Patents by Inventor Peter Colijn
Peter Colijn 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).
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Patent number: 11947353Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a system that includes a memory storing a queue for arranging tasks, a plurality of self-driving systems for controlling an autonomous vehicle, and one or more processors. The one or more processors may receive a non-passenger task request with a priority level of the non-passenger task request. When the non-passenger task request is accepted, the one or more processors may insert the task in the queue based on the priority level of the task request. Then, the one or more processors may provide instructions to one or more self-driving systems according to the non-passenger task request. Having received updates of the status of the autonomous vehicle, the one or more processors may determine that the task is completed based on the updates. After determining that the task is completed, the one or more processors may remove the task from the queue.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Joshua Seth Herbach, Philip Nemec, Peter Colijn
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Publication number: 20240011778Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Patent number: 11804136Abstract: A method is provided for managing and tracking scouting tasks to obtain map information using a fleet of autonomous vehicles. For instance, the method includes defining a scouting quest to obtain the map information. The scouting quest includes a plurality of objectives. Each objective is associated with a geographic location from which sensor data is to be captured. The method also includes receiving a first update message from an autonomous vehicle of the fleet. The update message identifies a location of the autonomous vehicle. The method also includes assigning at least one of the objectives to the autonomous vehicle based on the location of the autonomous vehicle. The method also includes sending instructions to the autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to complete the at least one objective and after sending, tracking a status of the scouting quest.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Katharine Patterson, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Peter Colijn, Austin Daniel Abrams
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Patent number: 11781871Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Patent number: 11727523Abstract: The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Peter Colijn, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Nathaniel Fairfield, Salil Pandit, Nirmal Patel, Ryan Powell, Min Li Chan
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Patent number: 11675370Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assigning a fleet of driverless vehicles to a plurality of parking locations for parking vehicles of the fleet. For instance, locations of the vehicles of the fleet as well as a number of available spaces at each of the plurality of parking location locations may be tracked. A subset of the fleet not already located at one of the plurality of parking locations is identified. At least one assignment assigning each vehicle of the subset to a respective parking location of the plurality of parking locations is determined according to the numbers of available spaces and the identified locations of the subset. For the at least one assignment, a total cost is determined by determining a cost value for each of a plurality of factors. The given assignment is sent to the fleet based on the total cost and the cost value.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Joshua Seth Herbach, Katharine Patterson
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Publication number: 20220307843Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Patent number: 11333507Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Publication number: 20220138890Abstract: The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2021Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Peter Colijn, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Nathaniel Fairfield, Salil Pandit, Nirmal Patel, Ryan Powell, Min Li Chan
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Publication number: 20220004200Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assigning a fleet of driverless vehicles to a plurality of parking locations for parking vehicles of the fleet. For instance, locations of the vehicles of the fleet as well as a number of available spaces at each of the plurality of parking location locations may be tracked. A subset of the fleet not already located at one of the plurality of parking locations is identified. At least one assignment assigning each vehicle of the subset to a respective parking location of the plurality of parking locations is determined according to the numbers of available spaces and the identified locations of the subset. For the at least one assignment, a total cost is determined by determining a cost value for each of a plurality of factors. The given assignment is sent to the fleet based on the total cost and the cost value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Joshua Seth Herbach, Katharine Patterson
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Patent number: 11205240Abstract: The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Peter Colijn, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Nathaniel Fairfield, Salil Pandit, Nirmal Patel, Ryan Powell, Min Li Chan
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Patent number: 11157018Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assigning a fleet of driverless vehicles to a plurality of parking locations for parking vehicles of the fleet. For instance, locations of the vehicles of the fleet as well as a number of available spaces at each of the plurality of parking location locations may be tracked. A subset of the fleet not already located at one of the plurality of parking locations is identified. At least one assignment assigning each vehicle of the subset to a respective parking location of the plurality of parking locations is determined according to the numbers of available spaces and the identified locations of the subset. For the at least one assignment, a total cost is determined by determining a cost value for each of a plurality of factors. The given assignment is sent to the fleet based on the total cost and the cost value.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Joshua Seth Herbach, Katharine Patterson
