Patents by Inventor Ryan O'Leary Flatland

Ryan O'Leary Flatland 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: 11834074
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing the wear on vehicles. For instance, a vehicle may include a bidirectional vehicle that operates in a first mode at which a first end of the vehicle operates as a front of the vehicle and a second mode at which a second end of the vehicle operates as the front of the vehicle. As such, the vehicle may store data representing a first distance that the vehicle has traveled while operating in the first mode and a second distance that the vehicle has traveled while operating in the second mode. The vehicle may then detect the occurrence of an event. Based on the occurrence of the event, the vehicle may select a mode for operating the vehicle using the first distance and the second distance. For example, the vehicle may select the mode that is associated with the shortest distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan O'Leary Flatland, Bryan Payton Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11654891
    Abstract: An electronic braking system with independent antilock braking and stability control. The system can utilize a variety of electro-mechanical actuators to apply clamping force to a mechanical brake caliper. The system can include a caliper electronic control unit (CECU) and a wheel speed sensor at each wheel of the vehicle to enable independent slip control, or antilock braking, at each wheel. A separate executive management unit (EMU) can receive data from each electronic caliper, vehicle accelerometers, and other sensors to provide electronic stability control (ESC) independent of antilock braking (ABS) functions. The removal of a conventional master cylinder, brake pedal, ABS pump, brake lines, and other components can reduce weight and complexity. The elimination of hydraulic lines running to a central ABS module and master cylinder can enable modular drive units to be swapped out more quickly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland, Paul Choin
  • Patent number: 11656153
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a method comprising: determining an output torque at a wheel of a vehicle mounted to a test apparatus comprising an external motor, the output torque being in response to a command; determining a correction factor based on the output torque and at least one coefficient associated with a reaction of a component of the vehicle and/or of the test apparatus to an applied torque at the vehicle; and controlling the external motor to apply the correction factor to the wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Thomas Joseph Burrow, Ryan O'Leary Flatland
  • Patent number: 11602999
    Abstract: Demand associated with one or more vehicle systems can be predicted for a vehicle traversing a planned travel path. Based at least in part on the predicted demand, a control strategy can be determined for controlling operation of the one or more vehicle systems to optimize for efficiency, cabin temperature, component temperature, passenger comfort, etc. The one or more vehicle systems can be controlled, based at least in part on the control strategy, at least one of before the vehicle traverses the travel path, or as the vehicle traverses the travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan O'Leary Flatland
  • Publication number: 20200180605
    Abstract: An electronic braking system with independent antilock braking and stability control. The system can utilize a variety of electro-mechanical actuators to apply clamping force to a mechanical brake caliper. The system can include a caliper electronic control unit (CECU) and a wheel speed sensor at each wheel of the vehicle to enable independent slip control, or antilock braking, at each wheel. A separate executive management unit (EMU) can receive data from each electronic caliper, vehicle accelerometers, and other sensors to provide electronic stability control (ESC) independent of antilock braking (ABS) functions. The removal of a conventional master cylinder, brake pedal, ABS pump, brake lines, and other components can reduce weight and complexity. The elimination of hydraulic lines running to a central ABS module and master cylinder can enable modular drive units to be swapped out more quickly and efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland, Paul Choin
  • Patent number: 10589738
    Abstract: An electronic braking system with independent antilock braking and stability control. The system can utilize a variety of electro-mechanical actuators to apply clamping force to a mechanical brake caliper. The system can include a caliper electronic control unit (CECU) and a wheel speed sensor at each wheel of the vehicle to enable independent slip control, or antilock braking, at each wheel. A separate executive management unit (EMU) can receive data from each electronic caliper, vehicle accelerometers, and other sensors to provide electronic stability control (ESC) independent of antilock braking (ABS) functions. The removal of a conventional master cylinder, brake pedal, ABS pump, brake lines, and other components can reduce weight and complexity. The elimination of hydraulic lines running to a central ABS module and master cylinder can enable modular drive units to be swapped out more quickly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland, Paul Choin
  • Patent number: 10322724
    Abstract: Brake force distribution via a combination of mechanical braking and regenerative braking techniques is described. In an example, a brake system of a vehicle can detect a braking action and can cause a first negative force to be distributed across two or more wheel assemblies associated with the vehicle. A control system of the vehicle can send a command to at least a power system of the vehicle to cause the power system to affect a second negative force on a first wheel assembly and a positive force on a second wheel assembly to cause an uneven distribution of brake force between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly. As a result, a combined net braking force is applied to the front wheels—the wheels with the most grip—and a reduced net braking force to is applied to the rear wheels to prevent rear-wheel lock-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Edren, Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland
  • Publication number: 20190152482
    Abstract: Brake force distribution via a combination of mechanical braking and regenerative braking techniques is described. In an example, a brake system of a vehicle can detect a braking action and can cause a first negative force to be distributed across two or more wheel assemblies associated with the vehicle. A control system of the vehicle can send a command to at least a power system of the vehicle to cause the power system to affect a second negative force on a first wheel assembly and a positive force on a second wheel assembly to cause an uneven distribution of brake force between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly. As a result, a combined net braking force is applied to the front wheels—the wheels with the most grip—and a reduced net braking force to is applied to the rear wheels to prevent rear-wheel lock-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Johannes Edren, Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland
  • Patent number: 10189476
    Abstract: Brake force distribution via a combination of mechanical braking and regenerative braking techniques is described. In an example, a brake system of a vehicle can detect a braking action and can cause a first negative force to be distributed across two or more wheel assemblies associated with the vehicle. A control system of the vehicle can send a command to at least a power system of the vehicle to cause the power system to affect a second negative force on a first wheel assembly and a positive force on a second wheel assembly to cause an uneven distribution of brake force between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly. As a result, a combined net braking force is applied to the front wheels—the wheels with the most grip—and a reduced net braking force to is applied to the rear wheels to prevent rear-wheel lock-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Edren, Moritz Boecker, Ryan O'Leary Flatland