Automatic Route Guidance Vehicle Patents (Class 701/23)
  • Patent number: 11054836
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for docking an autonomous mobile robot. A first effective area is determined A first effective boundary is determined from the one or more first boundaries of the first effective area. An optimal point on the first effective boundary is determined. The autonomous mobile robot is controlled to move to the optimal point. The steps are repeated to make the autonomous mobile robot reach the vicinity of the charging station. The optimal point may be determined from one or more candidate optimal points. Each candidate optimal point defines a respective second effective area centering on the candidate optimal point and overlapping with the first effective area to form a respective overlapping area. The respective overlapping area associated with the optimal point is smallest among the respective overlapping areas associated with the one or more candidate optimal points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ROCK TIMES TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Haojian Xie
  • Patent number: 11054821
    Abstract: In a remote-operation apparatus, a communication circuit receives, from an autonomous vehicle via a network, detection data indicating circumstances of an area around the autonomous vehicle. A display displays an image of the area around the autonomous vehicle generated based on the received detection data. The communication circuit transmits, via the network to the autonomous vehicle that is being remotely operated, a control command including an amount of operation obtained by correcting, based on characteristics of the autonomous vehicle, an amount of operation applied to an operation accepter by a remote operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Kobayashi, Junichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 11054834
    Abstract: The technology relates controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn. In one example, data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle in a lane of the multi-lane turn, a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, and data corresponding to positions of objects in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle may be received. A determination of whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane may be made based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the objects. The trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through the lane may be adjusted based on whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled based on the adjusted trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jared Stephen Russell, Jens-Steffen Ralf Gutmann, Pei Sun
  • Patent number: 11049396
    Abstract: A position estimation apparatus (10) acquires target information (31) regarding the position of a target body (100) and acquires neighboring information (32) regarding the position of a neighboring body, which is a movable body different from the target body (100), from the neighboring body. The position estimation apparatus (10) determines, as a primary area (41), a relative area in which the neighboring body is estimated to be present from the target information (31) and the neighboring information (32). The position estimation apparatus (10) calculates a probability of presence (43) of the neighboring body in each relative area from a plurality of the primary areas (41) determined within a reference period and determines, as a secondary area (44), a relative area in which the neighboring body is estimated to be present on the basis of the probability of presence (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hamada, Yoshiaki Adachi, Katsuya Kawai, Masahiko Ikawa, Takashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11046331
    Abstract: A driving assist system includes a steering wheel contact position detector, a steering torque detector, and a driving mode setting calculator. The steering wheel contact position detector includes a plurality of contact sensors disposed in a segmented state on a circumference of a holding part provided on a steering wheel, and is configured to detect a position on the steering wheel at which a driver makes a contact with the steering wheel. The driving mode setting calculator is configured to set a driving mode on the basis of a driving condition. The driving mode setting calculator is configured to determine whether a steering torque detected by the steering torque detector is a steering override intended by the driver or is a false detection, on the basis of the steering torque detected by the steering torque detector and a position at which the contact is detected by the contact sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagase, Eiichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11046354
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle, including an input shaft, via which a steering force can be input by a steering element, an output shaft acting on a steering actuating mechanism, a coupling for connecting and disconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft with and from each other, respectively, and at least one actuator, by which the coupling can be actuated to couple and uncouple the input shaft and the output shaft with and from each other, wherein in the uncoupled state, the output shaft is independently rotatable relative to the input shaft in such a manner that a steer-by-wire drive controllable by a control unit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Thomas Klinger
  • Patent number: 11046313
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming a vehicle train. An exemplary method may comprise: detecting, by a first vehicle, a second vehicle traveling in the same direction as the first vehicle on a road; receiving travel information of the second vehicle; determining, by the first vehicle, a lead vehicle of the vehicle train between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on travel information of the first vehicle and the travel information of the second vehicle; and connecting the first vehicle and the second vehicle to form the vehicle train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zafar Takhirov, Alice Tsing Takhirov
