Patents Assigned to Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
  • Patent number: 11948454
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling at least one of a traffic infrastructure device, an actuator of a traffic participant based on enhanced traffic data is provided. The method comprises steps of monitoring, by a trigger processor, an area; generating, by the trigger processor, trigger data in case a trigger event is determined in the monitored area and providing the generated trigger data indicating an area-of-interest to an image data source; obtaining image data on the area-of-interest based on the transmitted trigger data and transmitting the obtained image data to a traffic evaluation processor; evaluating, by the traffic evaluation processor, the obtained image data to generate enhanced traffic data on the area-of-interest; and outputting, by the traffic evaluation processor, the generated enhanced traffic data in a control signal, wherein the control signal is configured to control the traffic infrastructure device and/or the actuator of the traffic participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Benedict Flade, Nils Einecke
  • Publication number: 20240095853
    Abstract: A method for mitigating effects of a shipment time delay of intermediate products and materials in a manufacturing process comprises, in a training phase, obtaining historical supplier data of the intermediate products and materials, obtaining process parameters of the manufacturing process that are observable for the manufacturing process, and obtaining external data that are independent from the manufacturing process. The method applies a machine learning algorithm to generate a model for predicting a time delay risk in the manufacturing process based on the historical supplier data, the process parameters of the manufacturing process and the external data, and records the generated model in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Patricia Wollstadt, May Markusic, Lydia Fischer, Stefan Menzel
  • Publication number: 20240091932
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for learning operators for planning a behavior of an autonomous device. The method includes obtaining a set of training data including observations of a plurality of skills executable by the autonomous device in an interaction with at least one entity for addressing a first task, obtaining a predetermined set of data defining a hierarchy of entities including the at least one entity, learning a set of individual skills based on the obtained set of training data, generating a set of generalized skills by generalizing the learned set of individual skills based on the predetermined set of data that defining a hierarchy of entities, performing behavior planning of the autonomous device for addressing a second task different from the first task based on the generalized set of skills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Tanneberg, Michael Gienger
  • Patent number: 11878418
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one effector trajectory of an effector of a robot for solving a predefined task is proposed. A sequence of postures are acquired to modify at least one of a contact constraint topology and an object constraint topology. A set of constraint equations are generated based on at least one of the modified contact constraint topology and the modified object constraint topology. On the generated set of constraint equations, a constraint relaxation is performed to generate a task description including a set of relaxed constraint equations. The at least one effector trajectory is generated by applying a trajectory generation algorithm on the task description. An inverse kinematics algorithm is performed to generate a control signal from the at least one effector trajectory. At least one effector is controlled to execute the at least one effector trajectory based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gienger
  • Publication number: 20230347522
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one autonomous device which is one of at least two agents that cooperatively perform a common task in a common environment is provided. The method comprises: obtaining variables on a current state of each agent in the common environment, and obtaining a further variable on a current state of the common environment that describes a distance of the current state of the agents to a common goal state or a task success; determining a quantitative measure for cooperative behaviour of the agents that quantifies an extent to which a mutual support or an adaption in joint cooperative actions towards the common goal state increases a joint action space of the agents; optimizing a joint behaviour of the agents using the quantitative measure based on the obtained variables to determine an action of the autonomous device; and outputting a control signal for controlling the action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Patricia Wollstadt, Christiane Wiebel-Herboth
  • Publication number: 20230343225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for evaluating a mission of a mobile entity. The system comprises a means for obtaining information on a planned trajectory, the mobile entity, mission requirements, environment and public body rules, a means for transforming the information into a symbolic, probabilistic representation to generate a probabilistic logic program, wherein facts are extracted from the information and systematically designated with names within the probabilistic logic program, and a means for generating an answer to the a probabilistic logic query based on the probabilistic logic program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Benedict Flade, Tim Puphal, Simon Kohaut
  • Publication number: 20230342635
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided. The method calculates an importance score for each agent of the at least one other agent based on the acquired sensor data and the acquired position and motion data, generates a list comprising the at least one other agent based on the calculated importance scores of the at least one other agent, partitions the generated list in at least one partition based on the importance score of the at least one other agent, and generates a prediction result by predicting a behavior of the at least one other agent included in the at least one partition based on the sensor data and the position and motion data using a selected behavior prediction model. The selected behavior prediction model is selected from a plurality of behavior prediction models based on the importance score of the at least one agent included in the at least one partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Puphal, Julian Eggert
