Patents by Inventor Jeffrey S. Parks
Jeffrey S. Parks 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: 12005903Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes a sensor array and a processor. The sensor array is configured to generate vehicle sensor data pertaining to a target vehicle in proximity to the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the sensor array, and is configured to at least facilitate: beginning an overtake maneuver for the vehicle, via instructions provided to the drive system, when conditions for an overtake of the target vehicle by the vehicle are initially determined by the processor to be valid; subsequent to the beginning of the overtake maneuver, determining via the processor whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid, based on updated sensor data reflecting variant traffic conditions; and further controlling the overtake maneuver based on the determining as to whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul A Adam, Jeffrey S Parks, Christopher J Trush, Christopher Michael Churay, Namal P Kumara
-
Publication number: 20240067174Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous operating mode. One method involves identifying an object in a potential incursion zone corresponding to a lane adjacent to a current lane of travel for the vehicle, determining an estimated time in zone associated with the object, and in response to determining the estimated time in zone is greater than a threshold, determining a longitudinal adjustment strategy to reduce the estimated time in zone associated with the object, determining an adjusted speed for the vehicle in accordance with the longitudinal adjustment strategy, determining a longitudinal trajectory for the vehicle within the current lane of travel based at least in part on the adjusted speed, and autonomously operating one or more actuators onboard the vehicle in accordance with the longitudinal trajectory.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul A. Adam, Jeffrey S. Parks, Avesta Goodarzi, Shaun C. Bowman
-
Patent number: 11891073Abstract: A control system for a vehicle using a forward-facing camera includes a look ahead module configured to determine a distance to a look ahead point. A lane center module determines a location of a lane center line. A vehicle center line module determines a location of a vehicle center line. A first lateral offset module determines a first lateral offset based on the look ahead point and the determined lane center line. A second lateral offset module determines a second lateral offset based on the determined lane center line and the vehicle center line. A yaw angle offset calculating module receives the first lateral offset, the second lateral offset and the distance to the look ahead point, calculates a yaw angle offset, and compensates a yaw angle error based on the yaw angle offset.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Gabriel T. Choi, Paul A. Adam, Jeffrey S. Parks, Lance A. Smith
-
Patent number: 11872988Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling automatic overtake functionality for a host vehicle. In on such exemplary embodiment, a disclosed method includes: (i) obtaining, via a plurality of sensors, sensor data pertaining to the host vehicle and a roadway on which the host vehicle is traveling; (ii) determining, via a processor, when an automatic overtake is recommended, using the sensor data in conjunction with one or more threshold values; (iii) receiving driver inputs pertaining to the automatic overtake; and (iv) adjusting, via the processor, the one or more threshold values for the automatic overtake based on the driver inputs.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Michael J. Abowd, Braden J. Swantick
-
Publication number: 20230278562Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically controlling lane changes for a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment: vehicle sensors are configured to provide sensor data pertaining to operation of the vehicle and surroundings of the vehicle along a roadway in which the vehicle is travelling; and a processor configured to at least facilitate: receiving, from a plurality of vehicle assessors, a plurality of respective requests with respect to one or more automated lane change maneuvers for the vehicle; and selectively implementing the one or more automated lane change maneuvers for the vehicle based on an arbitration algorithm that is executed by the processor and that provides arbitration for the plurality of respective requests from the plurality of vehicle assessors utilizing respective lane arbitration scores for a plurality of lanes of the roadway pertaining to the one or more automated lane change maneuvers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A Adam, Braden J. Swantick
-
Patent number: 11685378Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and a system and method of operating the autonomous vehicle. The system includes a sensor and a processor. The processor determines an effective observation area of the sensor, the effective observation area being affected by an extrinsic condition. The processor determines an available time for performing a lane change based on the effective observation area and performs the lane change based on the available time.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Namai P. Kumara, Shaun C. Bowman, Dmitriy Feldman
-
Publication number: 20230182740Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes a sensor array and a processor. The sensor array is configured to generate vehicle sensor data pertaining to a target vehicle in proximity to the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the sensor array, and is configured to at least facilitate: beginning an overtake maneuver for the vehicle, via instructions provided to the drive system, when conditions for an overtake of the target vehicle by the vehicle are initially determined by the processor to be valid; subsequent to the beginning of the overtake maneuver, determining via the processor whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid, based on updated sensor data reflecting variant traffic conditions; and further controlling the overtake maneuver based on the determining as to whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul A. Adam, Jeffrey S. Parks, Christopher J. Trush, Christopher Michael Churay, Namal P. Kumara
-
Patent number: 11608079Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to prevent a boxed-in driving situation, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to detect a preventable box-in driving situation; and, based on the detection of the preventable box-in driving situation, adjust a location of a trigger threshold along a vehicle path.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam
-
Patent number: 11608059Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for real time lateral control and steering actuation assessment for a motor vehicle by determining a desired host vehicle path, establishing a control point along the host vehicle path, generating a motion path between a host vehicle location and the control point, estimating a theoretical acceleration of the host vehicle along the motion path, controlling the host vehicle along the motion path, receiving a measured acceleration from an inertial measurement unit within the host vehicle, generating an error term in response to a comparison of the motion path and the measured lateral travel, and adjusting the performance limits of the sub-features in response to the error term.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick, Michael J. Godfrey
-
Patent number: 11548511Abstract: A vehicle, system and method for operating the vehicle is disclose. The system includes a radar system and a processor. The radar system locates a gap between targets in a second lane adjoining a first lane, with the host vehicle residing in the first lane. The processor is configured to determine a viability value of the gap for a lane change, select the gap based on the viability value, align the host vehicle with the selected gap, and merge the host vehicle from the first lane into the selected gap in the second lane.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick
-
Patent number: 11433897Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an ADAS equipped vehicle including a sensor configured for determining a first distance to a first proximate vehicle and a second distance to a second proximate vehicle, a user input operative to receive a user preference, a memory operative to store a map data, a processor operative to generate a current lane score and an adjacent lane score in response to the first distance, the second distance, the user preference, and the map data, the processor being further operative to generate a lane change control signal in response to the adjacent lane score exceeding the current lane score and a vehicle controller operative to perform a lane change operation from a current lane to an adjacent lane in response to the lane change control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick, Namai P. Kumara
-
Publication number: 20220144276Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling automatic overtake functionality for a host vehicle. In on such exemplary embodiment, a disclosed method includes: (i) obtaining, via a plurality of sensors, sensor data pertaining to the host vehicle and a roadway on which the host vehicle is traveling; (ii) determining, via a processor, when an automatic overtake is recommended, using the sensor data in conjunction with one or more threshold values; (iii) receiving driver inputs pertaining to the automatic overtake; and (iv) adjusting, via the processor, the one or more threshold values for the automatic overtake based on the driver inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Michael J. Abowd, Braden J. Swantick
-
Publication number: 20220111848Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and a system and method of operating the autonomous vehicle. The system includes a sensor and a processor. The processor determines an effective observation area of the sensor, the effective observation area being affected by an extrinsic condition. The processor determines an available time for performing a lane change based on the effective observation area and performs the lane change based on the available time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Namal P. Kumara, Shaun C. Bowman, Dmitriy Feldman
-
Publication number: 20210380131Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to prevent a boxed-in driving situation, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to detect a preventable box-in driving situation; and, based on the detection of the preventable box-in driving situation, adjust a location of a trigger threshold along a vehicle path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam
-
Publication number: 20210284162Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an ADAS equipped vehicle including a sensor configured for determining a first distance to a first proximate vehicle and a second distance to a second proximate vehicle, a user input operative to receive a user preference, a memory operative to store a map data, a processor operative to generate a current lane score and an adjacent lane score in response to the first distance, the second distance, the user preference, and the map data, the processor being further operative to generate a lane change control signal in response to the adjacent lane score exceeding the current lane score and a vehicle controller operative to perform a lane change operation from a current lane to an adjacent lane in response to the lane change control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick, Namal P. Kumara
-
Patent number: 10997431Abstract: Examples of techniques for controlling a vehicle using an anchor line are disclosed. In one example implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a lane line quality indicator from a camera associated with a vehicle. The method further includes determining a lane line weight. The method further includes comparing the lane line quality indicator to a quality threshold to determine whether the lane line is of sufficient quality to use as an anchor line. The method further includes comparing the lane line weight to a confidence threshold to determine whether the lane line is of sufficient confidence to use as the anchor line. The method further includes, responsive to determining that at least one of the lane line is not of sufficient quality and the lane line is not of sufficient weight, generating an alternate anchor line. The method further includes controlling the vehicle using the alternate anchor line.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Loren J. Majersik, Chris C. Swoish
-
Publication number: 20210122379Abstract: A control system for a vehicle using a forward-facing camera includes a look ahead module configured to determine a distance to a look ahead point. A lane center module determines a location of a lane center line. A vehicle center line module determines a location of a vehicle center line. A first lateral offset module determines a first lateral offset based on the look ahead point and the determined lane center line. A second lateral offset module determines a second lateral offset based on the determined lane center line and the vehicle center line. A yaw angle offset calculating module receives the first lateral offset, the second lateral offset and the distance to the look ahead point, calculates a yaw angle offset, and compensates a yaw angle error based on the yaw angle offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Gabriel T. CHOI, Paul A. ADAM, Jeffrey S. PARKS, Lance A. SMITH
-
Publication number: 20210061270Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for real time lateral control and steering actuation assessment for a motor vehicle by determining a desired host vehicle path, establishing a control point along the host vehicle path, generating a motion path between a host vehicle location and the control point, estimating a theoretical acceleration of the host vehicle along the motion path, controlling the host vehicle along the motion path, receiving a measured acceleration from an inertial measurement unit within the host vehicle, generating an error term in response to a comparison of the motion path and the measured lateral travel, and adjusting the performance limits of the sub-features in response to the error term.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick, Michael J. Godfrey
-
Publication number: 20200391746Abstract: A vehicle, system and method for operating the vehicle is disclose. The system includes a radar system and a processor. The radar system locates a gap between targets in a second lane adjoining a first lane, with the host vehicle residing in the first lane. The processor is configured to determine a viability value of the gap for a lane change, select the gap based on the viability value, align the host vehicle with the selected gap, and merge the host vehicle from the first lane into the selected gap in the second lane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick
-
Publication number: 20200361471Abstract: A host vehicle that includes an autonomous control system that is capable of executing an automatic lane change (ALC) maneuver is described. The ALC maneuver may be executed when the host vehicle is seeking to merge into a lane of travel. This includes operating under conditions that include moderate to heavy levels of traffic. The host vehicle is capable of soliciting a desired gap in a target lane by using a lane centering offset maneuver to influence and observe proximal vehicles operating in the target lane before executing the ALC maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gabriel T. Choi, Paul A. Adam, Xiaofeng F. Song, Jeffrey S. Parks, Braden J. Swantick