Patents by Inventor Christian Merfels

Christian Merfels 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).

  • Publication number: 20200200544
    Abstract: A method for providing map data which include position information for first landmarks of a first landmark class, collecting environment data, and determining a position of the mobile unit. Training data are generated and stored for the first landmarks based on the position of the mobile unit, the collected environment data and the position information. Based on the training data, a first detector module is generated for detecting the first landmark class. The position determination system includes a memory unit for providing map data which include position information for first landmarks of a first landmark class, a data acquisition unit for collecting environment data, a localization unit for determining a position of the mobile unit, and a processing unit for generating and storing training data based on the position of the mobile unit, the collected environment data and the position information for the first landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel WILBERS, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Stefan JÜRGENS, David PERDOMO LOPEZ, Constanze HUNGAR, Stefan WAPPLER
  • Publication number: 20200126429
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for determining the location of a datum detected by a transportation vehicle wherein at least one pose estimation is ascertained. An uncertainty of the at least one pose estimation is determined wherein the uncertainty of the pose estimation includes a process of scaling an uncertainty estimation of the pose estimation, wherein the scaling process is based on a comparison of the pose estimation with a priori information. The at least one pose estimation is fused solely with at least one additional pose estimation with a weighting according to the uncertainties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Lukas FRÖHLICH, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Daniel WILBERS, Frederik MEYSEL
  • Publication number: 20190384310
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining a position of a transportation vehicle. A preliminary position of the transportation vehicle is determined, objects are detected in an area surrounding the transportation vehicle wherein the objects have at least visible and virtual building corners, the detected objects are transferred into a local coordinate system and are assigned to a map with objects based on the preliminary position of the transportation vehicle, and the position of the transportation vehicle is determined based on an equalization calculus in which the objects in the map which are most suitable for the objects transferred into the local coordinate system are ascertained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Christian MERFELS, Moritz SCHACK
  • Publication number: 20190265041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for estimating an individual position. In order to improve the estimation of the individual position of a vehicle, for example, at least one first position measurement is carried out by a first positioning system and at least one second position measurement is carried out by at least one second positioning system. A third position measurement is also carried out by the first positioning system. The third position measurement is carried out after the first and second position measurements. The individual position is estimated on the basis of at least the third position measurement and at least one position error value. The position error value is determined on the basis of the at least one first position measurement and the at least one second position measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Merfels, Thorsten Hehn, Marcel Geppert
  • Publication number: 20190128678
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a global position of a first landmark, wherein at least one first and one second measurement data set are recorded. In doing so, a first reference point and a first recording space are assigned to the first measurement data set, and a second reference point and a second recording space are assigned to the second measurement data set. Furthermore, the first landmark is detected in the first and second recording space, whereas a second landmark is detected in the first recording space. By using the first measurement data set, first relative positions of the first and the second landmark are determined relative to the reference point of the first recording space. By using the second measurement data set, a second relative position of the first landmark is determined relative to the reference point of the second recording space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian MERFELS, Ugur KEKEC
  • Publication number: 20180306584
    Abstract: Absolute position data (605) of a machine are determined for respective multiple times (t.1, t.3, t.5, t.8, t.11), and odometry position data of the machine are also determined. A pose graph (661) is generated, wherein edges (672) of the pose graph (661) correspond to the odometry position data, and nodes (671) of the pose graph (661) correspond to the absolute position data (605). The pose graph (661) is optimized to obtain an estimated position. Optionally, the odometry can also be estimated. A driver assistance functionality of the machine, for example a motor vehicle, can be controlled optionally on the basis of the estimated position. For example, the driver assistance functionality can relate to autonomous driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Merfels