Automatic Route Guidance Vehicle Patents (Class 701/23)
  • Patent number: 11829156
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a sensor system configured to detect an environment in a field of view of the autonomous vehicle and to output data of the detected environment. A computing system of the autonomous vehicle can detect that a portion of a roadway along a route of the autonomous vehicle in the field of view of the autonomous vehicle is obscured. Responsive to the detection of the obscured portion of the roadway, the computing system can transmit a request for a second autonomous vehicle to view the portion of the roadway. The computing system can receive fill data representative of an output of a second sensor system of the second autonomous vehicle detecting the portion of the roadway in a field of view of the second autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Cox
  • Patent number: 11827217
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second virtual boundaries of a roadway lane based on a predicted boundary between the roadway lane and an adjacent roadway lane, determine a first constraint value based on a first virtual boundary approach acceleration, determine a second constraint value based on a second virtual boundary approach acceleration, output a prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input when one of the constraint values violates a respective threshold, and actuate components to attain the prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input. The first virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of a vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle. The second virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of the vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Mario Anthony Santillo
  • Patent number: 11827242
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and a drunk driving responding method, includes an autonomous driving control apparatus including a processor that is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in an emergency situation when the alcohol is detected in the vehicle, and to move the vehicle to an operational design domain when the processor concludes that the vehicle is in the emergency situation, and a communication device that is configured to notify a government office or a rescue organization of the emergency situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seo Hyung Cheon, Eun Young Choi, Woo Jin Kim, Rosali Sun Pyun, Ki Seok Seong, Dong Il Yang, Min Sang Yu
  • Patent number: 11823594
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to develop driving simulations. An example apparatus includes a vehicle configuration engine to retrieve first tier environment parameters associated with a simulation type, and generate second tier environment parameters associated with the simulation type, a simulation modifier (SM) source engine to identify a source of SMs, and distinguish respective ones of the source of SMs that are compatible with the simulation type and the second tier environment parameters, and a development environment configuration engine to improve simulation design efficiency by associating simulation events with only the respective ones of the SMs that are compatible with the simulation type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ignacio Alvarez, Laura Rumbel, Adam Jordan, Carlos Montesinos
  • Patent number: 11820369
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention apparatus (17) has: a departure preventing device (172) for preventing a vehicle (1) from departing from a driving lane by controlling at least one of a steering apparatus (142) and a braking apparatus (13) selected on the basis of a state of the vehicle, when it is determined that the vehicle may depart from the driving lane; and a determining device for determining whether or not an abnormality condition that it is difficult for a person to normally drive the vehicle is satisfied, the departure preventing device prevents the vehicle from departing from the driving lane by controlling the braking apparatus even if the state of the vehicle is not a predetermined state in which the departure preventing device should prevent the vehicle from departing from the driving lane by controlling the braking apparatus, when it is determined that the abnormality condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Ikeda, Ryo Inomata, Akira Nagae, Hironori Ito
  • Patent number: 11823460
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for fusing scenes from real-time image feeds from on-vehicle cameras in autonomous vehicles to reduce redundancy of the information processed to enable real-time autonomous operation are described. One example of a method for improving perception in an autonomous vehicle includes receiving a plurality of cropped images, wherein each of the plurality of cropped images comprises one or more bounding boxes that correspond to one or more objects in a corresponding cropped image; identifying, based on the metadata in the plurality of cropped images, a first bounding box in a first cropped image and a second bounding box in a second cropped image, wherein the first and second bounding boxes correspond to a common object; and fusing the metadata corresponding to the common object from the first cropped image and the second cropped image to generate an output result for the common object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Yijie Wang, Siyuan Liu, Lingting Ge, Zehua Huang
  • Patent number: 11822340
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for robot path planning. Depth data of obstacles, acquired by depth sensors deployed in a 3D robot workspace and represented with respect to a sensor coordinate system, is transformed into depth data with respect to a robot coordinate system. The 3D robot workspace is discretized to generate 3D grid points representing a discretized 3D robot workspace. Based on the depth data with respect to the robot coordinate system, binarized values are assigned to at least some of 3D grid points to generate a binarized representation for the obstacles present in the 3D robot workspace. With respect to one or more sensing points associated with a part of a robot, it is determined whether the part is to collide with any obstacle. Based on the determining, a path is planned for the robot to move along while avoiding any obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: EDDA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Guo-Qing Wei, Yuanfeng Mao, Li Fan, Xiaolan Zeng, Jianzhong Qian