  • Patent number: 11787055
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling at least one effector trajectory for at least one effector of a robot for solving a predefined task are proposed. A graph of postures is acquired, and at least one of a contact constraint topology and an object constraint topology are accordingly modified. A set of constraint equations based on at least one of the modified contact constraint topology and the modified object constraint topology are generated. Constraint relaxation is performed on the generated set of constraint equations to generate a task description including the relaxed set of constraint equations. The effector trajectory is generated by applying a trajectory generation algorithm on the generated task description. An inverse kinematics algorithm is performed on the generated effector trajectory for generating a control signal, and the effector is controlled to execute the effector trajectory based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gienger
  • Patent number: 11784961
    Abstract: A method and corresponding system for improving an interaction process in a social network for a user with at least one other person is provided. The method comprises a step of, in a training phase, acquiring sensor data on at least a user state and interaction data on a social interaction of a human person with the at least one other person. The acquired sensor data and the interaction data is then analyzed in order to generate classifier data from the acquired sensor data and the acquired interaction data. In a subsequent application phase, the method acquires current sensor data on at least the user state of the at least one other person, predicts an interaction score for the user based on the acquired current sensor data and the classifier data, and generates an interaction identifier for the user for an interaction with the at least one other person in the social network based on the predicted interaction score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Sproutel Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Weisswange, Jens Schmüdderich, Aaron Horowitz, Joel Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11778941
    Abstract: A system comprising an autonomous mobile device and a base station connected to a boundary wire is configured to transmit information from the base station to the autonomous mobile device. The base station is configured to generate a radio signal to be emitted by the boundary wire, wherein the autonomous mobile device is configured to autonomously drive within a working area based on the signal emitted by the boundary wire. The base station on the other hand is configured to encode data and/or commands into the radio signal which is then emitted by the boundary wire. The autonomous mobile device receive the emitted radio signal and is configured to decode the encoded data and/or commands in order to retrieve the original information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Nils Einecke, Sven Rebhan
  • Patent number: 11752623
    Abstract: A method and simulation system for controlling at least one effector trajectory for solving a predefined task by at least one virtual effector. The method includes acquiring a sequence of postures to modify at least one of a contact constraint topology and an object constraint topology, generating a set of constraint equations based on at least one of the modified contact constraint topology and the modified object constraint topology, performing constraint relaxation on the generated set of constraint equations to generate a task description including the relaxed set of constraint equations, generating the effector trajectory by applying a trajectory generation algorithm on the generated task description, performing an inverse kinematics algorithm on the generated effector trajectory for generating a control signal, outputting the control signal to an output device, and generating, by the output device, image information displaying the effector trajectory of the virtual effector based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gienger
  • Publication number: 20230196290
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing a design of a physical object comprises: obtaining a data representation of the design of the physical object, including a plurality of elements, determining plural element clusters comprising a plurality of elements and estimating a cost model for the physical object. The method determines derivatives of the cost model with respect to a material density of each cluster. At least one analytical derivative of a performance metric for each element is computed. The design is optimized by iteratively performing: varying the material density of at least one element based on the analytical derivative and the estimated derivatives of the cost model, estimating the cost using the cost model based on the data representation with varied material density. The method generates and outputs a signal comprising the optimized data representation in case a termination criterion has been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicants: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariusz Bujny, Hung Lin, Nathan Zurbrugg, Duane Detwiler, Stefan Menzel
  • Publication number: 20230195969
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method obtains a dataset including design data samples, each sample representing a design variation of the physical object and including design features, each design feature included in a description space. The method determines concept candidates from the obtained dataset based on at least a feature value similarity of the design features, each concept candidate including a data sample group, for generating concept candidate configurations. The method calculates a metric for said configurations which defines a quality of the generated configurations and evaluates the design features of different description spaces, and evaluates said configurations based on the calculated metric to generate concepts. One or more representative data sample for each concept is determined based on at least one criterion. The determined representative data samples are output. A design process for the physical object based on the output representative data samples for each concept is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Lanfermann, Sebastian Schmitt, Stefan Menzel
