Patents by Inventor Michael Hafner
Michael Hafner 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: 12630153Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to formulate a plurality of constraints, determine a final input modification to a nominal input that minimizes a cost function subject to the constraints, and actuate a component of a vehicle according to the nominal input and the final input modification. Each constraint indicates a respective obstacle relative to the vehicle. Each constraint is represented as a linear inequality in a two-dimensional space with dimensions for acceleration and steering angle. The nominal input includes a nominal acceleration and a nominal steering angle. The final input modification includes a final change to the nominal acceleration and a final change to the nominal steering angle. The computer determines the final input modification by individually calculating the cost function for a plurality of potential input modifications that are on the constraints.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2023Date of Patent: May 19, 2026Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erol Dogan Sumer, Ehsan Arabi, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Alex Maurice Miller, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 12617398Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The computer is programmed to determine a target location for a vehicle; based on a vehicle speed and a distance to the target location, determine a tunable acceleration parameter; determine a constraint, based on the tunable acceleration parameter, for a control barrier function to that outputs an acceleration to stop the vehicle at the target location; and upon solving the control barrier function to satisfy the constraint, actuate the vehicle to decelerate based on the acceleration output from the control barrier function.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: May 5, 2026Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Creighton, Michael Hafner, Andrew Fallon, Timothy Zwicky, Abhishek Sharma
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Publication number: 20260001542Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to formulate a plurality of control barrier functions for a host vehicle, each control barrier function based on a respective kinematic state of a respective target vehicle; determine respective CBF input accelerations based on the respective control barrier functions; formulate a control-Lyapunov function for the host vehicle based on a target speed for the host vehicle; determine a Lyapunov input acceleration based on the control-Lyapunov function; select an input acceleration from an acceleration set including the CBF input accelerations and the Lyapunov input acceleration; and actuate a component of the host vehicle according to the selected input acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2024Publication date: January 1, 2026Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon M. Dawson, Ozgenur Kavas Torris, Imad Makki, Michael Hafner, Abhishek Sharma, Yousaf Rahman, Erol Dogan Sumer, Yan Wang
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Patent number: 12330633Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle and the obstacle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function and a combination function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The combination function is a sum of a first function weighted by a first weight and a second function weighted by a second weight, and the first weight and the second weight are based on a kinematic state of the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Publication number: 20250178597Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to formulate a plurality of constraints, determine a final input modification to a nominal input that minimizes a cost function subject to the constraints, and actuate a component of a vehicle according to the nominal input and the final input modification. Each constraint indicates a respective obstacle relative to the vehicle. Each constraint is represented as a linear inequality in a two-dimensional space with dimensions for acceleration and steering angle. The nominal input includes a nominal acceleration and a nominal steering angle. The final input modification includes a final change to the nominal acceleration and a final change to the nominal steering angle. The computer determines the final input modification by individually calculating the cost function for a plurality of potential input modifications that are on the constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2023Publication date: June 5, 2025Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erol Dogan Sumer, Ehsan Arabi, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Alex Maurice Miller, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 12296845Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a computer programmed to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, upon identifying an object, to identify a plurality of points on the object based on received sensor data, to determine a barrier function based on each of the identified plurality of points, wherein the barrier function includes a barrier distance from a reference point of the virtual boundary of the vehicle to a respective one of the points on the object, based on (i) the determined barrier functions, (ii) the determined virtual boundary of the vehicle, and (iii) an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to adjust at least one of a vehicle steering or a vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2022Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Patent number: 12233857Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The control barrier function is defined with respect to a reference point that is spaced from a centroid of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohit Srinivasan, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Abhishek Sharma, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Patent number: 12172636Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, to identify one or more objects based on vehicle sensor data, based on the identified one or more objects, the determined virtual boundary, and an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to perform at least one of adjusting a vehicle steering and a vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Publication number: 20240208989Abstract: A compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is wherein A is hydrogen atom or a (C1-6)alkyl, and wherein any Q is independently from each other a nitrogen atom or CH, wherein R2 is the compound for use as a medicament and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound as well as a method of treatment or prevention a disease mediated by microbes making use thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2022Publication date: June 27, 2024Inventors: Rosemarie Riedl, Susanne Paukner, Wolfgang Wicha, Klaus Thirring, Dirk Strickmann, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20240199015Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The computer is programmed to determine a target location for a vehicle; based on a vehicle speed and a distance to the target location, determine a tunable acceleration parameter; determine a constraint, based on the tunable acceleration parameter, for a control barrier function to that outputs an acceleration to stop the vehicle at the target location; and upon solving the control barrier function to satisfy the constraint, actuate the vehicle to decelerate based on the acceleration output from the control barrier function.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Creighton, Michael Hafner, Andrew Fallon, Timothy Zwicky, Abhishek Sharma
