Patents Examined by Paula L Schneider
  • Patent number: 11435200
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle. For example, a navigator system at an autonomous vehicle may generate a plurality of local routes beginning at a vehicle location and extending to a plurality of local route end points. The navigator system may access general route cost data, the general route cost data describing general route costs from the plurality of local route end points to a trip end point. The navigator system may select the first local route of the plurality of routes based at least in part on the general route cost data. A vehicle autonomy system at the autonomous vehicle may begin to control the autonomous vehicle along the first local route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan John Nagy, Michael Voznesensky, Brent Goldman, Robert Michael S Dean, Jian Wen, Yanbo Zhao
  • Patent number: 11415997
    Abstract: A driving simulation system may perform simulations using one or more of a virtual driving simulator or a log-based driving simulator. A log-based simulator may replay data from logs to test whether a control algorithm is successfully capable of navigating a scenario. However, when such log-based simulations are invalid (e.g., based on the results of the simulations or evaluations of conditions of the simulation), a virtual simulation may be generated for the vehicle control system during which new log data may be captured. Such a virtual simulation may comprise sensor simulations and more sophisticated object control for ensuring convergence to a scenario to be tested. The new log data may be used for additional log-based simulations, thereby improving the durability and flexibility for testing and/or validation, while reducing the computational overhead of driving simulation scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: James Graham Dolan
  • Patent number: 11393266
    Abstract: A vehicle configuration and activity history tracking system and method. A first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is read from a first node in a vehicle configuration and history blockchain network comprising a plurality of nodes. A second vehicle configuration and history blockchain is read from a second node in the plurality of nodes of the vehicle configuration and history blockchain network. The first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is compared to the second vehicle configuration and history blockchain to determine whether the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is valid. A new maintenance operation on the vehicle or a new modification of the vehicle is initiated using the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain in response to a determination that the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nicholas William Jones
  • Patent number: 11385062
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a map creation method of a mobile robot, including establishing a rectangular coordinate system in a working area of the mobile robot; causing the mobile robot moving in a character shape in the working area; obtaining a key frame picture of the mobile robot at a point Pi and saving the picture and coordinates of the point Pi; obtaining a picture of the mobile robot at a point P?i, wherein an abscissa or ordinate of the point P?i is the same as that of the point Pi; extracting and matching features of the pictures acquired at the point Pi and the point P?i; calibrating coordinates of the mobile robot at the point P?i and data of the odometer and/or the gyroscope according to the matching result and saving them; and repeating the obtaining to the calibrating until the map creation in the working area is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU COAYU ROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liangru Wu, Kai Yang, Zhuobin Zheng, Huang Ding
  • Patent number: 11385069
    Abstract: An optical navigation system comprising a control circuit and an optical navigation device. The optical navigation device comprises: an image sensor, configured to generate a plurality of image frames; and a motion reporting device, configured to report a first motion of the optical navigation device to the control circuit at a first time after a reference time, and configured to report a second motion to the control circuit at a second time after the first time. The first motion and the second motion are calculated according to the image frames. The control circuit calculates a first scaled motion according to the first motion, the second motion, a first time difference between the first time and the reference time, and a second time difference between the first time and the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Willie Song, Zi Hao Tan
  • Patent number: 11372405
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include power machines or loaders, and systems used on loaders, configured to augment the control of the loader to accomplish repetitive tasks. Also disclosed are methods of learning a task for augmented control of a loader, and methods of controlling a loader to perform a learned task to provide augmented control of the loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: John Pfaff, John Hoaby
  • Patent number: 11365981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a composite map are provided. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes identifying a first node and a source node on a first map. The method further includes determining a candidate source node on a second map that corresponds to the source node on the first map. The method further includes determining a plurality of candidate nodes on the second map that potentially correspond to the first node and selecting a respective candidate node from the plurality of candidate nodes based on a similarity of a routing distance between: the respective candidate node and the candidate source node on the second map and the first node and the source node on the first map. The method may also include connecting the selected respective candidate node and the first node and combining the first map and the second map into a composite map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GoBrands, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohan Paranjpe, Billy Chen, Somchaya Liemhetcharat
