Patents Examined by Jelani A Smith
  • Patent number: 11928966
    Abstract: A virtual railroad of vehicles is disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, a system includes one or more passenger vehicles of a peloton, and a first engine vehicle of the peloton. The first engine vehicle communicatively connected to the one or more passenger vehicles, wherein the first engine vehicle comprises: a processor communicatively connected to a memory and is configured to receive status information of the one or more passenger vehicles, determine, based on the received status information, a set of current values for a set of vehicle attributes for each of the one or more passenger vehicles, and adjust, based on the set of current values for the set of vehicle attributes, a position of a corresponding passenger vehicle of the one or more passenger vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Czinger, John Russell Bucknell, Jinbo Chen, Gregory S. Weaver
  • Patent number: 11912270
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist apparatus acquires a collision index value which represents a magnitude of a collision of an own vehicle and a dozing level of a driver of the own vehicle, and executes a secondary collision reducing control of executing a forcibly-decelerating process of forcibly decelerating the own vehicle when a light collision condition is satisfied, and a dozing condition is satisfied. The vehicle driving assist apparatus executes the forcibly-decelerating process so as to decelerate the own vehicle with controlling a deceleration of the own vehicle such that the deceleration of the vehicle realized when the light collision condition and the dozing condition become satisfied, and the dozing level is relatively low, is smaller than the deceleration of the own vehicle realized when the deceleration when the light collision condition and the dozing condition become satisfied, and the dozing level is relatively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakatsu Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 11905893
    Abstract: A method for controlling a non-propulsive power generation turbine engine configured to supply power to a plurality of propulsion rotors of an aircraft, each propulsion rotor being connected to a power distribution module through at least one power supply bus, the turbine engine supplying each power supply bus via the power distribution module at a supply rate, the control method comprising a step of determining the power requirement of each power supply bus depending on the power requirement of each propulsion rotor, a step of determining the basic power requirement of each power supply bus, a step of determining the overall power requirement based on all the basic power requirements of the power supply buses and a step of determining an anticipation parameter based on the overall power requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Stéphane Meyer Beddok, Vincent Poumarede
  • Patent number: 11900800
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining tunnel speed for a vehicle travelling through a tunnel. A tunnel processing platform aggregates probe data associated with at least one vehicle into at least one tunnel path based, at least in part, on a network geometry topology for at least one tunnel. The tunnel processing platform also designates at least one probe point collected upstream of the at least one tunnel as at least one starting point of the at least one tunnel path and at least one temporary probe point as at least one endpoint of the at least one tunnel path, wherein the at least one temporary probe point is downstream of the at least one tunnel. It then determines at least one temporary tunnel speed for the at least one tunnel path based, at least in part, on the timestamp for the at least one probe point and the current time associated with the at least one temporary probe point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: James Fowe, Finn Swingley
  • Patent number: 11899465
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide docking assist for mobile structures. A docking assist system includes a logic device, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a mobile structure. The logic device is adapted to receive docking assist parameters from a user interface for the mobile structure and perimeter sensor data from a perimeter ranging system mounted to the mobile structure. The logic device determines docking assist control signals based, at least in part, on the docking assist parameters and perimeter sensor data, and it then provides the docking assist control signals to a navigation control system for the mobile structure. Control signals may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FLIR Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Mark Johnson, Oliver Hawker, Richard Jales, Christopher Yeomans, Marcelo Rull, Mark Rivers
  • Patent number: 11891014
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller. The controller is configured to perform authentication of a portable device by communication with the portable device when startup of a system of the vehicle is instructed, when the system is off, or when the startup of the system of the vehicle is instructed and the system is off. The controller is configured to perform the startup of the system of the vehicle when the startup of the system of the vehicle is instructed, under a condition that the authentication of the portable device is successful. The controller is configured to perform reauthentication of the portable device when predetermined movement of the vehicle is detected after the startup of the system of the vehicle, and perform theft prevention processing when the reauthentication of the portable device fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yuma, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Kamada, Kazumi Shine
  • Patent number: 11891073
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle using a forward-facing camera includes a look ahead module configured to determine a distance to a look ahead point. A lane center module determines a location of a lane center line. A vehicle center line module determines a location of a vehicle center line. A first lateral offset module determines a first lateral offset based on the look ahead point and the determined lane center line. A second lateral offset module determines a second lateral offset based on the determined lane center line and the vehicle center line. A yaw angle offset calculating module receives the first lateral offset, the second lateral offset and the distance to the look ahead point, calculates a yaw angle offset, and compensates a yaw angle error based on the yaw angle offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel T. Choi, Paul A. Adam, Jeffrey S. Parks, Lance A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11891175
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that comprises: a control station intended to be operated; an unmanned aerial vehicle for multiple tasks (UAM) which is supported, by unmanned aerial devices (UAV), unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), and by a centralised mobile reel unit which feeds cables and hoses for supplying multiple additive and subtractive fluids (e.g. paint, air suction, etc.) and for charging power; wherein the cables and hoses comprise a device that makes it possible to predict trajectories, without interfering with flight maneuvers or the environment. The UAM comprises a robotic arm with specific tools that make it possible, for example, to paint fences, as well as a device that allows it to be attached to various surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Mura Yañez
  • Patent number: 11884322
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes a surrounding situation recognition device, a surrounding situation determination processor, a steering-wheel holding state recognizer, a steering-wheel holding state determination processor, and a traveling control device. The surrounding situation recognition device recognizes a surrounding situation of a first vehicle to be applied with the apparatus. The surrounding situation determination processor determines the surrounding situation based on a recognition result of the surrounding situation recognition device. The steering-wheel holding state recognizer recognizes a steering-wheel holding state. The steering-wheel holding state determination processor determines the steering-wheel holding state on the basis of a recognition result of the steering-wheel holding state recognizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kojo, Yuki Aoyama, Shinji Saito, Takashi Omikawa
  • Patent number: 11884262
    Abstract: Provided is a parking assist apparatus for a vehicle, the parking assist apparatus including a first module configured to set, as a movement path, a path along which the vehicle is movable to a target position, and determine movement assist information for moving the vehicle along the movement path; and a second module configured to execute parking assist control such that the vehicle moves in accordance with the determined movement assist information, the second module being further configured to, when an occupant performs a first operation before the vehicle has reached the target position, stop the vehicle, and execute pause processing for maintaining the movement assist information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Minase, Kota Inoue, Takuya Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Tachibana, Norio Imai, Nozomu Maeda
  • Patent number: 11887329
    Abstract: Provided are a moving body guidance apparatus, a moving body guidance method and a computer-readable recording medium that are for accurately guiding a moving body to a target site. The moving body guidance apparatus has a detection unit 2 that detects, from an image 40 captured by an image capturing apparatus 23 mounted on a moving body 20, a target member image 42 captured of an entirety of a target member 30 or a feature member image 43 captured of an entirety or a portion of feature members 31 and 32 forming the target member 30, and a control unit 3 that performs guidance control for moving a set position 41 set with respect to the image 40 and indicating a position of the moving body 20 closer to the target member image 42 or closer to a designated region 44 set based on the feature member image 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuo Inoshita
  • Patent number: 11873009
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a mobile robot, and a control system are provided. The method includes: in response to receiving a start request sent by a mobile robot, obtaining at least one of the position information or condition information of the mobile robot; determining a speed limit value of the mobile robot according to the obtained information; and sending a start instruction including the speed limit value to the mobile robot, so as to control the mobile robot to move at a speed smaller than or equal to the speed limit value. The implementation improves the motion safety of a mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apollo Intelligent Driving Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Wang, Zelin Wu, Jingjing Xue, Yingnan Liu, Wenlong Rao, Shi Hu
  • Patent number: 11872982
    Abstract: A parking assistance device performs parking assistance control including steering angle control for changing a steering angle of a vehicle, driving force control for controlling a driving force of the vehicle, and braking force control for controlling a braking force of the vehicle. The parking assistance device notifies an occupant of a driving operation to be performed by the occupant, including a moving operation on a shift lever and an operation on a brake pedal when the vehicle reaches a switching position where a traveling direction of the vehicle is to be switched during performing the parking assistance control. When the driving operation is performed by the occupant, the parking assistance device restarts the parking assistance control at a timing when the occupant stops the operation on the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Inoue, Yuki Minase, Takuya Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Tachibana, Norio Imai, Nozomu Maeda
