On-board Computer Interact With A Host Computer Patents (Class 701/24)
  • Patent number: 11216010
    Abstract: A leader movable body includes a degree of freedom setting unit configured to set a degree of freedom relevant to movement of a follower movable body, and a transmitter configured to transmit the set degree of freedom to the follower movable body. The follower movable body is configured to perform group travel with respect to the leader movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kama, Yusuke Hara, Hiroshi Hiraiwa, Takahiro Shiga
  • Patent number: 11209827
    Abstract: A speed control method for controlling the speed of an autonomous vehicle provided with at least one autonomous driving module and one geolocation module, the vehicle being capable of following a route, which is predefined and segmented according to at least one segmentation comprising of a plurality of segments, each associated with: an interval of geolocation data; and a set of values for nominal maximum travel speed of the autonomous vehicle, each speed value being associated with a distinct time slot; the method comprising: the acquisition, from the on-board geolocation module, of an instantaneous geolocation data item of the autonomous vehicle associated with a time instant; as a function of the instantaneous geo-location data item and the time instant, the determination, of the segment currently being traversed and/or to be traversed, and of the associated nominal maximum speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSDEV GROUP INNOVATION
    Inventor: Alexis Beauvillain
  • Patent number: 11197597
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for a task management and distribution system. Systems configured as disclosed manage task distribution between various robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles. As tasks are identified as not capable of completion by the detecting robot, they are transmitted to a central task-management system which identifies a subset of robots which are capable of completing the task, determines the availability of the robots in the subset, and assigns one of those robots in the subset to complete the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: John J. O'Brien, Donald R. High, Brian McHale
  • Patent number: 11200795
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a moving object, and a vehicle that enable the situation of another moving object around a moving object to be accurately grasped. An information processing apparatus includes: a moving object detection unit that detects another moving object around a moving object; and a moving object group detection unit that detects a moving object group including two or more of the other moving objects on the basis of one or more of a position, speed, and movement direction of the other moving object. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a system that controls automatic driving of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Awai
  • Patent number: 11187543
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to state-based autonomous-vehicle operations. In particular, the methods, devices, and systems of the present disclosure can: determine, based at least in part on one or more actions of a passenger associated with a trip of an autonomous vehicle, a current state of the trip from amongst a plurality of different predefined states of the trip; identify, based at least in part on the current state of the trip, one or more computing devices associated with the passenger; generate, based at least in part on the current state of the trip, data describing one or more interfaces for display by the computing device(s) associated with the passenger; and communicate, to the computing device(s) associated with the passenger, the data describing the interface(s) for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Zhao, Sean Chin, Molly Castle Nix, Eric James Hanson
  • Patent number: 11180150
    Abstract: A method for autonomously or semi-autonomously carrying out a cooperative driving maneuver and a vehicle. Provision is made for a maneuvering vehicle which plans the execution of a driving maneuver to determine a maneuvering area of a road in which the driving maneuver is potentially executed, to communicate with one or more vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communication to detect one or more cooperation vehicles which will presumably be inside the maneuvering area during the execution of the driving maneuver, and to adapt its own driving behavior to the presumable driving behavior of the one or more cooperation vehicles to execute the planned driving maneuver. The disclosure provides a possibility which, by vehicle-to-vehicle communication, allows vehicles for jointly carrying out a cooperative driving maneuver to be identified and then allows the cooperative driving maneuver to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Monique Engel, Bernd Rech, Stefan Gläser, Teodor Buburuzan, Bernd Lehmann, Sandra Kleinau, Hendrik-Jörn Günther, Johannes Hartog
  • Patent number: 11167743
    Abstract: A calibration system calibrates inertial sensor readings on a vehicle. The calibration system estimates an attitude of the ground from a series of height and position measurements and reads an attitude from an inertial sensor subsystem attached to the vehicle. The calibration system then calculates an attitude offset between the vehicle and inertial sensor subsystem based on a difference between the estimated attitude of the ground and the attitude reading of the inertial sensor subsystem. The calibration system may estimate a slope of the ground from a 3-dimensional terrain map. The slope of the ground is converted into an estimated roll and/or pitch of the vehicle which is then compared with the roll and pitch readings from the inertial sensor subsystem to determine the attitude offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION, LLC
    Inventor: Steven J. Dumble
  • Patent number: 11168992
    Abstract: A travel route generation device for a field work vehicle includes a memory and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on field data stored in the memory, a travel route. The circuitry is configured to determine a getting-off point in the travel route at which a driver gets off the field work vehicle. The circuitry is configured to determine a getting-on point in the travel route at which the driver gets on the field work vehicle. The circuitry is configured to define a first partial route in the travel route between the entrance and the getting-off point and a second partial travel route in the travel route between the getting-on point and the entrance as a manual travel route. The circuitry is configured to define a third partial travel route in the travel route between the getting-off point and the getting-on point as an automatic travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uoya, Izuru Shimamoto, Kenji Tamatani, Megumi Suzukawa, Atsushi Shinkai, Kazuo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11163316
