Patents by Inventor Andrew Hughes Chatham
Andrew Hughes Chatham 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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Patent number: 11959759Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining a next vehicle task for a vehicle of a fleet. Vehicle data from the vehicle, charger data about at least one charger, and demand data may be received and used to determine the next vehicle task. The vehicle may be directed to the next vehicle task. Determining a next vehicle task may further be based on predictions made using the vehicle data, the charger data, and the demand data. Heuristics may also be used in determining a next vehicle task.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
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Patent number: 11852492Abstract: An autonomous vehicle may access portions of a map to maneuver a roadway. The map may be split into one or more levels that represent different regions in space. For example, an overpass may be represented by one level while the road below the overpass may be on a separate level. A vehicle traveling on a particular level may use map data that is associated with that level. Furthermore, if the vehicle travels through a warp zone, it may transition from the current level to a destination level and thus begin to use map data associated with the destination level.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Daniel Trawick Egnor
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Publication number: 20230386338Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for reporting and sharing of information reports relating to driving conditions within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. One example method includes receiving information reports relating to driving conditions from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may also include receiving sensor data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may further include validating some of the information reports based at least in part on the sensor data. The method may additionally include combining validated information reports into a driving information map. The method may also include periodically filtering the driving information map to remove outdated information reports. The method may further include providing portions of the driving information map to autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
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Patent number: 11831868Abstract: A vehicle may receive one or more images of an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may also receive a map of the environment. The vehicle may also match at least one feature in the one or more images with corresponding one or more features in the map. The vehicle may also identify a given area in the one or more images that corresponds to a a portion of the map that is within a threshold distance to the one or more features. The vehicle may also compress the one or more images to include a lower amount of details in areas of the one or more images other than the given area. The vehicle may also provide the compressed images to a remote system, and responsively receive operation instructions from the remote system.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
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Publication number: 20230245563Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for reporting and sharing of information reports relating to driving conditions within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. One example method includes receiving information reports relating to driving conditions from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may also include receiving sensor data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may further include validating some of the information reports based at least in part on the sensor data. The method may additionally include combining validated information reports into a driving information map. The method may also include periodically filtering the driving information map to remove outdated information reports. The method may further include providing portions of the driving information map to autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
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Patent number: 11651691Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for reporting and sharing of information reports relating to driving conditions within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. One example method includes receiving information reports relating to driving conditions from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may also include receiving sensor data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may further include validating some of the information reports based at least in part on the sensor data. The method may additionally include combining validated information reports into a driving information map. The method may also include periodically filtering the driving information map to remove outdated information reports. The method may further include providing portions of the driving information map to autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
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Patent number: 11519739Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for assessing validity of a map using image data collected by a laser sensor along a vehicle path. The method may compile image data received from the laser sensor. The map subject to assessment may define an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Andrew Hughes Chatham
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Publication number: 20220375232Abstract: A vehicle may receive one or more images of an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may also receive a map of the environment. The vehicle may also match at least one feature in the one or more images with corresponding one or more features in the map. The vehicle may also identify a given area in the one or more images that corresponds to a a portion of the map that is within a threshold distance to the one or more features. The vehicle may also compress the one or more images to include a lower amount of details in areas of the one or more images other than the given area. The vehicle may also provide the compressed images to a remote system, and responsively receive operation instructions from the remote system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
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Patent number: 11443525Abstract: A vehicle may receive one or more images of an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may also receive a map of the environment. The vehicle may also match at least one feature in the one or more images with corresponding one or more features in the map. The vehicle may also identify a given area in the one or more images that corresponds to a portion of the map that is within a threshold distance to the one or more features. The vehicle may also compress the one or more images to include a lower amount of details in areas of the one or more images other than the given area. The vehicle may also provide the compressed images to a remote system, and responsively receive operation instructions from the remote system.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
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Patent number: 11287817Abstract: A system and method are arranged to provide recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates in an autonomous mode and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendations, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
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Publication number: 20220074750Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining a next vehicle task for a vehicle of a fleet. Vehicle data from the vehicle, charger data about at least one charger, and demand data may be received and used to determine the next vehicle task. The vehicle may be directed to the next vehicle task. Determining a next vehicle task may further be based on predictions made using the vehicle data, the charger data, and the demand data. Heuristics may also be used in determining a next vehicle task.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
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Patent number: 11168995Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining a next vehicle task for a vehicle of a fleet. Vehicle data from the vehicle, charger data about at least one charger, and demand data may be received and used to determine the next vehicle task. The vehicle may be directed to the next vehicle task. Determining a next vehicle task may further be based on predictions made using the vehicle data, the charger data, and the demand data. Heuristics may also be used in determining a next vehicle task.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
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Publication number: 20210158705Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for reporting and sharing of information reports relating to driving conditions within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. One example method includes receiving information reports relating to driving conditions from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may also include receiving sensor data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may further include validating some of the information reports based at least in part on the sensor data. The method may additionally include combining validated information reports into a driving information map. The method may also include periodically filtering the driving information map to remove outdated information reports. The method may further include providing portions of the driving information map to autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
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Patent number: 10916142Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for reporting and sharing of information reports relating to driving conditions within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. One example method includes receiving information reports relating to driving conditions from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may also include receiving sensor data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles. The method may further include validating some of the information reports based at least in part on the sensor data. The method may additionally include combining validated information reports into a driving information map. The method may also include periodically filtering the driving information map to remove outdated information reports. The method may further include providing portions of the driving information map to autonomous vehicles within the fleet of autonomous vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
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Patent number: 10845202Abstract: An autonomous vehicle may access portions of a map to maneuver a roadway. The map may be split into one or more levels that represent different regions in space. For example, an overpass may be represented by one level while the road below the overpass may be on a separate level. A vehicle traveling on a particular level may use map data that is associated with that level. Furthermore, if the vehicle travels through a warp zone, it may transition from the current level to a destination level and thus begin to use map data associated with the destination level.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Daniel Trawick Egnor
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Patent number: 10621451Abstract: A vehicle may receive one or more images of an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may also receive a map of the environment. The vehicle may also match at least one feature in the one or more images with corresponding one or more features in the map. The vehicle may also identify a given area in the one or more images that corresponds to a a portion of the map that is within a threshold distance to the one or more features. The vehicle may also compress the one or more images to include a lower amount of details in areas of the one or more images other than the given area. The vehicle may also provide the compressed images to a remote system, and responsively receive operation instructions from the remote system.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
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Patent number: 10520323Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for assessing validity of a map using image data collected by a laser sensor along a vehicle path. The method may compile image data received from the laser sensor. The map subject to assessment may define an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Waymo LLCInventor: Andrew Hughes Chatham
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Publication number: 20190285425Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining a next vehicle task for a vehicle of a fleet. Vehicle data from the vehicle, charger data about at least one charger, and demand data may be received and used to determine the next vehicle task. The vehicle may be directed to the next vehicle task. Determining a next vehicle task may further be based on predictions made using the vehicle data, the charger data, and the demand data. Heuristics may also be used in determining a next vehicle task.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
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Patent number: 10372129Abstract: A system and method are arranged to provide recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates in an autonomous mode and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendations, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
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Patent number: 10185324Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to generating elevation maps. More specifically, data points may be collected by a laser moving along a roadway and used to generate an elevation map of the roadway. The collected data points may be projected onto a two dimensional or ā2Dā grid. The grid may include a plurality of cells, each cell of the grid representing a geolocated second of the roadway. The data points of each cell may be evaluated to identify an elevation for the particular cell. For example, the data points in a particular cell may be filtered in various ways including occlusion, interpolation from neighboring cells, etc. The minimum value of the remaining data points within each cell may then be used as the elevation for the particular cell, and the elevation of a plurality of cells may be used to generate an elevation map of the roadway.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Hendrik Dahlkamp, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Jiajun Zhu