  • Patent number: 11822011
    Abstract: The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Mingcheng Chen, Benjamin Pitzer, Pierre-Yves Droz, William Grossman
  • Patent number: 11820373
    Abstract: Techniques for analysis of autonomous vehicle operations are described. As an example, a method of autonomous vehicle operation includes storing sensor data from one or more sensors located on the autonomous vehicle into a storage medium, performing, based on at least some of the sensor data, a simulated execution of one or more programs associated with the operations of the autonomous vehicle, generating, based on the simulated execution of the one or more programs and as part of a simulation, one or more control signal values that control a simulated driving behavior of a simulated vehicle, and providing a visual feedback of the simulated driving behavior of the simulated vehicle on a simulated road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Yixin Yang, Dinghua Li
  • Patent number: 11823466
    Abstract: A characteristic of a flicker component is detected to perform object detection at a higher speed and with higher accuracy. An object detection device according to an embodiment is provided with a solid-state imaging device (200) provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the solid-state imaging device that detects, according to a light amount incident on each of the pixels, occurrence of an event in the pixel, a flicker detection unit (12) that generates flicker information on the basis of the occurrence of the event detected by the solid-state imaging device, and an object detection unit (15) that detects an object on the basis of the flicker information detected by the solid-state imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Nakagawa, Shin Kitano
  • Patent number: 11820398
    Abstract: A learning apparatus configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of equipment in which learning models are mounted, wherein when first equipment among the plurality of equipment in which a learning model trained using training data sets acquired in a predetermined first area is mounted and which is controlled by the same is used in a predetermined second area, the learning apparatus uses training data sets acquired in the second area to relearn the learning model mounted in the first equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Ryo Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11820428
    Abstract: The autonomous LC control is started in response to receiving a start instruction of autonomous lane change. When the driver performs a steering intervention in a same direction as a direction of steering requested by the autonomous LC control, and establishment of a stop condition of lane change is not recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, the autonomous driving control is continued. When the steering intervention in the same direction is performed, and establishment of the stop condition is recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, termination of the autonomous driving control is announced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 11815889
    Abstract: A driving risk classification and prevention system for a vehicle being autonomously and manually driven, includes an orientation unit for confirming a location of the vehicle, an exterior sensing unit for sensing first information external to the vehicle, and an autonomous driving risk sensing unit for sensing second information which endanger autonomous driving of the vehicle. A communications unit is linked to the orientation unit for receiving third information corresponding to the location. A risk prevention unit is linked to the orientation unit, the exterior sensing unit, the autonomous driving risk sensing unit, and the communications unit. The risk prevention unit is used for generating a first index according to the first information, generating a second index according to the third information, generating a third index according to the second information, and determining whether a safety operation is performed according to the first index and the second index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: XPT (NANJING) E-POWERTRAIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bou-Chen Kuo, Mu-Jen Huang, Ya-Li Tai, Tianle Chen
  • Patent number: 11815903
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing supplemental identification abilities to an autonomous vehicle system. The sensor unit of the vehicle may be configured to receive data indicating an environment of the vehicle, while the control system may be configured to operate the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a processing unit configured to analyze the data indicating the environment to determine at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold. Based on the at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold, the processor may communicate at least a subset of the data indicating the environment for further processing. The vehicle is also configured to receive an indication of an object confirmation of the subset of the data. Based on the object confirmation of the subset of the data, the processor may alter the control of the vehicle by the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Ian Ferguson, Wan-Yen Lo, Nathaniel Fairfield
  • Patent number: 11815894
