Patents by Inventor Eric Michael Perko

Eric Michael Perko has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11454973
    Abstract: A method for receiving autonomous vehicle (AV) driving path data associated with a driving path in a roadway of a geographic location. The driving path data associated with a trajectory for an AV in a roadway and trajectory points in a trajectory of the driving path in the roadway for determining at least one feature of the roadway positioned a lateral distance from a first trajectory of the one or more trajectories of the driving path of an AV based on the map data. The method includes receiving map data associated with a map of a geographic location, determining a driving path for an AV in a roadway, generating driving path information based on a trajectory point in a trajectory of the driving path, and providing driving path data associated with the driving path to an AV for controlling the AV on the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Henry Polk Milstein, Donald Jason Burnette, Lisa Christine Weitekamp, Bryan John Nagy, Eric Michael Perko
  • Patent number: 11390300
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generating candidate trajectories and selecting one of them to be implemented. In particular, a computing system can obtain an initial travel path for an autonomous vehicle. The computing system can obtain sensor data describing objects within an environment of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can generate a plurality of trajectories for the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor data and the initial travel path. The computing system can determine whether the initial travel path, an offset profile, and a velocity profile meet flatness criteria. In response to determining that the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile meet the flatness criteria, the computing system can combine the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile into the respective trajectory. The computing system can determine a trajectory from the plurality of trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lee Phillips, David McAllister Bradley, Utku Eren, Chenggang Liu, Daoyuan Jia, Eric Michael Perko, Samuel Philip Marden, Kalin Vasilev Gochev, Moslem Kazemi
  • Publication number: 20220215756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicle are provided. A method can include obtaining, by a computing system, data indicative of a plurality of objects in a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, one or more clusters of the objects based at least in part on the data indicative of the plurality of objects. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, whether to enter an operation mode having one or more limited operational capabilities based at least in part on one or more properties of the one or more clusters. In response to determining that the operation mode is to be entered by the autonomous vehicle, the method can include controlling, by the computing system, the operation of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more limited operational capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Brian C. Becker, Michael Lee Phillips, Yang Xu, Eric Michael Perko, Narek Melik-Barkhudarov
  • Publication number: 20220171390
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides autonomous vehicle systems and methods that include or otherwise leverage a motion planning system that generates constraints as part of determining a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle (AV). In particular, a scenario generator within a motion planning system can generate constraints based on where objects of interest are predicted to be relative to an autonomous vehicle. A constraint solver can identify navigation decisions for each of the constraints that provide a consistent solution across all constraints. The solution provided by the constraint solver can be in the form of a trajectory path determined relative to constraint areas for all objects of interest. The trajectory path represents a set of navigation decisions such that a navigation decision relative to one constraint doesn't sacrifice an ability to satisfy a different navigation decision relative to one or more other constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Lee Phillips, Don Burnette, Kalin Vasilev Gochev, Somchaya Liemhetcharat, Harishma Dayanidhi, Eric Michael Perko, Eric Lloyd Wilkinson, Colin Jeffrey Green, Wei Liu, Anthony Joseph Stentz, David McAllister Bradley, Samuel Philip Marden
  • Publication number: 20220163972
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to deviating from a planned path for an autonomous vehicle. In particular, a computing system comprising one or more computing devices physically located onboard an autonomous vehicle can identify one or more boundaries at least in part defining a lane in which the autonomous vehicle is traveling along a path of a planned route. Responsive to identifying one or more obstructions ahead of the autonomous vehicle along the path, the computing system can: determine one or more deviations from the path that would result in the autonomous vehicle avoiding the obstruction(s) and at least partially crossing at least one of the one or more boundaries; and generate, based at least in part on the deviation(s), a motion plan instructing the autonomous vehicle to deviate from the path such that it avoids the obstruction(s) and continues traveling along the planned route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Edward Henry Lim, Eric Michael Perko
  • Patent number: 11333503
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a vehicle computing system including one or more processors programmed to receive map data associated with a map of a geographic location, determine, based on the map data, one or more local routes in the one or more roadways between the current location of the AV and one or more exit locations, and control travel of the AV based on a selected local route of the one or more local routes. The map includes one or more roadways in the geographic location. The map data includes a global route in the one or more roadways between a current location of the AV and a destination location of the AV. The one or more exit locations are located between the current location of the AV and the destination location of the AV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Michael S Dean, Xiaodong Zhang, Eric Michael Perko, Adam Cole Panzica, Bryan John Nagy, Brett Bavar
  • Patent number: 11315431
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicle are provided. A method can include obtaining, by a computing system, data indicative of a plurality of objects in a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, one or more clusters of the objects based at least in part on the data indicative of the plurality of objects. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, whether to enter an operation mode having one or more limited operational capabilities based at least in part on one or more properties of the one or more clusters. In response to determining that the operation mode is to be entered by the autonomous vehicle, the method can include controlling, by the computing system, the operation of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more limited operational capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Becker, Michael Lee Phillips, Yang Xu, Eric Michael Perko, Narek Melik-Barkhudarov
  • Patent number: 11288963
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides autonomous vehicles that include a vehicle intention system that provides intention signals indicative of an intention of the autonomous vehicle. In particular, in one example, the vehicle intention system can obtain one or more operational messages from various systems or components of an autonomous vehicle that operate to control the autonomous vehicle. The operational messages can include operational data regarding the control or operation of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle intention system can determine an intention of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more operational messages. The vehicle intention system can output one or more intention signals that indicate the determined intention of the autonomous vehicle. For example, the vehicle intention system can publish intention messages that indicate the determined intention to one or more components or systems that consume the intention messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Moslem Kazemi, Nicholas Fermin Andrey Sterner, Eric Michael Perko
  • Patent number: 11262756
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides autonomous vehicle systems and methods that include or otherwise leverage a motion planning system that generates constraints as part of determining a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle (AV). In particular, a scenario generator within a motion planning system can generate constraints based on where objects of interest are predicted to be relative to an autonomous vehicle. A constraint solver can identify navigation decisions for each of the constraints that provide a consistent solution across all constraints. The solution provided by the constraint solver can be in the form of a trajectory path determined relative to constraint areas for all objects of interest. The trajectory path represents a set of navigation decisions such that a navigation decision relative to one constraint doesn't sacrifice an ability to satisfy a different navigation decision relative to one or more other constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lee Phillips, Don Burnette, Kalin Vasilev Gochev, Somchaya Liemhetcharat, Harishma Dayanidhi, Eric Michael Perko, Eric Lloyd Wilkinson, Colin Jeffrey Green, Wei Liu, Anthony Joseph Stentz, David McAllister Bradley, Samuel Philip Marden
  • Patent number: 11255679
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a vehicle computing system including one or more processors programmed to receive map data associated with a map of a geographic location, including, one or more local routes in the one or more roadways between the current location of the AV and one or more exit locations, receive sensor data associated with an object detected in an environment surrounding the AV, select a local route of the one or more local routes based on the sensor data and control travel of the AV based on a selected local route of the one or more local routes. The map includes one or more roadways in the geographic location. The one or more exit locations are located between the current location of the AV and the destination location of the AV in a global route in the one or more roadways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Michael S Dean, Xiaodong Zhang, Eric Michael Perko, Adam Cole Panzica, Bryan John Nagy, Brett Bavar
  • Patent number: 11249484
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to deviating from a planned path for an autonomous vehicle. In particular, a computing system comprising one or more computing devices physically located onboard an autonomous vehicle can identify one or more boundaries at least in part defining a lane in which the autonomous vehicle is traveling along a path of a planned route. Responsive to identifying one or more obstructions ahead of the autonomous vehicle along the path, the computing system can: determine one or more deviations from the path that would result in the autonomous vehicle avoiding the obstruction(s) and at least partially crossing at least one of the one or more boundaries; and generate, based at least in part on the deviation(s), a motion plan instructing the autonomous vehicle to deviate from the path such that it avoids the obstruction(s) and continues traveling along the planned route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Henry Lim, Eric Michael Perko
  • Publication number: 20210331686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for handling autonomous vehicle faults are provided. A system includes a plurality of function nodes arranged in a directed graph architecture. The function nodes include a plurality of detector nodes and a plurality of fault handler nodes. Each detector node is communicatively connected to at least one function node and an associated fault handler node. The detector node is configured to obtain output from the function node, detect a fault, and provide a fault event to the associated fault handler node. Each fault handler node can be associated with a fault severity and a corresponding vehicle action. The associated fault handler node can receive the fault event from the detector node and initiate a fault response. The fault response can include initiating a respective vehicle action in response to the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Nathan Thomas Beyers, Christopher John Peplin, Steve Payne, Daniel Joseph Tascione, Jordan Peter Brindza, Dillon Collins, Julie Marie Derence, Eric Michael Perko, Aaron Botwick
  • Publication number: 20210114617
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generating candidate trajectories and selecting one of them to be implemented. In particular, a computing system can obtain an initial travel path for an autonomous vehicle. The computing system can obtain sensor data describing objects within an environment of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can generate a plurality of trajectories for the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor data and the initial travel path. The computing system can determine whether the initial travel path, an offset profile, and a velocity profile meet flatness criteria. In response to determining that the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile meet the flatness criteria, the computing system can combine the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile into the respective trajectory. The computing system can determine a trajectory from the plurality of trajectories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Lee Phillips, David McAllister Bradley, Utku Eren, Chenggang Liu, Daoyuan Jia, Eric Michael Perko, Samuel Philip Marden, Kalin Vasilev Gochev, Moslem Kazemi
