Patents Examined by Michael J. Zanelli
  • Patent number: 11827107
    Abstract: A rough road escaping system for a vehicle having an electric-axle and a method thereof, may enable wheels respectively connected to first and second axle shafts to easily escape from a rough road by generating a recoiling force of the vehicle through motor torque control that alternately applies several time forward driving torque output from a first motor included in a rear wheel-first electric-axle to a first axle shaft and backward driving torque output from a second motor included in a rear wheel-second electronic-axle to a second axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Wan Yu
  • Patent number: 11822334
    Abstract: There is provided methods and apparatus for a path planning system. The apparatus comprises a body and a movement device attached thereto, wherein the body comprises a control unit in communication with the movement device, the control unit comprising at least one processor and a memory configured to store instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive image capture range information for one or more imaging devices located external to the apparatus, calculate a movement path for the apparatus based, at least in part, on the received image capture range information, and control the movement device to move the apparatus in accordance with the calculated movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Nakai
  • Patent number: 11821740
    Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 11815894
    Abstract: Provided is an autonomous versatile robotic chassis, including: a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; one or more motors to drive the set of wheels; at least one storage compartment within which one or more items for delivery are placed during transportation; a processor; one or more sensors; a camera; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: generating, with the processor, a map of an environment; localizing, with the processor, the robotic chassis; receiving, with the processor, a request for delivery of the one or more items to a first location; generating, with the processor, a movement path to the first location from a current location; and instructing, with the processor, the robotic chassis to transport the one or more items to the first location by navigating along the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Shahin Fathi Djalali, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11801757
    Abstract: A control method for an electric vehicle in which a motor is used as a traveling drive source and deceleration is performed by a regenerative braking force of the motor, the electric vehicle including a towing unit configured to tow a separate object, the method including: acquiring an accelerator operation amount; acquiring a total mass of the electric vehicle; estimating a disturbance torque acting on the electric vehicle; acquiring an angular velocity of a rotary body; estimating a vehicle body speed of the electric vehicle; calculating a torque command value for the motor; measuring a load applied to the towing unit; correcting the total mass of the electric vehicle based on the measured load applied to the towing unit and the torque command value; controlling a torque generated in the motor based on the torque command value; and converging the torque command value to the disturbance torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Sawada, Takashi Nakajima, Kengo Fujiwara, Shou Oono, Yui Ito
  • Patent number: 11794589
    Abstract: A motor control system and a method thereof are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of motors as a driving power source. The system includes a request torque determination part that determines a request torque requested for the plurality of motors corresponding to a driver request torque. An optimal operating point torque determination part determines an optimal operating point torque for each of the plurality of motors according to a current rotation speed of each of the plurality of motors. An motor torque determination part then determines a target torque for each of the plurality of motors by distributing the request torque to the plurality of motors based on the optimal operating point torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Yonghoon Lee, Seong Ik Park
  • Patent number: 11794785
    Abstract: Generally, the disclosed systems and methods utilize multi-task machine-learned models for object intention determination in autonomous driving applications. For example, a computing system can receive sensor data obtained relative to an autonomous vehicle and map data associated with a surrounding geographic environment of the autonomous vehicle. The sensor data and map data can be provided as input to a machine-learned intent model. The computing system can receive a jointly determined prediction from the machine-learned intent model for multiple outputs including at least one detection output indicative of one or more objects detected within the surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle, a first corresponding forecasting output descriptive of a trajectory indicative of an expected path of the one or more objects towards a goal location, and/or a second corresponding forecasting output descriptive of a discrete behavior intention determined from a predefined group of possible behavior intentions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Sergio Casas, Wenjie Luo, Raquel Urtasun
  • Patent number: 11787324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport trolley for transporting material rolls. The transport trolley includes a frame, at least three running units for running on a ground, wherein the running units are connected to the frame, at least one movement drive for driving at least one of the running units, wherein the at least one movement drive is connected to the frame, a material roll receiving device for receiving a material roll to be transported, wherein the material roll receiving device is supported by the frame, and a communications device with a receiver unit for receiving external information items being connected to the frame. The communications device is in signal connection with the at least one movement drive for actuating the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BHS Intralogistics GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ruhland, Karl Ruhland
  • Patent number: 11787535
    Abstract: Techniques to control flight of an aircraft are disclosed. In various embodiments, a set of inputs associated with a requested set of forces and moments to be applied to the aircraft is received. An optimal mix of actuators and associated actuator parameters to achieve to an extent practical the requested forces and moments is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Zouhair Mahboubi, Gabe Hoffmann, Olivier Toupet, Herve Martins-Rivas
  • Patent number: 11780481
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Sara J. Woitel
  • Patent number: 11772717
    Abstract: A fleet of delivery robots, each including: a chassis; a storage compartment within which items are stored for transportation; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; at least one sensor; a processor electronically coupled to the control system and the at least one sensor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing, with the at least one sensor, data of an environment and data indicative of movement of the respective delivery robot; generating or updating, with the processor, a first map of the environment based on at least a portion of the captured data; inferring, with the processor, a current location of the respective delivery robot; and actuating, with the processor, the respective delivery robot to execute a delivery task including transportation of at least one item from a first location to a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Shahin Fathi Djalali
  • Patent number: 11774981
    Abstract: A system can autonomously or semi-autonomously guide a driver to a dock or parking location. The system can include a sensor or sensors that collect data to create a map of the dock or parking location, a user interface that allows the driver to select a dock or a feature in the map and to determine the final pose of the tractor and trailer, and a planner that creates a kinematically-correct and obstacle-free trajectory from the current location to the dock or parking location. The system can provide user aids, such as a ground guide avatar or avatars, that provide the distance to the dock, speed and turning directions, or other guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Robotic Research OpCo, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy
  • Patent number: 11767038
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, that the vehicle is approaching a crosswalk may be determined. A set of segments may be identified for the crosswalk. A set of potential occluded pedestrians may be generated. Each potential occluded pedestrian of the set is assigned a speed characteristic and a segment. The segments of the set of potential occluded pedestrians may be updated over time using the assigned speed characteristics. Sensor data from a perception system of the vehicle is received, and one or more potential occluded pedestrians an having an updated assigned segment corresponding to a segment that is visible to a perception system of the vehicle may be removed from the set of potential occluded pedestrians. After the removing, the set may be used to control the vehicle in the autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Jennifer Iglesias
  • Patent number: 11760207
    Abstract: A control device and method of an electric vehicle for realizing virtual drive system sensibility is disclosed. A main objective is to provide the control device and method of the electric vehicle capable of realizing and providing differentiated driving sensibility that may be felt in other drive systems such as a drive system of an internal combustion engine vehicle. The control method includes determining a basic torque command, for controlling operation of a driving motor, from vehicle driving information collected by a controller while driving a vehicle; determining a virtual drive system torque command, which is a corrected torque command for realizing virtual drive system sensibility, from a determined basic torque command by using a virtual drive system model preset in the controller, and controlling torque of the driving motor by the controller according to a determined virtual drive system torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ji Won Oh, Jeong Soo Eo
  • Patent number: 11761771
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for event-based route planning. Information of events taking place in a predetermined geographic area is received. An origin and at least one destination are determined. One or more first routes for traveling from the origin to the destination are determined from the predetermined geographic area. One or more segments in each of the first routes are determined based on the received information, each segment being associated with a corresponding recommendation for travelling via the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sonny Gupta, Aaron Sekhri, Andreja Kogovsek, Benjamin Dawes, Brandon Burr, Chang Li, Elizabeth Caudill, Zachary Romanow
  • Patent number: 11755036
    Abstract: A controller obtains a first horizontal distance and a first vertical distance which are respectively a component in a horizontal direction and a component in a vertical direction among distances from an unmanned aerial vehicle to a surface of a particular place where elevation gradually increases or decreases along the horizontal direction, decides, based on a ratio of the first horizontal distance to the first vertical distance, a movement amount by which the unmanned aerial vehicle is to be moved simultaneously in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and moves the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the movement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kuhara, Kazunobu Konishi, Stephen William John, Katsuhiko Asai
  • Patent number: 11752879
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling pitch reduction may include a sensor device that measures a wheel speed and a longitudinal acceleration of a vehicle, a pitch rate estimation device that performs pseudo-integral of a difference between a wheel acceleration determined from the wheel speed and the longitudinal acceleration to determine an estimation value of a pitch rate, and a pitch motion reduction controller that generates a control command for implementing a motor torque in which the determined estimation value of the pitch rate is reflected and transmits the control command to an electric motor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sheen Gil Kang
  • Patent number: 11753020
    Abstract: An update system includes an electronic control device that stores an autonomous driving logic and a server. The server includes: a storage unit storing personal characteristic data based on a user's driving and associated driving result data. In creating a first personal characteristic data associated with a first user ID and a first position, if first driving result data is present, the personal characteristic creating unit creates the first personal characteristic data using the first driving result data. If the first driving result data is not present, the personal characteristic creating unit creates the first personal characteristic data using the driving result data or the personal characteristic data associated with a user ID specified for the first user ID by the similarity specifying unit and the first position. The electronic control device includes a personal characteristic updating unit configured to update the autonomous driving logic using the first personal characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Obara
  • Patent number: 11747455
    Abstract: A system calibrates one or more sensors mounted to an autonomous vehicle. From the one or more sensors, the system identifies a primary sensor and a secondary sensor. The system determines a reference angle for the primary sensor, and based on that reference angle for the primary sensor, a scan-start time representing a start of a scan and a scan-end time representing an end of a scan. The system receives, from the primary sensor, a primary set of scan data recorded from the scan-start time to the scan-end time. The system receives, from the secondary sensor, a secondary set of sensor data recorded from the scan-start time to the scan-end time. The system calibrates the primary and secondary sensors by determining a relative transform for transforming points between the first set of scan data and the second set of scan data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Damon Wheeler, Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 11747168
    Abstract: The controller of the server of the information processing apparatus acquires the travel plan data relating to the travel plan of the vehicle from the communication terminal via the server communicator determines whether the map data needs to be updated, which is stored in the memory of the vehicle and used for travel in accordance with the travel plan. The controller transmits an inquiry signal inquiring of the user whether to permit updating of the map data to the communication terminal via the server communicator. The controller transmits an update instruction signal for instructing the update of the map via the server communicator to the on-vehicle communicator when receiving a permission signal permitting the update of the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Wataru Takeda, Sho Tanaka