Patents Examined by Matthew J. Reda
  • Patent number: 11180142
    Abstract: A driving support ECU performs a following-travel steering control. The driving support ECU selects an other vehicle which is present on a traveling course of the own vehicle as a target candidate vehicle. When a specific condition is satisfied, the driving support ECU determines a preceding vehicle traveling on a traveling trajectory which has been generated up to a present time point as a following-travel steering target vehicle. When the specific condition is not satisfied, the driving support ECU determines the target candidate vehicle which has been selected in the present calculation timing as the following-travel steering target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirohito Ide
  • Patent number: 11167744
    Abstract: Presented are model predictive control (MPC) systems, methods, and devices for regulating operation of hybrid powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes a controller determining path plan data, including a vehicle origin, destination, and predicted path. Based on this path plan data, the controller estimates vehicle velocities for multiple rolling road segments of the predicted path and, based on the estimated velocities, determines an estimated power request—transmission input torque and/or vehicle axle torque—for each road segment. The controller calculates a minimum cost function such that total fuel consumption to generate the engine power output is minimized. Minimizing the cost function is subject to battery pack current limits and state of charge (SOC) terminal costs at the ends of the rolling road segments. Command signals are sent to the engine and motor to output engine and motor torque based on the calculated minimum cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Yuxing Liu, Marcello Canova
  • Patent number: 11170584
    Abstract: An automatic fault isolation and diagnosis system includes a cloud-based data system having multiple machine-readable troubleshooting procedures stored therein. A vehicle fault code is generated by one of multiple vehicle control devices of a vehicle platform. The fault code defines an issue with at least one system or component of the vehicle platform. A data transfer device within the vehicle platform receives the fault code and forwards the fault code to the cloud-based data system. The fault code is received and analyzed in the cloud-based data system to initially determine if the fault code is directed to and can be automatically corrected by one of the stored machine-readable troubleshooting procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Issa Aljanabi, Xinyu Du
  • Patent number: 11163317
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shared autonomy through cooperative sensing are described. According to one embodiment, a cooperative sensing system includes a rendezvous module that receives broadcast messages from a plurality of cooperating vehicles on the roadway. The rendezvous module also selects a subordinate vehicle from the plurality of cooperating vehicles based on the autonomy level of the subordinate vehicle as compared to an autonomy level of a principal vehicle. The cooperative sensing system also includes a positioning module that determines a cooperative position of the principal vehicle and the subordinate vehicle. The cooperative sensing system further includes a negotiation module that receives at least one cooperating parameter from the subordinate vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Paritosh Kelkar, Xue Bai, Samer Rajab, Hasan Tafish
  • Patent number: 11131548
    Abstract: A device can determine a set of parameters associated with generating a route plan for routing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. The set of parameters can include a parameter that identifies a radio frequency (RF) condition to be satisfied by the route plan. The device can determine a route, associated with the 3D environment, based on the parameter that identifies the RF condition and using an RF model. The RF model can be associated with predicting RF conditions in the 3D environment. The device can generate the route plan including information associated with the route. The device can provide information associated with the route plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Weisbrod, Joshua J. Crans, Corey J. Christopherson, Donna L. Polehn
  • Patent number: 11124266
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a human-powered vehicle component including at least one of a motor assisting in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle and a transmission changing a first ratio of a rotational speed of a drive wheel to a rotational speed of a crank of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller controls the human-powered vehicle component in a first control state and a second control state differing from the first control state. The electronic controller changes the first control state to the second control state upon determining a value related to a first change rate of an inclination angle of the human-powered vehicle is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value in the first control state. The inclination angle of the human-powered vehicle includes at least one of a yaw angle and a roll angle of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11124236