  • Patent number: 11358615
    Abstract: A system and method includes determining, with a sensor assembly disposed onboard a first aerial vehicle, a direction in which a fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle, and determining an orientation of the first aerial vehicle relative to a second aerial vehicle based at least in part on the direction in which the fluid flows within or through the first aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Smith, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Michael Scott Miner, Shannon Joseph Clouse, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Nidhi Naithani, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Sreyashi Dey Chaki, Scott Daniel Nelson, Nikhil Uday Naphade, Wing Yeung Chung, Daniel Malachi Ballesty, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Jeffrey James Kisak, Dale Martin DiDomenico, Shawn Arthur McClintic, David Peltz
  • Patent number: 11353329
    Abstract: An automated driving device includes: a navigation unit configured to retrieve one or more partial routes with a predetermined length other than a guide route which branch from the guide route at a branch point through which a vehicle is expected to pass before the vehicle passes through the branch point; and an electronic control unit configured to control automated driving of the vehicle based on information of a specific partial route out of the one or more partial routes in a period until the navigation unit completes retrieval of a redundant route for guiding the vehicle to a destination point when the vehicle departs from the guide route at the branch point and travels on the specific partial route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Iijima, Hiroaki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11347241
    Abstract: A control device includes a search information calculation unit, an area information storage unit, an area information update unit, and a location control unit. The search information calculation unit acquires information relating to a plurality of unmanned vehicles that move within a target area in accordance with a set operation, and calculates search information relating to the unmanned vehicles using the acquired information relating to the unmanned vehicles. The area information storage unit stores area information including indicators for searching the target area. The area information update unit updates the area information on the basis of said search information and the time that has elapsed since the last search conducted by the unmanned vehicles. The location control unit which, on the basis of the area information, calculates locations to which the unmanned vehicles should move, and outputs control signals for causing the unmanned vehicles to move to the calculated locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masumi Ichien, Masatsugu Ogawa, Masafumi Emura
  • Patent number: 11339554
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling engine speed of a drive engine of a utility vehicle having a drivable loading apparatus. The method includes detecting or predicting a driving movement of the loading apparatus, and requesting an increase of engine speed if the movement of the loading apparatus is predicted or detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jens Letscher, Florian Reinmuth, Florian Schott
  • Patent number: 11332167
    Abstract: A system includes one or more processors, a communication device, and a positive train control (PTC) system. The one or more processors and communication device are onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system that includes the lead vehicle and a first remote vehicle. The PTC system is configured to restrict movement of the vehicle system based on a location of the vehicle system. The PTC system communicates a list of vehicle identifiers to the one or more processors. The communication device communicates a wireless linking message, which includes a vehicle identifier associated with the first remote vehicle, to the first remote vehicle. The communication device establishes a communication link between the lead vehicle and the first remote vehicle responsive to receipt of the wireless linking message at the first remote vehicle. The one or more processors remotely control movement of the first remote vehicle via the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Brian Joseph McManus, Frank Wawrzyniak, Ralph C. Haddock, III, Robert James Foy, James Glen Corry, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Todd William Goodermuth, Eugene Smith, Steven Andrew Kellner, Joseph Mario Nazareth, Brian William Schroeck, David Michael Peltz, Jeffrey Donald Kernwein, Daniel J. Rush, David Allen Eldredge
  • Patent number: 11315369
    Abstract: A vehicle configuration and activity history tracking system and method. A first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is read from a first node in a vehicle configuration and history blockchain network comprising a plurality of nodes. A second vehicle configuration and history blockchain is read from a second node in the plurality of nodes of the vehicle configuration and history blockchain network. The first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is compared to the second vehicle configuration and history blockchain to determine whether the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is valid. A new maintenance operation on the vehicle or a new modification of the vehicle is initiated using the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain in response to a determination that the first vehicle configuration and history blockchain is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nicholas William Jones
  • Patent number: 11312018
