Patents by Inventor Dennis Zhao

Dennis Zhao 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: 10890458
    Abstract: A network computer system attributes deviation from a predicted travel distance or trip time for arranged transport services. A network computer system monitors a service provider of an arranged transport service to determine a distance traveled, as well as an expended duration. The network computer system compares the determined distance traveled and/or the expended duration with a predicted distance and/or duration of travel to determine if a deviation exists. An adjustment value for the service value may be determined and communicated, based the traveled distance and the expended duration as compared to the predicted distance and/or duration of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Yueh-Wen Liao
  • Publication number: 20210005824
    Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives represented by the following general formula: (I) wherein R independently represents an aromatic group and/or an aliphatic group; Q is one of a cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon, a cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, a polycyclic hydrocarbon, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and/or a fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; wherein the substituents independently comprise one or more of a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a carbon atom, an oxygen atom (e.g. an alkylated oxygen atom), a nitrogen atom (e.g. an alkylated nitrogen atom), a cyano group, a nitro group, an alkyl group and/or an aryl group; p is an integer of 1 to 2; q is an integer of 1 to 4; Y1 and Y2 independently represent one or more of a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a carbon atom, an oxygen atom (e.g. an alkylated oxygen atom), a nitrogen atom (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Alex ROBINSON, Jon PREECE, Gregory O'CALLAGHAN, Karolis VIRZBICKAS, Owen JONES, Dennis ZHAO, Michael BUTLIN, Sareena SUND
  • Publication number: 20200363803
    Abstract: A method for determining and providing alternative routes receives request data associated with a request from a user device. A first canonical route is determined from a plurality of canonical routes based on the request data. Each respective canonical route of the plurality of canonical routes satisfies at least one autonomy criteria associated with whether an autonomous vehicle can travel on the respective canonical route. First route data associated with the first canonical route is provided. Route identification data associated with identifying an alternative canonical route is received after providing the first route data associated with the first canonical route. A second canonical route is determined from the plurality of canonical routes based on the route identification data. Second route data associated with the second canonical route is provided for controlling travel of the autonomous vehicle on the second canonical route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson, Sean Rhee Chin
  • Publication number: 20200356098
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data representing a first location associated with a service request. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location. The method includes determining a second location for the service request when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Joseph Maliksi
  • Patent number: 10795356
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes providing a control of the autonomous vehicle to a user associated with a vehicle service. The method includes identifying one or more release signals indicative of one or more actions of the user. The method includes releasing the control of the autonomous vehicle from the user, based at least in part on the release signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Eric J. Hanson, Scott C. Poeppel, Sean Hyde
  • Patent number: 10768621
    Abstract: A method for determining and providing alternative routes receives request data associated with a request from a user device. A first canonical route is determined from a plurality of canonical routes based on the request data. Each respective canonical route of the plurality of canonical routes satisfies at least one autonomy criteria associated with whether an autonomous vehicle can travel on the respective canonical route. First route data associated with the first canonical route is provided. Route identification data associated with identifying an alternative canonical route is received after providing the first route data associated with the first canonical route. A second canonical route is determined from the plurality of canonical routes based on the route identification data. Second route data associated with the second canonical route is provided for controlling travel of the autonomous vehicle on the second canonical route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson, Sean Rhee Chin
  • Patent number: 10725473
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data representing a first location associated with a service request. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location. The method includes determining a second location for the service request when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Joseph Maliksi
  • Publication number: 20200233412
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting an existence of an adverse condition associated with an autonomous vehicle in the fleet. The method includes determining in response to detecting the adverse condition, a recovery plan for the first autonomous vehicle based at least in part on one or more attributes associated with the adverse condition, the recovery plan including one or more actions to recover the first autonomous vehicle at a remote location. The method includes initiating the recovery plan to recover the first autonomous vehicle at the remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin
  • Patent number: 10692371
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining operation of an autonomous vehicle based on user profiles. In one example, a computer-implemented method of applying user profiles for autonomous vehicle operation is provided. The method includes receiving, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, a trip request from a user; retrieving, by the computing system, a user profile associated with the user; determining, by the computing system, one or more trip attribute settings based at least in part on the user profile; and providing, by the computing system, the determined one or more trip attribute settings to a vehicle computing system for determining autonomous vehicle operation during a trip associated with the trip request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Emily Cairns Duff Bartel
  • Publication number: 20200151973
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to obtain feedback descriptive of autonomous vehicle failures. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can detect that a vehicle failure event occurred at an autonomous vehicle and, in response, provide an interactive user interface that enables a human located within the autonomous vehicle to enter feedback that describes the vehicle failure event. Thus, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can actively prompt and/or enable entry of feedback in response to a particular instance of a vehicle failure event, thereby enabling improved and streamlined collection of information about autonomous vehicle failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao
  • Patent number: 10579054
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting an existence of an adverse condition associated with an autonomous vehicle in the fleet. The method includes determining in response to detecting the adverse condition, a recovery plan for the first autonomous vehicle based at least in part on one or more attributes associated with the adverse condition, the recovery plan including one or more actions to recover the first autonomous vehicle at a remote location. The method includes initiating the recovery plan to recover the first autonomous vehicle at the remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin
  • Patent number: 10559140
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to obtain feedback descriptive of autonomous vehicle failures. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can detect that a vehicle failure event occurred at an autonomous vehicle and, in response, provide an interactive user interface that enables a human located within the autonomous vehicle to enter feedback that describes the vehicle failure event. Thus, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can actively prompt and/or enable entry of feedback in response to a particular instance of a vehicle failure event, thereby enabling improved and streamlined collection of information about autonomous vehicle failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao
  • Patent number: 10501014
    Abstract: An interaction feedback system for passengers of an autonomous vehicle (AV) can detect a remote assist trigger, corresponding to a remote assist event, from a control system of the AV. The feedback system can then initiate a feedback mode using one or more feedback devices to enable interaction between one or more passengers of the AV and a remote operator based on detecting the remote assist trigger from the AV control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Castro, Molly Nix, Scott Poeppel, Sean Chin, Eric Hanson, Dennis Zhao
  • Patent number: 10421396
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to signaling status of an autonomous vehicle to a rider or potential rider. In one example, a computer-implemented method for communicating autonomous vehicle status includes obtaining, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, data associated with a state of an autonomous vehicle. The method further includes determining, by the computing system, one or more vehicle indications indicative of the state of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the state of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes providing, by the computing system, control data for one or more visual indicators associated with the autonomous vehicle to communicate the one or more determined vehicle indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao
  • Publication number: 20190270408
    Abstract: An interaction feedback system for passengers of an autonomous vehicle (AV) can detect a remote assist trigger, corresponding to a remote assist event, from a control system of the AV. The feedback system can then initiate a feedback mode using one or more feedback devices to enable interaction between one or more passengers of the AV and a remote operator based on detecting the remote assist trigger from the AV control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alex Castro, Molly Nix, Scott Poeppel, Sean Chin, Eric Hanson, Dennis Zhao
  • Publication number: 20190250002
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to state-based autonomous-vehicle operations. In particular, the methods, devices, and systems of the present disclosure can: determine, based at least in part on one or more actions of a passenger associated with a trip of an autonomous vehicle, a current state of the trip from amongst a plurality of different predefined states of the trip; identify, based at least in part on the current state of the trip, one or more computing devices associated with the passenger; generate, based at least in part on the current state of the trip, data describing one or more interfaces for display by the computing device(s) associated with the passenger; and communicate, to the computing device(s) associated with the passenger, the data describing the interface(s) for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Sean Chin, Molly Castle Nix, Eric James Hanson
  • Publication number: 20190248378
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an autonomous vehicle and associated interface system that includes multiple vehicle interface computing devices that provide redundant vehicle commands. As one example, an autonomous vehicle interface system can include a first vehicle interface computing device located within the autonomous vehicle and physically coupled to the autonomous vehicle. The first vehicle interface computing device can provide a first plurality of selectable vehicle commands to a human passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle interface system can further include a second vehicle interface computing device that provides a second plurality of selectable vehicle commands to the human passenger. For example, the second vehicle interface computing device can be the passenger's own device (e.g., smartphone). The second plurality of selectable vehicle commands can include at least some of the same vehicle commands as the first plurality of selectable vehicle commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson
  • Publication number: 20190235487
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting an existence of an adverse condition associated with an autonomous vehicle in the fleet. The method includes determining in response to detecting the adverse condition, a recovery plan for the first autonomous vehicle based at least in part on one or more attributes associated with the adverse condition, the recovery plan including one or more actions to recover the first autonomous vehicle at a remote location. The method includes initiating the recovery plan to recover the first autonomous vehicle at the remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin
  • Patent number: 10346888
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can detect an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle and, in response, provide an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event. Thus, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can actively prompt passenger feedback in response to a particular instance of a specific type of driving event, thereby enabling improved collection of information about autonomous vehicle ride quality relative to specific types of driving events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao, Daniel Hertz
  • Publication number: 20190171207
    Abstract: Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices for autonomous vehicle operation are provided. For example, a method can include receiving trip data that includes information associated with a request for the autonomous vehicle at a pick-up location. The autonomous vehicle can then travel to the pick-up location. The autonomous vehicle can detect one or more signals associated with the trip data. In response to determining that the one or more signals satisfy one or more broadcast criteria associated with authorizing access to the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle can activate one or more vehicle systems associated with fulfilling the request for the autonomous vehicle at the pick-up location. The one or more broadcast criteria can be based in part on one or more properties of the one or more signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao