Patents by Inventor Michael Aitken

Michael Aitken 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: 11599123
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 11385657
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20210365042
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 11029703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20200150682
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20200142428
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10528059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20190332123
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10372141
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20190138008
    Abstract: A communication system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a plurality of antennas, each operable to transmit and receive communications through a communications protocol of a plurality of communications protocols. The system can further include a communications controller to dynamically select one of the plurality of antennas for transmitting and receiving communications based on a current communications bandwidth associated with the AV in order to optimize bandwidth usage by the communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10243604
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) tracking and updating system tracks locations of AVs traveling throughout a given region. Using a stored network resource map, the system identifies a number of network-limited areas in the given region, and determines when respective AVs will enter one of the network-limited areas. In response, the system transmits a set of configuration commands to a number of proximate AVs to establish a mesh network with the respective AVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10234863
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering systems throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using one or more specified network nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20180341274
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data indicative of a location associated with a user to which an autonomous vehicle is to travel. The autonomous vehicle is to travel along a first vehicle route that leads to the location. The method includes obtaining traffic data associated with a geographic area that includes the location. The method includes determining an estimated traffic impact of the autonomous vehicle on the geographic area based at least in part on the traffic data. The method includes determining vehicle action(s) based at least in part on the estimated traffic impact and causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the vehicle action(s) that include at least one of stopping the autonomous vehicle at least partially in a travel way within a vicinity of the location or travelling along a second vehicle route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20180342157
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Brian Donnelly, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10050760
    Abstract: A backend communications system can manage communications, using transmission control protocol (TCP), between a fleet of AVs in a given region and a backend system that manages transportation for the fleet of AVs. For each of the fleet of AVs, the backend communications system can select a designated one of a plurality of communication channels to transmit and receive transmission acknowledgments (ACKs). The backend communications system can transmit data packets to the fleet of AVs using any number of communication channels and receive ACKs from each of the fleet of AVs over the designated communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10036642
    Abstract: An automated vehicle (AV) can be managed by a backend system and include an acceleration, braking, and steering system, an AV control system to maneuver the AV through road traffic throughout a given region, a memory to store a network resource map indicating locations of base stations and available network types providing coverage from the base stations throughout the given region, a communications array to transmit and receive communications from the backend system, and a communications system. The communications system can utilize the network resource map to dynamically select optimal network types from proximate base stations to communicate data with the backend system, and dynamically configure the communications array to connect with the optimal network types to transmit and receive data with the backend system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10021614
    Abstract: A system for managing network connections for AVs can store a spectrum heat map that indicates network coverage strength for networks throughout a given region. The system can identify a travel route for a selected AV. Using the spectrum heat map, the system can determine a connection schedule for the selected AV. The connection schedule can indicate location points along the travel route at which the selected AV is to switch from previous network connections to succeeding network connections. The system may then transmit the connection schedule to the selected AV to enable the selected AV to switch network connections at the location points along the travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20170277186
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering systems throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using one or more specified network nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 9740205
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to (i) perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and (ii) autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering system throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using a number of specified network nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Publication number: 20170162057
    Abstract: An automated vehicle (AV) can be managed by a backend system and include an acceleration, braking, and steering system, an AV control system to maneuver the AV through road traffic throughout a given region, a memory to store a network resource map indicating locations of base stations and available network types providing coverage from the base stations throughout the given region, a communications array to transmit and receive communications from the backend system, and a communications system. The communications system can utilize the network resource map to dynamically select optimal network types from proximate base stations to communicate data with the backend system, and dynamically configure the communications array to connect with the optimal network types to transmit and receive data with the backend system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken