Patents by Inventor David Patrick Rice
David Patrick Rice 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: 20240062653Abstract: Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: David Patrick Rice, Scott Klaus Boehmke
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Publication number: 20240010168Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 11842639Abstract: Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: David Patrick Rice, Scott Klaus Boehmke
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Patent number: 11801808Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Publication number: 20220406181Abstract: Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: David Patrick Rice, Scott Klaus Boehmke
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Publication number: 20220281420Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 11430331Abstract: Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: David Patrick Rice, Scott Klaus Boehmke
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Patent number: 11195353Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to communicating autonomous-vehicle status. In particular, the methods, devices, and systems of the present disclosure can: determine one or more maintenance statuses of one or more of multiple different systems of an autonomous vehicle; and depict at least one of the status(es) via a display device affixed to an exterior of the autonomous vehicle and configured to display information associated with the multiple different systems such that the information is visible to an observer located outside the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Eric James Hanson, Philipp Haban, Richard Brian Donnelly, David Patrick Rice, Thomas Jeffery Watson, Jr.
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Patent number: 10857980Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 10730365Abstract: Systems and methods for providing cooling to vehicle systems on an autonomous vehicle from a plurality of cooling sources are provided. A cooling system can include a thermal interface configured to provide cooling to one or more vehicle systems of the autonomous vehicle, a plurality of cooling sources coupled to the thermal interface, and a controller configured to control each cooling source to provide a respective cooling to the thermal interface to meet a total cooling parameter for the one or more vehicle systems. Each cooling source can be configured to provide a respective cooling capacity to the thermal interface. The thermal interface can be configured to receive the respective cooling provided by each of the cooling sources. The thermal interface can be further configured to provide the respective cooling received by each of the cooling sources to the one or more vehicle systems to meet the total cooling parameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: UATC, LLCInventor: David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 10726379Abstract: A launch vehicle can include a mobility system, a launch system, and a computing system. The mobility system can be configured to travel to a general target location. The launch system can be configured to house a plurality of autonomous delivery vehicles assigned for transporting one or more deliverable items from the general target location to respective specific target delivery locations. The computing system can be configured to control launch of the plurality of autonomous delivery vehicles from the launch vehicle at a respective plurality of predetermined launch positions, each predetermined launch position associated with a corresponding launch time, and each autonomous delivery vehicle configured to travel from a launch position of the respective plurality of predetermined launch positions to a specific target delivery location of the respective specific target delivery locations and from the specific target delivery location to one or more predetermined landing positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, James Lee Epifano, Jacob William Fischer, Christopher Matthew D'Eramo, David Patrick Rice
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Publication number: 20200139940Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 10518754Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice
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Patent number: 10481652Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for cooling an autonomous vehicle computing system are provided. A modular cooling device can include a cooling baseplate and one or more modular heat frames. The cooling baseplate can include at least one planar cooling surface, an inlet configured to receive a cooling fluid, an outlet, and at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet. The at least one cooling channel can be configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the at least one planar cooling surface. Each modular heat frame can be configured to house at least one autonomous vehicle computing system component, be coupled parallel to the at least one planar cooling surface, and transfer heat from the at least one autonomous vehicle computing system component housed by the modular heat frame to the cooling baseplate.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: UATC, LLCInventors: David Patrick Rice, Thomas Jeffrey Watson, John William Zinn, Robert Henry Doll, Declan Seamus Kelly
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Patent number: 10394345Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying imagery on a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a rotational frequency of a LIDAR device located on a vehicle. The method includes illuminating, by the one or more computing devices, one or more of a plurality of light emitting elements coupled to the LIDAR device based at least in part on the rotational frequency of the LIDAR device and the one or more images for display.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, David Patrick Rice, Philipp Haban, Thomas Jeffery Watson, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190221058Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to communicating autonomous-vehicle status. In particular, the methods, devices, and systems of the present disclosure can: determine one or more maintenance statuses of one or more of multiple different systems of an autonomous vehicle; and depict at least one of the status(es) via a display device affixed to an exterior of the autonomous vehicle and configured to display information associated with the multiple different systems such that the information is visible to an observer located outside the autonomous vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Eric James Hanson, Philipp Haban, Richard Brian Donnelly, David Patrick Rice, Thomas Jeffery Watson, JR.
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Publication number: 20190171258Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for cooling an autonomous vehicle computing system are provided. A modular cooling device can include a cooling baseplate and one or more modular heat frames. The cooling baseplate can include at least one planar cooling surface, an inlet configured to receive a cooling fluid, an outlet, and at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet. The at least one cooling channel can be configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the at least one planar cooling surface. Each modular heat frame can be configured to house at least one autonomous vehicle computing system component, be coupled parallel to the at least one planar cooling surface, and transfer heat from the at least one autonomous vehicle computing system component housed by the modular heat frame to the cooling baseplate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: David Patrick Rice, Thomas Jeffery Watson, JR., John William Zinn, Robert Henry Doll, Declan Seamus Kelly
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Publication number: 20190105968Abstract: Systems and methods for providing cooling to vehicle systems on an autonomous vehicle from a plurality of cooling sources are provided. A cooling system can include a thermal interface configured to provide cooling to one or more vehicle systems of the autonomous vehicle, a plurality of cooling sources coupled to the thermal interface, and a controller configured to control each cooling source to provide a respective cooling to the thermal interface to meet a total cooling parameter for the one or more vehicle systems. Each cooling source can be configured to provide a respective cooling capacity to the thermal interface. The thermal interface can be configured to receive the respective cooling provided by each of the cooling sources. The thermal interface can be further configured to provide the respective cooling received by each of the cooling sources to the one or more vehicle systems to meet the total cooling parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2017Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventor: David Patrick Rice
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Publication number: 20190080602Abstract: Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: David Patrick Rice, Scott Klaus Boehmke
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Publication number: 20180290631Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Wesly Mason Rice, Nikolaus Wittenstein, Zhizhuo Jin, Paul Kevin Smith, Sean Joseph Kennelly, Peter Brueckner, David Patrick Rice