Patents Examined by Isaac G Smith
  • Patent number: 11869111
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering merchandise using autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) in cooperation with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In some embodiments, the system includes: an AGV having a motorized locomotion system, a storage area to hold merchandise, a sensor to detect obstacles, a transceiver, and a control circuit to operate the AGV; a UAV having a motorized flight system, a gripper mechanism to grab merchandise, a transceiver, an optical sensor to capture images; and a control circuit to operate the UAV. In some forms, the system may include a control circuit that instructs movement of the AGV along a delivery route; determines if the AGV has stopped due to an obstacle; and in certain circumstances, instructs the UAV to retrieve merchandise from the AGV, calculates a delivery route for the UAV to the delivery location, and instructs the UAV to deliver the merchandise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Noah R. Kapner
  • Patent number: 11858520
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for estimating a wheel base length (D) of at least one trailer (10) of a vehicle combination (100) comprising a towing vehicle (1), the at least one trailer and more than one articulation joint (A1, A2), wherein the towing vehicle comprises at least one wheel identification sensor (2) for identifying wheels (11, 12, 13) of the at least one trailer, the method comprising the following steps: —(S1) performing a plurality of wheel identification measurements on at least one side of the at least one trailer, by means of the at least one sensor during use of the vehicle combination, —(S2) determining a number of identifiable active wheels on the at least one side of the at least one trailer in each one of the plurality of wheel identification measurements, —(S3) determining a total number of active wheels on the at least one side of the at least one trailer, wherein the total number of active wheels is determined based on at least one of the plurality of wheel identificat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Kollberg, Daniel Persson
  • Patent number: 11858517
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present systems and methods may provide techniques that provide dynamic groups and attribute-based access control (ABAC) model (referred as CV-ABACG) to secure communication, data exchange and resource access in smart vehicles ecosystems. In embodiments, the model not only considers system wide attributes-based security policies, but also takes into account individual user privacy preferences for allowing or denying service notifications, alerts, and operations to on-board resources. Embodiments of the present systems and methods may provide groups in vehicular IoT, which may be dynamically assigned to moving entities like connected cars, based on their current GPS coordinates, speed or other attributes, to ensure relevance of location and time sensitive notification services, to provide administrative benefits to manage large numbers of entities, and to enable attributes inheritance for fine-grained authorization policies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Maanak Gupta, James Benson, Farhan Patwa, Ravinderpal Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11852494
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium and apparatus for restoring navigational performance for a navigational system. The apparatus including a receiver for receiving by a first navigational system and a second navigational system a collection of data points to establish a real-time navigational route for the aircraft, and a computer for comparing navigational performance values or drift ranges. The computer capable of establishing a new navigational route based on the collection of data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventor: Stefan Alexander Schwindt
  • Patent number: 11852495
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing recommendations of safe driving routes that are tailored to the driving habits of particular drivers. A machine learning model (e.g., an artificial neural network) may be trained using data indicative of insurance claim severity, road conditions, and/or vehicle telematics data associated with vehicle-related incidents, such as vehicle collisions. The machine learning model may be trained to identify road types and conditions that are predictive of claim frequency and severity. Any given driving route(s) may be provided to the trained machine learning model, and a risk value may be computed for the route(s). By further applying a personalized driver profile to the calculations of risk, personalized risk values may be computed for the route(s), and a safest route may be recommended to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BlueOwl, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Jason Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11846946
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computerized system for mapping an orchard, and a method for producing precise map and database with high resolution and accuracy of all trees in an orchard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TEVEL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Yaniv Maor
  • Patent number: 11834050
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a control unit for controlling pre-warming process of an engine of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). The method comprises determining start-up time of the engine. The method also comprises determining engine heating time for the engine. The pre-warming process of the engine is initiated prior to start up time of the engine. The process of pre-warming is discontinued when the determined start-up time of the engine is greater than the engine heating time and the process is restarted when the determined start-up time of the engine is less than the engine heating time and when the pre-warming process of the engine is discontinued. The above-mentioned process is reiterated at plurality of time intervals for controlling the pre-warming process of the engine which results in energy efficiency and sufficient heat for warm-up of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ragesh R, Shin Yamauchi, Kengo Kumano, Kazuhiro Oryoji