  • Patent number: 11046322
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a safety strategy in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to sense information about the outside of the vehicle, a memory storing road information, and a control circuit configured to be electrically connected with the sensor and the memory. The control circuit generates a route which is toward a shoulder included in a road where the vehicle is traveling, when a control authority transition demand of the vehicle is ignored, adjusts an operational condition of an automatic lane change based on at least a portion of a speed of the vehicle, a speed of a following vehicle in a target lane of the route, or a distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle, and performs the automatic lane change toward the shoulder along the route, when the adjusted operational condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Ju Kim, Jae Yong Jeon, Dong Hwi Lee, Jin Su Jeong, Su Jung Yoo
  • Patent number: 11050481
    Abstract: A device may receive information indicating one or more parameters associated with one or more antenna arrays in a radio access network. The device may receive a flight request that indicates one or more conditions for a flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) seeking network access to the radio access network. The device may determine waypoints for the flight path based on analyzing the one or more parameters associated with the one or more antenna arrays and the one or more conditions for the flight path of the UAV. The device may transmit information identifying the waypoints for the flight path. The device may send control information to cause the one or more antenna arrays to form a corresponding one or more beams along the flight path to enable the UAV to traverse the flight path with the network access to the radio access network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crans, Fred Weisbrod, Donna L. Polehn, Corey J. Christopherson
  • Patent number: 11048263
    Abstract: An autonomous driving device for a vehicle includes: an actuator; and an electronic control unit configured to detect presence or absence of a driver, generate a first travel plan for causing the vehicle to travel autonomously, and generate a second travel plan by adding, to the first travel plan, a restriction including at least one of a lane change restriction and a vehicle speed restriction. The electronic control unit is configured to perform manned autonomous driving control for causing the vehicle to travel autonomously, by using the actuator, with the driver in the vehicle according to the first travel plan when the presence of the driver is detected, and perform unmanned autonomous driving control for causing the vehicle to travel autonomously, by using the actuator, with the driver not in the vehicle according to the second travel plan when the absence of the driver is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Urano
  • Patent number: 11049392
    Abstract: A position capture method for capturing an own vehicle position by using a positioning part that measures a position of a vehicle (4) and a plurality of magnetic markers (5) laid on a traveling path of the vehicle (4) with their laying positions specified includes: upon detection of any of the plurality of magnetic markers (5), selecting, from among the laying positions of the plurality of magnetic markers (5), the laying position located nearest to an actual measured position measured by the positioning part; and capturing, as the own vehicle position, a corrected position based on the laying position, thereby making high-accuracy position capture possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION, ADVANCED SMART MOBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Tomohiko Nagao, Hitoshi Aoyama, Keiji Aoki
  • Patent number: 11042723
    Abstract: A method and electronic device for selectively obtaining depth information at locations within a scene are described. Image content analysis is performed on a received image of the scene. Locations within the image to obtain depth information within the scene are determined based on the image analysis. The locations are provided to a LIDAR (light+radar) unit to selectively obtain depth information at the scene locations. The depth information is received from the LIDAR unit and a second image analysis is performed on a second image. The second image analysis is based on the image content of the second image and the received depth information. Updated locations based on the second image analysis may be provided to the LIDAR unit to obtain updated depth information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Albrecht Johannes Lindner, Volodimir Slobodyanyuk, Stephen Michael Verrall, Kalin Mitkov Atanassov
  • Patent number: 11043125
    Abstract: An information processing device in a first vehicle: detects a head-on approach of a second vehicle relative to the first vehicle; determines whether a meeting point is in a first section; calculates a first distance between the first section and the meeting point; when the meeting point is not in the first section, transmits the first distance to the second vehicle, and receives, from the second vehicle, a second distance between the meeting point and a second section; generates travel control information for the first vehicle according to the result of comparison between the first distance and the second distance; and outputs the travel control information to a travel controller of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Eiichi Naito, Takenobu Aoshima, Shunsuke Kuhara
  • Patent number: 11040620
