Patents Examined by Tamara L Weber
  • Patent number: 11333523
    Abstract: A vehicle control device that controls a vehicle configured to transport a passenger to a destination by autonomous traveling, the vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller configured to control operation of the vehicle, an image display configured to display an image of a periphery of the destination to the passenger via an output device, and a getting-off position detector configured to detect a desired getting-off position designated by the passenger via an input device. The image shows a region where stopping is prohibited, and the vehicle controller is configured to cause the vehicle to stop at the desired getting-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Yamashita, Koichi Ikemoto, Koji Taguchi, Shin Sakurada, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11320826
    Abstract: Techniques for operation of a vehicle using machine learning with motion planning include storing, using one or more processors of a vehicle located within an environment, a plurality of constraints for operating the vehicle within the environment. One or more sensors of the vehicle receive sensor data describing the environment. The one or more processors extract a feature vector from the stored plurality of constraints and the received sensor data. The feature vector includes a first feature describing an object located within the environment. A machine learning circuit of the vehicle is used to generate a first motion segment based on the feature vector. A number of violations of the stored plurality of constraints is below a threshold. The one or more processors operate the vehicle in accordance with the generated first motion segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Sourabh Vora, Oscar Olof Beijbom, Shih-Yuan Liu, Tichakorn Wongpiromsarn, Daniele De Francesco, Scott D. Pendleton
  • Patent number: 11307590
    Abstract: A computing system that analyzes the network effects of avoidance areas on autonomous vehicle routing is described herein. The computing system includes a data store that comprises a set of avoidance areas through which the autonomous vehicle is prohibited from being routed. A grouping system identifies groups of avoidance areas. A graph construction system constructs a graph representation of the avoidance area groups. A ranking algorithm is evaluated over the graph representation to generate a ranking of the avoidance area groups by relative impact on routing metrics for routes through an operational area of the autonomous vehicle. A mapping vehicle can be dispatched to resolve avoidance areas in avoidance area groups indicating in the ranking as having a greater impact on routing metrics than other avoidance area groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Alexander John Bowe, Lucio Otavio Marchioro Rech
  • Patent number: 11299161
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an information acquiring unit that acquires an index value relating to easiness of merging which is evaluated on the basis of at least one of vehicle information relating to an operation of another vehicle that has advanced from a merging lane to a main lane before a subject vehicle and external system information acquired near a merging point using the other vehicle in a case in which the subject vehicle is running in the merging lane merging into the main lane; and an automated driving control unit that executes automated driving of the subject vehicle on the basis of the index value acquired by the information acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Yashiro, Toshiyuki Kaji, Toru Kokaki, Masanori Takeda, Hiroshi Oguro
  • Patent number: 11303240
    Abstract: Provided is a traveling control device capable of appropriately controlling the turning and the speed of a traveling vehicle. The traveling control device includes: an instruction receiving portion that receives an operation instruction directed to each of the pair of left and right driving wheels; a speed instruction value calculation portion that calculates a speed instruction value that is to be instructed to the traveling control unit; an operation instruction determination portion that determines whether the operation instruction is an operation instruction to rotate the pair of driving wheels in the same direction or an operation instruction to rotate the pair of driving wheels in different directions; and a speed instruction value correction portion that corrects, if the operation instruction is an operation instruction to rotate the pair of driving wheels in the same direction, one of the speed instruction values, based on the other speed instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Manji
  • Patent number: 11299178
    Abstract: A travel control method for a vehicle having an autonomous travel control function includes: detecting an oncoming vehicle travelling in the opposite lane of the travel lane in which the subject vehicle travels; predicting whether or not the oncoming vehicle enters into the travel lane in which the subject vehicle travels; when it is predicted that the oncoming vehicle enters into the travel lane in which the subject vehicle travels, setting initial deceleration of the subject vehicle in a case of time until the subject vehicle and the oncoming vehicle pass each other being relatively long to a smaller value than the initial deceleration in a case of the time being relatively short; and executing deceleration travel control of the subject vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Akinobu Gotou, Satoshi Tange
  • Patent number: 11231726
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more propulsion units that effect flight of the UAV, an application processing circuit configured to verify a validity of a system image of the UAV in a secure environment, and a flight control circuit operably coupled to the application processing circuit. Generation and/or transmission of control signals from the flight control circuit to one or more electronic speed controllers (ESC controllers) is prevented prior to verification of the validity of the system image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huaiyu Liu, Hualiang Qiu, Jun Wu, Guyue Zhou, Jinzhu Huang
  • Patent number: 11225334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a rotating machine mounted on a vehicle are disclosed. The method may include: receiving identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a vibration sensor coupled to the rotating machine; receiving vibration data from the vibration sensor during operation of the rotating machine, the received vibration data being associated with the identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and the vibration sensor; comparing the received vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating machine; generating an alert if the received vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the known vibration data; generating a health report for the rotating machine based on the received vibration data; and transmitting the health report to a user via a web portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Cornelius Clampitt, III, Mohit Singhai, Thomas Mark MacRunnel, Aerwin Perez
  • Patent number: 11217838
    Abstract: A management system for a commercial electric vehicle (EV), comprising: a controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN buses connected to a plurality of components of the EV; and a vehicle controller connected to the CAN and configured to monitor and/or control the plurality of components of the EV based on CAN signals; wherein the plurality of CAN buses and their respective components comprise: a drive CAN bus connected to a motor controller system; a battery CAN bus connected to a battery system; and a telematics CAN bus connected to a telematics system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SEA AUTOMOTIVE PTY LTD
    Inventors: Tony Fairweather, Warren Fairweather
  • Patent number: 11214269
    Abstract: An in-vehicle information processing device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a control unit. The control unit detects presence or absence of an abnormality of a first monitor that displays a first image captured by a first camera among a plurality of cameras that capture an image of a predetermined region including a rear side of a vehicle, and switches, when detecting the abnormality of the first monitor, from a first mode in which the first image is displayed on the first monitor to a second mode in which the first image is displayed on a second monitor different from the first monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Oba, Tomonori Agawa
  • Patent number: 11207147
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an input device for controlling a robotic surgical tool. The input device can include a first pair of opposing links and a second pair of opposing links. The first pair of opposing links and second pair of opposing links can be arranged radially symmetrically. The input device can be configured to control operation of the robotic surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Diamond, Qingbin Zheng, Adam Richard Heard, Nathan B. J. Moore, Cory B. McBride, Colin Allen Wilson
  • Patent number: 11179210
    Abstract: A surgical manipulator is disclosed which includes a surgical instrument, an arm comprising a plurality of links and being configured to support and move the surgical instrument, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is configured to model the surgical instrument as a virtual rigid body. Forces and torques are applied externally to the surgical instrument. The at least one controller determines a commanded pose of the surgical instrument based on evaluation of the forces and torques and controls movement of the arm to place the surgical instrument according to the commanded pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, John Michael Stuart
  • Patent number: 11180146
    Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to control a braking operation of a hitch ball to a coupler on a trailer. The system may comprise a vehicle brake control system, a maneuvering system, an image sensor configured to capture an image data, and a velocity sensor. The system may also comprise a vehicle mass sensor configured to detect a vehicle mass and a controller. The controller may be configured to control the maneuvering system of the vehicle along a vehicle path. The controller may also identify a coupler distance based on the image data depicting a coupler of the trailer. The controller may also calculate a stopping distance for the braking operation based on a plurality of braking parameters, wherein the braking parameters comprise the velocity, the brake pressure, and the vehicle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Patent number: 11175666
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Renaud-Roland Hubert, Jennifer Arden, Min Li Chan
  • Patent number: 11168991
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a road specifying device which estimates an appropriate own vehicle position even when autonomous driving maps are not prepared for all roads in a driving assisting function which can automate and assist part or all of a driving operation of a passenger, and correctly perform traveling control of the autonomous driving. The road specifying device according to the present invention specifies a road on which an own vehicle is traveling based on autonomous driving map data including road data, navigation map data including data which is the road data and whose contents partially overlaps that of the autonomous driving map data, and position information of the own vehicle whose position is measured by an external positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Kawabata
  • Patent number: 11164459
    Abstract: A vehicle safety support apparatus includes: a driver monitoring unit configured to monitor a driver; an external environment monitoring unit configured to monitor an external environment of a vehicle; and a control unit configured to: perform a controlled lane keeping function based on data acquired from the driver monitoring unit and the external environment monitoring unit; detecting whether a driver reacts to the controlled lane keeping function; determine a driving control for the vehicle in response to the driver not reacting to the controlled lane keeping function; perform autonomous driving to move the vehicle to a safe area, in response to determining to take over the driving control from the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Doug MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 11163305
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples, are devices, methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide for automated goods exchange between autonomous vehicles while the autonomous vehicles are still in motion. This may be used to efficiently ship packages long distances as well as to transfer goods to consumers. This allows shippers to transfer goods from one truck to another without having to stop and unload the truck, decreasing costs by limiting human involvement and improving efficiency. Likewise, mobile merchants, such as food trucks, may sell to consumers in cars without having to stop to perform the exchange, increasing the convenience to consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Anne Healey, Omar Ulises Florez Choque
  • Patent number: 11155181
    Abstract: A method for calculating a distance to empty (DTE) of an eco-friendly vehicle is provided. The method includes determining a travel route along which the vehicle travels to a received destination, estimating cooling power consumption for cooling a battery by reflecting travel information predicted for the determined travel route, and calculating the DTE by reflecting the estimated cooling power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Woo Shin
  • Patent number: 11158200
    Abstract: A method includes recording, by a first UAV, a current position of the first UAV, comparing, the current position of the first UAV to a current flight plan of the first UAV, and geocasting a first track declaration message. The method may further include receiving, by the first UAV, a second track declaration message generated by a second UAV, detecting a potential collision with the second UAV and executing a collision avoidance maneuver by the first UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert J. Hall
  • Patent number: 11151876
    Abstract: A vehicle safety support apparatus includes: a driver monitoring sensor configured to monitor a driver; an external environment monitoring sensor configured to monitor an external environment of a vehicle; a driver input filtering unit configured to filter a vehicle control input from the driver; and at least one processor connected to the driver monitoring sensor, the external environment monitoring sensor, and the driver input filtering unit, the at least one processor configured to: determine criterion based on data acquired from the driver monitoring sensor and the external environment monitoring sensor; determine whether to take over a driving control of the vehicle in response to the data acquired from the driver monitoring sensor and the external environment monitoring sensor meeting the criterion; and perform autonomous driving to move the vehicle to a safe area in response to determining to take over the driving control from the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David Agnew, Doug MacKenzie, Nathan Johnson