Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for cleaning one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle (AV) system. For example, the system includes a tank to store a solvent. A heat exchanger is disposed in the tank to transfer heat from a heated fluid to the solvent. A first actuator is provided to enable and disable fluid communication of the heated fluid from a coolant system to the heat exchanger. A nozzle is in fluid communication with the tank to spray the solvent on a sensor of an autonomous vehicle (AV) system to remove debris. A controller is programmed to control the first actuator to enable the fluid communication of the heated fluid to the heat exchanger to increase at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the solvent within the tank.
Abstract: Systems/methods for object detection. The methods comprise: obtaining, by a computing device, a LiDAR dataset generated by a LiDAR system of the autonomous vehicle; and using, by a computing device, the LiDAR dataset and at least one image to detect an object that is in proximity to the autonomous vehicle. The object is detected by: generating a pruned LiDAR dataset by reducing a total number of points contained in the LiDAR dataset; and detecting the object in a point cloud defined by the pruned LiDAR dataset. The object detection may be used by the computing device to facilitate at least one autonomous driving operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Arsenii Saranin, Basel Alghanem, G Peter K. Carr, Jason Ziglar, Benjamin Ballard
Abstract: Systems and methods may coordinate and provide bidirectional energy transfer events between electrified vehicles and other devices or structures, such as for supporting transient loads associated with the devices/structures. Battery life information and driving habit information may be leveraged for selecting an appropriate energy transfer strategy for any given vehicle, traction battery pack, structure, and/or grid power source condition. The proposed systems/methods may thereby align grid demand charge strategies to each vehicle's battery life, thereby preserving the life/warranty and asset utilization of the traction battery pack over the entire usage life of the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 3, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Stuart C. Salter, Ryan O'Gorman, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone
Abstract: Performing validation of road usage charging (RUC) systems is provided. A hardware processor of a vehicle receives, from an HMI of the vehicle, input to enter into a testing mode in which a test of RUC functionality of the vehicle is to be performed. In the testing mode, RUC charges are computed for a route from a start location to an end location, based on map and fees information for the test. One or more reports of the charges are generated for verification of the RUC functionality, the charges being verifiable based on the route and the map and fees information being defined for the test.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 22, 2022
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Ivan Vukovic, Krishna Bandi, Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda, Syed Amaar Ahmad, Joseph Zane
Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a steering wheel assembly comprising a steering column, a steering wheel and an actuator configured to move the steering handle amongst a plurality of positions, and at least one sensor for sensing a user proximate to the vehicle and generating sensed data based on the sensed user. The vehicle also includes a controller determining one or more characteristics of the user from the sensed data and controlling the actuator to actuate the steering wheel to one of the plurality of positions based on the determined one or more characteristics of the user.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2022
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Taras Palczynski, Erik William Soderlind, James Robert Chascsa, II, Lucretia Williams
Abstract: Systems and methods for object detection. The methods include, by a computing device: obtaining a plurality of intensity values denoting at least a difference in a first location of at least one object in a first image and a second location of the at least one object in a second image; converting the intensity values to 3D position values; inputting the 3D position values into a classifier algorithm to obtain classifications for data points of a 3D point cloud (each of the classifications comprising a foreground classification or a background classification); and using the classifications to detect at least one object which is located in a foreground or a background.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 3, 2023
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Xiaoyan Hu, Lingyuan Wang, Michael Happold, Jason Ziglar
Abstract: A controller, during charging of a traction battery by a remote charger, and responsive to a difference between a requested charge current and a current supplied by the remote charger exceeding a first threshold value for a predefined period of time, increases a requested charge voltage to a limit value. The controller further, responsive to a voltage across a capacitor and a voltage across the traction battery being same, and a voltage of the remote charger and the limit value being same, commands the remote charger to discontinue the charging.
Abstract: A plurality of localization data sources accessible on a vehicle network in a vehicle can be identified. A plurality of active vehicle applications that request localization data provided by one or more of the localization data sources can be identified. Based on the active vehicle applications, a plurality of the localization data sources to be combined to output a vehicle location can be selected.
Abstract: Systems and methods for complementary control of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. A primary controller provides a first plurality of instructions to an AV platform for operating the AV in an autonomous mode along a planned path based on sensor data from a primary sensor system and a secondary sensor system, and provides information that includes a fallback monitoring region to a complementary controller. The complementary controller receives sensor data from the secondary sensor system that includes sensed data for a fallback monitoring region, analyzes the received sensor data to determine whether a collision is imminent with an object detected in the fallback monitoring region, and cause the AV platform to initiate a collision mitigation action if a collision is determined to be imminent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Michael Happold, Ryan Skaff, Derek Hartl
Abstract: Exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles may include an enclosure assembly that houses one or more battery internal components. One or more brackets may be used to mount each of the battery internal components within the enclosure assembly. Each bracket may include at least one attachment point for securing the bracket to the enclosure assembly and at least two attachment points for securing the bracket to a support structure of the battery internal component. Fasteners may be received through the brackets and then into either the enclosure assembly or the support structure in order to mount the battery internal component inside the battery packs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 25, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Juan Carlos Leal Rodriguez, Suma Rani Das
Abstract: Coordinated control systems and methods of controlling an actual process are provided. The coordinated control systems and methods of controlling an actual process utilize a nonlinear dynamic model, where measured disturbing variables are incorporated into the nonlinear dynamic model, and predictive controller calculations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
John Roberts Parrish, Donald Alexander Morrow, Jr., Mark Louis Nelson
Abstract: Embodiments are directed to catalyst systems comprising a metal-ligand complex procatalyst, a Lewis base, and an activator, wherein the activator comprises an anion and a cation, the anion having a structure according to formula (I).
Abstract: A vehicle charger optimization system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver configured to receive charging information from a vehicle. The charging information may include a real-time charging rate at which the vehicle may be getting charged using a charger. The system may further include a memory configured to store a projected charging rate associated with the charger. The system may further include a processor configured to obtain the projected charging rate and the real-time charging rate and calculate a first difference between the projected charging rate and the real-time charging rate. The processor may determine that the first difference is greater than a first predefined threshold, and perform a predetermined action based on a determination that the first difference is greater than the first predefined threshold. The predefined action may include transmitting a maintenance flag to a server or a third-party entity that manages the charger.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2023
Publication date:
July 25, 2024
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ali Hassani, Alexandra Taylor, John Robert Van Wiemeersch