Patents Examined by Peter D Nolan
  • Patent number: 11893883
    Abstract: A framework for modeling traffic speed in a transportation network analyzes both the spatial and temporal dependencies in probe-based traffic speeds, historical weather data, and forecasted weather data, using multiple machine learning models. A decentralized partial least squares (PLS) regression model predicts short-term speed using localized, historical probe-based traffic data, and a deep learning model applies the predicted short-term speed to further estimate traffic speed at specified times and at specific locations in the transportation network for predicting traffic bottlenecks and other future traffic states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ITERIS, INC.
    Inventors: Tiffany E. Symes, Pouyan Hosseini, Shayan Khoshmagham
  • Patent number: 11891080
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor with a system for identifying downstream road users includes a control unit in communication with a user interface, and a sensor having a detection range which runs in a vicinity of a ground and which is in a direction of an attachment connected to the agricultural tractor. The sensor is configured to identify a vehicle located in the detection range or which enters therein, and then generates a corresponding message signal which is supplied to the control unit. The control unit activates the user interface based on the message signal for the output of a driver message. A free region visible from the agricultural tractor by the sensor is formed between a road surface and a lower contour of the attachment facing the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stefan Brocke, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 11884292
    Abstract: A radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensor system for vehicles, such as autonomous vehicles, includes a first RADAR sensor configured to provide first RADAR data descriptive of an environment of a vehicle having a first antenna configured to output a first RADAR beam having a first azimuthal component over a first angular range and a second RADAR sensor configured to provide second RADAR data descriptive of the environment of the vehicle, the second RADAR sensor having a second antenna configured to output a second RADAR beam having a second azimuthal component that is narrower than the first azimuthal component of the first RADAR beam, wherein the second RADAR sensor is configured to sweep the second RADAR beam over a second angular range closer to a rear of the vehicle than a front of the vehicle to obtain the second RADAR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bo Li, Chunshu Li
  • Patent number: 11886185
    Abstract: The relative position between a vehicle and an extension unit located outside the vehicle is detected, and a command touch operation for operating the vehicle with a remote operation device is set in accordance with the detected relative position. The touch operation of an operator is detected by a touch panel of the remote operation device, and a determination is made as to whether or not the detected touch operation is the command touch operation. When the touch operation is the command touch operation, the vehicle is controlled to execute autonomous travel control. The vehicle has an autonomous travel control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Junya Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Sakurai, Ryota Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11884271
    Abstract: A vehicle driving support device includes a turn-signal switch switched on by a driver of the vehicle in the vehicle's course change, a rear side detector that detects an approaching vehicle on a lane to which the course of the vehicle is to be changed, turn-signal lamps on the right and left sides of the vehicle, and a turn-signal display processor displaying one of the turn-signal lamps which is on the side of the lane when the turn-signal switch is on. The turn-signal display processor includes a closeness determiner that determines whether the approaching vehicle is close to the vehicle when the turn-signal switch is on and the rear side detector detects the approaching vehicle, and a standby-state processor that, if that the approaching vehicle is close to the vehicle, causes the one of the turn-signal lamps to be a standby state and informs the driver of the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hikaru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11884254
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system and method for increasing the brake pressure in a first wheel brake cylinder and for limiting the brake pressure in a second wheel brake cylinder of a vehicle brake system. The method includes increasing a first brake pressure in the first wheel brake cylinder by controlling/holding a wheel inlet valve in its open state and controlling/holding a first wheel outlet valve in its closed state, and limiting an increase of a second brake pressure in the second wheel brake cylinder during the transfer of brake fluid into the first wheel brake cylinder by controlling/holding a second wheel inlet valve in its closed state and controlling a second wheel outlet valve into its open state. The second wheel outlet valve is controlled with a pulse width-modulated signal so that during the transfer of brake fluid, the second wheel outlet valve is permanently in its open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Shuichi Miyagawa, Jochen Bodmann, Yasutaka Nagakura
  • Patent number: 11884371
    Abstract: A ship body control device is provided, which includes a rudder controller configured to control a rudder angle of a ship, a sensor configured to measure a ship body direction of the ship, and an autopilot controller configured to output a rudder angle command to the rudder controller. The autopilot controller includes an angle-of-deviation calculating module configured to calculate a deviation angle of a stern direction from a target stern direction based on the ship body direction, and a rudder angle command setting module configured to set the rudder angle command so as to maintain a current rudder angle when the deviation angle is less than a first threshold, and to change it to a given fixed turning rudder angle when the deviation angle is the first threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ueno
  • Patent number: 11884303
    Abstract: A method for determining a lane change, performed by an apparatus for determining a lane change of an object located around a driving vehicle with which is equipped a sensor, the method including, detecting a plurality of objects located around the driving vehicle using scanning information obtained repeatedly at every predetermined period of time by the sensor scanning surroundings of the driving vehicle, selecting at least one candidate object estimated to change lanes among the plurality of objects based on previously detected lane edge information and determining whether the candidate object changes lanes based on information on movement of the candidate object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vueron Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jaekwang Kim, Seungyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11884302
    Abstract: Understanding the intent of human drivers and adapting to their driving styles is used to increased efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicles (AVs) by enabling them to behave in safe and predictable ways without requiring explicit inter-vehicle communication. A Social Value Orientation (SVO), which quantifies the degree of an agent's selfishness or altruism, is estimated by the AV for other vehicles to better predict how they will interact and cooperate with others. Interactions between agents are modeled as a best response game wherein each agent negotiates to maximize their own utility. A dynamic game solution uses the Nash equilibrium, yielding an online method of predicting multi-agent interactions given their SVOs. This approach allows autonomous vehicles to observe human drivers, estimate their SVOs, and generate an autonomous control policy in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniela Rus, Sertac Karaman, Javier Alonso Mora, Alyssa Pierson, Wilko Schwarting
  • Patent number: 11884291
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for the determining whether to assign a driver to a trip. For instance, a route for a trip between a pickup location and a destination location for a passenger may be determined. Branch routes for the route may be determined based on one or more lane changes of the route. A probability of following each determined branch route may be determined. A probability of requiring assistance for each determined branch route may be determined. Whether to assign a driver to the trip may be determined based on the probabilities for each determined branch route. A vehicle of a fleet of vehicles may be assigned to the trip based on the determine of whether to assign a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Gao, Ajay Joshi, Gabriel Wolosin
  • Patent number: 11880205
    Abstract: An auto clean machine, comprising: a light source configured to emit light to illuminate at least one light region outside and in front of the auto clean machine; a first image sensing area, configured to sense a first brightness distribution of the light region; a second image sensing area below the first image sensing area, configured to sense a second brightness distribution of the light region; and a processor, configured to control movement of the auto clean machine according the first brightness distribution and the second brightness distribution. The processor generates a wall detection result based on the first brightness distribution of the light region, generates a cliff detection result based on the second brightness distribution of the light region, and controls the movement of the auto clean machine according to the wall detection result and the cliff detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11878719
    Abstract: A road resource is identified, according to one or more maneuver sharing intent messages received to the vehicle via a transceiver of a vehicle, where the road resource is contested between the vehicle and one or more other vehicles and includes a portion of a roadway to be traversed by the vehicle and also the one or more other vehicles. A conflict resolution procedure is performed to determine whether the vehicle gains access to the road resource, wherein the conflict resolution procedure is independently performed by each of the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles. One of the vehicle or the one or more other vehicles is granted access to the road resource based on the conflict resolution procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Syed Amaar Ahmad, Azin Neishaboori, John Walpuck
  • Patent number: 11878694
    Abstract: A 360 safety system for automated verification of a 360 walk-around prior to vehicle engagement is described. The 360 safety system includes at least three sensors that receive a signal from a transmission fob, where one signal may be received by one of the at least three sensors at a time. The signals received by the at least three sensors are configured to be signal inputs to an operating system, where the operating system is in electrical communication with the at least three sensors. Each signal input received by one of the at least three sensors is processed by the operating system to generate a verification output displayed on a HMI of the operating system. When the CPU determines a valid signal input of each of the at least three sensors has been stored, the operating system processes the signal inputs and generates outputs that permit engagement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Andy Krejci
  • Patent number: 11878715
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a space of a vehicle includes: a communication device to receive reservation information; and a controller to determine a manner of partitioning an inner space of the vehicle based on the reservation information and control an operation of one or more partition to correspond to the manner of partitioning the inner space, thereby allowing users moving similar routes to feel comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Su Jeong, Dong Il Yang, Eun Young Choi, Ki Seok Seong, Min Sang Yu, Hyeong Jin Ham, Rosali Sun Pyun, Pil Cheon Jang, Woo Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11872884
