Patents by Inventor Aaron L. Mills
Aaron L. Mills has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240075930Abstract: A system has memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to instruct operation of at least one vehicle system (e.g., braking system, propulsion system, steering system, suspension system) in a minimum time mode for travel of the vehicle from a starting point to a destination point of a roadway. The system collects roadway data for the roadway from the starting point to the destination point. Based on the roadway data, the system determine a minimum time path from the starting point to the destination point and speed along the minimum time path. In response to a maximum acceleration input from a human driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at the starting point, the system initiates the minimum time mode and instructs operation of at least one vehicle system to pursue the minimum time path and speed along the minimum time path from starting point to destination point.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jordan Barrett, Brendan Francis Diamond, Keith Weston, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Aaron L. Mills
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Publication number: 20230334914Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive a plurality of first values for a respective plurality of variables transmitted over a communications network of a vehicle; determine a similarity measure between the first values and a plurality of second values of the variables; determine whether to transmit a collection of data transmitted over the communications network based on the similarity measure; and, upon so determining, transmit the collection of data to a server remote from the vehicle. The second values are a most similar set of values from an activation surface for a feature of the vehicle. The activation surface is a surface in a space defined by the variables dividing the space into regions in which activation of the feature is more or less likely than not, respectively, to have occurred when the variables have values in that region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicolas Salciccioli, David Michael Herman, Yashanshu Jain, Aaron L. Mills
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Patent number: 11724596Abstract: Systems and methods for road disturbance detection and torque vectoring control. A vehicle may comprise: a torque vectoring system for independently varying torque to a plurality of wheels, an external sensor suite, and an electronic control unit. The control unit may comprise one or more processors and memory storing executable instructions that, as a result of execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement an appropriate torque vectoring strategy. The torque vectoring strategy may comprise biasing torque towards or away from a wheel/motor/axle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2023Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston, Aaron L. Mills, Jordan Barrett
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Publication number: 20220396246Abstract: A first distance is determined between a location of a host vehicle and a received location of a remote vehicle, the remote vehicle being forward of the host vehicle. A second distance is determined between a target vehicle and the host vehicle. A time to reach is predicted between the target vehicle and the remote vehicle based on the first distance and the second distance. A brake of the host vehicle is pre-charged when the predicted time to reach is below a time threshold. Pre-charging of the brake of the host vehicle is suppressed when the predicted time to reach is above the time threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Justin T. Hughes, Hao Zhang, Aaron L. Mills, Alex Maurice Miller
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Patent number: 11267465Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in a host vehicle, determine a threat number for a first target vehicle based on data received from the first target vehicle indicating at least one of a position, speed, or route history of the first target vehicle, identify a second target vehicle based on data collected with one or more host vehicle sensors when the threat number of the first target vehicle exceeds a threshold, determine that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not a same vehicle, and, then, upon determining that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not the same vehicle and that at least one of (a) a barrier is detected between the host vehicle and the first target vehicle or (b) that a threat number of the second target vehicle exceeds a second threshold, suppress a collision avoidance action.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron L. Mills, Rebecca Lynne Seiler, Alex Maurice Miller, Gopichandra Surnilla, Alekhya Ratnala, Hao Zhang
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Publication number: 20220048505Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in a host vehicle, determine a threat number for a first target vehicle based on data received from the first target vehicle indicating at least one of a position, speed, or route history of the first target vehicle, identify a second target vehicle based on data collected with one or more host vehicle sensors when the threat number of the first target vehicle exceeds a threshold, determine that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not a same vehicle, and, then, upon determining that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not the same vehicle and that at least one of (a) a barrier is detected between the host vehicle and the first target vehicle or (b) that a threat number of the second target vehicle exceeds a second threshold, suppress a collision avoidance action.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron L. Mills, Rebecca Lynne Seiler, Alex Maurice Miller, Gopichandra Surnilla, Alekhya Ratnala, Hao Zhang
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Patent number: 11169520Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes first and second electronic control units (ECUs). The first and second ECUs are programmed to monitor, respectively, a first operating condition and a second operating condition. Each operating condition includes one of path deviation, lane width, user awareness, or steering torque. The second ECU is programmed to monitor the second operating condition according to a protocol with a security measure. The first or second ECU is further programmed to control vehicle operation based on the first or second operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills, Jonathan Mcneely, Andrew Brown, Andreas Giersiefer, Zhao Wang, Bahgat Aboushaban, Shadi Jammoul
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Patent number: 11117577Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Michael Hafner, Aaron L. Mills, Zhao Wang, Bahgat Aboushaban