    Abstract: Provided is an autonomous versatile robotic chassis, including: a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; one or more motors to drive the set of wheels; at least one storage compartment within which one or more items for delivery are placed during transportation; a processor; one or more sensors; a camera; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: generating, with the processor, a map of an environment; localizing, with the processor, the robotic chassis; receiving, with the processor, a request for delivery of the one or more items to a first location; generating, with the processor, a movement path to the first location from a current location; and instructing, with the processor, the robotic chassis to transport the one or more items to the first location by navigating along the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Shahin Fathi Djalali, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11815896
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Renaud-Roland Hubert, Jennifer Arden, Min Li Chan
  • Patent number: 11807278
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for autonomous vehicle passenger safety monitoring following an autonomous vehicle route. In particular, an autonomous vehicle waits for a selected time period after a passenger exits the vehicle. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle remains until the passenger has entered a building at the passenger's destination. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle remains until the passenger is no longer detectable by the vehicle's sensors. During the waiting period, the passenger may choose to re-enter the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Willem Gerrese, Jeremy Stephen Juel, Yifei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11809176
    Abstract: A system for automated formation flight is disclosed. The system may include a formation commander sub-system including a task-based interface configured to receive a sequence of one or more task-based commands along with one or more sets of task-based options for each of the one or more task-based commands from an operator using one or more task-based selectable buttons of the task-based interface. The system may further include a formation manger sub-system communicatively coupled to the formation commander sub-system. Each vehicle of one or more vehicles within one or more teams may be configured to employ the formation manager sub-system. The formation manager sub-system may be configured to receive the one or more task-based commands along with the one or more sets of task-based options for each vehicle to perform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan M. Krawiec
  • Patent number: 11809188
    Abstract: A traveling work machine includes a position detector capable of obtaining position information of a machine body based on a positioning signal from a navigation satellite, an end determiner capable of determining the end of each of a plurality of instances of work travel, a start position calculator capable of calculating start positions Ls and Ls2, and a display capable of displaying information pertaining to the turning travel. When the end determiner determines the end of the work travel, the start position calculator calculates, based on the position information, the start position Ls2 on one of the left and right with respect to the travel direction of the machine body during the work travel, and the display displays guidance information guiding the turning travel to the start position Ls2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunya Takase, Hiroki Suga, Koji Matsuda, Shunsuke Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11805732
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes a harvested crop repository having a fill capacity, a crop processing system configured to engage crop in a field, perform a crop processing operation on the crop, and move the processed crop to the harvested crop repository, a fill level sensor configured to generate a fill level signal indicative of a current fill level of the harvested crop repository, and a control system configured to obtain a machine path definition that represents a machine path for the agricultural harvesting machine, wherein the machine path definition defines a turn pattern and a land size of a land in the field, identify a rendezvous point in the field for the agricultural harvesting machine and a haulage vehicle based on the machine path definition, and generate a control signal based on the rendezvous point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Matthew D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11802533
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having a user interface and a computing system that is in communication with the user interface. The computing system may have at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions may cause the at least one processor to output information through the user interface to inform the passenger of an action that the passenger needs to enact prior to the autonomous vehicle beginning to move and determine, based upon an occurrence of the action that the passenger needs to enact, whether the autonomous vehicle is permitted to begin moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jacqueline Shannon, Stephanie Olivia Engle, Albert Boniske
  • Patent number: 11803184
    Abstract: Among other things, methods for generating maps using hyper-graph data structures are disclosed. The method can include receiving and storing data from at least one sensor of a vehicle in an environment. The method can include generating, based on the received data, a graph, having at least one node corresponding to at least one subgraph. The at least one subgraph can include subgraph nodes corresponding to geographical and/or logical positions. The subgraph nodes can be connected by subgraph edges representing spatial constraints and/or logical connections. The at least one subgraph can include contextual data classifying each of the subgraph nodes according to a property of the environment associated with the subgraph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventor: Taigo Maria Bonanni
  • Patent number: 11801851