    Abstract: A system includes a first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with a target object; a second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object; and a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks. The task manager can assign a first sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and a second sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities. The first and second robotic machines can coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: John Michael Lizzi, Huan Tan, Charles Burton Theurer, Balajee Kannan, Romano Patrick
  • Patent number: 11316926
    Abstract: An in-vehicle network system includes a plurality of controllers configured to perform control of a vehicle, a plurality of transfer paths connected to the controllers, a relay device configured to relay data between the transfer paths, the relay device being connected to the transfer paths, a vehicle state detection unit configured to detect a predetermined state of the vehicle, a first specifying unit configured to specify the controller that transmits data with a low transmission priority in the predetermined state detected by the vehicle state detection unit or a transfer path other than a transfer path that transfers data related to the predetermined state detected by the vehicle state detection unit, and a first communication controller configured to cause the controller specified by the first specifying unit to suppress communication of data or suppress communication of data to the transfer path specified by the first specifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Omori, Yoshiro Hirata
  • Patent number: 11308816
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically controlling a vehicle is provided. The method includes generating an original route of travel for a first vehicle for travel from an original location to a destination location. The vehicle is directed from the original location to the destination location such that the vehicle initiates motion and navigates the original route of travel towards the destination location in accordance with the original route of travel. Monitored vehicular attributes of the first vehicle are received and environmental attributes associated with the original route of travel are monitored with respect the first vehicle. Navigational issues associated with the vehicle traveling along the original route of travel are determined based on the monitored vehicular attributes and results of monitoring the environmental attributes. The navigational issues are used to determine if the vehicle should continue to travel along the original route of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Kyndryl, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Luis C. Cruz Huertas, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Edgar A. Zamora Duran
  • Patent number: 11300962
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicles utilizing maps that include visibility information. A map is stored at a computing device associated with a vehicle. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode that supports a plurality of driving behaviors. The map includes information about a plurality of roads, a plurality of features, and visibility information for at least a first feature in the plurality of features. The computing device queries the map for visibility information for the first feature at a first position. The computing device, in response to querying the map, receives the visibility information for the first feature at the first position. The computing device selects a driving behavior for the vehicle based on the visibility information. The computing device controls the vehicle in accordance with the selected driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Ian Franklin Ferguson, Nathaniel Fairfield, Bradley Templeton
  • Patent number: 11288956
    Abstract: A method of determining a user-centric traffic estimation error parameter associated with an estimated road traffic condition that is electronically provided to a user of a device. the method comprises: at a first moment in time, acquiring an estimated travel time for a road segment, the estimated travel time having been computed for the first moment in time; responsive to the device approaching the road segment, displaying an application-generated estimated travel time for the road segment, the application-generated estimated travel time being based on a most recently acquired estimated travel time from the server; responsive to the device departing from the road segment, determining an actual travel time for the road segment; computing the user-centric traffic estimation error parameter based on the application-generated estimated travel time and the actual travel time; and transmitting the user-centric traffic estimation error parameter to the server for adjusting a traffic prediction algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: YANDEX EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Mikhail Aleksandrovich Khokhlov, Philipp Gennadievich Sinitsyn
  • Patent number: 11268823
    Abstract: A system and a method for supporting an autonomous vehicle are provided. The system may include a communicator configured to receive a driving route transmitted from a vehicle and a processor configured to extract a service section included in the driving route and to provide the vehicle with customized autonomous driving software for each service section of a plurality of service sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seong Soo Yae
  • Patent number: 11242669
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an industrial machine. One system includes a controller that includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to calculate an eccentricity of a center of gravity of the industrial machine with respect to a center of a bearing propelling the industrial machine and calculate a ground pressure associated with the bearing based on the eccentricity of the center of gravity. The electronic processor is also configured to set a maximum torque applied by an actuator included in the industrial machine to a value less than an available maximum torque based on the eccentricity of the center of gravity and the ground pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc
    Inventors: MooYoung Lee, William J. Hren, Ethan J. Pedretti, Michael J. Linstroth, Nicholas R. Voelz