Patents by Inventor Thilo SCHAPER

Thilo SCHAPER 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: 11940291
    Abstract: A method for updating a map of the surrounding area wherein the map is used when controlling a transportation vehicle. The transportation vehicle attempts, when travelling along a carriageway, to detect a landmark recorded in the map of the surrounding area using sensors. In response to the transportation vehicle being unable to detect the landmark using its sensors, the transportation vehicle prepares a proposal for deletion which is sent to an external central computer. The proposal for deletion is examined in the external central computer and deletes the landmark from the map of the surrounding area in response to the proposal for deletion being verified. In the method, information regarding a visibility range for the landmark is entered in the map of the surrounding area specifying at what range the landmark is visible from a road permitting a more effective detection of landmarks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Daniel Wilbers, Christian Merfels, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Niklas Koch, Stefan Jürgens, David Perdomo Lopez, Constanze Hungar
  • Patent number: 11532097
    Abstract: A method for estimating the quality of localization using sensor detection, wherein the vehicle detects dynamic objects on the road and in the direct surroundings of the road and estimates the dimensions of the objects. The movement of these objects in the near future is estimated. The outer casings of these objects are entered into a map of the surroundings. From the perspective of the sensors used to detect the features in the surroundings, the limitations of the fields of view and the predicted temporal development thereof resulting from the movement of the transportation vehicle and the predicted movements of the objects are entered into the map of the surroundings. The surrounding features that have been entered into the map of the surroundings and which may at visible in the near future are determined. An upper limit for a measure of the quality of localization is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Wilbers, Christian Merfels, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Niklas Koch, Stefan Jürgens, David Perdomo Lopez, Constanze Hungar
  • Patent number: 11358606
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle incorporates polling regarding the control of the motor vehicle, leading to an improvement in the working conditions of a plurality of evaluation units accessing sensor units of the motor vehicle. Control commands for controlling the motor vehicle are determined from this polling by a conflict checking unit. The conflict checking unit determines the feasibility of the control commands, taking into consideration predetermined verification criteria with regard to conflicts between the individual control commands and the practicability of the individual control commands. The conflict checking unit also determines a control specification for a vehicle control unit based on the feasibilities and certain decision criteria. Finally, the motor vehicle is controlled by use of the vehicle control unit in accordance with the control specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christian Merfels, Bernd Rech, Daniel Wilbers, Thilo Schaper, Constanze Hungar, Niklas Koch, Florian Haubner, Simon Seitle
  • Patent number: 11222543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining traffic information with the aid of a central monitoring device which is in communication with a plurality of fleet vehicles in order to obtain traffic information from the fleet vehicles, wherein within communication with the fleet vehicles the monitoring device transmits targeted measurement requests to the fleet vehicles. In one exemplary aspect, the invention proposes that during the transmission of targeted measurement requests, the monitoring device takes account of the quality of sensors with which the individual fleet vehicle are equipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Merfels, Constanze Hungar, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Daniel Wilbers, Niklas Koch, Florian Haubner, Simon Seitle
  • Publication number: 20210341310
    Abstract: A method for estimating the quality of localization using sensor detection, wherein the vehicle detects dynamic objects on the road and in the direct surroundings of the road and estimates the dimensions of the objects. The movement of these objects in the near future is estimated. The outer casings of these objects are entered into a map of the surroundings. From the perspective of the sensors used to detect the features in the surroundings, the limitations of the fields of view and the predicted temporal development thereof resulting from the movement of the transportation vehicle and the predicted movements of the objects are entered into the map of the surroundings. The surrounding features that have been entered into the map of the surroundings and which may at visible in the near future are determined. An upper limit for a measure of the quality of localization is estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel WILBERS, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Stefan JÜRGENS, David PERDOMO LOPEZ, Constanze HUNGAR
  • Publication number: 20210310823