    Abstract: The apparatus for controlling group driving according to as aspect may include an inter-vehicle communication unit for communicating with a leader vehicle to receive the driving state and traveling track of the leader vehicle, a leader vehicle learning unit for learning a driving pattern of the leader vehicle based on the driving state of the leader vehicle received through the inter-vehicle communication unit, an autonomous drive unit for autonomously driving the follower vehicle in accordance with the traveling track of the leader vehicle, and a follow-up control unit for receiving the driving state of the leader vehicle to learn the driving pattern of the leader vehicle, controlling the autonomous drive unit to follow the traveling track of the leader vehicle, and performing the autonomous driving by applying the driving pattern of the leader vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Kwan Ji
  • Patent number: 11164016
    Abstract: Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices for detecting objects are provided. For example, the disclosed technology can obtain a representation of sensor data associated with an environment surrounding a vehicle. Further, the sensor data can include sensor data points. A point classification and point property estimation can be determined for each of the sensor data points and a portion of the sensor data points can be clustered into an object instance based on the point classification and point property estimation for each of the sensor data points. A collection of point classifications and point property estimations can be determined for the portion of the sensor data points clustered into the object instance. Furthermore, object instance property estimations for the object instance can be determined based on the collection of point classifications and point property estimations for the portion of the sensor data points clustered into the object instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Randall Kee, Carlos Vallespi-Gonzalez, Gregory P. Meyer, Ankit Laddha
  • Patent number: 11155262
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for modifying the acceleration of an ego vehicle based on wireless vehicle data included in a wireless message. A method includes receiving the wireless message that includes wireless vehicle data that describes one or more physical properties of a downstream vehicle. The wireless vehicle data indicates a presence of a traffic obstruction. The method includes determining a modification for an acceleration of the ego vehicle based on the wireless vehicle data and the indication of the traffic obstruction. The method includes modifying the acceleration of the ego vehicle based on wireless vehicle data compliant with the DSRC standard. The modified acceleration causes the ego vehicle to travel at a velocity consistent with a preceding vehicle and the downstream vehicle so that the ego vehicle does not collide with the preceding vehicle or the other downstream vehicle, which are in the same lane as the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Sergei Avedisov, Gaurav Bansal
  • Patent number: 11137732
    Abstract: Creating and executing flow plans by performing at least the following: obtaining a run-time flow plan that comprises a trigger, a first operation, and a second operation, wherein the first operation precedes the second operation within the run-time flow plan and one or more input values of the second operation are linked to the first operation, determining whether one or more conditions of the trigger are met, execute the first operation based at least on the determination that the one or more conditions of the trigger are met, monitoring whether the second operation is ready for execution based at least on a determination that the one or more input values of a second action operation are ready, and executing the second action operation when the second action operation has been identified as ready for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ServiceNow, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Tucker, Harry Thomas Nelson, Russell Samuel Sarbora
  • Patent number: 11131498
    Abstract: A household electrical appliance of the embodiment includes: a peripheral camera that records the periphery of a household electrical appliance main body; control means that controls operation of the peripheral camera; and human detection means that detects human presence. When human presence is detected by the human detection means, the control means activates the peripheral camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuki Marutani, Ryo Kawada, Kengo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11132100
    Abstract: A system includes an analytics collector that receives world state data to provide status relating to a plurality of mission analytics of an unmanned vehicle or an unmanned vehicle mission planner. An asset filter filters the status from the analytics collector with respect to mission analytics of a subset of selected assets. An analytic aggregator collects the filtered status from the asset filter and generates a visual analytics file based on one or more selected analytics for the subset of selected assets. A rendering pipeline processes the visual analytics file from the analytic aggregator and generates a formatted output file describing a visualization of the plurality of mission analytics from the visual analytics file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miteshkumar K. Patel, Louis Oddo, William Parsons, Feng Cao, Henry H. Fung, Devang R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 11126200
    Abstract: An approach is provided for creating an interface for a campaign management platform to transmit a sensor data request for digital map data. The approach, for example, involves retrieving, by the campaign management platform, the sensor data request specifying a sensor data collection event to be performed on a road segment, a geographic area, or a combination thereof. The approach involves publishing the sensor data request to the interface. The interface comprises a plurality of layers including an active request layer, a newly published request layer, a revoked request layer, or a combination thereof. A plurality of vehicles, a manufacturer platform associated with the plurality of vehicles, or a combination thereof accesses at least one of the plurality of layers to fulfill the sensor data request. The publishing, for example, can be performed according to publishing time cadence or period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Zoltan Gaal, Dennis Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 11124186
