Automatic Route Guidance Vehicle Patents (Class 701/23)
  • Patent number: 11630456
    Abstract: An autonomously traveling cart system includes a mover, a memory, a position detector, and a processor. The mover moves a cart main body. The memory stores map data indicating an autonomously traveling cart storage space installed in an area where the cart main body is movable. The position detector detects a position of the cart main body. The processor designs a moving route from the position of the cart main body which the position detector detects toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space indicated by the map data, and allows the cart main body to move toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space by the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Kanno
  • Patent number: 11631979
    Abstract: A wireless power supply system includes a mower that executes a mowing work while traveling autonomously, and a charging station that supplies power to the mower. The charging station includes a power supply coil, and the mower includes a power reception coil, a first detector that detects a magnetic field generated by the power supply coil, and a first traveling controller that causes the mower to travel toward the charging station, based on a detection result of the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroya Takahashi, Takumi Shiiyama, Yoshiaki Kotani
  • Patent number: 11628112
    Abstract: Provided is an autonomous hospital bed including: a frame; wheels; motors to drive the wheels; a controller in communication with the motors; sensors; a processor; a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuate operations including: capturing, with the sensors, depth data indicating distances to objects within an environment of the hospital bed and directions of the distances; capturing, with the sensors, movement data indicating movement distance and direction of the hospital bed; generating, with the processor, a map of the environment using the depth and movement data; generating, with the processor, a movement path to a first location; instructing, with the processor, motor drivers of the wheels to move the hospital bed along the movement path; and, inferring, with the processor, a location of the hospital bed within the environment as the hospital bed navigates along the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11628861
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for controlling a vehicle, a device and a storage medium. The method includes: in response to determining that a target vehicle is located in a historical takeover area, obtaining historical control information associated with passing through a historical path in the historical takeover area, the historical takeover area indicating an area through which a vehicle in a manual control state passed in a previous period; determining a planned path for the target vehicle to pass through the historical takeover area based on the historical control information; and controlling the target vehicle to pass through the historical takeover area in an automatic control state based on the planned path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ning Yu, Fan Zhu, Yongyi Sun
  • Patent number: 11623658
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining sensor data that include a plurality of sensor returns from an environment of an autonomous vehicle. A first set of features may be extracted from the sensor data. The first set of features may be processed with a machine learning model to generate, for at least a subset of the plurality of sensor returns, a first output that classifies a respective sensor return as corresponding to an object or non-object and a second output that indicates a property of the object. The sensor returns classified as corresponding to objects may be compared to a plurality of pre-classified objects to generate one or more generic object classifications. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled based at least in part on the one or more generic object classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jake Charland, Ethan Eade, Karthik Lakshmanan, Daniel Munoz, Samuel Sean, Yuchen Xie, Luona Yang
  • Patent number: 11623646
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system includes a lane change control device that performs lane change control for making a lane change from a first lane to a second lane during autonomous driving of a vehicle. The lane change control device is configured to: determine, from start to completion of the lane change control, whether or not a driver's operation is performed as an abort request operation that requests to abort the lane change control; when the abort request operation is performed, determine whether or not an abort permission condition is satisfied; when the abort permission condition is not satisfied, continue the lane change control; and, when the abort permission condition is satisfied, abort the lane change control and make the vehicle travel in the first lane. The lane change control device changes ease of satisfaction of the abort permission condition depending on the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuta Hashimoto, Hiroki Fukuda, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 11619937
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementation of automatic motion planning for an autonomous driving vehicle. Information is obtained with respect to a current location of the autonomous driving vehicle operating in a current vehicle motion, wherein the information is to be used to estimate the operational capability of the autonomous driving vehicle with respect to the current location. Sensor data are obtained, via one or more sensors in one or more media types. A reaction of a passenger present in the vehicle with respect to a current vehicle motion is estimated based on the sensor data. Motion planning is performed based on the information with respect to the current location and the reaction of the passenger to the current vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zheng, David Wanqian Liu, Timothy Patrick Daly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11612824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to automated guided vehicles, hereinafter referred to as AGVs, and specifically to AGVs used for entertainment purposes. More specifically, the present invention relates to using in a passenger carrying AGV a capacitor or a plurality of capacitors as a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ROBOCOASTER LIMITED