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Patent number: 11062537Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining vehicle operation modes for a fleet of vehicles. This may include maintaining a storage system including vehicle parameters for a vehicle fleet such that each vehicle of the fleet is associated with a set of vehicle parameters. The vehicle operation mode may be determined by selecting one of a plurality of vehicle operation levels arranged in a hierarchy or by identifying a set of tags where each level or tag corresponds to a vehicle driving capability. The determined vehicle operation mode may be communicated to the given vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to operate according to the determined vehicle operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Ryan Joseph Andrade, Ryan Cash, Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Congyu Gao, Dirk Haehnel, Steven Reis, Omari Stephens
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Patent number: 11017674Abstract: A method is provided for managing and tracking scouting tasks to obtain map information using a fleet of autonomous vehicles. For instance, the method includes defining a scouting quest to obtain the map information. The scouting quest includes a plurality of objectives. Each objective is associated with a geographic location from which sensor data is to be captured. The method also includes receiving a first update message from an autonomous vehicle of the fleet. The update message identifies a location of the autonomous vehicle. The method also includes assigning at least one of the objectives to the autonomous vehicle based on the location of the autonomous vehicle. The method also includes, sending instructions to the autonomous vehicle in order to cause the autonomous vehicle to complete the at least one objective and after sending, tracking a status of the scouting quest.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Katharine Patterson, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Peter Colijn, Austin Daniel Abrams
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Patent number: 10901415Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a system that includes a memory storing a queue for arranging tasks, a plurality of self-driving systems for controlling an autonomous vehicle, and one or more processors. The one or more processors may receive a non-passenger task request with a priority level of the non-passenger task request. When the non-passenger task request is accepted, the one or more processors may insert the task in the queue based on the priority level of the task request. Then, the one or more processors may provide instructions to one or more self-driving systems according to the non-passenger task request. Having received updates of the status of the autonomous vehicle, the one or more processors may determine that the task is completed based on the updates. After determining that the task is completed, the one or more processors may remove the task from the queue.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: WAYMO LLCInventors: Joshua Seth Herbach, Philip Nemec, Peter Colijn
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Publication number: 20200292333Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Patent number: 10718622Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Joshua Seth Herbach, Matthew Paul McNaughton
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Publication number: 20200201355Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assigning a fleet of driverless vehicles to a plurality of parking locations for parking vehicles of the fleet. For instance, locations of the vehicles of the fleet as well as a number of available spaces at each of the plurality of parking location locations may be tracked. A subset of the fleet not already located at one of the plurality of parking locations is identified. At least one assignment assigning each vehicle of the subset to a respective parking location of the plurality of parking locations is determined according to the numbers of available spaces and the identified locations of the subset. For the at least one assignment, a total cost is determined by determining a cost value for each of a plurality of factors. The given assignment is sent to the fleet based on the total cost and the cost value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Joshua Seth Herbach, Katharine Patterson
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Publication number: 20200175428Abstract: The technology relates to assigning customer service requests for a fleet of autonomous vehicles providing trip services. For instance, a message having contents including information about a trip the vehicle is currently servicing may be received from a computing device of an autonomous vehicle of the fleet of vehicles. A request for customer service for the vehicle may be generated based on the contents of the message. A priority of the request may be determined based on the contents of the message. The request may be inserted into a queue based on the priority. The request may be assigned to a customer service representative based on a place of the request in the queue.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Julien Mercay, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Shir Yehoshua, Kyle Bechtel, Peter Colijn, Angela Wise
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Patent number: 10545510Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assigning a fleet of driverless vehicles to a plurality of parking locations for parking vehicles of the fleet. For instance, locations of the vehicles of the fleet as well as a number of available spaces at each of the plurality of parking location locations may be tracked. A subset of the fleet not already located at one of the plurality of parking locations is identified. At least one assignment assigning each vehicle of the subset to a respective parking location of the plurality of parking locations is determined according to the numbers of available spaces and the identified locations of the subset. For the at least one assignment, a total cost is determined by determining a cost value for each of a plurality of factors. The given assignment is sent to the fleet based on the total cost and the cost value.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: WAYMO LLCInventors: Peter Colijn, Laurens Andreas Feenstra, Joshua Seth Herbach, Katharine Patterson