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. An autonomous vehicle may determine an upcoming maneuver for the autonomous vehicle and identify a vehicle signal which is indicative of the upcoming maneuver. Then the autonomous vehicle may present the vehicle signal. After presenting the vehicle signal, the autonomous vehicle may perform the maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11119216
    Abstract: Provided is a robot-implemented process to create a coverage plan for a work environment, including obtaining, with a robotic device, raw data values of a work environment pertaining to likelihood of operational success and presence or absence of operational hazards contained within the work environment; determining, with one or more processors, the most efficient coverage plan for the robotic device based on the raw data values; and enacting the coverage plan based on the values from the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11104351
    Abstract: In some examples, a controller determines a target condition of usage of a vehicle, and selects a parameter set from among a plurality of parameter sets based on the determined target condition of usage of the vehicle, the plurality of parameter sets corresponding to different conditions of usage of the vehicle, where each parameter set of the plurality of parameter sets includes one or more parameters that control adjustment of one or more respective adjustable elements of the vehicle. The controller transmits, to the vehicle, the selected parameter set to control a setting of the one or more adjustable elements of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Edward Snow Willis, Christopher Scott Travers, Yuhui Liu, Ning Erin Ren, Hashim Mohammad Qaderi, Prabhul Dev, Karthik Velakur Sambamoorthy, Parvez Ahmed, Eric Yeung, Evgueni Eugene Markine, Scott Hutchens
  • Patent number: 11097725
    Abstract: A vehicle control device causes a vehicle to autonomously travel, and, if at least one of one or more predetermined conditions is met, then requests the driver to perform manual driving. The vehicle control device is provided with a condition determination unit and a deceleration selection unit. The condition determination unit determines whether or not said one or more predetermined conditions are met. The deceleration selection unit then selects whether or not to decelerate the vehicle when requesting the driver to perform said manual driving, on the basis of met predetermined conditions (if any).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takemi Tsukada
  • Patent number: 11092970
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous vehicle systems utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example vehicle includes a communication module configured to perform vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication with an adjacent vehicle having an autonomous system. The example vehicle also includes a controller configured to monitor within the V2V communication for a request by the autonomous system for manual override and, upon identifying the request, determine a collision probability for the adjacent vehicle based at least on the V2V communication. The controller also is configured to compare the collision probability to a first threshold. The example vehicle also includes an autonomy unit to autonomously perform a defensive driving maneuver responsive to the controller determining that the collision probability is greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Michael Herman
  • Patent number: 11079857
    Abstract: An optical detecting device with a tracking function includes an image acquiring module and a processor. The image acquiring module is grouped into a first cluster and a second cluster of pixels. The first cluster and the second cluster are arranged adjacent to each other, and used to respectively acquire a first imaging result and a second imaging result both containing an indicating mark. The processor is electrically connected to the image acquiring module and adapted to track a proceeding direction of the indicating mark by computing difference between the first imaging result and the second imaging result. The optical detecting device further includes a memory module electrically connected to the processor, and the processor analyzes the computed difference via a lookup table stored inside the memory module to determine the proceeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Boon-How Kok, Keen-Hun Leong, Ching Geak Chan
  • Patent number: 11073801
    Abstract: The instant disclosure provides an ability to use an array of data inputs to enter a network and thereby provide a realtime improvable database. The present invention is novel in its ability to maximize the customer's interface with a pest control system, thus allowing for maximum efficiency for current and future designs as well as a high level of compatibility with ancillary regulatory, financial and planning type functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Byron Reid, Volker Gutsman, Michael Zimmermann, Chris Pienaar, Gaelle Fages, Peter Jardine
  • Patent number: 11048261
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) computing device including at least one processor may be provided. The at least processor may be programmed to (i) receive a proposed trip including a destination location and a departure time, (ii) determine environmental conditions data based on the destination location and the departure time, (iii) retrieve current software ecosystem data for the AV, (iv) retrieve aggregated data for a plurality of AVs, the aggregated data including a plurality of correlations, each correlation including a) an interaction between at least one software application and at least one environmental condition and b) an adverse performance outcome associated with the interaction, (v) compare the environmental conditions data for the proposed trip and the current software ecosystem data for the AV to the plurality of correlations to identify an adverse performance outcome, and (vi) execute a remedial action to avoid the adverse performance outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan, Steve Cielocha, Brian Fields
  • Patent number: 11033165
    Abstract: A system providing a barrier for an autonomous floor cleaner includes an artificial barrier generator that radiates one or more infrared emission patterns. An autonomous floor cleaner can be configured to detect an overlapping emission pattern made of partially overlapping encoded infrared emissions. Methods for containing an autonomous floor cleaner within a user-determined boundary are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Brouwers, David VanKampen, Jeffery Swan, Eric D. Buehler
  • Patent number: 11035679
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive, in a vehicle, object data from an external node, and upon identifying a point, in the received object data, that is within a volume defined based on vehicle position data received from a vehicle sensor, to determine an adjusted vehicle position based on the identified point and the vehicle position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Codrin Cionca, Juan Enrique Castorena Martinez, Mostafa Parchami
  • Patent number: 11014448
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cruise control velocity tracking. In one example, the method or system may generate a torque command output via a velocity controller that allows for an error within bounds to reduce a fuel consumption amount, the torque command output selected from outcomes of a leader and follower game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shankar Narayan Mohan, John Ottavio Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski
  • Patent number: 11009874
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data representing a motion plan of the autonomous vehicle via a plurality of control lanes configured to implement the motion plan to control a motion of the autonomous vehicle, the plurality of control lanes including at least a first control lane and a second control lane, and controlling the first control lane to implement the motion plan. The method includes detecting one or more faults associated with implementation of the motion plan by the first control lane or the second control lane, or in generation of the motion plan, and in response to one or more faults, controlling the first control lane or the second control lane to adjust the motion of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on one or more fault reaction parameters associated with the one or more faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Greenfield, Diana Yanakiev, Frederic Tschanz, Charles J. Tytler
  • Patent number: 11009868
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for navigating an autonomous or semi-autonomous fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles within a plurality of navigable pathways within an unstructured open environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Nuro, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu, Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 11004338
    Abstract: In embodiments, an apparatus for safety collaboration in autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles may include an input interface to obtain sensor data from one or more sensors of a computer-assisted or autonomous driving (CA/AD) vehicle, an output interface, and an analyzer coupled to the input and output interfaces to process the sensor data to identify an emergency condition of the CA/AD vehicle, and in response to the identified emergency condition, cause a communication interface of the CA/AD vehicle, via the output interface, to broadcast a request for assistance to be received by one or more nearby CA/AD vehicles. In embodiments, the apparatus may be disposed in the CA/AD vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Avi Priev
  • Patent number: 10999719
    Abstract: The present technology provides for establish a direct ad hoc communication link between a first vehicle and a second vehicle for exchanging the map changes. The present technology provides an efficient propagation of map changes, which can be large data files, while keeping the use of such changes under the control of a central authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Maximilian Kaplan
  • Patent number: 10984654
    Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable cooperative traffic flow optimization. More specifically, a current position and route information for a plurality of vehicles traveling on a road segment are obtained. Common routes between the vehicles are determined and a first longest common route between two first vehicles is identified. A first vehicle chain navigation instruction based on the identified route is generated and sent to the two first vehicles, instructing the two vehicles to form a first vehicle chain. Further common routes are determined among the vehicles and the vehicle chain using the route information and a second longest common route is identified between a second vehicle and: another vehicle or the first vehicle chain. A second vehicle chain navigation instruction is generated instructing the second vehicle to form a second vehicle chain with the other vehicle or to join the first vehicle chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Britt, Thorsten Busch, Angela Boone
  • Patent number: 10981563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a fully or semi autonomous vehicle. The methods comprise: receiving first sensor information specifying a person's emotion and physiological response to the autonomous vehicle's operation, or a person's general mood; predicting a first mood of the person based on at least one of the first sensor information and demographic information indicating a level of distrust, fear, anxiety or stress relating or not relating to autonomous vehicles by people having at least one characteristic in common; selecting a first vehicle operational mode from a plurality of pre-defined vehicle operational modes based on the predicted first mood of the person; and causing control of the autonomous vehicle in accordance with rules associated with the selected first vehicle operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventor: Mehrdad Nojoumian
  • Patent number: 10982969
    Abstract: A method is provided for establishing determining lane-level route guidance, and more particularly, to establishing recommended lane-level guidance between an origin and a destination based on a safe, efficient, or popular path. Methods may include receiving a plurality of probe data points from a plurality of probe apparatuses, each probe apparatus traveling between a respective origin and destination pair; determining a lane-level maneuver pattern for each probe apparatus between the origin and the destination; providing for storage of the lane-level maneuver patterns for each probe apparatus in the memory; grouping together lane-level maneuver patterns for probe apparatuses having an origin and destination pair within a predefined similarity of origin and destination pairs of other apparatuses; and generating a lane-level maneuver pattern for each group based on at least one of a popularity, efficiency, or relatively safe lane-level maneuver pattern for the respective group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventor: James Fowe
