Patents by Inventor James Pollock
James Pollock 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: 12078493Abstract: A worksite management system for a worksite includes a sensor module associated with each of one or more machines working on the worksite. The sensor module generates a signal indicative of a location of a corresponding one of a machine from the one or more machines. An on-board controller associated with each of the one or more machines receives the signal corresponding to the location of the corresponding one of the machine on the worksite, and looks up the location of the corresponding one of the machine in at least one of a pre-generated or learned terrain map of a network of haul routes. The on-board controller identifies at least one condition of the haul route at the looked-up location, and then generates an alert for an operator to perform one or more recommended actions with respect to an operating parameter of the corresponding one of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: David Richard Wisley, Paul Minniss, Jonathan Moses, Christopher Mullins, Russell Pugh, Anthony James Pollock, David Thompson, Thomas Henry Abel
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Publication number: 20210102813Abstract: A worksite management system for a worksite includes a sensor module associated with each of one or more machines working on the worksite. The sensor module generates a signal indicative of a location of a corresponding one of a machine from the one or more machines. An on-board controller associated with each of the one or more machines receives the signal corresponding to the location of the corresponding one of the machine on the worksite, and looks up the location of the corresponding one of the machine in at least one of a pre-generated or learned terrain map of a network of haul routes. The on-board controller identifies at least one condition of the haul route at the looked-up location, and then generates an alert for an operator to perform one or more recommended actions with respect to an operating parameter of the corresponding one of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar SARLInventors: David Richard WISLEY, Paul Minniss, Jonathan Moses, Christopher MULLINS, Russell PUGH, Anthony James POLLOCK, David THOMPSON, Thomas Hanry ABEL
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Patent number: 10586406Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous vehicle and methods of operating an autonomous vehicle. A sensor for the autonomous vehicle generates sensor data for a current location of the autonomous vehicle. A positioning system generates data for identifying the current location of the vehicle. A computing system of the autonomous vehicle identifies a portion of a roadway model which corresponds to the current location of the vehicle. The roadway model has a level of detail suitable for autonomous operation. The computing system identifies whether a discrepancy is present between the identified portion of the roadway model and the sensor data. When the computing system identifies the discrepancy, the computing system communicates data which corresponds to the discrepancy to a roadway model management system configured to update the roadway model.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: USHR INC.Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
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Patent number: 10281919Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: USHR, INC.Inventor: Richard James Pollock
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Publication number: 20180365910Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous vehicle and methods of operating an autonomous vehicle. A sensor for the autonomous vehicle generates sensor data for a current location of the autonomous vehicle. A positioning system generates data for identifying the current location of the vehicle. A computing system of the autonomous vehicle identifies a portion of a roadway model which corresponds to the current location of the vehicle. The roadway model has a level of detail suitable for autonomous operation. The computing system identifies whether a discrepancy is present between the identified portion of the roadway model and the sensor data. When the computing system identifies the discrepancy, the computing system communicates data which corresponds to the discrepancy to a roadway model management system configured to update the roadway model.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
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Patent number: 10049507Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining which portions of a roadway model used by self-driving road vehicles require updating uses discrepancy data derived from the sensors of a plurality of self-driving road vehicles. The discrepancy data may indicate discrepancies between the sensor data and the roadway model, or may indicate portions of the roadway where a self-driving road vehicle underperformed. The discrepancy data is aggregated, and the aggregated discrepancy data is used to identify, as the portions of the roadway model which require updating, those portions of the roadway model corresponding to portions of the roadway for which the aggregated discrepancy data exceeds a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: USHR INC.Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
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Publication number: 20180203452Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: USHR. INC.Inventor: Richard James POLLOCK
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Patent number: 9836058Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: GEODIGITAL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Richard James Pollock
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Patent number: 9802533Abstract: An informational lighting system for a machine having a cab may include a plurality of beacon lights located at a roof of the cab, the beacon lights may be located at discrete locations. The informational lighting system may further include a controller configured to provide signals for flashing the beacon lights.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Thomas Sherwood Ruffner, Anthony James Pollock
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Publication number: 20170123427Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: GEODIGITAL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Richard James POLLOCK
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Patent number: 9625036Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a braking system and a method of engaging the braking system. The braking system engages a brake mechanism as a waiting brake. The vehicle has a dual function device which is configured such that when the dual function device is activated when the vehicle transmission system is in a drive mode, the transmission system is maintained in that drive mode, and when the dual function device is activated when the transmission system is in the neutral mode, the brake mechanism is engaged.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: John Chapman, David Thompson, Andrew Colin Ellis, Anthony James Pollock, Roger William Tansley, James Tarelli, Neil Taylor, Samuel Alec Roberts
