Patents Examined by Ana D Thomas
  • Patent number: 11772757
    Abstract: A boat anchor monitoring system is disclosed and includes a status indicator and an anchor module that are operable to communicate with a base module. The anchor module includes a transmitter operable to transmit a signal containing a data payload on a set schedule. The base module on the boat is operable to determine if the signal strength exceeds, or is equal to a predetermined threshold value, in order to direct the status indicator to either display the anchor in a “Deployed” or “Not Deployed” position. The system may further include a time measurement component or water contact sensor that will direct the indicator to display the anchor in a deployed position if sufficient time has elapsed with no signal or the anchor module has contacted water. The system is also configured to prevent ignition if the anchor is determined to be deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Seltzer, Granvil Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 11767011
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) is described herein. The AV is configured to identify an occluded region where a portion of a field of view of a sensor is occluded by an object. The AV is further configured to hypothesize that an object exists in the occluded region and is moving in the occluded region. The AV is still further configured to perform a driving maneuver based upon the hypothesized object existing in the occluded region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Shiva Ghose, Daniel Chen, Ted Nitz, Christophe Philippona, Curt Harrington, Christopher Daily-Diamond, Mason Swofford, Ryan Holben, Eric Lujan, Benjamin Greer, Francesco Capodieci
  • Patent number: 11768079
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising identifying at least one of a characteristic and an identity of an item for delivery from an origin to a destination; identifying a plurality of possible routes between the origin and the destination using mapping information, the mapping information including for each of the plurality of possible routes, a characterization of each of a plurality of route segments comprising the possible route; evaluating the plurality of possible routes in view of the identified at least one of the item characteristic and the item identity to select one of the plurality of possible routes; and providing the selected one of the plurality of possible routes to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle delivers the item from the origin to the destination via the identified route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Galliano, III, Arun A. Mathews, Charlotte Blanc, Pratik Palnitkar
  • Patent number: 11768495
    Abstract: The invention provides a computer-implemented method of planning a path for a mobile robot such as an autonomous vehicle in the presence of K obstacles. The method uses, for each of the K obstacles, a shape Bk and a density function pk(x) representing the probabilistic position of the obstacle. The method repeats the following steps for at least two different paths A: —choosing a path A, where A is the swept area of the robot within a given time interval; and—calculating based on the density function of each obstacle and the swept path an upper bound on the total probability of at least one collision FD between the robot and the K obstacles. This allows a number of candidate paths to be ranked for safety. By precomputing factors of the computational steps over K obstacles, the computation per path is O(N), and not O(NK). A safety threshold can be used to filter out paths below that threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Five AI Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Blake, Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Svetlin-Valentinov Penkov, Majd Hawasly, Francisco Maria Girbal Eiras, Alejandro Bordallo Mico, Alexandre Oliveira E. Silva
  • Patent number: 11760343
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus performs automatic braking control when an execution condition is satisfied, in a case where a lap rate of the obstacle is a threshold lap rate or more. Furthermore, the vehicle control apparatus performs automatic steering control when the execution condition is satisfied, in a case where the lap rate is less than the threshold lap rate and furthermore an avoidance area in which the vehicle can avoid a collision with the obstacle without traveling out of a self-lane and passage of the vehicle is not blocked by a passage inhibition object. The vehicle control apparatus performs the automatic braking control when a special condition including a condition that the execution condition is satisfied at least is satisfied, if the passage inhibition object exists, in a case where the lap rate is less than the threshold lap rate and furthermore the avoidance area does not exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuhei Miyamoto, Kohei Morotomi, Tooru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11760344
    Abstract: Collision avoidance assist apparatus comprises an object information acquiring apparatus for acquiring, as object information, information on a three-dimensional object as well as dividing lines defining a travelling lane in front of a vehicle, and a control unit configured to, when a collision possibility with a three-dimensional object is high, identify this object as a target object. When one of the dividing lines has been detected without any discontinuation in a predetermined region as well as a part of an other dividing line has not been detected therein, if the control unit determines, based on the object information, that a second condition which is satisfied when the target object is positioned on the other dividing line and is moving in a same direction as an extending direction is satisfied and an avoidance route exists, the control unit performs automatic steering control so that the vehicle travels along the avoidance route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Morotomi, Yuto Shimbo
  • Patent number: 11752881