  • Patent number: 11827217
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second virtual boundaries of a roadway lane based on a predicted boundary between the roadway lane and an adjacent roadway lane, determine a first constraint value based on a first virtual boundary approach acceleration, determine a second constraint value based on a second virtual boundary approach acceleration, output a prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input when one of the constraint values violates a respective threshold, and actuate components to attain the prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input. The first virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of a vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle. The second virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of the vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Mario Anthony Santillo
  • Patent number: 11828609
    Abstract: A vehicle information DB holds information on whether or not a vehicle falls under a welfare vehicle provided with an assistance apparatus for a driver who has a lower limb impairment. A power feed facility DB holds position information of a power feed facility and information indicating whether the power feed facility falls under a contact type power feed facility or a wireless power feed facility. A processing apparatus creates a travel route such that a larger number of wireless power feed facilities are included along the travel route when the vehicle falls under the welfare vehicle than when the vehicle does not fall under the welfare vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Yoshihiro Sakayanagi, Midori Sugiyama, Tomohiro Kaneko, Hirotaka Saito
  • Patent number: 11830369
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV is controlled based on communication via at least two mobile communication networks. Before takeoff, the UAV receives position data describing starting and destination points. A flight plan is set up from the starting point to the destination point by obtaining information about service coverage provided by the two mobile communication networks in a volume between the starting and destination points. A path to be followed by the UAV is calculated at least based on the obtained information. The path defines a restriction volume within which the UAV is allowed to fly from the starting point to the destination point. The path is calculated on the further basis of at least one switching criterion for changing from a communicative connection between the UAV and the first mobile communication network to a communicative connection between the UAV and the second mobile communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Morgan Lindqvist, Remi Robert
  • Patent number: 11823568
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a vehicle using dynamic speed limits. A vehicle can monitor current road conditions by capturing real-time data that is indicative of a driving environment associated with a roadway being traversed by the vehicle. Using the captured real-time data, the vehicle can predict a dynamic speed limit, wherein the dynamic speed limit is a driving speed for the vehicle that is adapted for the monitored current road conditions. Additionally, the vehicle can automatically perform a driving operation for the vehicle in accordance with the dynamic speed limit, wherein the driving operation causes the vehicle to move at a driving speed that is approximately equal to the predicted dynamic speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Emily Lerner, Mathew D. Gardner, Shravanthi Denthumdas
  • Patent number: 11823579
    Abstract: A flight management system is configured to manage the flight of a flight vehicle in communication with a user terminal operated by a user. The flight management system includes a receiver configured to receive from the user terminal the flight application information including the identification information of the flight vehicle, a flight path preferred by the user, and a flight time preferred by the user; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to permit utilization of predetermined radio waves with the flight vehicle to fly along the flight path at the flight time based on the flight application information; and a transmitter configured to transmit the flight information instructing the flight vehicle to fly along the flight path to the flight vehicle identified by the identification information on the condition that the determination unit determines to permit utilization of predetermined radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KDDI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sou Yamazaki, Takaya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11814057
    Abstract: A method for calculating running resistance of a vehicle includes: calculating, by a controller, an integrated value obtained by integrating a torque of a driving source of the vehicle before the vehicle reaches a reference speed after the vehicle starts; and calculating, by the controller, the running resistance of the vehicle including rolling resistance based on the integrated value of the torque of the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Sung Park, Jaebin Lee
  • Patent number: 11815361
    Abstract: A method for generating an occlusion map using crowdsourcing includes receiving occlusion data from a host vehicle. The occlusion data includes a plurality of virtual detection lines each extending from the sensor and intersecting an off-road area. The method further includes marking all non-occluded points that are located inside the off-road area and that are located within a predetermined distance from each plurality of virtual detection lines. The method further includes determining a non-occluded region inside the off-road area using the non-occluded points that have been previously marked inside the off-road area, wherein the non-occluded region is part of non-occlusion data. The method further includes generating an occlusion map using the non-occlusion data. The method further includes transmitting the occlusion map to the host vehicle. The method can also determine an occlusion caused by an elevation peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Syed Bilal Mehdi, Sayyed Rouhollah Jafari Tafti, Michael Alan Losh
  • Patent number: 11815356
    Abstract: A navigation system includes an IMU, a navigation estimator configured to estimate a current navigation solution based on (i) a last navigation solution, and (ii) a specific force vector and a n angular rate vector measured by the IMU, an RI sensor, an RI data preprocessor configured to: perform a priori transformations of last RI data and current RI data to obtain transformed last RI data and transformed current RI data based on the last navigation solution and the current navigation solution, respectively, an RI filter manager (RFM) configured to construct a delta pose registration cost gradient (DPRCG) measurement based on (i) the transformed last RI data, (ii) the transformed current RI data, (iii) the current navigation solution, and (iv) the last navigation solution. The navigation estimator is further configured to determine an absolute navigation solution based on at least (i) the current navigation solution, and (ii) the DPRCG measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno M. Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 11810455
    Abstract: An urban tunnel variable lane dividing line control method, comprising: setting a distance between adjacent infrared detection apparatuses, and arranging a number n of infrared detection apparatuses side by side directly above the center of a lane of an urban tunnel; when a certain infrared detection apparatus in the urban tunnel detects a passing vehicle signal, extending the travelling direction, and if a number a of adjacent infrared detection apparatuses further along the travelling direction do not detect a passing vehicle signal within a time t, determining that the vehicle is a very slow vehicle, and changing a number m of LED indication lights which are fully illuminated to be illuminated at intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jianxiao Ma, Song Fang, Tao Lu
  • Patent number: 11807238
    Abstract: A driving assistance system for a vehicle includes a reception unit that is configured so as to receive surroundings data of the vehicle, an evaluation unit that is configured, based on the surroundings data, so as to determine a traffic density in a surrounding area of the vehicle, and a determination unit that is configured so as to establish a confidence for the traffic density determined by the evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sonila Dobi, Jan-Ullrich Schamburek
  • Patent number: 11800827
    Abstract: A precision steering computer installed on a tractor uses waypoints generated by a hand-held smart-device to steer a tractor. The smart-device is the operators primary interface and is a component of the entire precision agriculture guidance system. The batched, time ordered waypoints represent a list of coordinates for steering the tractor. As the tractor is automatically steered in the field, the waypoints are consumed and discarded by the real-time steering computer in the order they are received from the non-real-time smart device. A planned path is generated by the tractor operator on the smart device and the tractors progress and status are displayed on the same smart-device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Kreider, Mark Alan Villela, Michael Brett McMickell, Luke Andrew McBeath
  • Patent number: 11796325
    Abstract: This document describes vehicle localization using map and vision data. For example, this document describes a localization system that obtains a map centerline point and a vision centerline point of a lane of a roadway. The localization system also obtains the position of the vehicle. The localization system can then compare the map centerline point and the vision centerline point to generate a lateral and a longitudinal correction relative to the vehicle's position. The lateral and longitudinal corrections are used to generate a corrected position. In this way, the described localization system can provide accurate vehicle localization that addresses potential drift caused by lapsed or inaccurate positioning data and allows for the operation of assisted-driving and autonomous-driving systems at higher speeds and on roadways with tighter curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Steven G. Malson, James Nicholas Nickolaou
  • Patent number: 11794781
    Abstract: An autonomous controller, a system including the same, and a method thereof include a processor that detects a target object attempting to cut in at a low speed during autonomous driving and that performs response control. The controller, system, and method include a storage storing data and an algorithm for detecting the target object and performing the response control. The processor calculates a final distance value on the basis of a point tracking a distance between a host vehicle and the target object and compares the final distance value with a predetermined threshold to determine whether the target object cuts in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ha Choi, Bhimsen Joshi, Sripad Jangam