    Inventors: Gino De-Gol, Rene Masey, Bruno Bolsens
  • Patent number: 11614743
    Abstract: A method for navigating a sensor-equipped mobile platform through an through an environment to a destination, the method including: capturing a first image in a first state of illumination; capturing a second image in a second state of illumination; generating a difference image from said first image and said second image; locating an imaging target based on said difference image, said imaging target including a machine-readable code embedded therein, said machine-readable code including navigation vector data; extracting said navigation vector data from said machine-readable code; and using said extracted navigation vector data to direct the navigation of the mobile platform through the environment to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Troy, Gary E. Georgeson, Scott W. Lea
  • Patent number: 11614735
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for remotely detecting a status associated with an autonomous vehicle and generating control actions in response to such detections. In one example, a computing system can access a third-party communication associated with an autonomous vehicle. The computing system can determine, based at least in part on the third-party communication, a predetermined identifier associated with the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can determine, based at least in part on the third-party communication, a status associated with the autonomous vehicle, and transmit one or more control messages to the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the predetermined identifier and the status associated with the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Noah Zych, Matthew Shaw Wood, Dirk John Vandenberg, III
  • Patent number: 11608080
    Abstract: Vehicle movement in an automatic driving operation is regulated in an automatic driving operation, which is switchable between a regular operating mode and an emergency operating mode when a functional impairment of a main control device is established. In the regular operating mode, the regular desired trajectory, the emergency operation desired trajectory, and the lane course of a driving lane driven along by the vehicle are continuously determined in a coordinate system, fixed to the vehicle, of the main control device. The determined emergency operation desired trajectory and the determined lane course are supplied to the ancillary control device and stored there. In the emergency operating mode, the lane course of the driving lane driven along by the vehicle is determined in a coordinate system, fixed to the vehicle, of the ancillary control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Volker Oltmann, Michael Decker
  • Patent number: 11609321
    Abstract: Some radar sensors may provide a Doppler measurement indicating a relative velocity of an object to a velocity of the radar sensor. Techniques for determining a two-or-more-dimensional velocity from one or more radar measurements associated with an object may comprise determining a data structure that comprises a yaw assumption and a set of weights to tune the influence of the yaw assumption. Determining the two-or-more-dimensional velocity may further comprise using the data structure as part of regression algorithm to determine a velocity and/or yaw rate associated with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Mario Bongio Karrman, Michael Carsten Bosse, Subhasis Das, Francesco Papi, Jifei Qian, Shiwei Sheng, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11608058
    Abstract: Methods and devices for generating a trajectory for a self-driving car (SDC) are disclosed. The method includes: for a given one of the plurality of trajectory points of a given trajectory: (i) determining a presence of plurality of dynamic objects around the SDC, (ii) applying a first algorithm to determine a set of collision candidates, (iii) generating a segment line for the SDC, (iv) generating a bounding box for each of set of collision candidates, (v) for a given one of the set of collision candidates, determining a distance between the segment line and the respective bounding box to determine a separation distance, (vi) in response to the separation distance being lower than a threshold, determining that the given one of the set of collision candidates would cause the collision with the SDC, (vii) amending at least one of the plurality of trajectory points to render a revised candidate trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: YANDEX SELF DRIVING GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Uladzislau Andreevich Trukhanovich
  • Patent number: 11608057
    Abstract: A navigation system for a host vehicle may include a processing device including circuitry and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the circuitry cause the at least one processing device to receive images acquired by a camera representative of an environment of the host vehicle, and analyze the images to identify a double merge scenario including a first flow of traffic and a second flows of traffic in a same direction that merge to form a merged flow of traffic in a merged lane. The instructions that when executed by the circuitry may further cause the processing device to cause a navigational change in the host vehicle based on a trajectory of a first target vehicle in the first flow of traffic and a trajectory of a second target vehicle in the second flow of traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Shai Shalev-Shwartz, Amnon Shashua, Shaked Shammah
  • Patent number: 11608067
    Abstract: A system and method for providing probabilistic-based lane-change decision making and motion planning that include receiving data associated with a roadway environment of an ego vehicle. The system and method also include performing gap analysis to determine at least one gap between neighboring vehicles that are traveling within the target lane to filter out an optimal merging entrance for the ego vehicle to merge into the target lane and determining a probability value associated with an intention of a driver of a following neighboring vehicle to yield to allow the ego vehicle to merge into the target lane. The system and method further include controlling the ego vehicle to autonomously continue traveling within the current lane or autonomously merge from current lane to the target lane based on at least one of: if the optimal merging entrance is filtered out and if the probability value indicates an intention of the driver to yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peng Xu, Alireza Nakhaei Sarvedani, Kikuo Fujimura
  • Patent number: 11608066
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode where vehicle has a drive by wire braking system. For instance, while the vehicle is being controlled in the autonomous driving mode, a signal corresponding to input at a brake pedal of the drive by wire braking system may be received. An amount of braking may be determined based on the received signal. The amount of braking may be used to determine a trajectory for the vehicle to follow. The vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode using the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nolan McPeek-Bechtold, Kimberly Toth
  • Patent number: 11609566
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for switching a mode of a vehicle. Real-time data related to the vehicle are received, which include intrinsic/extrinsic capability parameters, based on which a set of tasks to switch from a current mode to a different mode is determined. A first duration of time required for the switch is determined based on a first risk evaluated with respect to the current mode and the real-time data. A task duration time needed by a driver to complete the task is estimated for each of the set of tasks. A second risk for the switching is estimated based on the required first duration of time and a total task duration times needed to complete the set of tasks. The switch is carried out when the second risk satisfying a criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zheng, Timothy Patrick Daly, Jr., David Wanqian Liu
  • Patent number: 11604467
    Abstract: A method for controlling the motion of a mobile warning triangle for placement behind a stationary vehicle on a roadway acquires color information of the lane markings detected by a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor of the mobile warning triangle. When the mobile warning triangle is placed on the roadway, the first to third sensors are preset in position to detect the lane markings and their colors. The white or yellow color information of the lane markings or of the black-colored roadway are detected or not detected on an individual basis by the sensors and deviations from a required path are recognized when different colors are received in certain combinations by the sensors. If no deviation is recognized in the colors, the mobile warning triangle is controlled to continue moving forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fulian Precision Electronics (Tianjin) Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Ching Chien, Chuang-Wei Tseng
  • Patent number: 11603116
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a safety area for a vehicle are discussed herein. In some cases, a first safety area can be based on a vehicle travelling through an environment and a second safety area can be based on a steering control or a velocity of the vehicle. A width of the safety areas can be updated based on a position of a bounding box associated with the vehicle. The position can be based on the vehicle traversing along a trajectory. Sensor data can be filtered based on the sensor data falling within the safety area(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Daniel Boydston, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11603201
    Abstract: A system is provided for sending a drone to a target on request. The system includes a server provided in communication with a plurality of mobile technology platforms, each of which having an instance of a particular software installed therein. The software contains programming instructions configured to transmit a request from a user for a drone. The system, upon receiving a transmitted request for a drone from one of the plurality of mobile technology platforms, dispatches a drone to fly to a specified target and provides the user with at least partial control of the drone's flight or of media capture by the drone based on the location of the drone relative to a geofence associated with the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: PICPOCKET, LABS
    Inventor: Wolfram K Gauglitz
  • Patent number: 11597408
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller circuit in communication with a steering sensor and one or more perception sensors. The steering sensor is configured to detect a steering torque of a steering wheel of a host vehicle. The one or more perception sensors are configured to detect an environment proximate the host vehicle. The controller circuit is configured to determine when an operator of the host vehicle requests a take-over from fully automated control of the host vehicle based on the steering sensor. The controller circuit classifies the take-over request based on the steering sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Guoguang Zhang, Tanto Sugiarto, Qian Wang
  • Patent number: 11596286
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a robotic cleaner may include a frame, a moveable arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a driven wheel rotatably coupled to the moveable arm such that the driven wheel pivots with the moveable arm, and a biasing mechanism configured to urge the driven wheel towards an extended position, the biasing mechanism being coupled to the frame and spaced apart from the moveable arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Catriona C. A. Sutter, Ming Yao, William Wang, Andre D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11597407
