Patents by Inventor James W. Sennott

James W. Sennott 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: 5838562
    Abstract: A system (400) for positioning and navigating an autonomous vehicle (310) allows the vehicle (310) to travel between locations. Position information (432) is derived from global positioning system satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) or other sources (624) when the satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) are not in the view of the vehicle (310). Navigation of the vehicle (310) is obtained using the position information (432), route information (414), obstacle detection and avoidance data (416), and on board vehicle data (908 and 910).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, Walter J. Bradbury, Dana A. Christensen, Carl A. Kemner, Craig L. Koehrsen, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Norman K. Lay, Joel L. Peterson, Larry E. Schmidt, Darrell E. Stafford, Louis J. Weinbeck, Lonnie J. Devier, Prithvi N. Rao, Gary K. Shaffer, Wenfan Shi, Dong Hun Shin, James W. Sennott, William L. Whittaker, Jay H. West, Karl W. Kleimenhagen, Richard G. Clow, Baoxin Wu, Sanjiv J. Singh
  • Patent number: 5629855
    Abstract: Systems and methods allow for the accurate determination of the terrestrial position of an autonomous vehicle in real time. A first position estimate of the vehicle 102 is derived from satellites of a global positioning system and/or a pseudolite(s). The pseudolite(s) may be used exclusively when the satellites are not in the view of the vehicle. A second position estimate is derived from an inertial reference unit and/or a vehicle odometer. The first and second position estimates are combined and filtered using novel techniques to derive a more accurate third position estimate of the vehicle's position. Accordingly, accurate autonomous navigation of the vehicle can be effectuated using the third position estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christos T. Kyrtsos, James W. Sennott, Adam J. Gudat, Dana A. Christensen, Douglas W. Friedrich, Darrell E. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5610815
    Abstract: A system (400) for positioning and navigating an autonomous vehicle (310) allows the vehicle (310) to travel between locations. Position information (432) is derived from global positioning system satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) or other sources (624) when the satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) are not in the view of the vehicle (310). Navigation of the vehicle (310) is obtained using the position information (432), route information (414), obstacle detection and avoidance data (416), and on board vehicle data (908 and 910).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, Walter J. Bradbury, Dana A. Christensen, Richard G. Clow, Lonnie J. Devier, Carl A. Kemner, Karl W. Kleimenhagen, Craig L. Koehrsen, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Norman K. Lay, Joel L. Peterson, Prithvi N. Rao, Larry E. Schmidt, James W. Sennott, Gary K. Shaffer, Wenfan Shi, Dong H. Shin, Sanjiv J. Singh, Darrell E. Stafford, Louis J. Weinbeck, Jay H. West, William L. Whittaker, Baoxin Wu
  • Patent number: 5548516
    Abstract: A system (400) for positioning and navigating an autonomous vehicle (310) allows the vehicle (310) to travel between locations. Position information (432) is derived from global positioning system satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) or other sources (624) when the satellites (200, 202, 204, and 206) are not in the view of the vehicle (310). Navigation of the vehicle (310) is obtained using the position information (432), route information (414), obstacle detection and avoidance data (416), and on board vehicle data (908 and 910).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, Prithvi N. Rao, Gary K. Shaffer, Wenfan Shi, Dong H. Shin, James W. Sennott, William L. Whittaker, Karl W. Kleimenhagen, Jay H. West, Richard G. Clow, Baoxin Wu, Sanjiv J. Singh, Dana A. Christensen, Carl A. Kemner, Walter J. Bradbury, Craig L. Koehrsen, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Norman K. Lay, Joel L. Peterson, Larry E. Schmidt, Darrell E. Stafford, Louis J. Weinbeck, Lonnie J. Devier
  • Patent number: 5438517
    Abstract: Systems and methods allow for the accurate determination of the terrestrial position of an autonomous vehicle in real time. A first position estimate of the vehicle 102 is derived from satellites of a global positioning system and/or a pseudolite(s). The pseudolite(s) may be used exclusively when the satellites are not in the view of the vehicle. A second position estimate is derived from an inertial reference unit and/or a vehicle odometer. The first and second position estimates are combined and filtered using novel techniques to derive a more accurate third position estimate of the vehicle's position. Accordingly, accurate autonomous navigation of the vehicle can be effectuated using the third position estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Sennott, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Adam J. Gudat, Dana A. Christensen, Douglas W. Friedrich, Darrell E. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5390125
    Abstract: Systems and methods allow for the accurate determination of the terrestrial position of an autonomous vehicle in real time. A first position estimate of the vehicle 102 is derived from satellites of a global positioning system and/or a pseudolite(s). The pseudolite(s) may be used exclusively when the satellites are not in the view of the vehicle. A second position estimate is derived from an inertial reference unit and/or a vehicle odometer. The first and second position estimates are combined and filtered using novel techniques to derive a more accurate third position estimate of the vehicle's position. Accordingly, accurate autonomous navigation of the vehicle can be effectuated using the third position estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Sennott, Christos T. Kyrtsos, Adam J. Gudat, Dana A. Christensen, Douglas W. Friedrich, Darrell E. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5343209
    Abstract: The navigation receiver with coupled-tracking channels is intended for use in radio navigation systems based on trilateration wherein the times of arrival of radio signals transmitted by a plurality of ground- or space-based terminals are measured by a user terminal and utilized by the user terminal in calculating its position and orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventors: James W. Sennott, David Senffner
  • Patent number: 4445118
    Abstract: In a global positioning system (GPS), such as the NAVSTAR/GPS system, wherein the position coordinates of user terminals (14) are obtained by processing multiple signals transmitted by a constellation of orbiting satellites (16), an acquisition-aiding signal generated by an earth-based control station (12) is relayed to user terminals via a geostationary satellite (10) to simplify user equipment. The aiding signal is FSK modulated on a reference channel slightly offset from the standard GPS channel. The aiding signal identifies satellites in view having best geometry and includes Doppler prediction data as well as GPS satellite coordinates and identification data associated with user terminals within an area being served by the control station (12) and relay satellite (10). The aiding signal significantly reduces user equipment by simplifying spread spectrum signal demodulation and reducing data processing functions previously carried out at the user terminals (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Ralph E. Taylor, James W. Sennott