Patents Examined by Anne Marie Antonucci
  • Patent number: 11760380
    Abstract: In a vehicle control system, a control unit executes a stop process by which the vehicle is parked in a prescribed stop position when it is detected that the control unit or the driver has become incapable of properly maintaining a traveling state of the vehicle, and, in the stop process, if a sidewalk or a road sign is recognized ahead of the vehicle according to a signal from an external environment recognition device, the control unit determines the stop position according to the recognized sidewalk or road sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanta Tsuji, Tadashi Naruse, Daichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11755008
    Abstract: An apparatus for traversing a vehicle transportation network by an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a human-autonomy teaming manager. The manager includes a first processor configured to initiate a dialogue associated with a predefined dynamic task sequence that is responsive to a condition experienced by the AV while traversing from a starting location to an ending location within the vehicle transportation network. The sequence is one of a plurality of predefined dynamic task sequences that uses multiple agents to resolve the condition. The manager receives, from an interface accessible to a human agent, an input responsive to the dialogue. The input confirms the sequence as a selected predefined dynamic task sequence or selects an other of the plurality of predefined dynamic task sequences as the selected predefined dynamic task sequence. The manager delegates tasks of the selected predefined dynamic task sequence to resolve the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laura Cesafsky, Astha Vagadia, Hillary Abraham, Sparsh Sharma, Stefan Witwicki, Najamuddin Mirza Baig, Omar Bentahar
  • Patent number: 11755039
    Abstract: A server device transmits an instruction for causing a plurality of flying bodies to perform flight operation to the flying bodies. The flight operation includes a step in which a first flying body urges a penetrating tool toward an object placed in a predetermined space and flies out of the predetermined space while holding a first part and a second part of a string member attached to the penetrating tool, the first part having penetrated the object and the second part not having penetrated the object, a step in which a second flying body receives either the first or second part from the first flying body, and a step in which the first and second flying bodies transport the object while towing the object with the string member as the first and second flying bodies fly while respectively holding one or the other of the first and second parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Nishimura, Shin Sakurada, Soutaro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11755009
    Abstract: A transport system transports a transported object using an autonomously moveable mobile robot. The transport system stores management information including a use start time, a use end time, and a use location for each equipment to be lent that is transported as the transported object by the mobile robot. The transport system executes a determination process for determining whether an interval from the use end time to a next use start time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time for each equipment based on the management information. The transport system transports the equipment to its storage location after an end of use of the equipment when the interval is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, and transports the equipment to a next use location of the equipment after the end of the use of the equipment when the interval is shorter than the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro Oda, Tetsuya Taira, Satoshi Toyoshima, Yuta Watanabe, Takeshi Matsui, Takayoshi Nasu, Kei Yoshikawa, Yusuke Ota, Yutaro Ishida, Yuji Onuma, Kyosuke Arai
  • Patent number: 11755553
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus receives a route response comprising an encoded route and one or more delay encoding data structures. The delay encoding data structures are probabilistic data structures configured to not provide false negatives. The mobile apparatus determines a decoded route based on the encoded route and a mobile version of a digital map; determines an expected traffic delay for at least one adjacent traversable map element (TME) of the decoded route based on the one or more delay encoding data structures; and performs one or more navigation functions based at least on the expected traffic delay for the at least one adjacent segment of the decoded route. An adjacent TME is a TME of the digital map that intersects the decoded route and is not a TME of the decoded route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Raul Cajias, Daniel Rolf
  • Patent number: 11753045
    Abstract: Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure relate to modeling of positional uncertainty of moving objects using precomputed polygons, for example, for the purposes of computing autonomous vehicle (AV) trajectories. An example method includes: receiving, by a data processing system of an AV, data descriptive of an agent state of an object; generating a polygon representative of the agent state; identifying extreme vertices of the polygon along a longitudinal axis parallel to a heading direction of the object or along a lateral axis orthogonal to the heading direction; and applying, based on the extreme vertices, at least one expansion transformation to the polygon along the longitudinal axis or the lateral axis to generate a precomputed polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Dong Li, Victor Puchkarev
