Patents Assigned to Pony.ai, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11827243
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for implementing automated vehicle safety response measures to ensure continued safe automated vehicle operation for a limited period of time after a vehicle component or vehicle system that supports an automated vehicle driving function fails. When a critical vehicle component/system such as a vehicle computing platform fails, the vehicle is likely no longer capable of performing calculations required to safely operate and navigate the vehicle in an autonomous manner, or at a minimum, is no longer able to ensure the accuracy of such calculations. In such a scenario, the automated vehicle safety response measures disclosed herein can ensure—despite failure of the vehicle component/system—continued safe automated operation of the vehicle for a limited period of time in order to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Bokai Chen, Qi Wang, Daniel Yang
  • Patent number: 11809318
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for memory address encoding of multi-dimensional data in a manner that optimizes the storage and access of such data in linear data storage. The multi-dimensional data may be spatial-temporal data that includes two or more spatial dimensions and a time dimension. An improved memory architecture is provided that includes an address encoder that takes a multi-dimensional coordinate as input and produces a linear physical memory address. The address encoder encodes the multi-dimensional data such that two multi-dimensional coordinates close to one another in multi-dimensional space are likely to be stored in close proximity to one another in linear data storage. In this manner, the number of main memory accesses, and thus, overall memory access latency is reduced, particularly in connection with real-world applications in which the respective probabilities of moving along any given dimension are very close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Yubo Zhang, Pingfan Meng
  • Patent number: 11808858
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for constructing and utilizing vehicle field-of-view (FOV) information. The FOV information can be utilized in connection with vehicle localization such as localization of an autonomous vehicle (AV), sensor data fusion, or the like. A customized computing machine can be provided that is configured to construct and utilize the FOV information. The customized computing machine can utilize the FOV information, and more specifically, FOV semantics data included therein to manage various data and execution patterns relating to processing performed in connection with operation of an AV such as, for example, data prefetch operations, reordering of sensor data input streams, and allocation of data processing among multiple processing cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Pingfan Meng, Yubo Zhang, Wei-Yang Chiu, Stephen Lee
  • Patent number: 11804009
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing data conversion on sensor data to obtain modified sensor data that is formatted/structured appropriately for downstream processes that rely on the sensor data as input. The sensor data can include point cloud data captured by a LiDAR, for example. A grid structure and corresponding grid characteristics can be determined and the sensor data can be converted to grid-based sensor data by associating the grid structure and its characteristics with the sensor data. Generating the grid-based sensor data can include reformatting the point cloud data to superimpose the grid structure and its grid characteristics onto the point cloud data. Various downstream processing that cannot feasibly be performed on the raw sensor data can then be performed efficiently on the modified grid-based sensor data by virtue of the grid structure imbuing the sensor data with spatial proximity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Pingfan Meng, Michael Wu, Brian James Rush
  • Patent number: 11787407
    Abstract: An environmental safety system may include first sensors each located at a predetermined physical location of a physical location and with a predetermined orientation. The system may receive first sensor data captured by the plurality of first sensors. The system may also determine values of parameters of an object within a threshold distance of the physical location using the first sensor data. The values of the parameters of the object may be transmitted to a vehicle approaching the physical location. The vehicle may receive second sensor data captured by second sensors in the vehicle. An optimized navigation of the vehicle approaching the physical location may be determined based on the values of the parameters of the object and the second sensor data. A driving action may be provided to the vehicle based on the optimized navigation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventor: George Chu Luo
  • Patent number: 11774978
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a system for training a computer-based autonomous driving model used for an autonomous driving operation by an autonomous vehicle are described. The method includes: creating time-dependent three-dimensional (3D) traffic environment data using at least one of real traffic element data and simulated traffic element data; creating simulated time-dependent 3D traffic environmental data by applying a time-dependent 3D generic adversarial network (GAN) model to the created time-dependent 3D traffic environment data; and training a computer-based autonomous driving model using the simulated time-dependent 3D traffic environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Song, Jun Peng, Nengxiu Deng, Sinan Xiao, Tao Qin, Tiancheng Lou, Tianyi Li, Xiang Yu, Yubo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11751355
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for heat exchange of a vehicle. The system comprises an enclosure disposed on the vehicle. The enclosure comprises a vent at a base of the enclosure. The enclosure houses one or more sensors. The enclosure comprises a fan disposed at a base of the enclosure. The heat exchange system comprises an deflector disposed on the vehicle outside the enclosure and configured to direct an airflow into the vent of the enclosure. The heat exchange system comprises a motor configured to: generate electricity from the airflow and selectively supply electricity to operate the fan. The heat exchange system comprises a controller configured to adjust the deflector and regulate an amount of electricity supplied from the motor to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Diehl, Cheng Jin
  • Patent number: 11740354
    Abstract: Systems and methods of linearizing a signal of a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor are described herein. A system receives a portion of a non-linear chirp signal. The portion of the non-linear chirp signal is sampled at a sampling frequency to generate data points corresponding to the portion of the non-linear chirp signal. A profile of the non-linear chirp signal is generated based on the data points. The non-linear chirp signal is linearized based on the profile of the non-linear chirp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventor: Cyrus F. Abari
  • Patent number: 11733072
    Abstract: A sensor enclosure comprises a cover and a structure. The structure can be encased by the cover. The structure comprises a frame, a ring, and one or more anchoring posts. The frame can be configured to mount one or more sensors. The ring, disposed peripherally to the frame, can be operatively coupled to the cover. The ring can include a drainage ring plate that drains rainwater accumulated on the cover away from the sensor enclosure. The one or more anchoring posts, disposed underneath the frame and the ring, can be used to anchor the sensor enclosure to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongnan Hu, Zuoteng Chen, Nengxiu Deng, Cheng Jin, Kai Chen, Yubo Zhang, Xiang Yu, Tiancheng Lou, Jun Peng
