Patents by Inventor Patrick Blaes
Patrick Blaes 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: 12264938Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Derek Adams, Patrick Blaes, Aleksandrs Ecins, Jesse Sol Levinson, Daniel Miller
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Publication number: 20250076486Abstract: Vehicle computing systems may receive and fuse long-wave infrared data with radar data to detect and track objects in low-visibility driving environments. In some examples, radar data including position and velocity data may be projected over infrared image data to detect, classify, and track infrared-emitting objects. Machine-learned transformer models with attention also may be trained to output object detections based on combined infrared and radar data. The fusion of infrared and radar data may be used individual and/or may be synchronized with other sensor modalities. In some examples, the fusion and analysis of infrared and radar data may be used in specific low-visibility driving environments, using low-light, fog, and shadowed areas of the environment, to detect and track infrared-emitting and/or moving objects such as pedestrians and animals that may be obscured from detection by other sensor modalities.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Philippe Martin Burlina, Patrick Blaes, Yifan Zuo, Subhasis Das
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Patent number: 12241756Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged or aligned to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Hirotatsu Armstrong, Patrick Blaes, Michael Carsten Bosse, Jeffrey Eric Tolliver
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Patent number: 12221115Abstract: Techniques for updating data operations in a perception system are discussed herein. A vehicle may use a perception system to capture data about an environment proximate to the vehicle. The perception system may output the data about the environment to a system configured to determine positions of objects relative to the perception system over time. The positions of the objects may be used to estimate an object velocity and may be compared against machine learning model outputs in a self-supervised manner to train the machine learning model to output object velocities based on inputs from the perception system. The output of the machine learning model may include a two-dimensional velocity for objects in the environment. The two-dimensional velocity may be used for a vehicle system such that the vehicle can make environmentally aware operational decisions, which may improve reaction time(s) and/or safety outcomes of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Jifei Qian
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Patent number: 12189026Abstract: Techniques for detecting and modifying radar data anomalies using multistage clustering are described herein. In some examples, radar data including a set of radar points may be captured by a vehicle operating within an environment. The vehicle may determine a radar point subset by clustering the radar data based on the range and doppler values of the radar points. The vehicle may analyze the azimuth values associated with the radar point subset, including evaluating the azimuth values of the radar point subset relative to one or more azimuth error ranges determined based on the radar antenna configuration and/or multipath detections. When detecting anomalous and/or invalid radar points having azimuth values within an azimuth error range, the vehicle may modify the subset of radar points to mitigate the anomalous or invalid radar points.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Badeea Ferdaous Alferdaous Alazem, Patrick Blaes
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Publication number: 20240110811Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Derek Adams, Patrick Blaes, Aleksandrs Ecins, Jesse Sol Levinson, Daniel Miller
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Publication number: 20240094029Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged or aligned to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Hirotatsu Armstrong, Patrick Blaes, Michael Carsten Bosse, Jeffrey Eric Tolliver
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Patent number: 11915436Abstract: Techniques for integrating sensor data into a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. The data may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space and the techniques may comprise first applying a pre-alignment or localization technique prior to fully integrating the sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: ZOOX, INC.Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Michael Carsten Bosse, Elena Stephanie Stumm, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Publication number: 20230384419Abstract: Techniques for estimating a ground plane based on lidar data and/or attributes of the ground plane are discussed herein. A vehicle captures radar data, e.g., 4D radar data including height information, as it traverses an environment. The radar data can include direct returns from an object and reflected or multipath returns, e.g., that reflect off a ground surface and the object. A position of the ground plane can be estimated based at least in part on a distance between direct returns and the reflected returns. Attributes of the ground plane may be determined from differences between the direct returns and the reflected returns.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Badeea Ferdaous Alferdaous Alazem
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Patent number: 11761791Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Derek Adams, Patrick Blaes, Aleksandrs Ecins, Jesse Sol Levinson, Daniel Miller
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Patent number: 11656329Abstract: This disclosure is directed to calibrating sensors for an autonomous vehicle. First sensor data and second sensor data can be captured by one or more sensors representing an environment. The first sensor data and the second sensor data can be associated with a grid in a plurality of combinations to generate a plurality of projected data. A number of data points of the projected data occupying a cell of the grid can be summed to determine a spatial histogram. An amount of error (such as an entropy value) can be determined for each of the projected data, and the projected data corresponding to the lowest entropy value can be selected as representing a calibrated configuration of the one or more sensors. Calibration data associated with the lowest entropy value can be determined and used to calibrate the one or more sensors, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Daniel Miller
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Publication number: 20230024326Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Patrick Blaes, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Patent number: 11430087Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Patrick Blaes, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Patent number: 11288861Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Patrick Blaes, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Patent number: 11079492Abstract: A vehicle may include a localization and/or mapping component to understand what surrounds the autonomous vehicle and where it is in relation to the surroundings. The localization and/or mapping component may receive sensor data from sensor(s) of the vehicle and generate a map and/or position and/or orientation from the sensor data according to parameters that configure the way the localization and/or mapping component generates the map and/or position/orientation. A computing device may dynamically adjust these parameters, thereby changing the way the map and/or position/orientation are generated. This adjustment may be based on a condition detected from the sensor data and may increase a clarity (e.g., degree of distinctness/clarity) of the generated map and/or position/orientation.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Elena Stephanie Stumm, Patrick Blaes
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Publication number: 20210192840Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Patrick Blaes, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Publication number: 20210192689Abstract: Techniques for representing a scene or map based on statistical data of captured environmental data are discussed herein. In some cases, the data (such as covariance data, mean data, or the like) may be stored as a multi-resolution voxel space that includes a plurality of semantic layers. In some instances, individual semantic layers may include multiple voxel grids having differing resolutions. Multiple multi-resolution voxel spaces may be merged to generate combined scenes based on detected voxel covariances at one or more resolutions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Patrick Blaes, Derek Adams, Brice Rebsamen
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Publication number: 20210055380Abstract: This disclosure is directed to calibrating sensors for an autonomous vehicle. First sensor data and second sensor data can be captured by one or more sensors representing an environment. The first sensor data and the second sensor data can be associated with a grid in a plurality of combinations to generate a plurality of projected data. A number of data points of the projected data occupying a cell of the grid can be summed to determine a spatial histogram. An amount of error (such as an entropy value) can be determined for each of the projected data, and the projected data corresponding to the lowest entropy value can be selected as representing a calibrated configuration of the one or more sensors. Calibration data associated with the lowest entropy value can be determined and used to calibrate the one or more sensors, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Daniel Miller
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Publication number: 20210041250Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Derek Adams, Patrick Blaes, Aleksandrs Ecins, Jesse Sol Levinson, Daniel Miller
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Patent number: 10830871Abstract: This disclosure is directed to calibrating sensors for an autonomous vehicle. First sensor data and second sensor data can be captured by one or more sensors representing an environment. The first sensor data and the second sensor data can be associated with a grid in a plurality of combinations to generate a plurality of projected data. A number of data points of the projected data occupying a cell of the grid can be summed to determine a spatial histogram. An amount of error (such as an entropy value) can be determined for each of the projected data, and the projected data corresponding to the lowest entropy value can be selected as representing a calibrated configuration of the one or more sensors. Calibration data associated with the lowest entropy value can be determined and used to calibrate the one or more sensors, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Blaes, Daniel Miller