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a failover response of an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes determining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, an operational mode of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to operate in at least a first operational mode in which a human driver is present in the autonomous vehicle and a second operational mode in which the human driver is not present in the autonomous vehicle. The method includes detecting a triggering event associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle in response to the triggering event based at least in part on the operational mode. The method includes providing one or more control signals to one or more of the systems on-board the autonomous vehicle to perform the one or more actions in response to the triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Morgan D. Jones, Michael John Dacko, Brian Thomas Kirby
  • Patent number: 11801852
    Abstract: A method performed by an autonomous vehicle includes identifying a condition preventing the autonomous vehicle from proceeding along an intended route. The method also includes prompting a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to interact with a driver of a first vehicle in response to identifying the condition. The method further includes receiving, from the passenger, an input at an interface of the autonomous vehicle indicating a successful interaction or an unsuccessful interaction with the driver. The method also includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to proceed along the intended route based on the input indicating the successful interaction with the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Soonho Kong, Jonathan Decastro, Nikos Arechiga, Frank Permenter
  • Patent number: 11797025
    Abstract: An autonomous work system includes a first work machine, a plurality of second work machines having different functions, a setting device that stores work schedule information indicating work schedule content, performance of the first work machine, and performance of the plurality of second work machines, and a terminal. The first work machine acquires a state of work performed by its own device and transmits detection result information indicating the acquired state of work to the setting device. The setting device discriminates whether additional work is required based on the detection result information and the work schedule information, and in a case where the additional work is required, selects the second work machine, and transmits additional work information including work content for the second work machine and information relating to the second work machine to at least one of the terminal and the second work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Yokoyama, Hiroto Takahashi, Toshiaki Kawakami, Wei Song, Takuya Kanisawa
  • Patent number: 11794786
    Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus, a controller for controlling a travelling of a vehicle is configured to obtain attribute information about at least one occupant from reservation information, the reservation information including information about the at least one occupant who has made a reservation for the vehicle, and set a travelling characteristic of the vehicle based on the attribute information about at least one occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Akita
  • Patent number: 11794788
    Abstract: An automatic driving system includes an electronic control device configured to: detect a driving operation input amount during an automatic driving control for a vehicle; determine whether the driver is able to start manual driving during the automatic driving control for the vehicle; output a signal for performing switching from automatic driving to the manual driving based on a result of a comparison between the driving operation input amount and a driving switching threshold that is a threshold for the switching from the automatic driving to the manual driving; set the driving switching threshold to a first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is able to start the manual driving; and set the driving switching threshold to a second driving switching threshold exceeding the first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is not able to start the manual driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
  • Patent number: 11794781
    Abstract: An autonomous controller, a system including the same, and a method thereof include a processor that detects a target object attempting to cut in at a low speed during autonomous driving and that performs response control. The controller, system, and method include a storage storing data and an algorithm for detecting the target object and performing the response control. The processor calculates a final distance value on the basis of a point tracking a distance between a host vehicle and the target object and compares the final distance value with a predetermined threshold to determine whether the target object cuts in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ha Choi, Bhimsen Joshi, Sripad Jangam
  • Patent number: 11797003
    Abstract: A system and method for an autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous trip. A mobile communication device establishes a connection with an autonomous vehicle. The mobile communication device transmits a request for the autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous trip. The autonomous trip includes the autonomous vehicle traveling from a first location to a second location without operator input. The autonomous trip is to be initiated by the autonomous vehicle based on the reception of the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: STEER TECH, LLC
    Inventors: Anuja Sonalker, Bohan Wang
  • Patent number: 11797029