    Abstract: A method for updating a map of the surrounding area wherein the map is used when controlling a transportation vehicle. The transportation vehicle attempts, when travelling along a carriageway, to detect a landmark recorded in the map of the surrounding area using sensors. In response to the transportation vehicle being unable to detect the landmark using its sensors, the transportation vehicle prepares a proposal for deletion which is sent to an external central computer. The proposal for deletion is examined in the external central computer and deletes the landmark from the map of the surrounding area in response to the proposal for deletion being verified. In the method, information regarding a visibility range for the landmark is entered in the map of the surrounding area specifying at what range the landmark is visible from a road permitting a more effective detection of landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel WILBERS, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Stefan JÜRGENS, David PERDOMO LOPEZ, Constanze HUNGAR
  • Patent number: 11127304
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for determining the location of a datum detected by a transportation vehicle wherein at least one pose estimation is ascertained. An uncertainty of the at least one pose estimation is determined wherein the uncertainty of the pose estimation includes a process of scaling an uncertainty estimation of the pose estimation, wherein the scaling process is based on a comparison of the pose estimation with a priori information. The at least one pose estimation is fused solely with at least one additional pose estimation with a weighting according to the uncertainties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Lukas Fröhlich, Christian Merfels, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Niklas Koch, Daniel Wilbers, Frederik Meysel
  • Publication number: 20210229690
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle incorporates polling regarding the control of the motor vehicle, leading to an improvement in the working conditions of a plurality of evaluation units accessing sensor units of the motor vehicle. Control commands for controlling the motor vehicle are determined from this polling by a conflict checking unit. The conflict checking unit determines the feasibility of the control commands, taking into consideration predetermined verification criteria with regard to conflicts between the individual control commands and the practicability of the individual control commands. The conflict checking unit also determines a control specification for a vehicle control unit based on the feasibilities and certain decision criteria. Finally, the motor vehicle is controlled by use of the vehicle control unit in accordance with the control specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicants: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Daniel WILBERS, Thilo SCHAPER, Constanze HUNGAR, Niklas KOCH, Florian HAUBNER, Simon SEITLE
  • Publication number: 20210035449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining traffic information with the aid of a central monitoring device which is in communication with a plurality of fleet vehicles in order to obtain traffic information from the fleet vehicles, wherein within communication with the fleet vehicles the monitoring device transmits targeted measurement requests to the fleet vehicles. In one exemplary aspect, the invention proposes that during the transmission of targeted measurement requests, the monitoring device takes account of the quality of sensors with which the individual fleet vehicle are equipped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Merfels, Constanze Hungar, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Daniel Wilbers, Niklas Koch, Florian Haubner, Simon Seitle
  • Publication number: 20200200544
    Abstract: A method for providing map data which include position information for first landmarks of a first landmark class, collecting environment data, and determining a position of the mobile unit. Training data are generated and stored for the first landmarks based on the position of the mobile unit, the collected environment data and the position information. Based on the training data, a first detector module is generated for detecting the first landmark class. The position determination system includes a memory unit for providing map data which include position information for first landmarks of a first landmark class, a data acquisition unit for collecting environment data, a localization unit for determining a position of the mobile unit, and a processing unit for generating and storing training data based on the position of the mobile unit, the collected environment data and the position information for the first landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel WILBERS, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Stefan JÜRGENS, David PERDOMO LOPEZ, Constanze HUNGAR, Stefan WAPPLER
  • Publication number: 20200126429
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for determining the location of a datum detected by a transportation vehicle wherein at least one pose estimation is ascertained. An uncertainty of the at least one pose estimation is determined wherein the uncertainty of the pose estimation includes a process of scaling an uncertainty estimation of the pose estimation, wherein the scaling process is based on a comparison of the pose estimation with a priori information. The at least one pose estimation is fused solely with at least one additional pose estimation with a weighting according to the uncertainties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Lukas FRÖHLICH, Christian MERFELS, Bernd RECH, Thilo SCHAPER, Niklas KOCH, Daniel WILBERS, Frederik MEYSEL