Patents Examined by Garrett F Evans
  • Patent number: 11533845
    Abstract: An apparatus is presented that receives first and second parameters including first parameters from plural harvesting machines, determines a batch unload for a specified quantity of material to unload from each of the harvesting machines, requests permission to receive the batch unload from one of the harvesting machines, and communicates a control signal to trigger the requested batch unload from the one of the harvesting machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jared J Koch, Joshua Ekholm
  • Patent number: 11532237
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for design of a suite of multispectral (MS) sensors and processing of enhanced data streams produced by the sensors for autonomous aircraft flight. The onboard suite of MS sensors is specifically configured to sense and use a MS variety of sensor-tuned objects, either strategically placed objects and/or surveyed and sensor significant existing objects to determine a position and verify position accuracy. The received MS sensor data enables an autonomous aircraft object identification and positioning system to correlate MS sensor data output with a-priori information stored onboard to determine and verify position and trajectory of the autonomous aircraft. Once position and trajectory are known, the object identification and positioning system commands the autonomous aircraft flight management system and autopilot control of the autonomous aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Eric N. Anderson, Weston J. Lahr, Geoffrey A. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 11519733
    Abstract: A method for autonomous mower navigation includes performing a training operation for an area including identifying a GPS signal associated with a training apparatus, iteratively recording data associated geolocations of the training apparatus as the training apparatus moves along a trajectory through the area, smoothing the geolocation data associated with the trajectory, and storing the smoothed geolocation data. The method can include subsequent to the training operation, performing a greens association process including establishing a link between the autonomous mower and an RTK-GPS base, receiving by the autonomous mower correction data from the RTK-GPS base, and determining an approach angle to a work area, wherein the path the autonomous mower travels to the work zone is defined by the approach angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventor: Her-Jye Chang
  • Patent number: 11514804
    Abstract: Combined taxi signage may be generated from taxi signage for a first origination node and taxi signage for a second origination node, the first origination node and the second origination node being of a select proximity and orientation relative to an aircraft. The taxi signage for the first origination node may be generated from the first origination node and at least a first termination node stored within an airport surface routing network data, and a first turning angle determined based on a comparison between the first origination node and the at least the first termination node. The taxi signage for the second origination node may be generated from the second origination node and at least a second termination node stored within the airport surface routing network data, and a second turning angle determined based on a comparison between the second origination node and the at least the second termination node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcin Kolesinski, Roger L. Yum
  • Patent number: 11491996
    Abstract: A plurality of thermal areas (11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d) of different thermal environments are formed in a room (11). When it is determined that a person (13) riding on a movable object (20) is feeling uncomfortable in the thermal area (11d), the movable object (20) is remotely operated to move toward the thermal area (11a) where the person (13) feels comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Satou, Masanori Ohsawa, Yu Ota
  • Patent number: 11490071
    Abstract: Provided is a method for three-dimensional imaging a plant in an indoor agricultural environment having an ambient light power spectrum that differs from a power spectrum of natural outdoor light. The method comprises directing a spatially separated stereo pair of cameras at a scene including the plant, illuminating the scene with a non-uniform pattern provided by a light projector utilizing light in a frequency band having a lower than average ambient intensity in the indoor agricultural environment, filtering light entering image sensors of each of the cameras with filters which selectively pass light in the frequency band utilized by the light projector, capturing an image of the scene with each of the cameras to obtain first and second camera images, and generating a depth map including a depth value corresponding to each pixel in the first camera image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: AppHarvest Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan R. Knopf, Joshua Aaron Lessing, Michele Pratusevich, Jason A. Chrisos, Shreyas Aditya
  • Patent number: 11472444
    Abstract: The method for dynamically updating an environmental representation of an autonomous agent can include: receiving a set of inputs S210; generating an environmental representation S220; and updating the environmental representation S230. Additionally or alternatively, the method S200 can include providing the environmental representation to a planning module S240 and/or any other suitable processes. The method S200 functions to generate and/or dynamically update an environmental representation to facilitate control of an autonomous agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: May Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Goeddel, Collin Johnson, Melinda Kothbauer, Jeff Sterniak, Tom Voorheis, Edwin B. Olson
  • Patent number: 11468773
    Abstract: Techniques described herein are directed to classifying lanes in an environment of a vehicle for, for example, performing lane handling. In an example, system(s) of a vehicle can determine a signal indicative of a presence of the vehicle in a lane of a drivable surface in an environment within which the vehicle is located. The system(s) can determine, based at least in part on the signal, a classification of the lane as at least one of occupied (an object is at least partially in the lane), unoccupied (no object in the lane), and/or established (e.g., where an object has established a priority in the lane). The system(s) can control the vehicle based at least in part on the classification of the lane to improve safety in scenarios, for example, including merging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Caldwell, William Anthony Silva, Matthew Van Heukelom
  • Patent number: 11449839
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for an industry-wide and predictive approach to maintenance of commercial equipment. In one embodiment, multiple instances of a frontend infrastructure can be deployed to various sites where one or more physical parameters of industrial equipment are monitored with wireless sensors and routed to a backend infrastructure. The backend infrastructure can process the sensor data received from the multiple sites and generate predictive maintenance notifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Isaac McKelvy, Ryan Junee Chan, Ismail Ahmed Elshareef
  • Patent number: 11447151
    Abstract: Advanced automotive active-safety systems, in general, and autonomous vehicles, in particular, rely heavily on visual data to classify and localize objects, most notably pedestrians and other nearby cars, to assist the corresponding vehicles maneuver safely in their environment. However, the performance of object detection methods is anticipated to degrade under challenging rainy conditions. Nevertheless, and despite major advancements in the development of deraining approaches, the impact of rain on object detection has largely been understudied, especially in the context of autonomous systems. This disclosure analyzes this problem space and presents an improved system for detecting objects under rainy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hayder Radha, Mazin Hnewa, Jon Diedrich, Mark Gehrke