  • Patent number: 11754725
    Abstract: A vehicle location and control system determines a signal-derived separation distance between antennas disposed onboard a vehicle based on signals received by the antennas from an off-board source. The system determines an input-derived separation distance between the antennas based on input offset distances of the antennas from a designated location on the vehicle, determines a difference between the input-derived separation distance and the signal-derived separation distance, and activates or deactivates an automated route identification system that determines which route of several different routes that the vehicle is disposed upon based on the difference that is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Brett Trombo-Somerville, Matthew Vrba
  • Patent number: 11755040
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus that enables a flying object to safely pass another flying object includes a detection unit configured to detect, in a predetermined range from a flying object, another flying object. A specifying unit is configured to specify a moving direction of the detected other flying object. A judging unit is configured to judge, based on the specified moving direction, whether or not passing is possible. A determination unit is configured to determine, based on a relationship between the flying object and the other flying object, content of a passing operation to be performed with respect to the other flying object. A flight control unit is configured to, if it is judged that passing is possible, control flight of the flying object and perform the passing operation according to the determined content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11753040
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicle methods and systems are described herein for communicating with an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to remotely control operation of the vehicle, to detect and remove unauthorized passengers, to deliver loads, to receive registration information for the vehicle, to provide accessibility information to the vehicle, and/or to receive sensor or other environmental data to integrate with an electronic game or other extended reality experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan Gammelgard, Justin Davis
  • Patent number: 11747807
    Abstract: The control device is configured to control an aerial vehicle that carries a carrying object and includes a sensor capable of measuring a ground surface temperature during flight. The control device acquires a ground surface temperature in an area where the carrying object is planned to be released, the ground surface temperature being measured by the sensor. And then, the control unit performs control regarding release of the carrying object in accordance with the ground surface temperature in the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Tazume
  • Patent number: 11747803
    Abstract: A remote control station includes an operator interface for remotely controlling at least one work operation. The operator interface includes at least one control device and an indication system having a first symbol associated with a plurality of control patterns of the at least one control device. The operator interface further includes a display device configured to display a plurality of control patterns thereon. Each of the plurality of control patterns includes a second symbol substantially similar to the first symbol. The remote control station also includes a controller configured to store the plurality of control patterns associated with the at least one control device. The controller is configured to receive an input signal from the operator interface for activation of one of the plurality of control patterns and transmit an output signal for performing the at least one work operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Granstrom, Justin Peters, Timothy J. Felty
  • Patent number: 11745733
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes circuitry for controlling a vehicle. The circuitry is configured to search for a stop location where the vehicle is to stop, on a basis of road shoulder region information, generate an evacuation path on a basis of road information to the stop location, and guide the vehicle to the stop location from a first travel lane adjacent to a road shoulder region. The circuitry is further configured to calculate a collision risk of collision with an on-road obstacle. When the collision risk is a predetermined degree or higher, the circuitry is to interrupt the guidance, otherwise the circuitry is to guide the vehicle to enter the stop location and stop the vehicle at the stop location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Tsuji, Akira Funakubo, Koji Kagami, Hitoshi Fukuba
  • Patent number: 11745870
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for surveillance with security camera drone. In some implementations, a determination is made to begin surveillance of an in-house service with a drone. A duration of the in-house service is determined. A location to land the drone during the in-house service is determined based on the duration of the in-house service. Landing of the drone is initiated at the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Ilja Nevdahs, Agris Kipurs
  • Patent number: 11738775
    Abstract: In some implementations, a route selection system obtains a first scheduled time for a first event at a venue for a passenger of an autonomous vehicle. The system determines whether the autonomous vehicle will arrive at the venue by the first scheduled time. The system obtains, in response to a determination that the autonomous vehicle will not arrive at the venue by the first scheduled time, a second scheduled time for a second event at the venue. The system determines a route to the venue based on one or more preferences of the passenger, one or more preferences of an operator of the autonomous vehicle, or any combination thereof, wherein the determined route is configured for arrival of the passenger at the venue after the first scheduled time and at or within a time period before the second scheduled time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Franco Taveira, Damir Didjusto, Michael Joshua Shomin
  • Patent number: 11740097
    Abstract: A method of managing smell sensibility according to a route of a moving object includes checking a planned travel route of the moving object, determining whether a bad-smell area is included in the planned travel route, determining whether a bad-smell level of the bad-smell area is equal to or greater than an unpleasantness level of a user of the moving object when the bad-smell area is included, and performing a suppression process for blocking introduction of a bad smell into the moving object when the bad-smell level is equal to or greater than the unpleasantness level of the user and maintaining the planned travel route when the bad-smell level is less than the unpleasantness level of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Jun Ha, Young Jun Moon, Tae Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11738804
    Abstract: A system can train a vehicle electronically to accommodate a driver. The system can train the vehicle to accommodate the ability, condition, and/or personality of the driver. The system can change the controls of the vehicle, responsive to the inputs from the driver, to match with the patterns of controls resulting from a predetermined model (such as a safe-driver model). Accordingly, the vehicle can appear as it is being driven by a safe driver when it may not be the case. A driver with a lower driving competence may apply physical controls in a pattern that may be slow, unstable, or insufficient. However, the vehicle can be trained to adjust the transformation from the UI signals to the drive-by-wire signals such that the transformed signals appear to be applied by a more competent driver on the road. And, the transformation can improve over time with training via machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Junichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11738776
    Abstract: An apparatus and method performed by a perception comparing system of a vehicle for perception performance evaluation of an ADAS or ADS. The perception comparing system establishes communication with a secondary vehicle determined and/or estimated to be positioned within a potential range of surrounding detecting sensors on-board the vehicle. The system derives perception data from a perception system of the ADAS or ADS. The system receives secondary perception data from a secondary perception system of a secondary ADAS or ADS of the secondary vehicle and determines a discrepancy output based on comparison of at least a portion of the both of perception data and the secondary perception data. The system communicates acknowledgement data when at least a portion of the discrepancy output fulfils discrepancy exceedance criteria and/or when the vehicle is perceivable in the secondary perception data but the secondary vehicle not is locatable in the perception data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Zenuity AB
    Inventors: Magnus Gyllenhammar, Majid Khorsand Vakilzadeh, Carl Zandén, Andreas Valencia Falkovén
  • Patent number: 11733059
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of generating low bandwidth map format agnostic routes between origins and destinations for route communication between different map formats or versions using reduced bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Raul Cajias, Daniel Rolf, David Falla Cepeda
  • Patent number: 11731657
    Abstract: A system comprises an autonomous vehicle (AV) and a control device operably coupled with the AV. The control device detects a series of events within a threshold period of time, where a number of series of events in the series of events is above a threshold number. The series of events taken in the aggregate within the threshold period of time deviates from a normalcy mode. The normalcy mode comprises events that are expected to the encountered by the AV. The control device determines whether the series of events corresponds to a malicious event, where the malicious event indicates tampering with the AV. In response to determining that the series of events corresponds to the malicious event, the series of events are escalated to be addressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventor: Riad I. Hammoud
  • Patent number: 11733360
    Abstract: A time of flight (ToF) system comprises three photoemitters, a photosensor, and a controller. The first photoemitter transmits light onto objects at first height, the second photoemitter onto objects at second, lower height, and the third photoemitter onto objects at third, lowest height. The controller causes one of the photoemitters to transmit modulated light and the photosensor to receive reflections from the scene. The controller determines a depth map for the corresponding height based on phase differences between the transmitted and reflected light. In some examples, the ToF system is included in an autonomous robot's navigation system. The navigation system identifies overhanging objects at the robot's top from the depth map at the first height, obstacles in the navigation route from the depth map at the second height, and cliffs and drop-offs in the ground surface in front of the robot from the depth map at the third height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yichang Wang, Karthik Rajagopal Ganapathy, Raja Reddy Patukuri