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Patent number: 9568916Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: GEODIGITAL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Richard James Pollock
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Publication number: 20170003685Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: GEODIGITAL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Richard James POLLOCK
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Publication number: 20160343179Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining which portions of a roadway model used by self-driving road vehicles require updating uses discrepancy data derived from the sensors of a plurality of self-driving road vehicles. The discrepancy data may indicate discrepancies between the sensor data and the roadway model, or may indicate portions of the roadway where a self-driving road vehicle underperformed. The discrepancy data is aggregated, and the aggregated discrepancy data is used to identify, as the portions of the roadway model which require updating, those portions of the roadway model corresponding to portions of the roadway for which the aggregated discrepancy data exceeds a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Geodigital International Inc.Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
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Patent number: 9437053Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining which portions of a roadway model used by self-driving road vehicles require updating uses discrepancy data derived from the sensors of a plurality of self-driving road vehicles. The discrepancy data may indicate discrepancies between the sensor data and the roadway model, or may indicate portions of the roadway where a self-driving road vehicle underperformed. The discrepancy data is aggregated, and the aggregated discrepancy data is used to identify, as the portions of the roadway model which require updating, those portions of the roadway model corresponding to portions of the roadway for which the aggregated discrepancy data exceeds a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Geodigital International Inc.Inventors: Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Richard James Pollock
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Publication number: 20160243982Abstract: An informational lighting system for a machine having a cab may include a plurality of beacon lights located at a roof of the cab, the beacon lights may be located at discrete locations. The informational lighting system may further include a controller configured to provide signals for flashing the beacon lights.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: CATERPILLAR SARLInventors: Thomas Sherwood Ruffner, Anthony James Pollock
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Patent number: 9285805Abstract: An attributed roadway trajectory comprises at least one ordered series of attributed roadway trajectory points, which are spaced along a curve that is defined in a terrestrial coordinate frame and tracks an along-roadway physical feature of a real-world roadway segment portrayed in a point cloud. Any arbitrary attributed roadway trajectory point on the curve passes a predetermined proximity test for proximity to point cloud points discriminated as representing part of the along-roadway physical feature. Each attributed roadway trajectory point has at least one attribute value representing a characteristic of the real-world roadway segment at a position on the real-world roadway segment spatially associated with the attributed roadway trajectory point. A control system of a self-driving road vehicle can use the attribute value(s) to adjust control of the self-driving road vehicle based on sensor-independent roadway data (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Inventor: Richard James Pollock
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Patent number: 9269188Abstract: Image data obtained from an image sampling of a physical surface is integrated with position data obtained from a three-dimensional surface sampling of the same physical surface by combining data from the images with the measured surface points from the surface sampling to create additional “implied” surface points between the measured surface points. Thus, the originally obtained point cloud of measured surface points is densified by adding the implied surface points. Moreover, the image data can be used to apply colors to both the implied data points and the measured data points, resulting in a colored three-dimensional representation of the physical surface that is of higher resolution than a representation obtained from only the measured surface points.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: GEODIGITAL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Richard James Pollock, Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Douglas Jared Parent
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Publication number: 20150323071Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a braking system and a method of engaging the braking system. The braking system engages a brake mechanism as a waiting brake. The vehicle has a dual function device which is configured such that when the dual function device is activated when the vehicle transmission system is in a drive mode, the transmission system is maintained in that drive mode, and when the dual function device is activated when the transmission system is in the neutral mode, the brake mechanism is engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar SARLInventors: John Chapman, David Thompson, Andrew Colin Ellis, Anthony James Pollock, Roger William Tansley, James Tarelli, Neil Taylor, Samuel Alec Roberts
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Publication number: 20150254901Abstract: Image data obtained from an image sampling of a physical surface is integrated with position data obtained from a three-dimensional surface sampling of the same physical surface by combining data from the images with the measured surface points from the surface sampling to create additional “implied” surface points between the measured surface points. Thus, the originally obtained point cloud of measured surface points is densified by adding the implied surface points. Moreover, the image data can be used to apply colors to both the implied data points and the measured data points, resulting in a colored three-dimensional representation of the physical surface that is of higher resolution than a representation obtained from only the measured surface points.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Richard James Pollock, Alastair Nigel Jenkins, Douglas Jared Parent