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating drones in proximity to objects are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a change in drone, flight status that involves a rotor of the drone being active, determining presence of a mobile device within a designated clearance area established around the drone, preventing the drone from landing, providing a warning message to a user of the mobile device to clear away from the designated clearance area, detecting that the mobile device and the user are not within the designated clearance area, and causing the drone to land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ortman, Krishna Bandi, Syed Amaar Ahmad
  • Patent number: 11793406
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a video signal that comprises a time series of images of a face of a human, wherein the images in the time series of images comprise a set of landmark points in the face, applying tracking processing to the video signal to reveal variations over time of at least one image parameter at the set of landmark points in the human face, generating a set of variation signals indicative of variations revealed at respective landmark points in the set of landmark points, applying processing to the set of variation signals, the processing comprising artificial neural network processing to produce a reconstructed PhotoPletysmoGraphy (PPG) signal, and estimating a heart rate variability of a variable heart rate of the human as a function of the reconstructed PPG signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Rundo, Francesca Trenta, Sabrina Conoci, Sebastiano Battiato
  • Patent number: 11798692
    Abstract: Exemplary implementations may: obtain passenger information related to a passenger that is relevant to an upcoming medical appointment; store such passenger information; and transmit such passenger information wirelessly to a caregiver with which the upcoming medical appointment is scheduled. Exemplary implementation also may: generate output signals conveying passenger information; provide one or more automated robotic assistants; determine the passenger information; determine necessity of deployment of the one or more automated robotic assistants; and deploy, based on the necessity of deployment, the one or more automated robotic assistants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Aso, Kazuyoshi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 11797001
    Abstract: Control of a mobile device is transferred to and from an operator. In one aspect, a specification for triggering manual control of the mobile device is accessed. A location is identified within a geographic region that exhibits characteristics defined by the specification. The location is represented in a navigation map and is associated with an operator trigger. As the mobile device approaches the location, a request for manual control is provided to the operator based on the operator trigger, and manual control is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Wei Song
  • Patent number: 11788845
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that improve the success rate of relocalization and eliminate the ambiguity of false relocalization by exploiting motions of the sensor system. In one or more embodiments, during a relocalization process, a snapshot is taken using one or more visual sensors and a single-shot relocalization in a visual map is implemented to establish candidate hypotheses. In one or more embodiments, the sensors move in the environment, with a movement trajectory tracked, to capture visual representations of the environment in one or more new poses. As the visual sensors move, the relocalization system tracks various estimated localization hypotheses and removes false ones until one winning hypothesis. Once the process is finished, the relocalization system outputs a localization result with respect to the visual map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Baidu USA LLC, Baidu.com Times Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingyu Chen, Yingze Bao, Xin Zhou, Haomin Liu
  • Patent number: 11787056
    Abstract: An obstacle avoidance method for a robot arm is provided, including a modeling step, a collecting and evaluating coordinates step, an obtaining control parameter step, an establishing an occupation function step, and a finding an obstacle avoiding posture step. The present invention pre-stores the data obtained in performing the modeling step, the step of collecting and evaluating coordinates, the step of obtaining control parameter, and the step of establishing the occupation function into a database, thereby allowing the robot arm to quickly evaluate whether a collision behavior will occur in subsequent execution of a task. If a collision will occur, the robot arm executes the step of the finding the obstacle avoiding posture to dodge obstacles. The invention uses a non-contact approach for anti-collision design, which can improve the shortcomings faced by the existing contact type anti-collision design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Po Ting Lin, Chao Yi Lin, Shih Wei Lin, Kun Cheng Li, Chang Yun Yang, Pei Fen Wu, Shun Chien Lan
  • Patent number: 11790791
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) avoiding collisions by interacting with servers. Some embodiments of a method include receiving, by an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) traffic management (UTM) server one or more intended trajectories from one or more UAVs; determining, by the UTM server one or more conflicts based on the intended trajectories intersecting over a region monitored by the UTM server; and communicating, by the UTM server the one or more conflicts, the communicating includes assigning a value to each of a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) grid cells representing the region monitored by the UTM server, each value representative of a potential for conflict associated with a grid cell; and transmitting, to the one or more UAVs, value data associated with the plurality of grid cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Sarim, Matthew Dechering, Mohammadreza Radmanesh, Manish Kumar, Ravikumar Pragada
  • Patent number: 11787440