    Abstract: A user interface apparatus configured to be installed in a vehicle, the apparatus includes a touch screen; a gesture detecting unit configured to detect a gesture of a user and convert the gesture into an electrical signal; and at least one processor configured to determine whether a criteria for switching to an autonomous driving state is satisfied in response to the gesture detected by the gesture detecting unit being applied from a driver seat of the vehicle to the touch screen, further, in response to the criteria for switching to the autonomous driving state being satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to switch a state of the vehicle to the autonomous driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Suhyung Jang, Gangseub Lee, Jongmin Baek, Sowoon YooN
  • Patent number: 11042159
    Abstract: A vehicle data processing system includes a group of sensors and a controller. The group of sensors is arranged on board a vehicle and operable to detect and capture driving event. The controller is coupled to the group of sensors and operable to receive one or more data streams indicative of the driving event data from the group of sensors. The controller is further operable to (i) analyze the one or more data streams, (ii) determine a current operation status of a vehicle based on the one or more data streams, (iii) determine whether or not the current operation status of the vehicle triggers prioritized processing of the one or more data streams, and (iv) upon determination that the prioritized processing is triggered, apply the prioritized processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Devang H. Parekh, Christopher Ogden
  • Patent number: 11039724
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body, a suction hose mounted at a front surface of the cleaner body to suck in dust, moving wheels provided at both sides of the cleaner body, rotating to move the cleaner body and rotatably supporting the cleaner body, wheel motors connected to the moving wheels and rotating the moving wheels, a detecting unit provided in the cleaner body and sensing inclination of the cleaner body to determine whether the cleaner moves and stops, a plurality of detecting members provided at a front surface of the cleaner body and located at both sides of the suction hose to detect an obstacle, and a controller for controlling the wheel motors according to detected signals of the detecting unit and the obstacle detecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jungkyu Son, Bohyun Nam, Jaeyong Park, Sehwan Bae, Jonghyun Seo, Jinwoo Lee, Donghoon Kwak, Jaehwan Ko
  • Patent number: 11034346
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for host vehicle navigation. In one implementation, a navigation system for a host vehicle may include at least one processing device programmed to receive, from a camera, a plurality of images representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analyze the plurality of images to identify a first flow of traffic and a second flow of traffic; determine a presence of at least one navigational state characteristic indicative of an alternating merging of the first flow of traffic and the second flow of traffic into a merged lane; cause at least a first navigational change to allow one target vehicle from the first flow of traffic to proceed ahead of the host vehicle; and cause at least a second navigational change to cause the host vehicle to follow the target vehicle into the merged lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Shai Shalev-Shwartz, Amnon Shashua, Shaked Shammah
  • Patent number: 11036225
    Abstract: A first localization system performs a first localization using a first set of sensors to track locations of the ADV along the path from a starting point to a destination point. A first localization curve is generated as a result representing the locations of the ADV along the path tracked by the first localization system. Currently, a second localization system performs a second localization using a second set of sensors to track the locations of the ADV along the path. A second localization curve is generated as a result representing the locations of the ADV along the path tracked by the second localization system. A system delay of the second localization system is determined by comparing the second localization curve against the first localization curve as a localization reference. The system delay of the second localization system can then be utilized to compensate path planning of the ADV subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fan Zhu, Xin Xu, Qi Kong, Yuchang Pan, Feiyi Jiang, Liangliang Zhang, Jiaming Tao, Haoyang Fan, Hui Jiang
  • Patent number: 11036230
    Abstract: Included is a method of path planning for a robotic device, including: receiving, by a processor of the robotic device, a sequence of one or more commands; executing, via the robotic device, the sequence of one or more commands; saving the sequence of one or more commands in memory of the robotic device after a predetermined amount of time from receiving a most recent one or more commands; and re-executing the saved sequence of one or more commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11027748
    Abstract: An automatic driving control device changes the degree of automation during an automatic control or the degree of change to the vehicle behavior during the automatic control, on the basis of the peripheral monitoring state of a driver, and on the basis of how easy it is to perform a switching operation for prioritizing manual control over automatic control. Thus, the automatic driving control device makes it possible to ensure the convenience of automatic control, by dynamically changing the degree of automation or the degree of change to the vehicle behavior, without uniformly stopping automatic control of steering and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Yoshinobu Mukai, Naotaka Kumakiri, Naohiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11029697
