Patents Examined by Jason Holloway
  • Patent number: 11347239
    Abstract: Methods for utilizing virtual boundaries with robotic devices are presented including: positioning a boundary component having a receiver pair to receive a first robotic device signal substantially simultaneously by each receiver of the receiver pair from a robotic device only when the robotic device is positioned along a virtual boundary; operating the robotic device to move automatically within an area co-located with the virtual boundary; transmitting the first robotic device signal by the robotic device; and receiving the first robotic device signal by the receiver pair thereby indicating that the robotic device is positioned along the virtual boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11338802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control system and a control method capable of appropriately supporting driving of a motorcycle by a rider. The control system includes an execution unit that causes the motorcycle to execute an automatic decelerating operation in a case where an obstacle is located in a predetermined range where a collision avoiding operation of the motorcycle is required, a lane position information acquiring unit that acquires relative position information of a lane boundary with respect to the motorcycle during traveling, and a detection angle range setting unit that set a detection angle range of a forward environment detecting device to be wide in a case where a determination reference is satisfied, in which the determination reference includes a condition that the lane position information acquired by the lane position information acquiring unit satisfies a prescribed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lars Pfau
  • Patent number: 11340630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for robotic mapping are disclosed. In some example implementations, an automated device can travel in an environment. From travelling in the environment, the automated device can create a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node corresponds to a scan taken by one or more sensors of the automated device at a location in the environment. In some example embodiments, the automated device can reevaluate its travel along a desired path if it encounters objects or obstructions along its path, whether those objects or obstructions are present in the front, rare or side of the automated device. In some example embodiments, the automated device uses a timestamp methodology to maneuver around its environment that provides faster processing and less usage of memory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Brain Corporation
    Inventors: Jayram Moorkanikara Nageswaran, Oleg Sinyavskiy, Borja Ibarz Gabardos
  • Patent number: 11332137
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle controller communicating over a first communication system with actuators for changing the state of vehicle systems. A signal module communicates with the vehicle controller via the first communication system. One or more signal sources communicate with the signal module via a second communication system, and transmit signals to the signal module. Based on one or more signals and one or more user inputs, the signal module generates and transmits control signals to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller actuates the actuator based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Cheyne, Christopher Shultz
  • Patent number: 11325592
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for operation of a vehicle using multiple motion constraints. The techniques include identifying an object using one or more processors of a vehicle. The vehicle has a likelihood of collision with the object that is greater than a threshold. The processors generate multiple motion constraints for operating the vehicle. At least one motion constraint includes a minimum speed of the vehicle greater than zero to avoid a collision of the vehicle with the object. The processors identify one or more motion constraints for operating the vehicle to avoid a collision of the vehicle with the object. The processors operate the vehicle in accordance with the identified motion constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MOTIONAL AD LLC
    Inventors: Tichakorn Wongpiromsarn, Scott D. Pendleton
  • Patent number: 11318932
    Abstract: A vehicle driving controller, a system including the same, and a method thereof are provided. The vehicle driving controller includes a processor configured to apply a different warning level depending on at least one of a driving situation or a user state during autonomous driving and to provide a notification of a control authority transition demand to a user and a storage configured to store information associated with the driving situation and the user state and information associated with the different warning level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Su Jung Yoo, Dong Hwi Lee, Jin Su Jeong, Jae Yong Jeon
  • Patent number: 11312019
    Abstract: A method for calibration of work piece mounted in a predetermined manner to a work object and a robot system using the same. The work object has a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, and wherein the work object frame of reference is defined by a first coordinate line, a second coordinate line, and a third coordinate line at intersections of the first surface, the second surface and the third surface converging on a point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Jiajing Tan, Hao Gu, Jinsong Li, Yan Xu, Shaojie Cheng, Lei Mao
  • Patent number: 11298821
    Abstract: System and methods for generating a trajectory of a dynamical system are described herein. An example method includes modelling a policy from demonstration data. The method also includes generating a first set of action particles by sampling from the policy, where each of the action particles in the first set includes a respective system action, predicting a respective outcome of the dynamical system in response to each of the action particles in the first set, and weighting each of the action particles in the first set according to a respective probability of achieving a desired outcome. The method further includes generating a second set of action particles by sampling from the weighted action particles, where each of the action particles in the second set includes a respective system action, and selecting a next system action in the trajectory of the dynamical system from the action particles in the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Yu Sun, Yongqiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11292128
    Abstract: Method for programming a force to be applied by a working end of a robot, along at least part of a preprogrammed path of the working end, the method comprising the steps of: —moving the working end of the robot over the said at least part of the preprogrammed path, the driving of the robot being feedback-controlled in order to keep the working end in position without a force setpoint, —at least at one position during the movement, having an operator apply to the working end a force which is the opposite of that which is to be applied during the task and which has an intensity proportionate to that which is to be applied during the task, —determining the force that is to be applied during the task from the resistive force exerted by the robot in order to keep the working end on the path, —storing in memory the force thus determined in relation to the position of the working end while the opposing force is being applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Yvan Measson, Xavier Lamy
  • Patent number: 11279404
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a two-track vehicle may include a steering handle, in the case of whose rotary actuation the steerable vehicle wheels can be turned by a wheel steering angle, and a control device to electrically actuate a steering actuator for setting the wheel steering angle was a function of driving operational parameters and independently of the steering handle and a clutch that provides a releasable mechanical steering connection between the steering handle and the steerable vehicle wheels. An automatic avoidance manoeuvre may be carried out in the case of a risk of collision, in which the control device fully releases the clutch, and the control device actuates the steering actuator such that the vehicle briefly leaves its driving lane and is then brought back into the driving lane. The control device also actuates a braking of the steering handle during the collision avoidance manoeuvre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: AUDI AG, THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Loos, Daniel Kreutz, Arne Schacht
  • Patent number: 11260902
    Abstract: A turning control device includes: a steering angular displacement calculation unit configured to, when a third steering angle that is either a first steering angle of a turning mechanism or a second steering angle of a steering mechanism, is in an angular range from a maximum angle to a threshold steering angle, calculate a steering angular displacement of the third steering angle with the threshold steering angle used as a reference; a steering angle correction value calculation unit configured to calculate a steering angle correction value according to at least the steering angular displacement; a steering angle correction value limiting unit configured to limit the steering angle correction value according to at least a steering state, the third steering angle, and angular velocity thereof; a corrected target steering angle calculation unit configured to correct the target steering angle of the turning mechanism with a limited steering angle correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Sakaguchi, Tetsuya Kitazume, Shoya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11247724
    Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to receive a vehicle path from a server computer and verify the vehicle path based on vehicle dynamics and vehicle constraints. The instruction can include further instructions to, when the vehicle path is verified as correct, operating the vehicle on the vehicle path and, when the vehicle path is verified as incorrect, stopping the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Linjun Zhang, Lu Xu, Codrin Cionca, Juan Enrique Castorena Martinez
  • Patent number: 11247337
    Abstract: Robots for moving relative to a surface, robotic systems including the same, and associated methods are disclosed. A robot includes a body, at least two legs, and at least two feet. Each leg has a proximal end region operatively coupled to the body at a respective body joint with one rotational degree of freedom and a distal end region operatively coupled to a respective foot at a respective foot joint comprising two rotational degrees of freedom. Each foot is configured to be translated relative to the surface with two degrees of translational freedom. Robotic systems include one or more robots and a surface along which the one or more robots are positioned to move. Methods of operating robots and of operating robotic systems include translating at least one foot of a robot to operatively move the body of the robot with six degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Martin A. Szarski, David Michael Bain
  • Patent number: 11247344
    Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for mitigating slip of a robot appendage. In one aspect, a method for mitigating slip of a robot appendage includes (i) receiving an input from one or more sensors, (ii) determining, based on the received input, an appendage position of the robot appendage, (iii) determining a filter position for the robot appendage, (iv) determining a distance between the appendage position and the filter position, (v) determining, based on the distance, a force to apply to the robot appendage, (vi) causing one or more actuators to apply the force to the robot appendage, (vii) determining whether the distance is greater than a threshold distance, and (viii) responsive to determining that the distance is greater than the threshold distance, the control system adjusting the filter position to a position, which is the threshold distance from the appendage position, for use in a next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Berard, Alex Yu Khripin, Benjamin Swilling
  • Patent number: 11220259
    Abstract: A controller receives outputs from a plurality of sensors such as a camera, LIDAR sensor, RADAR sensor, and ultrasound sensor, which may be rearward facing. A probability is updated each time a feature in a sensor output indicates presence of an object. The probability may be updated as a function of a variance of the sensor providing the output and a distance to the feature. Where the variance of a sensor is directional, directional probabilities may be updated according to these variances and the distance to the feature. If the probability meets a threshold condition, actions may be taken such as a perceptible alert or automatic braking. The probability may be decayed in the absence of detection of objects. Increasing or decreasing trends in the probability may be amplified by further increasing or decreasing the probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sneha Kadetotad, Jinesh J Jain, Vidya Nariyambut Murali, Dongran Liu, Marcos Paul Gerardo Castro, Adil Nizam Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 11222546
    Abstract: An on-board computing apparatus and associated methods that process aircraft data gathered from aircraft, such as during flight of these aircraft, to pair aircraft during at least portions of a flight route. This enables collaborative airspace management. In certain cases, paired aircraft may be controlled to fly in formation, e.g. flown to maintain a defined separation distance within two- or three-dimensional space over a given period of time. Formation flying in this manner, with pairs of lead and follower aircraft, can allow a follower aircraft to take advantage of a vortex generated by the lead aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus SAS
    Inventors: Tanushree Garai, Srushti Virdhe, Akshay Bansal
  • Patent number: 11214246
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes: an assistor configured to perform an avoidance assistance control when there is a target to avoid, ahead of a vehicle, to avoid a collision between the vehicle and the target; a predictor configured to predict that a deceleration operation of the vehicle will be performed, on the basis of a deceleration factor, which is different from the target and which is located in surroundings of the vehicle, when there is the target ahead of the vehicle; and a changer configured in such a manner that when it is predicted that the deceleration operation will be performed, the changer performs at least one of a process of reducing an assistance amount associated with the avoidance assistance control and a process of delaying start timing of the avoidance assistance control, in comparison with those when it is not predicted that the deceleration operation will be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Doi, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11208099
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle traveling controller that performs emergency evacuation traveling in the case of an emergency for proper traveling control. The vehicle traveling controller determines whether the vehicle traveling in accordance with a normal traveling rule is not dangerous and becomes proper traveling or not on the basis of environmental information around a vehicle (S18), when it is determined that the vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule becomes proper traveling, executes normal traveling control for instructing the vehicle to travel in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S20), and when vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule does not become proper traveling, executes emergency evacuation traveling control for instructing the vehicle to perform emergency evacuation traveling which is not in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kindo, Kazuaki Aso, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11203350
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes first and second control apparatus for controlling a vehicle and a power supply. Each apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a surrounding situation of the vehicle, and a driving control unit for executing automated driving control. The power supply includes a first power supply for supplying power to the first control apparatus, and a second power supply for supplying power to the second control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Ochida, Takuji Hiroma, Tadahiko Kanoh, Kanta Tsuji, Takashi Tsujioka, Takuyuki Mukai
  • Patent number: 11194347
    Abstract: A system for localizing a swarm of robotic platforms utilizing ranging sensors. The swarm is localized by purposely leaving some of the platforms of the swarm stationary, providing localization to the moving ones. The platforms in the swarm can alternate between a stationary and moving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Robotic Research, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy, Joseph Putney, Anne Rachel Schneider