    Abstract: Lane configuration of a lane on which an ADV is driving and a current speed of the ADV are determined. A nudge space is determined based on the lane configuration, the current speed, and a vehicle width of the ADV. Path planning is performed to generate a path to nudge an obstacle, in response to the determining that the nudge space is greater than a predetermined threshold nudge space. The ADV is controlled to drive autonomously according to the planned path to nudge the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11790340
    Abstract: A waste recycling system with an automated dumpster includes a main body and the main body includes a main control module. The main control module includes a main control unit, and is electrically connected to a dumpster module. The dumpster module includes a dumpster and the dumpster includes a sub-control module. The sub-control module includes a sub-control unit. The sub-control unit is electrically connected to a power unit and a scanning unit. The power unit is used to drive the dumpster and the scanning unit is disposed at the front end of the dumpster to receive signals. The sub-control unit also includes guiding units. The guiding unit is disposed on the transporting path of the dumpster. By the scanning unit, the scanned signal is transmitted back to the sub-control unit to control the dumpster moving automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hao-Yang Environment Science Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen Yang
  • Patent number: 11780094
    Abstract: A centralized hub system for improving automatic waste transport and collection using a self-driving robot, which allows for self-driving and efficient collection of waste in densely populated areas, such as apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods, and areas with a floating population by using robots with built-in artificial intelligence software and hardware and self-driving waste collection and driving functions and an integrated management server for monitoring these robots, and which helps to put information together in this process and use it as base data for the efficient operation of future waste policies and the corresponding systems. The centralized hub system for improving automatic waste transport and collection using a self-driving robot comprises self-driving inlet robots, an integrated management server, and a self-driving vehicle robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Chunyong Ha
  • Patent number: 11780453
    Abstract: A method for assignment of vehicle control includes receiving route data indicating a route between a starting location of a vehicle and a destination location, and determining an optimal vehicle configuration for the route based on a target vehicle speed and a hybrid torque split. The method further includes receiving a driver requested torque value and determining a passive pedal torque value based on the route data and vehicle powertrain data. The method further includes selectively assigning control of the vehicle to a vehicle system or to a driver of the vehicle based on the driver requested torque value and the passive pedal torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Karim Aggoune, Frans M. Theunissen
  • Patent number: 11778934
    Abstract: Systems and methods for agricultural lane following are described. For example, a method includes accessing range data captured using a distance sensor connected to a vehicle and/or image data captured using an image sensor connected to a vehicle; detecting a crop row based on the range data and/or the image data to obtain position data for the crop row; determining, based on the position data for the crop row, a yaw and a lateral position of the vehicle with respect to a lane bounded by the crop row; and based on the yaw and the lateral position, controlling the vehicle to move along a length of the lane bounded by the crop row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Bear Flag Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ameer Ellaboudy, Aubrey C. Donnellan, Austin Chun, Igino C. Cafiero, David E. Bertucci, Thuy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11776278
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to autonomous vehicle object detection are described. A method can include receiving, by an autonomous vehicle, an indication that the autonomous vehicle has entered a network coverage zone generated by a base station and performing an operation to reallocate computing resources between a plurality of different types of memory devices associated with the autonomous vehicle in response to receiving the indication. The method can further include capturing, by the autonomous vehicle, data corresponding to an unknown object disposed within a sight line of the autonomous vehicle and performing, using the reallocated computing resources, an operation involving the data corresponding to the unknown object to classify the unknown object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Reshmi Basu
  • Patent number: 11776279
    Abstract: An approach is provided for an unknown moving object detection system. The approach, for instance, involves capturing a plurality of unknown object events indicating an unknown object detected by one or more computer vision systems. The approach also involves clustering the plurality of unknown object events into a plurality of clusters based on one or more clustering parameters. The approach further involves selecting at least one cluster of the plurality of clusters based on a selection criterion. The approach further involves determining at least one operating scenario for the one or more computer vision systems based on a combination of the one or more clustering parameters associated with the selected at least one cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventor: James Fowe
  • Patent number: 11772635
