Patents by Inventor Nicholas G. Letwin

Nicholas G. Letwin 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).

  • Publication number: 20190385390
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for taking a vehicle out-of-service are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to provide a vehicle service to one or more users of the vehicle service. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. The method includes performing, by the computing devices, one or more of the actions to take the autonomous vehicle out-of-service based at least in part on the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean K. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20190329792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for disabling autonomous vehicle input devices are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes identifying an operating mode of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining one or more vehicle input devices to be disabled based at least in part on the operating mode of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle input devices are located onboard the autonomous vehicle. The method includes disabling the one or more vehicle input devices based at least in part on the identified operating mode of the autonomous vehicle such that an input by a user with respect to the one or more vehicle input devices does not affect an operation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly, Hans Jonas Nilsson, Carl Henrick Mathias Westlund
  • Patent number: 10424135
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for taking a vehicle out-of-service are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to provide a vehicle service to one or more users of the vehicle service. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. The method includes performing, by the computing devices, one or more of the actions to take the autonomous vehicle out-of-service based at least in part on the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20190286165
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, from an autonomy system, data indicative of a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through a surrounding environment. The method includes determining a region of interest in the surrounding environment based at least in part on the planned trajectory. The method includes controlling one or more first sensors to obtain data indicative of the region of interest. The method includes identifying one or more objects in the region of interest, based at least in part on the data obtained by the one or more first sensors. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more objects identified in the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, William M. Leach, Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Noah Zych
  • Patent number: 10395441
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for stopping the motion of a vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a method obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. At least one of the actions includes stopping a motion of the autonomous vehicle. The method includes providing one or more control command signals to one or more of the systems on-board the autonomous vehicle to facilitate stopping the motion of the autonomous vehicle in response to the existence of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10386856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, from an autonomy system, data indicative of a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through a surrounding environment. The method includes determining a region of interest in the surrounding environment based at least in part on the planned trajectory. The method includes controlling one or more first sensors to obtain data indicative of the region of interest. The method includes identifying one or more objects in the region of interest, based at least in part on the data obtained by the one or more first sensors. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more objects identified in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, William M. Leach, Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Noah Zych
  • Patent number: 10343631
    Abstract: Systems and methods for decreasing vehicle power consumption are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes sending one or more first control signals to one or more control systems of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle operating in a first mode and configured to provide a service to one or more users of the service. The one or more control signals cause the one or more control systems to autonomously park the vehicle at the location. The method includes sending, after the autonomous vehicle has autonomously parked at the location, one or more second control signals to the one or more control systems of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to operate in a second mode, wherein the second mode requires less power than the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10343698
    Abstract: Systems and methods for disabling autonomous vehicle input devices are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes identifying an operating mode of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining one or more vehicle input devices to be disabled based at least in part on the operating mode of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle input devices are located onboard the autonomous vehicle. The method includes disabling the one or more vehicle input devices based at least in part on the identified operating mode of the autonomous vehicle such that an input by a user with respect to the one or more vehicle input devices does not affect an operation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly, Hans Jonas Nilsson, Carl Henrick Mathias Westlund
  • Publication number: 20190168724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for brake redundancy for an autonomous vehicle are provided. An autonomous vehicle braking system can include a primary brake control module comprising one or more processors. The primary brake control module can be configured to brake an autonomous vehicle in response to receiving a braking command from a vehicle autonomy system of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle braking system can further include a secondary brake control module comprising one or more processors. The secondary brake control module can be configured to determine a failure of the primary brake control module to brake the autonomous vehicle in response to receiving the braking command. In response to determining the failure of the primary brake control module to brake the autonomous vehicle, the secondary brake control module can be configured to implement a braking action for the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk John VandenBerg, III, Nicholas G. Letwin
  • Patent number: 10249110
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for taking a vehicle out-of-service are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to provide a vehicle service to one or more users of the vehicle service. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. The method includes performing, by the computing devices, one or more of the actions to take the autonomous vehicle out-of-service based at least in part on the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20190039609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data indicative of an operating mode of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes. The method includes determining one or more response characteristics of the vehicle based at least in part on the operating mode of the vehicle, each response characteristic indicating how the vehicle responds to a potential collision. The method includes controlling the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more response characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, William M. Leach, Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Noah Zych