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to vehicular navigation. One embodiment generates a polyline reference path for a vehicle; stores a representation of the polyline in a data structure; detects a plurality of obstacles ahead of the vehicle; identifies one or more obstacle gates among the plurality of obstacles using path coordinates relative to the reference path, each obstacle gate including at least one cluster of obstacles; identifies one or more gaps within each of the one or more obstacle gates; determines an obstacle-avoidance path for the vehicle that passes through a particular one of the one or more gaps in each of the one or more obstacle gates; and controls one or more aspects of operation of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the obstacle-avoidance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander G. Cunningham, Robert A. E. Zidek, Noah J. Epstein
  • Patent number: 11029690
    Abstract: A mobile machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-engaging elements, actuators for driving movement of the ground-engaging elements and a controller for controlling each of the actuators to cause the mobile machine to follow a reference path. The controller is configured to implement a cascading control loop for controlling movement of the mobile machine, the cascading control loop including an outer loop and an inner loop. The outer loop is configured to determine a set heading for reducing a distance between the mobile machine and the reference path, the set heading being determined using an error slope parameter. The inner loop is configured to drive the actuators so that the mobile machine follows the set heading determined by the outer loop. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the error slope value so that the rate of change of the set heading does not exceed a maximum yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Noess
  • Patent number: 11029686
    Abstract: A method of automatically moving, by an automatic location placement system, a marine vessel includes receiving, by a central processing unit, from a vision ranging photography system, at least one optical feed including data providing a mapping of an environment surrounding a marine vessel. The method includes displaying, by the central processing unit, on a touch screen monitor, the mapping of the environment. The method includes receiving, by the central processing unit, from the touch screen monitor, target location data. The method includes directing, by the central processing unit, at least one element of a propulsion system of the marine vessel, to move the marine vessel to the targeted location, using the mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Bradley Tyers
  • Patent number: 11027777
    Abstract: The steering control apparatus determines whether or not a deviation degree of a current traveling route of a vehicle with respect to a target traveling route is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, when steering control is switched from manual steering control to automatic steering control. In the automatic steering control, a command steering angle is calculated so that a difference between a real traveling route of the vehicle and the target traveling route is eliminated. However, when the deviation degree is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, the steering control apparatus recalculates the command steering angle used in the command steering angle tracking control based on a steering angle at the time of starting the automatic steering control and the command steering angle so that a real steering angle after switching to the automatic steering control changes gradually to the command steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Irie, Yoji Kunihiro, Yutaka Aoki, Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11021060
    Abstract: A method for guiding a motor vehicle occupied by a driver during a vehicle journey in an automated manner by a driver assistance system includes: displaying, on an optical display apparatus of the driver assistance system, to the driver information from the driver assistance system relevant to the journey; and displaying the information relevant to the journey on the optical display apparatus by a plurality of different display pages assigned to different information classes. The display pages are displayed sequentially and in a stipulated order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Cieler, Guido Meier-Arendt, Heidi von Bychowski, Benjamin Mathe
  • Patent number: 11016496
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for correlating synthetic LiDAR data to a real-world domain for use in training an autonomous vehicle in how to operate in an environment. To do this, the system will obtain a data set of synthetic LiDAR data, transfer the synthetic LiDAR data to a two-dimensional representation, use the two-dimensional representation to train a model of a real-world environment, and use the trained model of the real-world environment to train an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Argo AI, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Chen, James Hays, Ersin Yumer
  • Patent number: 11014563
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system includes a lane change control device that performs lane change control for making a lane change from a first lane to a second lane during autonomous driving of a vehicle. The lane change control device is configured to: determine, from start to completion of the lane change control, whether or not a driver's operation is performed as an abort request operation that requests to abort the lane change control; when the abort request operation is performed, determine whether or not an abort permission condition is satisfied; when the abort permission condition is not satisfied, continue the lane change control; and, when the abort permission condition is satisfied, abort the lane change control and make the vehicle travel in the first lane. The lane change control device changes ease of satisfaction of the abort permission condition depending on the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuta Hashimoto, Hiroki Fukuda, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 11016500
