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).

  • Patent number: 11959759
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
  • Patent number: 11852492
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Daniel Trawick Egnor
  • Publication number: 20230386338
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
  • Patent number: 11831868
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Publication number: 20230245563
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
  • Patent number: 11651691
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
  • Patent number: 11519739
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Hughes Chatham
  • Publication number: 20220375232
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Patent number: 11443525
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Patent number: 11287817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
  • Publication number: 20220074750
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
  • Patent number: 11168995
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210158705
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
  • Patent number: 10916142
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Michael Steven Montemerlo
  • Patent number: 10845202
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Daniel Trawick Egnor
  • Patent number: 10621451
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vadim Furman, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Abhijit Ogale, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Patent number: 10520323
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Hughes Chatham
  • Publication number: 20190285425
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Charles Bigelow Johnson
  • Patent number: 10372129
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 10185324
    Abstract: 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 ā€œ2Dā€ 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: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Hendrik Dahlkamp, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Jiajun Zhu