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller configured to determine whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous driving mode or in a manual driving mode; and a steering device for adjusting a position of a wheel of the vehicle when the vehicle is operating in the manual driving mode. The steering device includes a knob configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a shaft connected to the knob, the shaft rotating about the rotation axis together with the knob by a rotational force transmitted from the knob; and an elastic part coupled to the shaft. In particular, when the shaft rotates from a reference position by the rotational force, the elastic part is compressed, and when the rotational force is removed, the elastic part is relaxed to return the shaft to the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventor: Daehyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11591757
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information indicative of a first worksite plan, determining a travel path extending along a work surface, causing a mobile machine to traverse the travel path, and receiving first sensor information associated with the work surface from a sensor of the mobile machine. The method also includes generating a second worksite plan based at least partly on the first sensor information, and providing instructions to a slave machine which, when executed by a controller of the slave machine, cause the controller of the slave machine to control the slave machine to perform at least part of the second worksite plan. The method further includes receiving second sensor information determined by the sensor of the mobile machine, and generating at least one of a safety metric and an accuracy metric based at least partly on the second sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11592814
    Abstract: A method for providing an assistance signal and/or a control signal for an at least partially automated vehicle includes receiving surroundings data, in particular an acoustic signal; recognizing a warning signal emitted by a further road user based on the received surroundings data; determining whether a hazardous situation relating to the vehicle is or was indicated by the warning signal; and providing the assistance signal and/or the control signal based on the result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 11590890
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for generating an augmented alert in a hybrid vehicle. First information indicating an upcoming switch in an operating mode of the vehicle is received, which specifies a set of tasks, arranged in an order, to be completed by a driver in the vehicle to achieve the upcoming switch, and a task duration for each of the set of tasks by which the task is to be completed. A current state of the driver is obtained and used to determine a set of warnings to alert the driver to perform the set of tasks. Each warning corresponds to a task in the set of tasks and is created based on the current state of the driver. A warning schedule is generated based on the set of warnings in the order of the set of tasks and transmitted so that warnings in the warning schedule are delivered to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zheng, Timothy Patrick Daly, Jr., David Wanqian Liu
  • Patent number: 11592833
    Abstract: One variation of a method for updating a localization map for a fleet of autonomous vehicles includes: selecting a set of roads including a first subset of road segments associated with existing incomplete scan data and a second subset of road segments associated with a monitoring request from an external entity; during a passenger period at the autonomous vehicle, autonomously transporting passengers according to a series of ride requests; during a mapping period succeeding the passenger period at the autonomous vehicle, autonomously navigating along the set of road segments, recording a first series of scan data representing surfaces proximal the first subset of road segments, and recording a second series of scan data representing surfaces proximal the second subset of road segments; updating the localization map based on the first series of scan data; and serving the second series of scan data to the external entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Kah Seng Tay, Xiaotian Chen, Xin Sun, Vishisht Gupta
  • Patent number: 11586204
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes an electronic control unit (ECU). When the equipped vehicle is driving in the autonomous mode, driving of the vehicle is controlled by the ECU without human intervention. When the vehicle is being driven in a non-autonomous mode, a particular driver at least partially drives the vehicle. The vehicular driving assist system learns a driving style of the particular driver and, when the vehicle is being driven in the non-autonomous mode by the particular driver, the system restricts learning of the driving style of the particular driver responsive to determination by the system that the particular driver is (i) driving the vehicle erratically and/or (ii) performing an illegal driving maneuver. When the vehicle is driving in the autonomous mode, and responsive to the particular driver being present in the vehicle, the vehicle drives in accordance with the learned driving style of the particular driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Anuj S. Potnis, Krishna Koravadi, William J. Chundrlik, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11586197
    Abstract: A method and device for interactive autonomous driving. A vehicle guidance controller is configured to detect, during operation of a vehicle in an autonomous operating mode, an order for intervention by a driver in a driving event on an input device, in particular a joystick. And, on denial of the order, the vehicle guidance controller is configured to determine at least one setpoint for the autonomous operating mode. The setpoint may influence a longitudinal guidance of the vehicle and/or a transverse guidance of the vehicle in the autonomous operating mode. The vehicle guidance controller is configured to control the vehicle autonomously in the autonomous operating mode depending on the setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Georg Tardy-Tuch