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Publication number: 20200285233Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes first and second electronic control units (ECUs). The first and second ECUs are programmed to monitor, respectively, a first operating condition and a second operating condition. Each operating condition includes one of path deviation, lane width, user awareness, or steering torque. The second ECU is programmed to monitor the second operating condition according to a protocol with a security measure. The first or second ECU is further programmed to control vehicle operation based on the first or second operating condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: MICHAEL HAFNER, NITENDRA NATH, AARON L. MILLS, JONATHAN MCNEELY, ANDREW BROWN, ANDREAS GIERSIEFER, ZHAO WANG, BAHGAT ABOUSHABAN, SHADI JAMMOUL
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Publication number: 20200269837Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: NITENDRA NATH, MICHAEL HAFNER, AARON L. MILLS, ZHAO WANG, BAHGAT ABOUSHABAN
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Patent number: 10703366Abstract: A computer for a vehicle is described. The computer includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include, to: determine a trigger to initiate a highway assist mode; based on the determined trigger, determine vehicle-location data; and based on the data, inhibit initiation of the mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Xingping Chen, Kevin Wegienka, Shane Elwart, Bo Wu, Aaron L. Mills
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Patent number: 10703363Abstract: A system, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to pilot a vehicle based on determining first and second lane markers, where lane markers are mathematical descriptions of roadway lane markers applied to a roadway to mark traffic lanes, determine a missing first or second lane marker, and pilot the vehicle for a determined period of time based on a remaining first or second lane marker.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills, Patrick Lawrence Jackson Van Hoecke
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Patent number: 10625740Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include determining a first lane center, autonomously operating a host vehicle relative to the first lane center, detecting a change in the first lane center to a second lane center, selecting a filter, and applying the filter while transitioning autonomous operation of the host vehicle from the first lane center to the second lane center.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills, Danielle Rosenblatt
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Patent number: 10597033Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and adjustment of gaps between vehicles. An example vehicle includes a rear sensing device and a controller. The controller is to determine a target lead gap for following a lead vehicle during adaptive cruise control and measure, via the rear sensing device, a trailing distance to a trailing vehicle. The controller also is to determine a target trailing gap for the trailing vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a cruise control unit to increase, responsive to the trailing distance being less than the target trailing gap, the target lead gap based on the trailing distance.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel A. Makled, Michael McQuillen, Nitendra Nath, Nicolas Salciccioli, Aaron L. Mills
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Patent number: 10583835Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes automatically adapting vehicle acceleration responsive to a cruise control setpoint acceleration associated with a detected speed limit, and a drive setpoint acceleration based on the cruise control setpoint acceleration, wherein a cruise controller determines a distance control setpoint acceleration based on a detected vehicle distance from a vehicle traveling ahead, and wherein the drive setpoint acceleration is limited by the distance control setpoint acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andreas Ediger, Benjamin Baecker, Stephanie Rosenberg, Benjamin Carl Mukkala, II, Aaron L. Mills, Manuel Strauch
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Patent number: 10551836Abstract: A computing system can determine a probability of precipitation based on Bayesian inference conditioned on probabilities associated with vehicle wiper status, vehicle jerk, vehicle sway, and vehicle lateral offset. The computing system can disable a vehicle lane assist system based on the probability of precipitation and operate a vehicle with the disabled vehicle lane assist system.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Ryan Danko, Aaron L. Mills
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Publication number: 20190377339Abstract: A computing system can determine a probability of precipitation based on Bayesian inference conditioned on probabilities associated with vehicle wiper status, vehicle jerk, vehicle sway, and vehicle lateral offset. The computing system can disable a vehicle lane assist system based on the probability of precipitation and operate a vehicle with the disabled vehicle lane assist system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Ryan Danko, Aaron L. Mills
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Patent number: 10446033Abstract: A communication from a second vehicle is received. Upon failing to detect the second vehicle based on first vehicle sensor data, a message indicating a forward collision warning is sent. Upon detecting the second vehicle based on the first vehicle sensor data, the forward collision warning is suppressed and a first vehicle brake is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aaron L. Mills, Gopichandra Surnilla, Chet Hearn
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Publication number: 20190217858Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include determining a first lane center, autonomously operating a host vehicle relative to the first lane center, detecting a change in the first lane center to a second lane center, selecting a filter, and applying the filter while transitioning autonomous operation of the host vehicle from the first lane center to the second lane center.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills, Danielle Rosenblatt
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Publication number: 20190168754Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and adjustment of gaps between vehicles. An example vehicle includes a rear sensing device and a controller. The controller is to determine a target lead gap for following a lead vehicle during adaptive cruise control and measure, via the rear sensing device, a trailing distance to a trailing vehicle. The controller also is to determine a target trailing gap for the trailing vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a cruise control unit to increase, responsive to the trailing distance being less than the target trailing gap, the target lead gap based on the trailing distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Michael McQuillen, Nitendra Nath, Nicolas Salciccioli, Aaron L. Mills