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus, including a lane-keeping assist apparatus configured to apply an auxiliary steering torque to a steering mechanism mounted on a vehicle so that the vehicle runs at a predetermined position between lane lines, an operating member configured to be operated by an operator of the vehicle to output an activation signal for activating the lane-keeping assist apparatus, a determining unit configured to determine whether operation of the lane-keeping assist apparatus is necessary, and an outputting unit configured to output at least one of a notify signal for prompting the operator to operate the operating member and the activation signal, when the operating member is inoperative and it is determined that operation of the lane-keeping assist apparatus is necessary by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 11119487
    Abstract: A system and method for automated preparation of deliveries in delivery vehicles using automated guided vehicles is described. In an example implementation, the method may determine a future delivery in a set of deliveries assigned to a delivery vehicle, the future delivery including a first item and determine a storage location in the delivery vehicle of the first item. In some implementations, an AGV may, during transit of the delivery vehicle along a route for delivering the set of deliveries, navigate to a point proximate to the storage location of the first item in the delivery vehicle, and retrieve the first item from the storage location in the delivery vehicle. The AGV may then deliver the first item to a delivery point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Staples, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jarvis, Paolo Gerli Amador, Michael Bhaskaran, Amit Kalra
  • Patent number: 11112265
    Abstract: Computer systems configured to dynamically control localized media are provided. Computer systems comprising processing circuitry configured to dynamically direct and/or react based on a user's choice along a path in a non-linear fashion are provided. Methods are provided for providing a computer aided tour, the method comprising creating, operating, sorting, managing and/or maintaining a collection of dynamically controlled localized media experiences and/or tours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ChariTrek, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Bishop
  • Patent number: 11106208
    Abstract: A building quality inspection system includes a controller, a drone, and a robot that are communicably connected to one another. The controller includes circuitry configured to, when exterior of a building is inspected, sends an inspection objective to the drone to instruct the drone to carry out a visual inspection of the exterior of the building, receives inspection data collected by the drone during the visual inspection of the exterior of the building, extracts a location where damage is suspected from the inspection data collected by the drone, sends the location where damage is suspected to the robot to carry out an exterior inspection at the location where damage is suspected, receives inspection data collected by the robot during the exterior inspection, and determines current quality of the exterior of the building based on the inspection data collected by the drone and the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventors: Othman Alshamrani, Meqdad Hasan
  • Patent number: 11100795
    Abstract: A driving service active sensing system and method in an Internet of Vehicles environment in the field of road traffic safety. A sensor device and an intelligent vehicle-mounted terminal arranged on a vehicle and connected to each other. The intelligent vehicle-mounted terminal communicates with roadside equipment in 4G and DSRC modes, and communicates with a driving service information processing center in 4G mode. The roadside equipment communicates with the driving service information processing center in 4G mode. The roadside equipment is provided on both sides of a road. The sensor device outputs obtained vehicle traveling information to the intelligent vehicle-mounted terminal, which processes and integrates the received vehicle traveling information and then transfers integrated information to the roadside equipment and the driving service information processing center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Jun Liang, Zhenchao Zhao, Long Chen, Haobin Jiang, Xiaobo Chen, Shidian Ma, Weiqi Zhou, Yingfeng Cai, Tongyang Zhao
  • Patent number: 11085321
    Abstract: A system and method for providing bleed air compensation for a continuous power assurance analysis of a gas turbine engine includes estimating bleed air flow rate from the gas turbine engine, estimating a shift in power turbine inlet temperature based on the estimated bleed air flow rate, and applying the estimated shift in power turbine inlet temperature to the continuous power assurance analysis of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Richard Ling, Kevin Moeckly, Alfred E. Carstens
  • Patent number: 11079245
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for utilizing abstract navigation graphs for route planning purposes. An abstract navigation graph may be generated from a commercially provided navigation graph. One or more maneuver edges may be provided within the abstract navigation graph. Historical location data associated with one or more route traversals may be utilized to identify traversal times for each edge. The traversal times for each edge may be analyzed to identify traversal times for each maneuver edge of the abstract navigation graph. Accordingly, the abstract navigation graph may be utilized for route planning purposes where the traversal times for the maneuver edges impose a time penalty for performing a maneuver. In this manner, maneuver edges of the abstract navigation graph may provide improvements over conventional navigation planning techniques by more accurately representing traversal times than conventional navigation graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Niewiadomski
  • Patent number: 11069229
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for predicting or estimating the value of a variable speed sign (VSS). A variable speed sign is identified. Probe data is collected at one or more vehicles in proximity to the variable speed sign. The speeds of the vehicles are included in or derived from the probe data. A statistical analysis is performed on the probe data. A speed limit value for the variable speed sign is determined based on the statistical analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: James Adeyemi Fowe, Catalin Capota, Leon Oliver Stenneth
  • Patent number: 11054828
    Abstract: A control system for an off-road vehicle is configured to provide automatic guidance for the vehicle. The control system is configured to apply an estimator to determine a plurality of system process parameters, determine a reference model based at least in part on user input, determine a plurality of control parameters using the process parameters and the reference model, determine a guidance input according to the control parameters, a setpoint of a desired output, and a previously measured output, and use the guidance input to automatically guide the vehicle. The estimator is configured to determine the plurality of system process parameters such that the control system automatically guides the vehicle so that the vehicle responds substantially in the same manner across different ground surface conditions, hitch forces and vehicle velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Fernando Fernandez Guzmann
  • Patent number: 11029161
    Abstract: A position determination device, for example for indoor positioning, includes data input circuitry configured to obtain at least one magnetic field vector sensed by a magnetic sensor, data processor circuitry configured to determine the magnetic magnitude and a further magnetic parameter of the at least one obtained magnetic field vector, comparison circuitry configured to compare the determined magnetic magnitude with a predetermined magnetic magnitude map of a region around the magnetic sensor to obtain a first estimate of the sensor position and to compare the determined further magnetic parameter with a corresponding predetermined further parameter map of a region around the magnetic sensor to obtain a second estimate of the sensor position, and position determination circuitry configured to weight the first and second estimates of the sensor position according to determined weight information and to determine the sensor position from the weighted first and second estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rolf Noethlings, Ben Eitel
  • Patent number: 11030774
    Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine an object location prediction based on a video data stream, wherein the object location prediction is based on processing cropped TEDA data with a neural network. The processor can be further programmed to download the object location prediction to a vehicle based on a location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mostafa Parchami, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Dinesh Palanisamy
  • Patent number: 11010852
    Abstract: A system for scanning shipping containers, comprising an unmanned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle includes a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions for execution. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the unmanned vehicle to move along faces of a shipping container, and record container data collected from the sensor while scanning the shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: LANTERN UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Hansell, Benjamin Rohrbaugh, Brian S. Henderson
  • Patent number: 11001977
    Abstract: A paving machine is disclosed. The paving machine may have a screed assembly having a left screed section and a right screed section. The paving machine may also have a crown actuator configured to pivot the left and right screed sections about the centerline. The paving machine may have a crown profile sensor configured to detect the crown profile (DP), and a cross slope sensor configured to detect a cross slope (QNL*, QNR*) of the screed assembly. Further, the paving machine may have a controller configured to determine the crown profile (DP) and a cross slope (QNL*, QNR*) of the screed assembly. The controller may calculate a left cross slope (QNL) of the left screed section and a right cross slope (QNR) of the right screed section based on the determined crown profile (DP) and the determined cross slope (QNL*, QNR*), and display the crown profile on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ammann Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ronald Utterodt, Marcus Utterodt
  • Patent number: 10976380
    Abstract: A system for determining a heading of a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a magnetometer configured to generate a magnetic heading output signal, and one or more rate gyros configured to generate a gyro angular rate output signal. The system may further include a controller configured to determine a magnetometer heading rate based on the magnetic heading output signal and a gyro heading rate based on the gyro angular rate output signal. The controller may calculate a difference value between the magnetometer heading rate and the gyro heading rate. If the difference value is above a difference threshold value, the controller may calculate an integration value between the magnetometer heading rate and the gyro heading rate, report a positive magnetometer error state if the integration value is above an integration threshold value, and report a negative magnetometer error state if the integration value is below the integration threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Caplinger