  • Patent number: 11587373
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, a computing system may determine a predicted amount of ride requests for a plurality of collectively-managed vehicles and determine an availability of the collectively-managed vehicles to satisfy the predicted amount of ride requests. Subsequent to determining that the availability fails to satisfy one or more predetermined criteria for servicing the predicted amount of ride requests, the system may determine status information associated with the collectively-managed vehicles and determine, based on at least the status information, one or more minimum services for servicing one or more vehicles among the plurality of collectively-managed vehicles at one or more service centers such that the availability satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria. The system may instruct the one or more vehicles that are to receive the one or more minimum services to travel to the one or more service centers to be serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Farzad Cyrus Foroughi Abari, Aaron Jacob Levine Friedman, John Houston, Adam Hart Reis, Alexander Thomas Starns
  • Patent number: 11584364
    Abstract: A vehicle control device comprising: a control unit configured to control an automated parking mode based on a shift position of a transmission when an automated parking is instructed, wherein the automated parking mode includes a first automated parking mode in which steering is not executed and forward movement or rearward movement is possible and a second automated parking mode in which a parking space is detected and steering is executed automatically, and the control unit controls the automated parking mode to be in the first automated parking mode, in a case where the shift position is a first position, and selectively controls the automated parking mode to be in the first automated parking mode or the second automated parking mode, in a case where the shift position is a second position that differs from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaku Shimamoto, Junpei Noguchi, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11584366
    Abstract: A braking control device for controlling braking of a host vehicle. For a state in which a host vehicle is stopped in an intersection by automatic emergency braking and an oncoming vehicle is approaching in an oncoming lane, the host vehicle prohibits secondary braking, flashes a hazard lamp, and prohibits an idling stop. For a state in which it is determined in that the vehicle is stopped and it is determined in that it is safe for the vehicle to start moving, the host vehicle releases stop maintenance braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Ito, Takaharu Oguri, Kei Kamiya, Takahiro Baba, Ryo Takaki, Tomoyuki Doi
  • Patent number: 11586199
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an ADK that creates a driving plan, a VP that carries out vehicle control in accordance with various commands from the ADK, and a vehicle control interface that interfaces between the VP and the ADK. A power supply structure for the ADK is provided independently of a power supply structure for the VP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiichi Kusama
  • Patent number: 11584375
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a first inputter, a second inputter, a mode controller configured to, when the first inputter is operated by a user, determine a driving mode of a vehicle as a first mode, and when the second inputter is operated by the user in the first mode, switch the driving mode from the first mode to a second mode, and a driving controller configured to control at least one of a steering and speed of the vehicle, and the driving controller is configured to control a steering and speed of the vehicle and prohibit change of a path of the vehicle when the driving mode is the first mode, and control a steering and speed of the vehicle and change of the path of the vehicle is allowed when the driving mode is the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Nozomu Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 11584386
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device controls switching of driving between a driver and an autonomous driving function. The drive mode switch control device includes an operation information acquisition unit, a drive state switch unit, an attitude determination unit, and an approved target setting unit. The operation information acquisition unit acquires an operation information item associated with the driving operation input to at least one of a plurality of operation targets. The drive state switch unit executes an override that switches from an autonomous driving state to another driving state. The attitude determination unit acquires a plurality of detection information items related to driving attitudes of the driver, and determine whether each of the plurality of detection information items is appropriate for the driving operation. The approved target setting unit sets an approved operation target or a disapproved operation target to each of the plurality of operation targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiko Chiba
  • Patent number: 11584393
    Abstract: A method for planning the motion of a vehicle includes: determining a nominal trajectory for the vehicle based on a desired maneuver to be carried out in a traffic space, on a current state of movement of the vehicle and on a detected state of a surrounding of the vehicle, and determining an abort trajectory branching off from the nominal trajectory and guiding the vehicle to a safe condition regardless of the desired maneuver, wherein the nominal trajectory and the abort trajectory are determined simultaneously using a single optimization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Wojciech Turlej, Mateusz Orlowski, Tomasz Wrona, Nikodem Pankiewicz
  • Patent number: 11584362