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is designed to determine the requirement of a perception range for a particular type of vehicles and a particular planning and control technology. A shadow filter is used to connect a scenario based simulator and a PnC module, and tuning the parameters (e.g. decreasing the filter range, tuning the probability of obstacles to be observed among frames) of shadow filter to mimic the real world perceptions with a limited range and reliabilities. Based on the simulation results (e.g., a failure rate, smoothness, etc.), the system is able to determine the required perception distance for the current PnC module. A PnC module represents a particular autonomous driving planning and control technology for a particular type of autonomous driving vehicles. Notice that the PnC module is replaceable so that this method is suitable for different PnC algorithms representing different autonomous driving technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liangliang Zhang, Kairui Yang, Jiangtao Hu
  • Patent number: 11015942
    Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle routing are disclosed. Roadway suitability for autonomous operation is scored to facilitate use in route determination. Maps of roadways suitable for various levels of autonomous operation may be generated. Such map data may be used by autonomous vehicles or other computer devices in determining routes based upon criteria for vehicle trips. Such routes may be automatically updated based upon changes in road conditions, vehicle conditions, operator conditions, or environmental conditions. Emergency routing using such map data is described, such as automatic routing and travel when a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11016495
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for end-to-end learning of commands for controlling an autonomous vehicle. A pre-processor pre-processes image data acquired by sensors at a current time step (CTS) to generate pre-processed image data that is concatenated with additional input(s) (e.g., a segmentation map and/or optical flow map) to generate a dynamic scene output. A convolutional neural network (CNN) processes the dynamic scene output to generate a feature map that includes extracted spatial features that are concatenated with vehicle kinematics to generate a spatial context feature vector. An LSTM network processes, during the (CTS), the spatial context feature vector at the (CTS) and one or more previous LSTM outputs at corresponding previous time steps to generate an encoded temporal context vector at the (CTS). The fully connected layer processes the encoded temporal context vector to learn control command(s) (e.g., steering angle, acceleration rate and/or a brake rate control commands).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Praveen Palanisamy, Upali P. Mudalige, Yilun Chen, John M. Dolan, Katharina Muelling
  • Patent number: 11017671
    Abstract: Systems of an electrical vehicle and the operations thereof are provided. Systems and methods are provided to detect a braking next-to-last vehicle that may cause the last vehicle (the preceding vehicle) to collide with the next-to-last vehicle, panic brake, make a sudden lane change, or otherwise endanger a vehicle following the preceding vehicle. Automated means for computer based vision and detection of brake lights are provided for a next-to-last vehicle. Brake lights are identified; if illuminated to a sufficient level to indicate braking, systems of the operated vehicle are alerted; and appropriate responses may be deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Fung Wong, Anqi Wang
  • Patent number: 11016482
    Abstract: Example systems and methods enable an autonomous vehicle to request assistance from a remote operator in certain predetermined situations. One example method includes determining a representation of an environment of an autonomous vehicle based on sensor data of the environment. Based on the representation, the method may also include identifying a situation from a predetermined set of situations for which the autonomous vehicle will request remote assistance. The method may further include sending a request for assistance to a remote assistor, the request including the representation of the environment and the identified situation. The method may additionally include receiving a response from the remote assistor indicating an autonomous operation. The method may also include causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Vadim Furman
  • Patent number: 11014564
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a safety strategy in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to sense information about the outside of the vehicle, a memory storing road information, and a control circuit configured to be electrically connected with the sensor and the memory. The control circuit generates a route which is toward a shoulder included in a road where the vehicle is traveling, when a control authority transition demand of the vehicle is ignored, adjusts an operational condition of an automatic lane change based on at least a portion of a speed of the vehicle, a speed of a following vehicle in a target lane of the route, or a distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle, and performs the automatic lane change toward the shoulder along the route, when the adjusted operational condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Ju Kim, Jae Yong Jeon, Dong Hwi Lee, Jin Su Jeong, Su Jung Yoo
  • Patent number: 11008098
    Abstract: A system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a first user interface configured to receive a first user input and a second user interface configured to receive a second user input. The first user input provides one or more instructions to effect an autonomous flight of the UAV. The second user input provides one or more instructions to modify the autonomous flight of the UAV, The autonomous flight includes a flight towards a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Litian Zhang, Xiao Hu, Ang Liu, Guyue Zhou
  • Patent number: 11006564
    Abstract: A swath tracking system for an off-road vehicle includes a control system with a processor and a memory. The control system is configured to receive a plurality of vehicle location points and a current vehicle state, wherein the current vehicle state comprises a current vehicle location, generate a planned vehicle path through one or more of the plurality of vehicle location points, generate a correction path from the current vehicle location to a point along the planned vehicle path ahead of the current vehicle location along a direction of travel, generate a blended path by blending the planned vehicle path and the correction path based at least in part on an assigned weight, wherein the assigned weight is based at least in part on a heading error, a distance between the current vehicle location and the planned path, or a combination thereof, and guide the off-road vehicle along the blended path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Foster, John Henry Posselius, Nathan Eric Bunderson, Taylor Chad Bybee, Daniel John Morwood, Bret Todd Turpin
  • Patent number: 11008020
    Abstract: A method for controlling a warning module based on an expected time period up to a collision of a vehicle with an obstacle, including: permitting an outputting of a generated warning to a driver of the vehicle if the expected time period up to the collision is shorter than a limiting value function, which depends on a speed of the obstacle and/or a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to the obstacle, and otherwise suppressing a warning to the driver; in which the warning module is configured to generate the warning of an imminent triggering of an automatic emergency braking process of the vehicle to avoid the collision. Also described is a related device and computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Nohl, Markus Klein, Ulrich Guecker, Matyas Krabot, Csaba Doczy, Gergely Jozsa, Tamas Rozsa
  • Patent number: 11004342
    Abstract: Conflicts and collisions between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians are a common problem in the field of traffic engineering. The present invention provides a visual indication that a pedestrian intends to cross as well as a wireless Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) message transmitted to nearby connected vehicles warning of the pedestrian's intent. Some embodiments may include a second visual indication and I2V message at the beginning of the Walk interval to warn drivers that a pedestrian is entering the crossing. The visual indication can include a lighted dynamic sign and/or light fixture configured to draw the attention of a driver of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Phil Tate, Tony Brennan, Juan Molina, Josh Meier
  • Patent number: 11004340
    Abstract: A method for operating a control device of a motor vehicle driving by automation. The method includes determining a location of the motor vehicle, and acquiring driving-environment data of the motor vehicle, a control characteristic of the control device of the motor vehicle being formed in such a way that a driving behavior of at least one other road user is influenced in defined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Hasberg, Michael Helmle, Oliver Pink, Sybille Eisele
  • Patent number: 11001196
    Abstract: Systems and methods communicate an intent of an autonomous vehicle externally. In one implementation, traffic object(s) approaching an intersection towards which an autonomous vehicle autonomously navigates along a travel path is tracked. A position of the traffic object(s) relative to the intersection is determined when the autonomous vehicle is stopped at the intersection. A perceived possession of a right of way of the autonomous vehicle to enter the intersection is generated based on the position of the traffic object(s). A decision of whether to direct the autonomous vehicle into the intersection is generated based on the perceived possession of the right of way. An intent icon linked to an action of the autonomous vehicle is generated. The action is correlated with the decision of whether to direct the autonomous vehicle into the intersection. The intent icon is presented to an environment external to the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Chip J. Alexander
  • Patent number: 11003182
    Abstract: A planned path is received from a vehicle along with a status of a perception subsystem in the vehicle. A remedial action is initiated determining that the status of the perception subsystem is healthy and the planned path deviates by more than a threshold from a detected path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mostafa Parchami, Mahrdad Damsaz, Hamed Babazadehrokni, Krithika Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 10994741
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementation of human-like vehicle control for an autonomous vehicle. Information related to a target motion to be achieved by the autonomous vehicle is received, wherein the information includes a current vehicle state of the autonomous vehicle. A first vehicle control signal is generated with respect to the target motion and the given vehicle state in accordance with a vehicle kinematic model. A second vehicle control signal is generated in accordance with a human-like vehicle control model, with respect to the target motion, the given vehicle state, and the first vehicle control signal, wherein the second vehicle control signal modifies the first vehicle control signal to achieve human-like vehicle control behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: PLUSAI LIMITED
    Inventors: Mianwei Zhou, Hao Zheng, David Wanqian Liu
  • Patent number: 10996674
    Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Quest Integrated, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip D. Bondurant, Giovanni Nino
  • Patent number: 10994417
    Abstract: A dynamic representation of a robot in an environment is produced, one or more observer agent collects data, and respective values of one or more metrics for the robot are computed based at least in part on the collected data. Tasks for the robot to perform are generated. Ratings and challenge questions are generated. A server may produce a user interface and a value of a metric based on collected observer data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kindred Systems Inc.
