greater than zero.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Motional AD LLCInventors: Junqing Wei, Wenda Xu
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Patent number: 11094211Abstract: A system and method for display of judgmental oversteering taxi data receives a plurality of parameters from aircraft, environmental, position and path sources and determines and displays accurate oversteering data to a pilot. The system enables the pilot to make a variety of taxi turns confident that all aircraft wheels remain on a prepared surface. Aircraft sources include data associated with the aircraft including whether the aircraft has steerable body gear. The environmental parameters include weather, surface friction, and additional data applicable to a turning radius of an aircraft. Position data includes GNSS data to accurately position the aircraft aligned with the taxiways. Path data includes an assigned ATC clearance as well as taxiway data associated with the assigned taxi route. The method compares each of these received variables with stored database information to ensure the aircraft maintains a safe position on the prepared surface during a turn.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Felix B. Turcios, Hannah C. Lehman
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Patent number: 11091161Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a lane change of an autonomous vehicle and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a learning device that performs deep learning by subdividing situation information into groups to be considered when the autonomous vehicle changes a lane, and a controller that controls the lane change of the autonomous vehicle based on a learning result of the learning device.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: Tae Dong Oh
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Patent number: 11084369Abstract: A hybrid transmission module for a work vehicle is provided. The work vehicle has a chassis and a prime mover carried by the chassis, and the hybrid transmission module includes a mounting bracket configured to mount to one or more of the chassis and the prime mover, a transmission assembly mounted to the mounting bracket, and a hydraulic-electric drive assembly including a manifold mounted to the mounting bracket. The manifold mounts a hydraulic pump and an electric machine and is configured to transfer rotational power from the prime mover to the hydraulic pump and the electric machine. The electric machine, at least in part, drives the transmission assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Dwayne B. Watt, Randall L. Long
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Patent number: 11084503Abstract: According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided for use by an ADV to nudge incoming objects in a self-reverse lane. In an embodiment, an ADV determines that a self-reverse lane has a predetermined width before entering the self-reverse lane. After entering the self-reverse lane, the ADV can follow a first reference line at the center of the self-reverse lane. In response to detecting an incoming object, the ADV creates an alternative lane in the self-reverse lane by temporarily modifying a high definition map. The ADV subsequently follows a second reference line in the alternative lane to nudge the incoming object. In response to detecting that the incoming object has passed and the self-reverse lane is clear, the ADV can drive back to the center of the self-reverse lane, to continue to follow the first reference line in the self-reverse lane.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.Inventors: Fan Zhu, Lin Ma, Xin Xu
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Patent number: 11084494Abstract: A method for detecting safety of a driving behavior, an apparatus, a device and a storage medium are provided. The method includes acquiring current driving data of a vehicle during a driving process of the vehicle; determining current driving behavior feature data of the vehicle according to the current driving data of the vehicle; inputting the current driving behavior feature data of the vehicle into a real-time safety detection model and calculating a security score corresponding to current driving behavior of the vehicle; and determining whether the current driving behavior of the vehicle is safe according to the security score corresponding to the current driving behavior of the vehicle. The method can assist an optimization of a vehicle driving system, reduce a safety risk of vehicle driving, and improve a riding experience of the user.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Inventors: Yunyan Hu, Ya Wang, Yifeng Pan, Dayang Hao, Rui Liu, Lizhi Zhang, Xiaojun Luo, Yaling Zhang, Ji Tao, Ruixiang Shen, Qihao Huang
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Patent number: 11072334Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a vehicle recognition unit configured to recognize a rear lateral vehicle in an area rearward of the host vehicle; a remaining distance acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining distance from a current position of the host vehicle to a position at which the host vehicle completes a lane change; a lane change availability determination unit configured to determine whether the lane change is available; and a vehicle control unit configured to control, when the lane change availability determination unit determines that the lane change is not available and the remaining distance is shorter than a first determination distance, steering of the host vehicle such that a position of the host vehicle in a vehicle width direction becomes a position closer to the second lane than a position when the remaining distance is longer than or equal to the first determination distance.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichiro Aoki, Tadashi Omachi
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Patent number: 11072326Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle. The methods comprise: generating, by a computing device, a vehicle trajectory for the vehicle that is in motion; detecting an object within a given distance from the vehicle; generating, by the computing device, at least one possible object trajectory for the object which was detected; performing, by the computing device, a collision check to determine that there remains time to react safely to worst-case behavior by the object (the collision check being based on the vehicle trajectory and at least one possible object trajectory); and performing operations, by the computing device, to selectively cause the vehicle to perform an emergency maneuver based on results of the collision check.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: ARGO AI, LLCInventors: Albert Costa, Mark Ollis, Thomas Petroff, Brett Browning
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Patent number: 11072247Abstract: A mobility device that can accommodate speed sensitive steering, adaptive speed control, a wide weight range of users, an abrupt change in weight, traction control, active stabilization that can affect the acceleration range of the mobility device and minimize back falls, and enhanced redundancy that can affect the reliability and safety of the mobility device.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Inventors: Stewart M. Coulter, Brian G. Gray, Dirk A. van der Merwe, Susan D. Dastous, Daniel F. Pawlowski
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Patent number: 11059484Abstract: A driving assistance device includes: a vehicle group search unit that acquires a most frequent vehicle speed of the vehicle and to search for one or more vehicle group, the most frequent vehicle speed being a vehicle speed that is most frequent, the vehicle group traveling at one of the most frequent vehicle speed and a speed close to the most frequent vehicle speed; a distance information generation unit that generates the vehicle group searched for by the vehicle group search unit and distance information on a distance between the vehicle group and an information-receiving vehicle that has sent the most frequent vehicle speed; and a merging assistance unit that sends the distance information generated by the distance information generation unit to a user terminal device and assists the vehicle in merging into one of the vehicle groups searched for by the vehicle group search unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryotaro Fujiwara, Ryota Okubi, Daisuke Furukawa, Ko Koga, Takeshi Inoshita, Toshiyuki Hagiya
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Patent number: 11054840Abstract: There is provided a driver-support system for use with a human-operated material-transport vehicle, and methods for using the same. The system has at least one sensor, a human-vehicle interface, and a transceiver for communicating with a fleet-management system. The system also has a processor that is configured to provide a mapping application and a localization application based on information received from the sensor. The mapping application and localization application may be provided in a single localization-and-mapping (“SLAM”) application, which may obtain input from the sensor, for example, when the sensor is an optical sensor such as a LiDAR or video camera.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC.Inventors: Ryan Christopher Gariepy, Matthew Allen Rendall, Simon Drexler, Roydyn Clayton, Shahab Kaynama
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Patent number: 11037455Abstract: A method for oversteering an aircraft to perform an optimal turn along a taxiway includes determining a learning environment based on at least one of a taxiway width, a taxiway centerline, and a taxiway radius of curvature, selecting an action for an agent in the environment, determining a reward for the determined environment and the selected action, repeating the steps of selecting the action and determining the reward to determine a model supporting an optimal turn, and using the determined model to at least one of determine control signals for an aircraft and providing guidance to a user to perform the optimal turn along the taxiway. The agent is an aircraft having a minimum turn radius. The action includes a nose wheel displacement and a nose wheel angle. The reward is determined based on a distance between a path of one or more landing gear wheels and a path of the taxiway.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Sarah Barber, Hannah C. Lehman, Felix B. Turcios, Tiffany D. Williamson, Bradley R. Thompson, Christopher Truong