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Publication number: 20240051523Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The control barrier function is defined with respect to a reference point that is spaced from a centroid of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohit Srinivasan, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Abhishek Sharma, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Publication number: 20230399002Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a virtual barrier around a vehicle based on receiving a first user input and data indicating a vehicle sprung mass, upon receiving a second user input selecting the virtual barrier, to determine an updated virtual barrier based on the received second user input, upon determining the virtual barrier, to verify that the virtual barrier satisfies one or more vehicle parameters; and to provide output based on the virtual barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erol Dogan Sumer, Abhishek Sharma, Mohit Srinivasan, Alexander Jaeckel, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Aakar Mehra
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Patent number: 11827217Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second virtual boundaries of a roadway lane based on a predicted boundary between the roadway lane and an adjacent roadway lane, determine a first constraint value based on a first virtual boundary approach acceleration, determine a second constraint value based on a second virtual boundary approach acceleration, output a prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input when one of the constraint values violates a respective threshold, and actuate components to attain the prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input. The first virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of a vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle. The second virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of the vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Mario Anthony Santillo
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Publication number: 20230373471Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle and the obstacle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function and a combination function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The combination function is a sum of a first function weighted by a first weight and a second function weighted by a second weight, and the first weight and the second weight are based on a kinematic state of the obstacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2022Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Patent number: 11673548Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a virtual boundary between a host roadway lane of a host vehicle and a target roadway lane of a target vehicle, the virtual boundary based on a predicted path of the target vehicle, determine a first constraint value based on a boundary approach velocity of the target vehicle, determine a second constraint value based on (1) a boundary approach velocity of the host vehicle and (2) a boundary approach acceleration of the host vehicle and perform a threat assessment of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle upon determining that the first constraint value violates a first threshold or the second constraint value violates a second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Mario A. Santillo, Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20230174472Abstract: A compound of formula (I) wherein n is 0 to 4; m is 0 or 1 with the proviso that the sulphur atom and R3 are in vicinal position (if m=0 then R3 is in position 2?, and if m=1 then R3 is on position 1?); R is ethyl or vinyl; R1 is hydrogen or (C1-6)alkyl, R2 is hydrogen or (C3-6)cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted (C1-6)alkyl, or (C1-6)alkyl substituted by one or more of hydroxy; preferably one or two, methoxy, halogen, (C3-6)cycloalkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring containing at least 1 nitrogen atom or 1 nitrogen and 1 additional heteroatom e. g.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Michael Hafner, Susanne Paukner, Wolfgang Wicha, Rosemarie Riedl, Zrinka Ivezic-Schoenfeld
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Publication number: 20230150532Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a computer programmed to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, upon identifying an object, to identify a plurality of points on the object based on received sensor data, to determine a barrier function based on each of the identified plurality of points, wherein the barrier function includes a barrier distance from a reference point of the virtual boundary of the vehicle to a respective one of the points on the object, based on (i) the determined barrier functions, (ii) the determined virtual boundary of the vehicle, and (iii) an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to adjust at least one of a vehicle steering or a vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Publication number: 20230150485Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, to identify one or more objects based on vehicle sensor data, based on the identified one or more objects, the determined virtual boundary, and an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to perform at least one of adjusting a vehicle steering and a vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
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Publication number: 20230020503Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to determine a first action based on inputting sensor data to a deep reinforcement learning neural network and transform the first action to one or more first commands. One or more second commands can be determined by inputting the one or more first commands to control barrier functions and transforming the one or more second commands to a second action. A reward function can be determined by comparing the second action to the first action. The one or more second commands can be output.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yousaf Rahman, Subramanya Nageshrao, Michael Hafner, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Dimitar Petrov Filev
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Publication number: 20220073063Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a virtual boundary between a host roadway lane of a host vehicle and a target roadway lane of a target vehicle, the virtual boundary based on a predicted path of the target vehicle, determine a first constraint value based on a boundary approach velocity of the target vehicle, determine a second constraint value based on (1) a boundary approach velocity of the host vehicle and (2) a boundary approach acceleration of the host vehicle and perform a threat assessment of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle upon determining that the first constraint value violates a first threshold or the second constraint value violates a second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: March 10, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Mario A. Santillo, Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner