Patents by Inventor Meredith James Goldman

Meredith James Goldman 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: 11892835
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and techniques for controlling an autonomous vehicle. While the autonomous vehicle is travelling to a destination, the autonomous vehicle may encounter a situation preventing the autonomous vehicle from travelling to the destination. A control center may receive information from the autonomous device and use a graphical user interface to provide instructions with limited controls for the autonomous vehicle to navigate to an intermediate position. In such an intermediate position, the vehicle may make way for an emergency vehicle, obtain additional sensor data for continued autonomous planning, signal intent to other objects in the environment, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Publication number: 20240036571
    Abstract: A remote operations system receives a request for remote operator assistance and adds the request to a queue of additional requests. The queue may be ordered based on time of receipt, priority, criticality, and the like. The remote operations system determines a remote operator of a set of remote operators to provide a response to the request in the queue based at least in part on one or more of a status of the remote operator (e.g., indicative of availability, whether they are in training, etc.), criteria associated with the remote operator (e.g., skills in responding to various requests, preferences for a geographic area, mission types, etc.), and information associated with the request received from the vehicle (e.g., mission type, sensor data, messages, vehicle status, etc.). If the request is not accepted in a threshold period of time, the request may be rerouted to an additional remote operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Meredith James Goldman, Rachel Gelb, Ravi Gogna, Alexander Jacques Maria Mertens, Paul Orecchio
  • Publication number: 20240012419
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may identify an obstruction along a route of travel and may connect to a service computing device for guidance. The service computing device may include a guidance system configured to receive waypoint and/or orientation input from an operator. The operator may evaluate the scenario and determine one or more waypoints and/or associated orientations for the vehicle to navigate the scenario. In some examples, the guidance system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s). The service computing device may send the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) to the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computing system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) and, based on the validation, control the vehicle according to the input. Based on a determination that the vehicle has navigated the scenario, the guidance system may release vehicle guidance back to the vehicle computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy Caldwell, Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Matthew Miller Young, Rick Zhang
  • Patent number: 11768493
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may identify an obstruction along a route of travel and may connect to a service computing device for guidance. The service computing device may include a guidance system configured to receive waypoint and/or orientation input from an operator. The operator may evaluate the scenario and determine one or more waypoints and/or associated orientations for the vehicle to navigate the scenario. In some examples, the guidance system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s). The service computing device may send the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) to the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computing system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) and, based on the validation, control the vehicle according to the input. Based on a determination that the vehicle has navigated the scenario, the guidance system may release vehicle guidance back to the vehicle computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Caldwell, Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Matthew Miller Young, Rick Zhang
  • Patent number: 11736495
    Abstract: Aspects of validating information sent to and/or received by a computing device, such as a vehicle computing device, are discussed herein. A vehicle may receive information associated with a computing device, the information indicating that the computing device is authorized to provide guidance information to an autonomous vehicle. Further, the vehicle can receive a message comprising the guidance information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can determine that the message is associated with the computing device and can evaluate the message based at least in part on configuration data associated with maneuvering the autonomous vehicle or state information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can be controlled based at least in part on evaluating the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Patent number: 11726473
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an authority tracker to grant and/or limit authority to provide guidance to the vehicle. The authority tracker may store a state in a memory identifying an actor that currently has the authority. An actor requesting to have authority to provide guidance to the vehicle may transmit a control message to the authority tracker which may, in turn, authorize or deny the request based on a policy. The authority tracker may periodically, and/or in response to a request, broadcast a state message identifying the actor that currently has authority, as recorded in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith James Goldman, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11467573
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may identify a scenario in an environment that violates an operating constraint. The vehicle computing system may request remote guidance from a guidance system of a service computing device. The vehicle computing system may receive input from the guidance system including one or more waypoints and/or associated orientations for the vehicle to navigate through the scenario. The vehicle computing system may be configured to validate the input. A validation may include processing the input to determine whether the waypoint(s) and/or orientation(s) associated therewith may cause the vehicle to violate a safety protocol. Based on a determination that the input will not cause the vehicle to violate the safety protocol, the vehicle computing system may control the vehicle according to the input, such as by causing a drive system to operate the vehicle to each waypoint at the associated orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Caldwell, Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Matthew Miller Young, Rick Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220311780
    Abstract: Aspects of validating information sent to and/or received by a computing device, such as a vehicle computing device, are discussed herein. A vehicle may receive information associated with a computing device, the information indicating that the computing device is authorized to provide guidance information to an autonomous vehicle. Further, the vehicle can receive a message comprising the guidance information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can determine that the message is associated with the computing device and can evaluate the message based at least in part on configuration data associated with maneuvering the autonomous vehicle or state information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can be controlled based at least in part on evaluating the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Patent number: 11409278
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and techniques for providing a teleoperation instruction to an autonomous vehicle. While the autonomous vehicle is travelling to a destination, the autonomous vehicle may encounter a situation preventing the autonomous vehicle from travelling to the destination. A control center may receive information from the autonomous device and provide instructions with limited controls for the autonomous vehicle to navigate to an intermediate position. In such an intermediate position, the may make way for an emergency vehicle, obtain additional sensor data for continued autonomous planning, signal intent to other objects in the environment, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Patent number: 11353877
    Abstract: Techniques to provide guidance to a vehicle operating in an environment may include determining a suggested region to block in the environment along a path of the vehicle and causing presentation of the suggested region to block in a user interface of the computer device. Information about the blocked region may be transmitted to one or more vehicles in the environment. Based on the information about the blocked region, at least one of the computer device or a vehicle computer system of the vehicle may control operation of the vehicle to avoid the blocked region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Edward William O'Donnell, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Dennis Schaefer, Wenhao Sheng, Matthew Miller Young
  • Patent number: 11349851
    Abstract: Aspects of validating information sent to and/or received by a computing device, such as a vehicle computing device, are discussed herein. A vehicle may receive information associated with a computing device, the information indicating that the computing device is authorized to provide guidance information to an autonomous vehicle. Further, the vehicle can receive a message comprising the guidance information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can determine that the message is associated with the computing device and can evaluate the message based at least in part on configuration data associated with maneuvering the autonomous vehicle or state information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can be controlled based at least in part on evaluating the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Patent number: 11275370
    Abstract: Techniques and methods for navigating an autonomous vehicle using teleoperator instructions. For instance, while navigating to a location, progress of an autonomous vehicle may stop. This may be caused by the autonomous vehicle yielding to another vehicle, such as at an intersection or when the other vehicle is located along a route of the autonomous vehicle. After yielding for a threshold amount of time, the autonomous vehicle may send sensor data and/or an indication of the other vehicle to the teleoperator. The autonomous vehicle may then receive, from the teleoperator, an instruction to cease yielding to the other vehicle. Based at least in part on the instruction, the autonomous vehicle may again begin navigating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Paul Orecchio
  • Patent number: 11209822
    Abstract: Techniques and methods for contacting a teleoperator. For instance, while navigating to a location, progress of an autonomous vehicle may stop. This may be caused by the autonomous vehicle yielding to another vehicle, such as at an intersection or when the other vehicle is located along a route of the autonomous vehicle. While yielding to the other vehicle, the autonomous vehicle may determine that the progress has stopped for a threshold amount of time. Additionally, in some circumstances, the autonomous vehicle may determine that the progress not been stopped due to traffic or a traffic light. Based at least in part on the determinations, the autonomous vehicle may send sensor data to the teleoperator, where the sensor data represents an environment for which the autonomous vehicle is located. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle may send an indication of the other vehicle to the teleoperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Paul Orecchio
  • Publication number: 20210181750
    Abstract: Techniques to provide guidance to a vehicle operating in an environment may include determining a suggested region to block in the environment along a path of the vehicle and causing presentation of the suggested region to block in a user interface of the computer device. Information about the blocked region may be transmitted to one or more vehicles in the environment. Based on the information about the blocked region, at least one of the computer device or a vehicle computer system of the vehicle may control operation of the vehicle to avoid the blocked region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Edward William O'Donnell, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Dennis Schafer, Wenhao Sheng, Matthew Miller Young
  • Publication number: 20210144152
    Abstract: Aspects of validating information sent to and/or received by a computing device, such as a vehicle computing device, are discussed herein. A vehicle may receive information associated with a computing device, the information indicating that the computing device is authorized to provide guidance information to an autonomous vehicle. Further, the vehicle can receive a message comprising the guidance information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can determine that the message is associated with the computing device and can evaluate the message based at least in part on configuration data associated with maneuvering the autonomous vehicle or state information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can be controlled based at least in part on evaluating the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Publication number: 20210026350
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and techniques for providing a teleoperation instruction to an autonomous vehicle. While the autonomous vehicle is travelling to a destination, the autonomous vehicle may encounter a situation preventing the autonomous vehicle from travelling to the destination. A control center may receive information from the autonomous device and provide instructions with limited controls for the autonomous vehicle to navigate to an intermediate position. In such an intermediate position, the may make way for an emergency vehicle, obtain additional sensor data for continued autonomous planning, signal intent to other objects in the environment, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Publication number: 20210026348
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and techniques for controlling an autonomous vehicle. While the autonomous vehicle is travelling to a destination, the autonomous vehicle may encounter a situation preventing the autonomous vehicle from travelling to the destination. A control center may receive information from the autonomous device and use a graphical user interface to provide instructions with limited controls for the autonomous vehicle to navigate to an intermediate position. In such an intermediate position, the vehicle may make way for an emergency vehicle, obtain additional sensor data for continued autonomous planning, signal intent to other objects in the environment, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman
  • Publication number: 20200409368
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may identify an obstruction along a route of travel and may connect to a service computing device for guidance. The service computing device may include a guidance system configured to receive waypoint and/or orientation input from an operator. The operator may evaluate the scenario and determine one or more waypoints and/or associated orientations for the vehicle to navigate the scenario. In some examples, the guidance system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s). The service computing device may send the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) to the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computing system may validate the waypoint(s) and/or associated orientation(s) and, based on the validation, control the vehicle according to the input. Based on a determination that the vehicle has navigated the scenario, the guidance system may release vehicle guidance back to the vehicle computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Caldwell, Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Frank Reinaldo Ramirez, Matthew Miller Young, Rick Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200409363
    Abstract: Techniques and methods for contacting a teleoperator. For instance, while navigating to a location, progress of an autonomous vehicle may stop. This may be caused by the autonomous vehicle yielding to another vehicle, such as at an intersection or when the other vehicle is located along a route of the autonomous vehicle. While yielding to the other vehicle, the autonomous vehicle may determine that the progress has stopped for a threshold amount of time. Additionally, in some circumstances, the autonomous vehicle may determine that the progress not been stopped due to traffic or a traffic light. Based at least in part on the determinations, the autonomous vehicle may send sensor data to the teleoperator, where the sensor data represents an environment for which the autonomous vehicle is located. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle may send an indication of the other vehicle to the teleoperator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Paul Orecchio
  • Patent number: D980247
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gogna, Meredith James Goldman, Niroth Keo, Dennis Schaefer