  • Patent number: 11874661
    Abstract: Remaining charge acquisition means of a battery installation system acquires remaining charge information on a remaining charge of each of a plurality of batteries which are installable in an unmanned aerial vehicle. Battery weight acquisition means acquires battery weight information on a weight of each battery. Location acquisition means acquires location information on a movement destination of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Selection means selects, based on the remaining charge information, the battery weight information, and the location information, from among the plurality of batteries, a battery having a remaining charge equal to or more than a battery consumption amount for moving to the movement destination. Processing execution means executes processing for installing the battery selected by the selection means in the unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Junji Torii, Jun Takizawa
  • Patent number: 11866198
    Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to autonomously operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) over long durations of time. The UAS vehicle autonomously takes off from a take-off landing-charging station and autonomously executes a mission. The mission includes data acquisition instructions in a defined observation area. Upon mission completion, the UAS autonomously travels to a target landing-charging station and performs an autonomous precision landing on the target landing-charging station. The UAS autonomously re-charges via the target landing-charging station. Once re-charged, the UAS is ready to execute a next sortie. When landed, the UAS autonomously transmits mission data to the landing-charging station for in situ or cloud-based data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Roland Brockers, Stephan Michael Weiss, Danylo Malyuta, Christian Brommer, Daniel Robert Hentzen
  • Patent number: 11860634
    Abstract: An obstacle state evolution of a spatial position of a moving obstacle over a period of time is determined. A lane-obstacle relation evolution of the moving obstacle with each of one or more lanes near the moving obstacle over the period of time is further determined. An intended movement of the moving obstacle is predicted based on the obstacle state evolution and the lane-obstacle evolution. Thereafter, a trajectory of the ADV is planned to control the ADV to avoid a collision with the moving obstacle based on the predicted intended movement of the moving obstacle. The above process is iteratively performed for each of the moving obstacles detected within a predetermined proximity of the ADV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Jiacheng Pan, Hongyi Sun, Kecheng Xu, Yifei Jiang, Xiangquan Xiao, Jiangtao Hu, Jinghao Miao
  • Patent number: 11862024
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an On-Demand Autonomy (ODA) service. The system includes a selection module of a leader vehicle (Lv) connected to an ODA server to determine whether to confirm a request for an on-demand autonomy (ODA) service which has been broadcast wherein the ODA service request includes control of a follower vehicle (Fv) to a requested location by creating a virtual link between the Lv and the Fv to configure a vehicle platoon to enable transport of the Fv by the Lv wherein the vehicle platoon is a linking of the Lv to the Fv via the virtual link to enable the Lv to assume the control of the Fv to the requested location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ramesh Sethu, Prakash Mohan Peranandam, Arun Adiththan, Joseph G D Ambrosio
  • Patent number: 11851162
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for stopping the rotation of propellers used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) such as drones are disclosed. The propellers are stopped in response to sensing human touch on a surface of the UAV using capacitive sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Nir Daube, Simon Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11851076
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a data processing device for driving assisting, a data processing method for driving assisting, and associated storage medium and vehicle. The data processing device for driving assisting includes: a data processing system configured to receive and process a plurality of vehicle data; and a processing control system configured to perform degradation control under the condition that the data processing system is degraded, to receive and process the plurality of vehicle data in a degradation mode. The data processing device for driving assisting, the data processing method for driving assisting, and the associated storage medium and vehicle perform reasonable division of processing task and degradation control on the data processing system and the processing control system, thereby under the condition that modules in the data processing device stop operating, other modules can be allocated to take over the task timely and effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jian Bai, Yunyue Cai, Jianyong Zhang, Shaoqing Ren, Samir Agrawal, Luna Chen, Mingyin Hu, Guoyu Li, Jiong Chen
  • Patent number: 11851056
    Abstract: A method for terminating driving on the road shoulder by a transportation vehicle includes detection by a detection unit that the transportation vehicle is situated at least partially on a road shoulder, determination of a steering intensity of a manual steering maneuver, and assignment of one of at least two predetermined steering codes to the steering maneuver by a computing unit as a function of the steering intensity. An automatic intervention into a transportation vehicle control is carried out as a function of the assigned steering code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Thomas Kolms, Timo Klingemann, Robin Bräutigam, Amogh Sakpal