    Abstract: A method for operating a transportation vehicle, in particular, for driving the transportation vehicle into a predefined parking space, wherein a first trajectory for automated travel of the transportation vehicle into the predefined parking space is stored in a vehicle-side memory device, which trajectory has been detected during manual travel of the transportation vehicle into the predefined parking space and the first trajectory is assigned tolerance values for a deviation from the first trajectory, which is the maximum deviation by which the transportation vehicle deviates from the first trajectory during automated travel into the predefined parking space, wherein, in the case of at least one further instance of manual travel of the transportation vehicle into the predefined parking space, the further trajectory which is travelled along is detected automatically and the first trajectory and the further trajectory are compared with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Stephan Max, Kristian Weiss, Sascha Bauer, Mehmet Eylem Kirlangic, Andreas Wege, Robert Konnopka, Lars Krüger, Jesko Klandt, Christian Tendyck
  • Patent number: 11587252
    Abstract: A positioning device combining mark point positioning and intelligent reverse positioning and method thereof, comprising a binocular camera, a third camera, and a laser; the laser is used for emitting laser projection, the binocular camera is used for acquiring images with laser lines and reflective mark points on the surface of the scanned object, and the third camera is used for acquiring images with coding points and mark points in the peripheral environment; the method comprises the following steps of: S1. calibrating parameters of each camera under different scanning modes, and enabling the parameters of each camera to synchronously and correspondingly transform when the scanning modes are switched; S2. judging and switching the scanning mode into a mark point mode or an intelligent reverse tracking mode through the scanning scene. The two positioning modes are flexibly switched, and the use of a user is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Shunyi Zheng, Xiaonan Wang, Guanbao Ren, Jianhua Cheng
  • Patent number: 11585662
    Abstract: A mapping system, comprising an inertial measurement unit; a camera unit; a laser scanning unit; and a computing system in communication with the inertial measurement unit, the camera unit, and the laser scanning unit, wherein the computing system computes first measurement predictions based on inertial measurement data from the inertial measurement unit at a first frequency, second measurement predictions based on the first measurement predictions and visual measurement data from the camera unit at a second frequency and third measurement predictions based on the second measurement predictions and laser ranging data from the laser scanning unit at a third frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kaarta, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Zhang, Sanjiv Singh
  • Patent number: 11583154
    Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI) cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a memory, a movement detect sensor, a driving unit configured to allow the AI cleaner to be moved, and a processor configured to control the movement sensor to sense a movement of the AI cleaner by a user and acquire a position to which the AI cleaner has moved while the AI cleaner operates at a first cleaning mode and control the driving unit to allow the AI cleaner to clean a priority cleaning area corresponding to the position at a second cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Seungah Chae
  • Patent number: 11587444
    Abstract: A scheduling server is programmed to register terminals for autonomous vehicle use by allocating both capabilities and available times of the terminals to the server; identify a service to perform to an autonomous vehicle using data received from the vehicle; and send a waypoint to the vehicle directing the vehicle to arrive at an identified one of the terminals having capability to perform the service during the available times of the identified terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Christopher Conroy, Fiona Jane Gronowicz, Jay Davis, John David Jorgensen, Satyavardhan Naga Injeti, Peter J. Nikolajevs, Ronald T. Oppat, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11579631
    Abstract: Provided is a navigation system for a leader vehicle leading follower vehicles, including: the leader vehicle, configured to transmit, real-time movement data to follower vehicles; and, the follower vehicles, each comprising: a signal receiver for receiving the data from the leader vehicle; sensors configured to detect at least one maneuverability condition; a memory; a vehicle maneuver controller; a distance sensor; and a processor configured to: determine a route for navigating the local follower vehicle from an initial location; determine a preferred range of distances from the vehicle in front of the respective follower vehicle that the respective follower vehicle should stay within; determine a set of active maneuvering instructions for the respective follower vehicle based on at least a portion of the data received from the guiding vehicle; determine a lag in control commands; and, execute the set of active maneuvering instructions in the respective follower vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia
  • Patent number: 11577725
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to control at least one of a steering system or a propulsion system to operate a vehicle at a speed below a speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to determine whether one or more second vehicles a first distance from the vehicle are traveling below the speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are traveling below the speed threshold, continue to control the steering system or the propulsion system. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are not traveling below the speed threshold, transition control of the steering system or the propulsion system to a human operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Zwicky, Jeremy Lerner, Md Nahid Pervez, Natalie Arguello, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Scott Huggins, Jason Joseph Woo, Taylor Hawley, Xingping Chen, Nitendra Nath
