Patents by Inventor Michael T. Chan

Michael T. Chan 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: 10809376
    Abstract: Surveillance systems and methods taught herein provide automated detection and classification of objects of interest in a submerged or underwater environment such as a body of water. The sonar systems and methods taught herein can detect and classify a variety of objects in echograms without feedback or instructions from a human operator. The sonar systems and methods taught herein include a data model that is partially trained using non-echogram image data and can associate geolocation information with detected objects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Daniel J. Scarafoni, Alexander C. Bockman
  • Patent number: 10618673
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein incorporate autonomous navigation using a vision-based guidance system. The vision-based guidance system enables autonomous trajectory planning and motion execution by the described systems and methods without feedback or communication with external operators. The systems and methods described herein can autonomously track an object of interest while seeking to obtain a diversity of views of the object of interest to aid in object identification. The systems and methods described include a robust reacquisition methodology. By handling navigation and tracking autonomously, systems described herein can react more quickly to non-cooperative moving objects of interest and can operate in situations where communications with external operators is compromised or absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Ronald Duarte
  • Publication number: 20190033447
    Abstract: Surveillance systems and methods taught herein provide automated detection and classification of objects of interest in a submerged or underwater environment such as a body of water. The sonar systems and methods taught herein can detect and classify a variety of objects in echograms without feedback or instructions from a human operator. The sonar systems and methods taught herein include a data model that is partially trained using non-echogram image data and can associate geolocation information with detected objects of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Daniel J. Scarafoni, Alexander C. Bockman
  • Patent number: 9864923
    Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method includes accessing image data representing a plurality of images of a plurality of vehicles and reading a data model representing a predefined vehicle attribute. The method further includes processing a portion of the image data to detect a vehicle feature of at least one of the vehicles represented in at least one of the images based on the predefined vehicle attribute, and processing the portion of the image data to generate vehicle data representing the detected vehicle feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Jason R. Thornton, Aaron Z. Yahr, Heather Zwahlen
  • Publication number: 20170301109
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein incorporate autonomous navigation using a vision-based guidance system. The vision-based guidance system enables autonomous trajectory planning and motion execution by the described systems and methods without feedback or communication with external operators. The systems and methods described herein can autonomously track an object of interest while seeking to obtain a diversity of views of the object of interest to aid in object identification. The systems and methods described include a robust reacquisition methodology. By handling navigation and tracking autonomously, systems described herein can react more quickly to non-cooperative moving objects of interest and can operate in situations where communications with external operators is compromised or absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Ronald Duarte
  • Publication number: 20160321519
    Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method includes accessing image data representing a plurality of images of a plurality of vehicles and reading a data model representing a predefined vehicle attribute. The method further includes processing a portion of the image data to detect a vehicle feature of at least one of the vehicles represented in at least one of the images based on the predefined vehicle attribute, and processing the portion of the image data to generate vehicle data representing the detected vehicle feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Jason R. Thornton, Aaron Z. Yahr, Heather Zwahlen
  • Patent number: 9373033
    Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method includes accessing image data representing a plurality of images of a plurality of vehicles and reading a data model representing a predefined vehicle attribute. The method further includes processing a portion of the image data to detect a vehicle feature of at least one of the vehicles represented in at least one of the images based on the predefined vehicle attribute, and processing the portion of the image data to generate vehicle data representing the detected vehicle feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Jason R. Thornton, Aaron Z. Yahr, Heather Zwahlen
  • Publication number: 20160148072
    Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method includes accessing image data representing a plurality of images of a plurality of vehicles and reading a data model representing a predefined vehicle attribute. The method further includes processing a portion of the image data to detect a vehicle feature of at least one of the vehicles represented in at least one of the images based on the predefined vehicle attribute, and processing the portion of the image data to generate vehicle data representing the detected vehicle feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Jason R. Thornton, Aaron Z. Yahr, Heather Zwahlen