  • Publication number: 20210110716
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicle are provided. A method can include obtaining, by a computing system, data indicative of a plurality of objects in a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, one or more clusters of the objects based at least in part on the data indicative of the plurality of objects. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, whether to enter an operation mode having one or more limited operational capabilities based at least in part on one or more properties of the one or more clusters. In response to determining that the operation mode is to be entered by the autonomous vehicle, the method can include controlling, by the computing system, the operation of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more limited operational capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brian C. Becker, Michael Lee Phillips, Yang Xu, Eric Michael Perko, Narek Melik-Barkhudarov
  • Publication number: 20210020048
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle to assist another autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining data representing a vehicle route of a first autonomous vehicle, wherein the first autonomous vehicle travels along the vehicle route from a first location to a second location. The method includes obtaining data representing an occlusion point that affects an operation of the first autonomous vehicle along the vehicle route. The method includes selecting a second autonomous vehicle, based at least in part on (i) the vehicle route and (ii) the occlusion point, to assist the first autonomous vehicle. The method includes deploying the second autonomous vehicle to assist the first autonomous vehicle to travel along the vehicle route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Michael Perko
  • Publication number: 20200401147
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to deviating from a planned path for an autonomous vehicle. In particular, a computing system comprising one or more computing devices physically located onboard an autonomous vehicle can identify one or more boundaries at least in part defining a lane in which the autonomous vehicle is traveling along a path of a planned route. Responsive to identifying one or more obstructions ahead of the autonomous vehicle along the path, the computing system can: determine one or more deviations from the path that would result in the autonomous vehicle avoiding the obstruction(s) and at least partially crossing at least one of the one or more boundaries; and generate, based at least in part on the deviation(s), a motion plan instructing the autonomous vehicle to deviate from the path such that it avoids the obstruction(s) and continues traveling along the planned route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Edward Henry Lim, Eric Michael Perko
  • Publication number: 20200401145
    Abstract: A method for receiving autonomous vehicle (AV) driving path data associated with a driving path in a roadway of a geographic location. The driving path data associated with a trajectory for an AV in a roadway and trajectory points in a trajectory of the driving path in the roadway for determining at least one feature of the roadway positioned a lateral distance from a first trajectory of the one or more trajectories of the driving path of an AV based on the map data. The method includes receiving map data associated with a map of a geographic location, determining a driving path for an AV in a roadway, generating driving path information based on a trajectory point in a trajectory of the driving path, and providing driving path data associated with the driving path to an AV for controlling the AV on the roadway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Adam Henry Polk Milstein, Donald Jason Burnette, Lisa Christine Weitekamp, Bryan John Nagy, Eric Michael Perko
  • Patent number: 10852721
    Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous vehicle testing are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining, by a computing system including one or more computing devices, simulated perception data indicative of one or more simulated states of at least one simulated object within a surrounding environment of an autonomous vehicle. The computer-implemented method includes determining, by the computing system, a motion of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the simulated perception data. The computer-implemented method includes causing, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with the determined motion of the autonomous vehicle through the surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Jessica Elizabeth Smith, Eric Michael Perko, Michael Lee Phillips, Colin Jeffrey Green, Randy Warner, Peter William Rander
  • Patent number: 10818187
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle to assist another autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining data representing a vehicle route of a first autonomous vehicle, wherein the first autonomous vehicle travels along the vehicle route from a first location to a second location. The method includes obtaining data representing an occlusion point that affects an operation of the first autonomous vehicle along the vehicle route. The method includes selecting a second autonomous vehicle, based at least in part on (i) the vehicle route and (ii) the occlusion point, to assist the first autonomous vehicle. The method includes deploying the second autonomous vehicle to assist the first autonomous vehicle to travel along the vehicle route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Michael Perko
  • Patent number: 10795367
    Abstract: A method for receiving autonomous vehicle (AV) driving path data associated with a driving path in a roadway of a geographic location. The driving path data associated with a trajectory for an AV in a roadway and trajectory points in a trajectory of the driving path in the roadway for determining at least one feature of the roadway positioned a lateral distance from a first trajectory of the one or more trajectories of the driving path of an AV based on the map data. The method includes receiving map data associated with a map of a geographic location, determining a driving path for an AV in a roadway, generating driving path information based on a trajectory point in a trajectory of the driving path, and providing driving path data associated with the driving path to an AV for controlling the AV on the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Henry Polk Milstein, Donald Jason Burnette, Lisa Christine Weitekamp, Bryan John Nagy, Eric Michael Perko