Patents Examined by Peter D Nolan
  • Patent number: 11971720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing a collision between an autonomous vehicle (A) and a user (B) in a movement range of the autonomous vehicle comprising the steps: receiving a time-dependent, planned path (P1) of the autonomous vehicle (A) and a time-dependent, planned path (P2) of the user (B), determining a time-dependent path network by means of a path network unit (8), wherein the time-dependent path network describes the planned paths (P1, P2), determining collision information which describes an overlap of the planned paths (P1, P2) in the time-dependent path network, determining a safe zone (23) for the user on the basis of the collision information, wherein the safe zone (23) describes an area in the movement range which is safe for the user (B) in respect of a collision with the autonomous vehicle (A), and making available a display (20) for the user (B) by means of a display device (19), wherein the display (20) describes the safe zone (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Arne Bröring, Thomas Jell, Andreas Ziller
  • Patent number: 11970188
    Abstract: A method of processing data for a driving automation system, the method comprising steps of: obtaining image data from a camera of an autonomous vehicle, AV; image processing the image data to obtain a vehicle registration mark, VRM, of another vehicle within the surrounding area of the AV; looking up the VRM in a vehicle information database to obtain information indicative of the make, the model and the date of manufacture of the other vehicle; looking up information indicative of the make, the model and the date of manufacture of the other vehicle in a vehicle dimensions database to obtain at least one dimension of the other vehicle; and updating a context of the autonomous vehicle based on said at least one dimension of the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited
    Inventor: Adam John Boulton
  • Patent number: 11970168
    Abstract: Techniques for determining to modify a trajectory based on an object are discussed herein. A vehicle can determine a drivable area of an environment, capture sensor data representing an object in the environment, and perform a spot check to determine whether or not to modify a trajectory. Such a spot check may include processing to incorporate an actual or predicted extent of the object into the drivable area to modify the drivable area. A distance between a reference trajectory and the object can be determined at discrete points along the reference trajectory, and based on a cost, distance, or intersection associated with the trajectory and the modified area, the vehicle can modify its trajectory. One trajectory modification includes following, which may include varying a longitudinal control of the vehicle, for example, to maintain a relative distance and velocity between the vehicle and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Beller, Janek Hudecek, William Anthony Silva
  • Patent number: 11972692
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for increasing the safety of unmanned vehicles. Failure rates of components can be combined and adjusted if necessary given sensor data or statistical or historical data that impacts failure rates. The failure rates of components can be combined to give an overall failure or success rate for a vehicle and can be compared to an accepted failure or success rate in connection with a hazard. Hazards with heightened safety requirements can be avoided by a contingency maneuver if the unmanned vehicle's failure or success rate is not acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wittmaak, Jr., Joshua A. Edler, Alan H. Steinert, Joshua A Duckett
  • Patent number: 11971261
    Abstract: An embodiment apparatus for generating a route includes a sensor configured to detect an occupant, luggage loaded in a vehicle, and a transportation device, and a controller configured to determine whether the transportation device is available based on the occupant and the luggage, determine a difficulty of boarding public transportation based on the occupant and the luggage, set a route search target, and generate at least one moving route based on the route search target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joon Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11970266
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flight control mechanism for controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle by controlling collision between the vehicle and a boundary surface, an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with the mechanism, and a method for using the mechanism and the vehicle. Provided is a flight control mechanism for an unmanned aerial vehicle including: a first initial collision member; a second initial collision member; and a holding member that holds the first and second initial collision members with a space therebetween above the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, is tiltable with respect to the vehicle body by rotating about a predetermined position inside or above the vehicle body toward the side of the vehicle body, and rotates in response to collision between the first or second initial collision member and a boundary surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: ACSL, Ltd., NJS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kuroiwa, Shosuke Inoue, Yusuke Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11970145
    Abstract: A brake system for a two-axle vehicle having a master brake cylinder. The brake system includes at least one connected brake circuit, each having front and rear wheel brake cylinders, front wheel inlet and outlet valves, rear wheel inlet and outlet valves, an accumulator chamber, and a control device via which, by opening the at least one rear wheel outlet valve, a brake fluid pressed out of master brake cylinder is displaceable via the open rear wheel outlet valve into the respectively downstream disposed accumulator chamber. When the at least one front wheel outlet valve is kept closed or closed, the control device is configured to increase and limit a brake pressure prevailing in the respectively associated front wheel brake cylinder to an accumulator chamber pressure actively prevailing in the accumulator chamber of the same brake circuit by keeping open or opening the at least one front wheel inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Yasutaka Nagakura
  • Patent number: 11970185
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining information about an area that includes a polygon for controlling navigation of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. The methods include defining a bounding box that encloses the area, and generating a KD-tree from the bounding box that partitions the polygon into a plurality of leaf nodes that each include at least some of a plurality of edges of the polygon. The methods also include assigning a reference point to each leaf node, creating a data representation of the area that comprises the KD-tree, and adding the data representation to map data comprising the area. A reference point is associated with a location within that leaf node, and information relating to whether the reference point lies outside or inside the at least one polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Boyd Nichols
  • Patent number: 11970159
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control system for avoiding a collection between a right-turning vehicle and a straight-through vehicle without decreasing comfort for an occupant. In the system, a first vehicle V1 and a second vehicle V2 retain high-precision map data for identifying a traveling lane. When the first vehicle V1 traveling in an autonomous driving mode intends to turn right from a right turn lane at an intersection ahead based on the high-precision map data, the first vehicle V1 transmits a right turn notification indicating the intention to turn right to nearby vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle communications. When the second vehicle V2 traveling in an autonomous driving mode intends to travel straight at an intersection ahead, the second vehicle V2 recognizes a right-turning vehicle in an oncoming lane at the intersection upon receiving the right turn notification from the right-turning vehicle, and performs a predetermined control for collision avoidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Chikamori, Kazumasa Nakamura, Hitoshi Konishi, Takuji Harayama, Tomoaki Masakawa, Naofumi Aso, Ryo Matsuzawa, Zhaoqi Wang
  • Patent number: 11964763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorized flying craft (10) for measuring the contour of a plurality of regions of interest (12a, 12b, 12c) of a surface of a predetermined object (9) to be inspected, said flying craft (10) comprising a carrier frame (20) and motorized means (11, 13) for lifting and moving said carrier frame (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DONECLE
    Inventors: Matthieu Claybrough, Alban Deruaz-Pepin, Josselin Bequet
  • Patent number: 11964671
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for determining vehicle environment interaction metrics and/or passenger behavioral metrics for autonomous vehicles in a driving environment. A group of one or more autonomous vehicles independently determine a VEI score for a target vehicle within a predefined vicinity of the group of one or more vehicles. A target vehicle may determine a VPB score based on passengers within the target vehicle. VEI scores and/or VPB scores determined for a target vehicle may be used by the target vehicle to reinforce and/or correct driving actions of the target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luis Bill, Chengcheng Jia, Lei Yang, Hai Yu, Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11964673
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicle are provided. A method can include obtaining, by a computing system, data indicative of a plurality of objects in a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, one or more clusters of the objects based at least in part on the data indicative of the plurality of objects. The method can further include determining, by the computing system, whether to enter an operation mode having one or more limited operational capabilities based at least in part on one or more properties of the one or more clusters. In response to determining that the operation mode is to be entered by the autonomous vehicle, the method can include controlling, by the computing system, the operation of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more limited operational capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Becker, Michael Lee Phillips, Yang Xu, Eric Michael Perko, Narek Melik-Barkhudarov
  • Patent number: 11964391
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot body, a memory, an operation controlling module and a manipulator. When the robot body is located at a first position, the operation controlling module stops the robot body and receives a selecting manipulation of operation mode from the manipulator. When a correctable automatic mode is selected at the first position, the operation controlling module makes positional coordinates of a second position provided downstream of the first position in a moving direction, changeable from the second position in automatic operation information. When the positional coordinates of the second position are changed, the operation controlling module corrects the automatic operation information so that the robot body reaches the changed second position while retaining some of elements of the automatic operation information in the correctable automatic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hashimoto, Shigetsugu Tanaka, Masayuki Kamon, Yoshihiko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11965754
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus that creates map information on the basis of sensor information obtained by an on-vehicle sensor. The information processing apparatus includes a creation section that creates a map of a surrounding area of a mobile body on the basis of sensor information acquired by one or more sensors mounted on the mobile body, a request section that issues an information request to an external apparatus on the basis of a state of the map created by the creation section, and a merge section that merges information acquired by the request section from the external apparatus with the created map. The request section issues an information request to the external apparatus on the basis of a condition of a dead angle included in the map created by the creation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noribumi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 11964651
    Abstract: A traveling control apparatus for a vehicle includes a steering angle detector, a vehicle speed detector, and a cruise control unit. The cruise control unit includes a steering angle speed detector, a steering angle correction value setting unit, and a target acceleration rate setting unit. The steering angle correction value setting unit sets a steering angle correction value, on the basis of a speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detector and a steering angle speed calculated by the steering angle speed detector. The target acceleration rate setting unit sets a target acceleration rate of a cruise control, on the basis of a steering angle and the speed of the vehicle. The steering angle is based on an addition of the steering angle correction value set by the steering angle correction value setting unit to the steering angle absolute value detected by the steering angle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Kadoya
  • Patent number: 11964652
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle in the event of an unavoidable collision with a collision object, in particular another vehicle. Environment data relating to the collision object are determined by an environment sensor device including at least one environment sensor and are evaluated to determine at least one driving intervention information for reducing the consequences of a collision. The motor vehicle is automatically guided in accordance with the driving intervention information, and the evaluation of the environment data is carried out together with structural information of the own motor vehicle describing the vehicle structure, in particular including elements absorbing collision energy of the motor vehicle, in such a way that a changed collision point maximizing the deformation energy absorbed by the vehicle structure and to be produced by the driving intervention information is determined when the driving intervention information is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 11964670
    Abstract: Safety metrics and/or statistical system assurance of a particular package of autonomy driving software may be substantially measured using data collected from manually driving a vehicle in the real word, simulations of scenarios which may be faced by a vehicle in the real world, simulations executed with actual software and/or hardware on a vehicle, and/or end-to-end testing of a vehicle in a test environment. Safety metrics and performance of AV software and hardware may be further evaluated through vehicle-in-the-loop testing. During each test scenario, a corresponding set of simulated perception data may be injected to the systems of the autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to react and behave as if one or more simulated objects described by the set of simulated perception data were in the environment of the autonomous vehicle. Each test scenario may be triggered to be performed based on, for example, the autonomous vehicle's location within a real-world vehicle testing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Nuro, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Van Alsenoy, Sachin Patil, Brian Neil, Randol Aikin, Peter Melick, Yiming Huang
  • Patent number: 11966221
    Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering goods in collaboration of a plurality of autonomous vehicles including a master vehicle and one or more slave vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: PABLO AIR Co., Ltd., PABLO AIR International, INC.
    Inventors: Youngjoon Kim, Seung Han Lim
  • Patent number: 11958487
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of traveling, by a first transport, in a first lane, determining, by the first transport, that a speed of a second transport is greater than a speed of the first transport when the second transport is behind the first transport, determining, by the first transport, that no other transports are ahead of the first transport by a first distance in the first lane and beside the first transport by a second distance in a second lane, maneuvering, by the first transport, to the second lane allowing the second transport to pass the first transport in the first lane, and maneuvering, by the first transport, to the first lane when there are no other transports traveling in the first lane at a third distance behind the first transport and at or near the speed of the second transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua V. Marasigan, Robert D. Slater, Felipe G. Salles, Jaya Bharath R. Goluguri
  • Patent number: 11958449
    Abstract: A level indication system for a vehicle includes a control system. The control system is configured to acquire stability data regarding a stability characteristic of the vehicle at a current location, determine whether the stability characteristic is within an operational range, provide a first indication that the vehicle is reconfigurable at the current location into an operable state in response to determining that the stability characteristic is within the operational range, and provide a second indication that the vehicle is not reconfigurable at the current location into the operable state in response to determining that the stability characteristic is within a nonoperational range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Linsmeier, David W. Archer