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an automated parking assist system for parking a vehicle in a parking spot, comprising a controller configured to handover drive control from a user to the automated parking assist system; and to start an automated parking procedure; wherein the controller is configured to initiate the handover as the vehicle approaches the parking spot, and to finish the handover before the vehicle reaches the parking spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Martin Bonander
  • Patent number: 11760415
    Abstract: A moving body control apparatus includes a cancel control section performing control to cancel a lane change when a first cancel condition and a second cancel condition for cancelling the lane change are satisfied. When the first cancel condition is satisfied with the grip of an occupant on a manipulator being a prescribed level or greater, if a distance in a vehicle width direction between a moving body and a lane marker is a first distance threshold value or greater, the cancel control section judges that the second cancel condition is satisfied and cancels the lane change, and when the first cancel condition is satisfied with the grip being less than the prescribed level, if the distance is not less than a second distance threshold value greater than the first distance threshold value, the cancel control section judges that the second cancel condition is satisfied and cancels the lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nozomu Hirosawa, Chihiro Oguro, Daichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11760416
    Abstract: A lane detection system for a vehicle includes at least one sensor for sensing lane markers and objects in the vicinity of a host vehicle, a driver interface in the host vehicle, and a controller having control logic. The control logic receives signals from the at least one sensor, determines a present lane of travel based on the sensor signals received, determines that a time that the host vehicle has been in the present lane of travel meets or exceeds a predetermined time, and transmits an alert signal to the driver interface in response to the time meeting or exceeding the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Justin R Miller, Jeffrey M Carbaugh
  • Patent number: 11760389
    Abstract: A vehicle controller device including: a communication section configured to perform communication between an operation device external to a vehicle and another vehicle; a memory; and a processor that is coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to: acquire peripheral information regarding a periphery of the vehicle from a peripheral information detection section, generate a travel plan for the vehicle based on the peripheral information of the vehicle, acquire operation information to operate the vehicle from the operation device, control autonomous driving in which the vehicle travels based on the generated travel plan and also control remote driving in which the vehicle travels based on the acquired operation information, acquire peripheral information from the other vehicle in a case in which the processor is unable to acquire peripheral information, and hand over operation authority to the operation device when peripheral information is being acquired by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Matsushita, Atsushi Hanawa, Yasuki Nakagawa, Yusuke Yokota, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Tae Sugimura
  • Patent number: 11753000
    Abstract: When there are a plurality of routes to one parking space, automatic parking cannot be performed on a route with short parking time. A route candidate generation unit 301 changes a reference vehicle speed and a route shape, and searches for a route from a parking start position to a parking target position. The route passage time calculation unit 302 calculates, for each route candidate, the time required to pass through the route based on the reference vehicle speed and the length of the route. A state switching time calculation unit 303 calculates, for each route candidate, the time required for switching between forward and backward movements of a vehicle, and the time required to change steering to a predetermined steering angle in a state where the vehicle is stopped. A route selection processing unit 305 selects a specific route, for example, a route with short parking time, from a generated routes based on route passage time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Tashiro, Masato Imai, Takashi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 11753045
    Abstract: Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure relate to modeling of positional uncertainty of moving objects using precomputed polygons, for example, for the purposes of computing autonomous vehicle (AV) trajectories. An example method includes: receiving, by a data processing system of an AV, data descriptive of an agent state of an object; generating a polygon representative of the agent state; identifying extreme vertices of the polygon along a longitudinal axis parallel to a heading direction of the object or along a lateral axis orthogonal to the heading direction; and applying, based on the extreme vertices, at least one expansion transformation to the polygon along the longitudinal axis or the lateral axis to generate a precomputed polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Dong Li, Victor Puchkarev
  • Patent number: 11753001
    Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle includes a control device configured to control the vehicle to execute an automatic moving process for autonomously moving the vehicle from a current position to a target position. The control device is configured such that, in a case where a parking brake driving condition is satisfied when the control device stops the vehicle during movement to the target position in the automatic moving process and thereafter cancels the automatic moving process without permitting resumption of the movement of the vehicle, the control device switches a shift position of the shift device of the vehicle to a parking position and drives the parking brake device of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Hara, Miki Tsujino, Hiroshi Yamanaka, Yuki Nakada, Yasushi Shoda