  • Patent number: 11423788
    Abstract: A flight deck system for an aircraft includes a display device for providing a graphical interface for displaying flight-related information including a plurality of windows to an operator. The display device is configured for displaying the plurality of windows within a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions can each have a predefined shape and orientation on the display screen according to a regular grid layout. A touch interface is coordinated with the display device for receiving touch information from the operator and allowing the operator to interact with the graphical interface. A processor is communicatively coupled with the touch interface device and operatively coupled with the display device. The processor can be configured to dynamically recreate a selected window of flight-related information within one or more of the plurality of regions corresponding to an operator-selected icon. In such embodiments, the operator can operate the graphical interface through direct touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor M. Bushong, Joseph L. Komer, David E. Larson
  • Patent number: 11405761
    Abstract: An infrastructure to vehicle communications system includes a full spectrum camera disposed on a vehicle. A sign, disposed away from the vehicle, includes a message thereon. The sign reflecting visible light, and at least a portion of the message being an optical code; the optical code not reflecting visible light and reflecting invisible light. The full spectrum camera captures the image of the sign including the optical code. A smart vision device receives the image and determines the existence of the sign from the reflected visible light and the optical code thereon from the reflected invisible light. A data base stores one or more optical codes and one or more messages associated with a respective optical code, an on board unit communicating with the database and retrieves the message as a function of the optical code, and displays the message at a display in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CONNECTED WISE LLC
    Inventor: Enes Karaaslan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11391267
    Abstract: A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Gunnar K. Storgaard Pedersen, Christian Skov Frederiksen, Anton Bech, Gerner Larsen, Ivar J. B. K. Jensen, Klaus Lynge Petersen
  • Patent number: 11358621
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
  • Patent number: 11348451
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining a navigation route based on the location of a vehicle and generating a recommendation for a vehicle maneuver. The method may comprise determining, based on sensor data received from a location sensor of a mobile device or a vehicle, a location of the vehicle. A computing device may determine a navigation route for navigating the vehicle from the location to a destination, and the navigation route may comprise a plurality of intersections. The computing device may determine a plurality of potential maneuvers at a first intersection of the plurality of intersections. The computing device may also determine, based on one or more factors, a navigation score for each of the plurality of potential maneuvers at the first intersection. Based on the navigation score for each of the plurality of potential maneuvers, the computing device may select a maneuver from the plurality of potential maneuvers to recommend for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Regina Madigan, Timothy W. Gibson, Howard Hayes, Surender Kumar
  • Patent number: 11345482
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computing system for receiving a current operating value concerning an operating condition of an aircraft; rendering the current operating value within a magnified operating window of a glass cockpit of the aircraft; and locating the magnified operating window along a fixed range of operating values for the aircraft based, at least in part, upon the current operating value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MILTON ACADEMY
    Inventors: Daming Cui, Noah Shane Fuller, Sarah Ting-Ting Hsu, Patrick Jiacheng Huang, Max Hui, Bradley Moriarty
  • Patent number: 11340079
    Abstract: Provided is a wheeled device, including: a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; one or more electric motors to rotate the set of wheels; a network card for wireless connection to the internet; a plurality of sensors; a processor electronically coupled to the plurality of sensors; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with at least one exteroceptive sensor, measurement readings of the environment; and estimating, with the processor using a statistical ensemble of simulated positions of the wheeled device and the measurement readings, a corrected position of the wheeled device to replace a last known position of the wheeled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang, Brian Highfill, Amin Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11340093
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining map data associated with a map of a geographic location including one or more roadways, the map including a first submap represented by a first local Euclidean space and a second submap represented by a second local Euclidean space. A route that includes a first roadway in the first submap and a second roadway in the second submap is determined using a first projection between a global coordinate system and the first local Euclidean space and a second projection between the global coordinate system and the second local Euclidean space. The route is provided to an autonomous vehicle (AV) for driving on the first roadway and the second roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Adam Henry Polk Milstein
  • Patent number: 11320822
    Abstract: An unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment includes a vehicle body, a moving mechanism, and an operation control device. The vehicle body is combinable with a transport object. The moving mechanism causes the vehicle body to be moved. The operation control device controls an operation of the moving mechanism. The operation control device includes a pseudo-reference position setter, a path acquirer, an operation command generator, and a driving controller. The pseudo-reference position setter sets a pseudo-reference position serving as an operation reference position of a combination structure of the vehicle body and the transport object to be different from a vehicle body reference position that is an operation reference position of the vehicle body. The path acquirer acquires a movement path from a current position of the combination structure to a target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takafumi Sonoura, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11321852
    Abstract: A method for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects, includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the target object using a 3D model. A spatial position and orientation of the target object is first determined using an artificial neural network, thereafter the tracking algorithm is initialized with a result of this determination. A method for training an artificial neural network for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object by a scanning method, and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the using a 3D model of the target object. The artificial neural network is trained using training data to initially determine a spatial position and orientation of the target object and thereafter initialize the tracking algorithm with a result of this initial determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Jena-Optronik GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Schmitt, Johannes Both, Florian Kolb