    Inventors: James Sterling Bergstra, Suzanne Gildert, George Samuel Rose
  • Patent number: 10994750
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided with a timing selection unit configured to select, during automated driving, either one of a first notification timing at which notification of a driving takeover request is issued in the case that a remaining distance to a scheduled switching point from the automated driving to manual driving has become less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and a second notification timing at which notification of the driving takeover request is issued in the case that a remaining time period until reaching the scheduled switching point is less than or equal to a predetermined time period, wherein the timing selection unit selects the first notification timing or the second notification timing based on a present travel speed or a scheduled travel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Hisashi Matsuda, Kentaro Ishisaka, Takafumi Hirose, Toru Kokaki, Katsuya Yashiro, Takemi Tsukada, Masaya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10994731
    Abstract: Provided is a steering assistance device, and a demarcation line detection unit 100 detects left and right lane demarcation lines for a lane in which a vehicle is travels. A horizontal velocity measurement unit 101 calculates the horizontal velocity, which is a velocity component of the vehicle in a direction perpendicular to the lane. An assistance unit 11 performs steering assistance for the vehicle so that the vehicle travels parallel to the left and right lane demarcation lines. In a case where the horizontal velocity equal to or greater than a prescribed velocity and the center of the vehicle is separated from the center between the left and right lane demarcation lines by equal to or greater than a prescribed distance, a steering control unit 102 starts the steering assistance of the vehicle by the assistance unit 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Teruhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10997862
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control method is provided for controlling a host vehicle so as to follow a preceding vehicle. A first area where the host vehicle can possibly travel is calculated from a travel trajectory of the new preceding vehicle upon detecting a new preceding vehicle cutting in between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle. A second area is set to a previous travelable area of the host vehicle that was determined up to a previous time. The first area and the second area are added to define a defined travelable area. A target travel trajectory of the host vehicle is generated within the defined travelable area. The host vehicle is controlled along the generated target travel trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Fukushige, Satoshi Tange
  • Patent number: 10994743
    Abstract: A control method for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an in-vehicle controller, the in-vehicle controller pre-stores an instruction relationship, and the instruction relationship is used to represent an execution selection that is made by the in-vehicle controller from contrary instructions of at least two controllers. The method includes: receiving, by the in-vehicle controller, a first instruction and a second instruction (S410); and determining, by the in-vehicle controller, a vehicle control instruction according to the instruction relationship, the first instruction, and the second instruction (S420).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yangbo Lin
  • Patent number: 10989554
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling navigation includes generating an emotion data of a first user that illustrates emotion of the first user based on information received from a sensor. The method includes transmitting the emotion data of the first user to a controller configured to control a navigation of a second user. The first user and the second user are members of a same group. The method includes modifying the navigation of the second user according to the emotion data of the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitajima, Takao Fujiwara, Yoshitaka Suzuki, Kazuto Kawata, Wonravee Chavalit, Jenny Le, Ryan Lacross, Shigeyuki Seko, Shuhei Kinoshita, Yusuke Narita, Toshiaki Takano
  • Patent number: 10984656
    Abstract: A method for stopping a bicycle at intersection, applied in a bicycle system including a signal light command device, a signal controller, an electromagnet emitting device, and a bicycle having a magnet adsorption device. The method includes controlling, by the signal controller, the electromagnet emitting device to generate magnetic attraction force when a stoplight of the signal light command device is turned on; and attracting, by the electromagnet emitting device, the magnet adsorption device of the bicycle to decelerate or stop the bicycle. A bicycle system and a bicycle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Xiang Liu
  • Patent number: 10981497
    Abstract: A control system of an autonomous vehicle may include: a camera unit installed on a vehicle body, and configured to take an image of a pedestrian; a measurement unit installed on the vehicle body, and configured to measure a position of the pedestrian and a distance to the pedestrian; a control unit configured to receive data of the camera unit and the measurement unit; and an image irradiation unit configured to operate according to a control signal of the control unit, and irradiate light to one or more of the pedestrian and a road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Jeong Lee, Seung Woo Baek, Ban Suk Choi, Cheon Seop Shin, Jun Hyuk Cha, Moo Kwan Kim