  • Patent number: 11579607
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for switching a mode of a vehicle. Real-time data related to the vehicle are received, which include intrinsic/extrinsic capability parameters, based on which a set of tasks to switch from a current mode to a different mode is determined. A first duration of time required for the switch is determined based on a first risk evaluated with respect to the current mode and the real-time data. A task duration time needed by a driver to complete the task is estimated for each of the set of tasks. A second risk for the switching is estimated based on the required first duration of time and a total task duration times needed to complete the set of tasks. The switch is carried out when the second risk satisfying a criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zheng, Timothy Patrick Daly, Jr., David Wanqian Liu
  • Patent number: 11577731
    Abstract: A moving body control apparatus includes a travel control section that controls travel of a moving body based on vicinity information, and a lane change control section that performs a lane change of the moving body from a first lane to a second lane, if the lane change of the moving body from the first lane to the second lane is approved. The travel control section performs first acceleration/deceleration control to accelerate or decelerate the moving body according to a velocity of another moving body travelling in the second lane, if the lane change of the moving body from the first lane to the second lane is denied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro Oguro, Nozomu Hirosawa, Daichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11577729
    Abstract: A method for driving a vehicle on an opposite lane in a controlled manner includes detecting, with a surroundings sensor system, surroundings of the vehicle and receiving, with a control device, measurement data of the surroundings sensor system. The method includes identifying at least one course of a road, and at least one course of at least one road user in the surroundings based on the received measurement data and planning a trajectory of the vehicle within the at least one course of a road. The method further includes identifying a section of the road wherein when driving on the section of road the opposite lane is cut across by the vehicle, and determining a first stop position for the vehicle prior to entering the identified section of road. The method then checks whether the opposite lane can be driven on in the identified section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 11578986
    Abstract: Current data for a geographic area is accessed. The current data comprises at least one of (a) current traffic data for the geographic area, (b) current incident data for the geographic area, or (c) current weather data for the geographic area. Based on the current data, autonomous driving instructions are determined for the geographic area. A notification comprising the autonomous driving instructions is provided such that the notification is received by a vehicle apparatus located within the geographic area or expected to enter the geographic area based on a route being traversed by a vehicle corresponding to the vehicle apparatus. The vehicle apparatus is onboard the vehicle and is configured to control the vehicle in accordance with the autonomous driving instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Jingwei Xu, Sidhartha Routray
  • Patent number: 11579615
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus performs: calculating a path and a moving speed to reach a desired destination from a current position of the control target apparatus; measuring a communication delay time between the remote control apparatus and the control target apparatus; estimating an overshoot region based on the communication delay time, a stored size of the control target apparatus, and the moving speed; predicting whether the control target apparatus will contact with a peripheral object(s), based on the path, the overshoot region, and stored peripheral object information of the control target apparatus; calculating the moving speed information to be given to the control target apparatus so that a moving direction of the control target apparatus changes by a predetermined value or more when predicted that the control target apparatus will contact with a peripheral object(s); and transmitting a control signal including the moving speed information to the control target apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichi Kumagai, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11572072
    Abstract: A method of controlling autonomous driving is provided. The method includes collecting driving information of a driver and curvature information of a road and generating a driving pattern of the driver, defined by associating behaviors in longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle based on the driving information. The driving pattern is then set to a constraint condition for driving torque and brake pressure and the vehicle is operated based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hee Gwon Kim
  • Patent number: 11573569
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing one or more autonomous features for autonomous and semi-autonomous control of one or more vehicles are provided. More specifically, image data may be obtained from an image acquisition device and processed utilizing one or more machine learning models to identify, track, and extract one or more features of the image utilized in decision making processes for providing steering angle and/or acceleration/deceleration input to one or more vehicle controllers. In some instances, techniques may be employed such that the autonomous and semi-autonomous control of a vehicle may change between vehicle follow and lane follow modes. In some instances, at least a portion of the machine learning model may be updated based on one or more conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KACHE.AI
    Inventors: Eli Riggs, Catherine Culkin