  • Patent number: 11679782
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting operation of an ego-vehicle in the traffic situation with shared traffic space is provided, in which a future path for the ego-vehicle and a future path for another traffic participant and a relevant path corridor for each determine future path is determined. Based thereon, an overlap of the path corridors to define a shared traffic space is determined and individual distance measures between the ego-vehicle and the shared traffic space and between the other traffic participant and the shared traffic space are calculated to determine an asymmetry. Based on the asymmetry an order is determined and (partially) automated in accordance with trajectory determined based on the order, or information on the intended passing order is provided to the ego-vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Raphael Wenzel, Malte Probst, Tim Puphal, Thomas Weisswange
  • Patent number: 11670156
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for reminding a person to perform an activity. The system comprise a robot configured to carry out different behaviors, wherein the activity and its corresponding trigger condition are set by a user and the system selects, from the different behaviors, a first behavior assigned to the activity, senses the person, determines, based on the sensors information, whether or not the activity is performed by the person in accordance with the trigger condition. The robot carries out the selected behavior if the activity is not performed by the person in accordance with the trigger condition, wherein after or during the selected behavior is carried out, an activity of the person is determined based on the information derived from the sensors to select a second behavior from the different behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Sproutel Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Weisswange, Jens Schmüdderich, Aaron Horowitz, Joel Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20230116198
    Abstract: A method for assisting a person to perform a task in a dynamic environment comprises a step of acquiring data on the dynamic environment, and of predicting at least one behavior of an object or event in the dynamic environment based on the acquired data. The method proceeds by determining a relevance measure of the at least one behavior of the object or event based on the prediction. Then a modulation signal is generated, wherein the modulation signal changes at least one signal parameter as a function of the determined relevance. The modulation signal is then used to modulate at least one directional stimulus signal, wherein the at least one modulated directional stimulus signal further depends on a direction of the predicted at least one behavior of the object or event with respect to the assisted person. The at least one modulated stimulus signal is then output to the assisted person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicants: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matti Krüger, Masayuki Sato, Tsuyoshi Nojiri, Takahiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11580364
    Abstract: A method of unsupervised learning of a metric representation and a corresponding system for a mobile device determines a metric position information for a mobile device from an environmental representation. The mobile device comprises at least one sensor for acquiring sensor data and an odometer system configured to acquire displacement data of the mobile device. An environmental representation is generated based on the acquired sensor data by applying an unsupervised learning algorithm. The mobile device moves along a trajectory and the displacement data and the sensor data are acquired while the mobile device is moving along the trajectory. A set of mapping parameters is calculated based on the environmental representation and the displacement data. A metric position estimation is determined based on a further environmental representation and the calculated set of mapping parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Franzius, Benjamin Metka, Ute Bauer-Wersing
  • Patent number: 11565714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining a posture of an operator of a device that transmits vibrations to the operator, wherein the system comprises at least one vibration sensor for measuring vibrations at at least one location on the body of the operator and/or the device, and a posture determining means for detecting one or more characteristics of the measured vibrations assigned to a predetermined posture and for determining the predetermined posture as the posture of the operator when the characteristic is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Marius Hofmann, Herbert Janssen, Hermann Winner
  • Publication number: 20220327443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for scheduling charging of electric vehicles by an electric vehicle charging system, wherein charging objectives to be considered in generating a charging schedule for one or more charging stations of the charging system are obtained, a hierarchy of the charging objectives is determined and the charging schedule is generated by performing a lexicographic optimization based on the hierarchy of the charging objectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Limmer
  • Publication number: 20220314443
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one effector trajectory of an effector of a robot for solving a predefined task is proposed. A sequence of postures are acquired to modify at least one of a contact constraint topology and an object constraint topology. A set of constraint equations are generated based on at least one of the modified contact constraint topology and the modified object constraint topology. On the generated set of constraint equations, a constraint relaxation is performed to generate a task description including a set of relaxed constraint equations. The at least one effector trajectory is generated by applying a trajectory generation algorithm on the task description. An inverse kinematics algorithm is performed to generate a control signal from the at least one effector trajectory. At least one effector is controlled to execute the at least one effector trajectory based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gienger