  • Publication number: 20190004538
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, from an autonomy system, data indicative of a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through a surrounding environment. The method includes determining a region of interest in the surrounding environment based at least in part on the planned trajectory. The method includes controlling one or more first sensors to obtain data indicative of the region of interest. The method includes identifying one or more objects in the region of interest, based at least in part on the data obtained by the one or more first sensors. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more objects identified in the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, William M. Leach, Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Noah Zych
  • Publication number: 20180370543
    Abstract: Systems and methods for disabling autonomous vehicle input devices are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes identifying an operating mode of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining one or more vehicle input devices to be disabled based at least in part on the operating mode of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle input devices are located onboard the autonomous vehicle. The method includes disabling the one or more vehicle input devices based at least in part on the identified operating mode of the autonomous vehicle such that an input by a user with respect to the one or more vehicle input devices does not affect an operation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly, Hans Jonas Nilsson, Carl Henrick Mathias Westlund
  • Publication number: 20180362070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle steering mechanism are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining, by a computing system that includes one or more computing devices, data associated with a steering mechanism of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes identifying, by the computing system, a rate of change associated with the steering mechanism of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the steering mechanism. The method includes determining, by the computing system, that the rate of change exceeds a rate limit associated with the steering mechanism of the autonomous vehicle. In response to determining that the rate of change exceeds the rate limit, the method includes adjusting, by the computing system, the steering mechanism of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Nicholas G. Letwin
  • Publication number: 20180314256
    Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a user-reported vehicle condition are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a service request for a vehicle service for a user. The service request is indicative of a location associated with the user. The method includes sending first control signal(s) to an autonomous vehicle that is configured to provide the vehicle service. The first control signal(s) indicate that the autonomous vehicle is to travel to the location associated with the user. The method includes receiving a communication indicative of an existence of a condition that reduces a suitability of the autonomous vehicle to provide the vehicle service. The condition is identified by the user. The method includes determining action(s) to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based, at least in part, on the existence of the condition. The method includes sending second control signal(s) to the autonomous vehicle to perform the action(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10065638
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data indicative of an operating mode of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes. The method includes determining one or more response characteristics of the vehicle based at least in part on the operating mode of the vehicle, each response characteristic indicating how the vehicle responds to a potential collision. The method includes controlling the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more response characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, William M. Leach, Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Noah Zych
  • Patent number: 10025310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a user-reported vehicle condition are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a service request for a vehicle service for a user. The service request is indicative of a location associated with the user. The method includes sending first control signal(s) to an autonomous vehicle that is configured to provide the vehicle service. The first control signal(s) indicate that the autonomous vehicle is to travel to the location associated with the user. The method includes receiving a communication indicative of an existence of a condition that reduces a suitability of the autonomous vehicle to provide the vehicle service. The condition is identified by the user. The method includes determining action(s) to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based, at least in part, on the existence of the condition. The method includes sending second control signal(s) to the autonomous vehicle to perform the action(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180178741
    Abstract: Systems and methods for decreasing vehicle power consumption are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes sending one or more first control signals to one or more control systems of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle operating in a first mode and configured to provide a service to one or more users of the service. The one or more control signals cause the one or more control systems to autonomously park the vehicle at the location. The method includes sending, after the autonomous vehicle has autonomously parked at the location, one or more second control signals to the one or more control systems of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to operate in a second mode, wherein the second mode requires less power than the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180164813
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for taking a vehicle out-of-service are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to provide a vehicle service to one or more users of the vehicle service. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. The method includes performing, by the computing devices, one or more of the actions to take the autonomous vehicle out-of-service based at least in part on the fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180164815
    Abstract: Systems and methods for addressing a user-reported vehicle condition are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a service request for a vehicle service for a user. The service request is indicative of a location associated with the user. The method includes sending first control signal(s) to an autonomous vehicle that is configured to provide the vehicle service. The first control signal(s) indicate that the autonomous vehicle is to travel to the location associated with the user. The method includes receiving a communication indicative of an existence of a condition that reduces a suitability of the autonomous vehicle to provide the vehicle service. The condition is identified by the user. The method includes determining action(s) to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based, at least in part, on the existence of the condition. The method includes sending second control signal(s) to the autonomous vehicle to perform the action(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly