Patents by Inventor MAURO DELLA PENNA

MAURO DELLA PENNA 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).

  • Publication number: 20220349721
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling an autonomous vehicle (AV) to determine a path to a stopping location are disclosed. Upon receipt of a service request, the AV will determine a desired stop location (DSL) and state information for the service request. The AV using the DSL and the state information to define a pickup/drop-off interval that comprises an area of a road that includes the DSL. When approaching the pickup/drop-off interval, the AV will uses its perception system to determine whether an object is occluding the DSL. If no object is occluding the DSL, the AV will continue along the path toward the DSL. However, if an object is occluding the DSL, the AV will identify and move to a non-occluded alternate stop location (ASL) within the pickup/drop-off interval. The ASL must satisfy one or more permissible stopping location criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Ramadev Burigsay Hukkeri, Jay Sidhu, Mauro Della Penna, Jonathan Pan
  • Publication number: 20220242440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling navigation of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. The system receives information relating to a geonet that represents a portion of a map area within which the autonomous vehicle is allowed to operate, and a lane-level map comprising a plurality of lane segments corresponding to the map area. For each of the plurality of lane segments, the system identifies a match geonet element from a plurality of geonet elements included in the geonet, determines a match distance between the match geonet element and that lane segment, and selects that lane segment for inclusion in the geonet upon determining that the match distance is less than a threshold distance. An updated lane-level map is generated using one or more lane segments selected for inclusion in the geonet for use by an autonomous vehicle to navigate between an origin location and a destination location within the geonet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Zachary Kurtz, Mauro Della Penna
  • Patent number: 11378952
    Abstract: Methods and systems for remote support of autonomous operation of vehicles have been disclosed. State indicators are generated by a first state display based on state data from a portion of vehicles assigned to a respective first level control station. A second state display is generated for a second control station and displays state indicators for the state data of the vehicles. A remote support interface including the first state display and image data received from a first vehicle of the vehicles is generated. Instruction data to the first vehicle is transmitted using the remote support interface and based on an indication that the first vehicle needs remote support, the instruction data modifying the autonomous operation of the first vehicle. A workload between the first level control stations is allocated by assigning the vehicles using the state indicators of the second state display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, Inc.
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Matthew Johnson, Michael Vignati, Lawrence Bunch
  • Patent number: 11378950
    Abstract: A remote system for an autonomous vehicle, includes a receiver, a controller, and a display device. The receiver is configured to receive road information. The controller is programmed to receive input related to the road information and create a supervision zone when the road information impacts road drivability. The display device is disposed at a control center area and configured to display a visual indication on a map of the supervision zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., United States of America as Represented by the Admininstrator of the Nationa Aeronautics and Space
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Siddharth Thakur, Armelle Guerin, Ali Mortazavi, Atsuhide Kobashi, Mauro Della Penna, Richard Enlow, Andrea Angquist, Richard Salloum, Stephen Wu, Ben Christel, Shane Hogan, John Deniston, Jen Hamon, Sannidhi Jalukar, Maarten Sierhuis, Eric Schafer, David Lees, Dawn Wheeler, Mark Allan
  • Patent number: 11307597
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing remote support and negotiating problem situations of autonomous operation of vehicles based on signal states and vehicle information are described. A system comprises a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: assign vehicles to support queues based on state data, generate a map display including locations of the vehicles, and generate a state display including the support queues, vehicle manager indicators corresponding to the support queues and state indicators corresponding to the state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Patent number: 11231287
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle service system having a display device, a receiver, and a controller. The receiver is configured to receive transmitted data from an autonomous vehicle related to status of the autonomous vehicle and information from a third party related to road conditions. The controller is programmed to monitor the transmitted data related to the status of the autonomous vehicle and the road conditions, determine when the autonomous vehicle requires assistance based on the transmitted data, and, when the autonomous vehicle requires assistance, cause information related to the autonomous vehicle to be displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Siddharth Thakur, Armelle Guerin, Ali Mortazavi, Atsuhide Kobashi, Mauro Della Penna, Richard Enlow, Andrea Angquist, Richard Salloum, Stephen Wu, Ben Christel, Shane Hogan, John Deniston, Jen Hamon, Sannidhi Jalukar, Maarten Sierhuis, Eric Schafer, David Lees, Dawn Wheeler, Mark Allan
  • Publication number: 20220018666