  • Patent number: 11724710
    Abstract: Vehicles, methods, and computer readable storage media are provided for implementing a hybrid control for an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can be controlled by receiving a request from an individual for transportation in the vehicle. The vehicle can then navigate with an autonomous control component to the location of an individual to commence the transportation. Then the vehicle can detect, by one or more sensors, that the individual has entered the vehicle. Then, responsive to detecting that the individual has entered the vehicle, the vehicle can change from an autonomous control component to a hybrid control component wherein the hybrid component control comprises allowing the individual to control one or more vehicle control features that were under autonomous control in autonomous component control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Jialin Jiao, Haojun Wang
  • Patent number: 11726179
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for heat exchange of a vehicle. The system comprises an enclosure disposed on the vehicle. The enclosure comprises a fan disposed at a base of the enclosure, one or more sensors within the enclosure, and a cover on an exterior of the enclosure. The cover comprises a hole pattern to selectively permit an airflow to enter the enclosure. A deflector is disposed on the vehicle outside the enclosure and configured to direct an airflow through the hole pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Diehl, Cheng Jin
  • Patent number: 11726206
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor is described herein. The LiDAR sensor can comprise a fiber optic ending, a laser assembly, and one or more processors. The fiber optic ending can comprise a fiber optic cable terminated by a reflector. The laser assembly can emit a chirp signal to detect an object in an environment. A portion of the chirp signal can be diverted to the fiber optic ending. The one or more processors construct a profile of the chirp signal based on the diverted portion of the chirp signal. The one or more processors determine a best fit curve based on the profile of the chirp signal and one or more parameters associated with the best fit curve. A frequency offset between an emitted chirp signal and a returned chirp signal can be computed based on the best fit curve and the one or more parameters. Based on the frequency offset, the one or more processors can determine a range of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventor: Cyrus F. Abari
  • Patent number: 11715378
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method of a vehicle that detects a signal and reacts to the signal. The system comprises one or more sensors; one or more processors; a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform detecting a signal from a source; determining an intended action of the vehicle based on the detected signal; sending, to the source, a response signal indicative of the intended action; determining whether the source has sent a response to the response signal; and in response to determining that the source has sent a response to the response signal, taking the intended action based on the response to the response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventor: Piaoyang Cui
  • Patent number: 11716542
    Abstract: An adaptive filter system and a method for controlling the adaptive filter system are described herein. The system can includes one or more filters to attenuate incoming light. The one or more filters can be moved by one or more actuators. The method can capture image data from an imaging device through the one or more filters. Information can be determined from the captured image data. The one or more filters can be moved to a position for capturing image data based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Chen, Jun Peng, Tiancheng Lou, Xiang Yu, Zhuo Zhang, Hao Song, Sinan Xiao, Yiming Liu, Tianyi Li
  • Patent number: 11710960
    Abstract: Provided herein is a power distribution system comprising a main power bus, sub-buses coupled to the main power bus, and a controller. The sub-buses provide power to electrical components of a vehicle. Each of the sub-buses includes an electrically programmable fuse in series with a relay. The controller is configured to detect a fault in a sub-bus of the sub-buses, determine a fault type associated with the fault, and in response to determining the fault type, generate a command to cause the relay to change a relay state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Tan, Ran Chen, Bo Pan
  • Patent number: 11693927
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for generating fused sensor data through metadata association. First sensor data captured by a first vehicle sensor and second sensor data captured by a second vehicle sensor are associated with first metadata and second metadata, respectively, to obtain labeled first sensor data and labeled second sensor data. A frame synchronization is performed between the first sensor data and the second sensor data to obtain a set of synchronized frames, where each synchronized frame includes a portion of the first sensor data and a corresponding portion of the second sensor data. For each frame in the set of synchronized frames, a metadata association algorithm is executed on the labeled first sensor data and the labeled second sensor data to generate fused sensor data that identifies associations between the first metadata and the second metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Sheu, Jie Mao, Deling Li
  • Patent number: 11691573
    Abstract: Described herein are aerodynamically enhanced sensor housings. An aerodynamically enhanced sensor housing has an asymmetrical lateral cross-section that includes a first portion having a substantially spherical curvature and a second portion having a non-spherical curvature. The second portion having the non-spherical curvature may be elongated in relation to the first portion. An aerodynamically enhanced housing can also include one or more indentations formed in an exterior surface thereof to further enhance drag reducing characteristics of the housing. In addition, air flow characteristics around the sensor housing during vehicle operation can be assessed and a drag reduction protocol can be generated and implemented to further enhanced the drag reducing characteristics of the sensor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Diehl, Cyrus F. Abari
  • Patent number: 11686836
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system on a vehicle, the system comprising an active Doppler sensor; one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform: obtaining a Doppler signature from each of one or more entities; and determining one or more calibration parameters of the active Doppler sensor based on the Doppler signature from at least a portion of the one or more entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus F. Abari, Harsh Mohan, Haomin Wang, Piaoyang Cui
  • Patent number: 11688179
    Abstract: A system trains a model to infer an intent of an entity. The model includes one or more sensors to obtain frames of data, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform steps. A first step includes determining, in each frame of the frames, one or more bounding regions, each of the bounding regions enclosing an entity. A second step includes identifying a common entity, the common entity being present in bounding regions corresponding to a plurality of the frames. A third step includes associating the common entity across the frames. A fourth step includes training a model to infer an intent of the common entity based on data outside of the bounding regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Sheu, Jie Mao
  • Patent number: D998680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Li Niu, Hanxiao Xie, Bin Han, Zaichang Zhao, Jordan Renovato Bravo