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: 20180164798
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a control device for user control of an autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface configured to physically couple the control device to an autonomous vehicle to allow communication with the autonomous vehicle. The control device includes an input device configured to receive user input for controlling one or more features of the autonomous vehicle when the communication interface is coupled to the autonomous vehicle. The control device includes one or more computing devices configured to provide one or more control signals to the autonomous vehicle via the communication interface to allow a user to control the autonomous vehicle via the input device. The autonomous vehicle is in a control mode that allows the user to control the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Scott C. Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180165895
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180164814
    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
  • Patent number: 9817400
    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: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9811086
    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: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Poeppel, Nicholas G. Letwin, Sean J. Kelly