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a driver status information acquisition system and an in-vehicle control system of the vehicle. The driver status information acquisition system receives data from a plurality of sensors in the vehicle and determines the driver status responsive to processing of the received data. While the driver is not driving the vehicle and the in-vehicle control system is autonomously driving the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle should take over driving the vehicle from the in-vehicle control system, the in-vehicle control system alerts the driver to indicate that the driver should take over driving the vehicle. Responsive to the status of the driver while the driver is not driving the vehicle being indicative of the driver not being able to take over driving the vehicle, the in-vehicle control system continues driving the vehicle and initiates an emergency action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hasib Hassan, Sylvie Wacquant, Heinz B. Seifert
  • Patent number: 11874657
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control system and a UAV control method are provided. The UAV control method includes: storing a reporting configuration by a UAV; communicatively connecting to the UAV and storing at least one historical status information corresponding to the UAV by a server; reporting to the server at least one current status information according to the reporting configuration by the UAV; calculating a variance between the at least one historical status information and the at least one current status information by the server; and updating the reporting configuration of the UAV according to the variance by the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Herman Chunghwa Rao, Chen-Tsan Yu, Hua-Pei Chiang, Chien-Peng Ho, Chyi-Dar Jang, Yao-Ming Chang, Che-Yu Liao
  • Patent number: 11874121
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to fleet route optimization. Conventional methods for fleet route optimization have limited capability in managing and controlling transport of material from geographically spread out suppliers to the door-step of the customer in an efficient manner in real-time. The disclosed method includes optimization at two levels. At the first level and initial optimized route is obtained for the fleet by clustering the target locations into multiple clusters and obtaining heuristic on each cluster by using a weightage matrix. The initial set of optimized routes are examined in real time, and based on said examination, the routes are optimized (second level optimization) to provide a final set of optimized routes. The disclosed method and system thus facilitate in creating routes dynamically, monitor it through the application, and dynamically change and/or alter the routes based on new order and/or execution challenges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Venkateswar Panduranga Oruganti, Sreedhar Aitipamula, Choudhary Beni Madhav Mishra
  • Patent number: 11874656
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle modular command priority determination and filtering system. One of the methods includes enabling control of the UAV by a first control source that provides modular commands to the UAV, each modular command being a command associated with performance of one or more actions by the UAV. Modular commands from a second control source requesting control of the UAV are received. The second control source is determined to be in control of the UAV based on priority information associated with each control source. Control of the UAV is enabled by the second control source, and modular commands are implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Michael Bethke, Bernard J. Michini, Jonathan Anders Lovegren, Patrick Michael Bouffard
  • Patent number: 11873004
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for generating a channel for use as a spatio-temporal constraint for motion planning for an autonomous vehicle. The method generates a triangulation mesh for a space in an environment. The triangulation mesh includes a plurality of nodes, each represents a geographic location in the space. Some of the nodes correspond to dynamic objects. Based on the triangulation mesh, a candidate channel extending from a starting location to a target location of the autonomous vehicle is generated. Further, the method predicts a time and location of a future triangulation mesh topology event caused by at least one of the nodes that will impact the candidate channel. A valid channel segment for the channel is selected, which extends from the starting location to a channel segment end location preceding the predicted location of the future triangulation mesh topology event. The channel improves the validity of motion planning for a longer time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han Hu, Peyman Yadmellat
  • Patent number: 11872981
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle performs a maneuver using a trajectory determined according to an external environment. The vehicle has a plurality of environment sensors and a controller device configured to acquire an environment data set (UDS) using the environment sensors, which it transmits to a cloud computer. The cloud computer reads in the environment data set (UDS), generates a supplemental data set (EDS) for supplementing the environment data set (UDS), combines the environment data set (UDS) with the supplemental data set (EDS) in order to generate a supplemented environment data set (UDS?), and transmits the supplemented environment data set (UDS?) to the controller device. The supplemental data set (EDS) may be obtained by evaluating data of other road users within a predetermined radius of the vehicle. The controller device evaluates the supplemented environment data set (UDS?) for the purpose of controlling the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Christoph Arndt