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving an operator-input vehicle control command with an associated torque request, and identifying any propulsion actuator constraints that limit a brake torque capacity available from the vehicle powertrain. Using the propulsion actuator constraint(s) and torque request, the controller determines a propulsion brake torque distribution for the vehicle's road wheels and a maximum brake torque capacity for the powertrain actuator(s). A first brake torque request is determined using the propulsion brake torque distribution and a vehicle control mode of the powertrain system, and a second brake torque request is determined using the maximum brake torque capacity and the vehicle control mode. A friction brake torque command is determined by arbitrating between the first and second brake torque requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Otanez, Yiran Hu, Nathaniel S. Michaluk, Krunal P. Patel, Adam J. Heisel, Kevin J. Storch, Jacob M. Knueven, Matthew Yard
  • Patent number: 11738742
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a recognizer configured to recognize a surrounding environment of a vehicle, a setter configured to set a first risk area in a surrounding area of the vehicle on the basis of a recognition result of the recognizer, and a controller configured to control at least one of a speed and steering of the vehicle. The setter sets the first risk area so that the first risk area includes an area between the moving object and a first end of a crosswalk where the moving object is scheduled to arrive in the crosswalk when the moving object is entering the crosswalk which is provided in front of the vehicle and where the vehicle is scheduled to pass on the basis of the recognition result of the recognizer. The controller prevents the vehicle from entering the first risk area when a first predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Misa Komuro, Yosuke Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11731661
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle are disclosed. The methods comprise: generating, by a computing device, a vehicle trajectory for the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion; detecting an object within a given distance from the vehicle; generating at least one possible object trajectory for the object which was detected; performing a collision check to determine whether a collision between the vehicle and the object can be avoided based on the vehicle trajectory and the at least one possible object trajectory; performing a plausibility check to determine whether the collision is plausible based on content of a map, when a determination is made in the collision check that a collision between the vehicle and the object cannot be avoided; and performing operations to selectively cause the vehicle to perform an emergency maneuver based on results of the plausibility check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ARGO AI, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Costa, Mark Ollis, Brett Browning, Thomas Petroff
  • Patent number: 11733710
    Abstract: A method, network device, and non-transitory storage medium are described, in which a device receives input from an entity that is authorized to select parameters associated with issuing remote control commands to multiple autonomous vehicles operated in a geographic service area; generates an autonomous vehicle control token based on selected parameters; and transmits the autonomous vehicle control token via a plurality of multicast bearers associated with multiple base stations of the geographic service area in a wireless network, to the multiple autonomous vehicles over a same multicast channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lisewski, Arvind Basra, Glenna Colaprete Hudson
  • Patent number: 11724717
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention enable an ADV to dynamically adjust its behaviors to emulate behaviors of a vehicle operated by a human driver when the ADV encounters an obstacle. A dynamic cost function can be used to collect real-time values of a set of parameters, and use the real-time values to constantly adjust a preferred safety distance where the ADV can be stopped ahead of the obstacle. An method includes determining a first distance to the obstacle in response to detecting an obstacle ahead of the ADV; and for each of a number of iterations, collecting a real-time value for each of a set of parameters, determining an offset to the first distance using the real-time value for each of the set of parameters, calculating a second distance based on the first distance and the offset, and controlling the ADV in view of the second distance using an expected value of each of the set of parameters, such that the ADV can stop at a point having the second distance to the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Xu, Fan Zhu, Yu Dong, Lin Ma
  • Patent number: 11719546
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for probabilistic navigation planning. An exemplary probabilistic navigation method may comprise: obtaining a map of an environment comprising one or more first objects each associated with a probability model; obtaining one or more global factors and local factors to update the probability models, wherein the global factors apply to all of the first objects and the local factors apply to a portion of the first objects; and determining a navigation for a second object through at least a part of the environment based at least on minimizing a total collision probability with the first objects along the navigation according to the updated probability models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zafar Takhirov
  • Patent number: 11713054
    Abstract: An autonomous driving device is configured to switch a driving mode, and includes a destination setting type autonomous driving mode in which a vehicle is made to travel to a destination and a following road autonomous driving mode in which, when a destination is not set, the vehicle is made to travel along a road. The autonomous driving device includes a display unit and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the display unit is made to display a traveling route along a following road traveling route, make the display unit display a traveling route from a current position of the vehicle to a nearest branch road in front in a moving direction along the following road traveling route and a moving direction on the nearest branch road along the following road traveling route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Bunyo Okumura
  • Patent number: 11713063
    Abstract: A method for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes responding to a request to de-lift a lift mechanism by reducing pressure in an actuator coupled to the lift mechanism, where the lift mechanism is configured to transfer a load from a first axle to a second axle of the vehicle during the de-lift, and during the de-lift, maintaining the pressure in the actuator at or above a threshold pressure to maintain tension in a weight transfer device of the lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jingjun Zhang, Bret D. Worden, Ibrahim Kacar, John Frederick
  • Patent number: 11710243
    Abstract: A method for predicting a direction of movement of a target object, a method for training a neural network, a smart vehicle control method, a device, an electronic apparatus, a computer readable storage medium, and a computer program. The method for predicting a direction of movement of a target object comprises: acquiring an apparent orientation of a target object in an image captured by a camera device, and acquiring a relative position relationship of the target object in the image and the camera device in three-dimensional space (S100); and determining, according to the apparent orientation of the target object and the relative position relationship, a direction of movement of the target object relative to a traveling direction of the camera device (S110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: SENSETIME GROUP LIMITED, HONDA MOTOR CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Shu Zhang, Zhaohui Yang, Jiaman Li, Xingyu Zeng
  • Patent number: 11702140
    Abstract: A system and method for reliably determining lanes of a roadway includes an optical sensing arrangement for sensing metallic striping from photoelectric effect. The location of the striping that defines a border of a traffic lane is determined and the location of the striping is displayed on a graphical user interface. The location can be used to provide lane control to ensure the vehicle maintains proper position in a traffic lane, lane warning assistance, collision avoidance, parking control, and guidance for autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Corneille
  • Patent number: 11702069
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for preventing a vehicle collision. The apparatus includes a communication unit wirelessly communicating with a surrounding vehicle, a sensing unit detecting the surrounding vehicle and a lane, a traveling control module configured to control steering or braking of an ego vehicle, and a controller configured to determine whether the ego vehicle can perform steering avoidance driving toward a neighboring lane, through the sensing unit, based on information on a driving mode of a vehicle ahead received through the communication unit, if it is checked through the communication unit that a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead is in a stop state and to control the ego vehicle to perform the steering avoidance driving toward the neighboring lane or to urgently brake through the traveling control module, based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung Myung Lee
  • Patent number: 11702019
    Abstract: A damper interface device (DID) includes a microcontroller including a memory and a processor, at least one algorithm stored to the memory, and a DID connector configured to connect the microcontroller to a vehicle network without having to modify the wiring system of the vehicle. The algorithm is configured to receive network messages from the vehicle network via the DID connector, where the network messages include an input message directed to a suspension controller. The algorithm is executed by the processor to identify the input message as directed to the suspension controller, parse the input message for response requirements, determine contents of a response to the input message, where the contents of the response emulate a response of the suspension controller, and generate a response message including the contents of the response. The microcontroller is configured to output the response message to the vehicle network via the DID connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Off-Road Research LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sawarynski, Jr., Daniel S. Collins
  • Patent number: 11685389
    Abstract: The invention is a modular vehicle that is intended for a variety of operations including both military and civilian operations. The vehicle addresses the issue of performing special purpose tasks that the vehicle is asked to do. Such tasks can be accomplished by configuring the vehicle as an ambulance, as a fire-fighting vehicle, as a communications van, as a command and control vehicle, etc. Thus, the vehicle is readily adapted using standardized and customized modules that are readily attached to a standardized platform that includes an appropriate interconnection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MINDS, LLC
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, W. Daniel Hillis
  • Patent number: 11679749
    Abstract: A system for brake inspection of vehicle for checking a brake performance of the vehicle in which brake fluid is injected in a vehicle factory includes a communication unit connecting the vehicle entered through the conveyor and the diagnostic communication, a specification determination unit that collects specification information of the vehicle and determines whether to apply an electronic stability control (ESC) device, a specification determination unit that collects specification information of the vehicle and determines whether to apply an electronic stability control (ESC) device, and an inspector consisting of a control unit that determines that the ESC pressure value measured by the forced driving of the ESC exceeds the set reference value, and determines that the brake pressure is normal (OK), and determines that the ESC pressure is abnormal (NG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Won Yoon, Jeongwoo Kim, Hyunmin Choi, Kyung Joo Cho, Beomkyo Lee