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle service system having a display device, a receiver, and a controller. The receiver is remote from an autonomous vehicle and configured to receive transmitted data from a third party and the autonomous vehicle. The controller is configured to monitor the transmitted data related to the status of the autonomous vehicle, and cause information related to the autonomous vehicle to be displayed on the display device, the controller further configured to enable the autonomous vehicle service system to be accessed by the third party so as to be capable of forming and updating a supervision zone to restrict access to an area by the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Liam PEDERSEN, Siddharth THAKUR, Armelle GUERIN, Ali MORTAZAVI, Atsuhide KOBASHI, Mauro DELLA PENNA, Richard ENLOW, Andrea ANGQUIST, Richard SALLOUM, Stephen WU, Ben CHRISTEL, Shane HOGAN, John DENISTON, Jen HAMON, Sannidhi JALUKAR, Maarten SIERHUIS, Eric SCHAFER, David LEES, Dawn WHEELER, Mark ALLAN
  • Publication number: 20210286359
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to recording event data to identify and resolve anomalies associated with control of driverless vehicles. Some examples include computing vehicular drive parameters to facilitate driverless transit, monitoring control signals, detecting an event, triggering storage of event data, determining transmission control criteria, and transmitting the event data based on the transmission control criteria. Other examples include receiving event data via a communications network from an autonomous vehicle, identifying a computed vehicular drive parameter, extracting sensor data associated with the event, detecting application of control signals, analyzing the control signals, the sensor data, and the subset of computed vehicular drive parameters to identify a type of event, and generating update executable instructions responsive to the type of event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Mauro Della Penna
  • Patent number: 11022971
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to recording event data to identify and resolve anomalies associated with control of driverless vehicles. Some examples include computing vehicular drive parameters to facilitate driverless transit, monitoring control signals, detecting an event, triggering storage of event data, determining transmission control criteria, and transmitting the event data based on the transmission control criteria. Other examples include receiving event data via a communications network from an autonomous vehicle, identifying a computed vehicular drive parameter, extracting sensor data associated with the event, detecting application of control signals, analyzing the control signals, the sensor data, and the subset of computed vehicular drive parameters to identify a type of event, and generating update executable instructions responsive to the type of event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Mauro Della Penna
  • Publication number: 20210072756
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a solution path overlay interface to transmit a solution path are described. A method comprises receiving data from a vehicle control system of a vehicle, the data including a movement path for each of a plurality of external objects; generating a solution path overlay interface that includes an indicator for the vehicle, an indicator for one or more of the plurality of external objects and an indicator for a solution path; in response to detecting a change associated with a movement path of the one or more of the plurality of external objects, receiving a command from an operator of the solution path overlay interface, the command including an indication of one or more stop points; updating the solution path overlay interface based on the command to provide an updated solution path; and transmitting the updated solution path to the vehicle for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Patent number: 10935973
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for generating solution data for autonomous vehicles to negotiate problem situations have been disclosed. The disclosed technology generates state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle. The state data includes any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational status of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment. In response to determining that the state data satisfies a state criterion, a determination of solution profile data that matches the state data is made on the basis of a comparison of the state data to the solution profile data. Solution data is generated using the matching solution profile data to transmit the solution data to the vehicle for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Patent number: 10890915
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a solution path overlay interface to transmit a solution path are described. The disclosed technology includes receiving vehicle data and external data from a vehicle. The vehicle data includes a vehicle location and a vehicle destination, and the external data includes a location and a movement path for each of a plurality of external objects. A solution path is determined between the vehicle location and the vehicle destination, wherein the solution path does not intersect with the plurality of external objects. A solution path overlay interface is generated that includes the vehicle traveling the solution path and at least some of the plurality of external objects. The solution path overlay interface is outputted for display that is configured to receive a command from an operator which results in an updated solution path that is transmitted to the vehicle for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Patent number: 10839473
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for monitoring vehicles including autonomous vehicles are described. The disclosed technology includes a vehicle monitoring system that receives vehicle data and external data associated with a vehicle and a corresponding predetermined area. The vehicle data includes a vehicle state of the vehicle and the external data includes external states of external objects. An issue type of the vehicle is determined based on the vehicle state and at least one of the external states. An indication of the issue type is generated for display on an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, Inc.
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Matthew Johnson, Michael Vignati, Lawrence Bunch
  • Publication number: 20200293065
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing remote support and negotiating problem situations of autonomous operation of vehicles based on signal states and vehicle information are described. A system comprises a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: assign vehicles to support queues based on state data, generate a map display including locations of the vehicles, and generate a state display including the support queues, vehicle manager indicators corresponding to the support queues and state indicators corresponding to the state data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Publication number: 20200218255
    Abstract: Methods and systems for remote support of autonomous operation of vehicles have been disclosed. State indicators are generated by a first state display based on state data from a portion of vehicles assigned to a respective first level control station. A second state display is generated for a second control station and displays state indicators for the state data of the vehicles. A remote support interface including the first state display and image data received from a first vehicle of the vehicles is generated. Instruction data to the first vehicle is transmitted using the remote support interface and based on an indication that the first vehicle needs remote support, the instruction data modifying the autonomous operation of the first vehicle. A workload between the first level control stations is allocated by assigning the vehicles using the state indicators of the second state display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Matthew Johnson, Michael Vignati, Lawrence Bunch
  • Patent number: 10705539
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing remote support and negotiating problem situations of autonomous operation of vehicles based on signal states and vehicle information are described. The disclosed technology receives state data for the vehicles by an apparatus such as a remote vehicle support apparatus. The state data indicates a respective current state for the vehicles. The vehicles are each assigned to respective remote vehicle support queues based on the respective state data. An indication that one of the vehicles is requesting remote support is received by the remote vehicle support apparatus. In response to a determination that a change in the state data indicates that autonomous operation of the one of the vehicles is operating outside of defined parameter values, the remote support is provided to the one of the vehicles through a communications link by transmitting instruction data to modify the autonomous operation of the one of the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Publication number: 20200193549
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for monitoring vehicles including autonomous vehicles are described. The disclosed technology includes a vehicle monitoring system that receives vehicle data and external data associated with a vehicle and a corresponding predetermined area. The vehicle data includes a vehicle state of the vehicle and the external data includes external states of external objects. An issue type of the vehicle is determined based on the vehicle state and at least one of the external states. An indication of the issue type is generated for display on an interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Matthew Johnson, Michael Vignati, Lawrence Bunch
  • Publication number: 20200166924
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle notification system comprises a sensor onboard the autonomous vehicle, a messaging system onboard the autonomous vehicle, and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a condition external to the autonomous vehicle. The controller is configured to control communication with a remote manager to enable the remote manager to control the autonomous vehicle based on the condition, and is configured to control the messaging system to provide a message at the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the control by the remote manger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Liam PEDERSEN, Ali MORTAZAVI, Richard LUI, Mauro Della PENNA
  • Patent number: 10659991
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for providing bandwidth constrained image processing are described. The disclosed technology determines a data transfer rate of at least one signal received from a vehicle, the at least one signal including state/status data of the vehicle. In response to determining that the data transfer rate satisfies a data transfer rate criterion, a location of the vehicle and a location of at least one of a plurality of objects that obstruct the at least one signal is determined using the state data and external data associated with the vehicle. The disclosed technology generates optimized state data using the state data and the external data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Liam Pedersen, Maarten Sierhuis, Hans Utz, Mauro Della Penna, Terrence Fong, Mark Allan, Maria Bualat, Eric Schafer
  • Patent number: 10650680
    Abstract: A parking lot mapping system includes a server. The server is remote from a plurality of vehicles, and includes a receiver, an electronic controller and a storage device. The receiver is configured to receive data transmitted from the vehicles, the data including a route traveled and a stopping position of each of the vehicles. The electronic controller is configured to determine that each vehicle has entered a parking lot, and form a map of the parking lot including parking lot routes and parking spots based on accumulation of the data including the stopping position of each vehicle and the route traveled by each of the vehicles after determination that each vehicle vehicles has entered the parking lot. The storage device is configured to store the map of the parking lot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mauro Della Penna, Naoki Kojo, Daisuke Saito