  • Patent number: 10983531
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed relate to autonomous vehicle technology. A follow vehicle having driving controls for use by humans may be equipped with a wireless transceiver, controller, sensors, and interfaces for use with control systems such that the follow vehicle may be caused to follow the lead vehicle without human interaction with the follow vehicle. The follow vehicle may wirelessly receive information from the lead vehicle regarding position, movement, acceleration or deceleration, steering, or other information relevant to following the lead vehicle. The follow vehicle may include sensors for sensing the position, movement, acceleration, deceleration, steering, or other properties of the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle may be equipped with RF transmitters that provide indicators to the follow vehicle, such that the sensors can more readily sense the lead vehicle. Multiple follow vehicles may be wirelessly linked to form a train that is not mechanically linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AVISHTECH, LLC
    Inventors: Tarun Amla, Jyoti Amla, Keshav Amla
  • Patent number: 10976745
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a vehicle path to operate an autonomous vehicle. A method includes using a lateral re-entry planner system to correct for a lateral reentry error. A longitudinal re-entry planner system is used to correct a longitudinal reentry error. Path correction commands are generated based upon the corrections provided by the lateral re-entry planner system and the longitudinal re-entry planner system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Chu, Sohrab Haghighat, Brooks Reed
  • Patent number: 10976741
    Abstract: A navigational system for a host vehicle may comprise at least one processing device. The processing device may be programmed to receive a first output and a second output associated with a host vehicle, wherein at least one of the outputs is received from a sensor onboard the host vehicle. The processing device may identify a target object in the first output and determine whether a characteristic of the target object triggers a navigational constraint by verifying the identification of the target object based on the first output; and, if the navigational constraint is not verified based on the first output, then verifying the identification of the target object based on a combination of the first output and the second output. In response to the verification, the processing device may cause at least one navigational change to the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Amnon Shashua, Shai Shalev-Shwartz, Shaked Shammah
  • Patent number: 10969777
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable local visual identification and verification of robotic vehicles. Various embodiments may enable disambiguation of a robotic vehicle from among a plurality of robotic vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Bergan, Edward Harrison Teague, Paul Guckian
  • Patent number: 10967877
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a recognition unit that is configured to recognize nearby vehicles traveling around a subject vehicle, an automated driving control unit that is configured to implement a plurality of automated driving modes in which at least one of speed control and steering control of the subject vehicle is automatically implemented, the plurality of automated driving modes having different degrees of surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle imposed on an occupant of the subject vehicle, and a management unit that is configured to manage the surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle, the management unit being configured to reduce the surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle when vehicle platooning in which the subject vehicle travels while following a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the subject vehicle among the nearby vehicles recognized by the recognition unit is implemented by the automated driving control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Asakura, Kunimichi Hatano, Naoto Sen, Masaaki Abe
  • Patent number: 10940855
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to providing auto-parking for a vehicle according to the presence of a passenger. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to receiving a request for the vehicle to auto-park and to determining the passenger is present within the vehicle, analyzing sensor data about the passenger to generate passenger characteristics that indicate at least an age group for the passenger. The method includes determining whether the age group for the passenger satisfies an auto-park threshold that is based, at least in part, on regulations of a locality in which the vehicle is presently located. The method includes selectively executing auto-parking of the vehicle according to whether the age group of the passenger satisfies the auto-park threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Denso International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Mueller
  • Patent number: 10921825
    Abstract: A navigation system and a navigation method for an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a system controller and an environmental sensor. The system controller determines an AV positional pose, which identifies the location of the AV, which further includes an AV position and an AV orientation in three-dimensional space. Additionally, the system controller determines a frame of reference that is associated with the AV positional pose. The frame of reference includes a coordinate system for the AV position and the AV orientation. A localization module determines the AV positional pose and the corresponding frame of reference. The localization module is associated with the system controller. The system controller then identifies at least one asset feature frame (AFF), which associates the AV positional pose with the feature in the AV environment. The system controller generates a motion control command based the AV positional pose and the AFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOMODALITY, INC.
    Inventor: Edward Lee Koch
  • Patent number: 10921813
    Abstract: A vehicle control device (100) includes a recognition unit (130) that is configured to recognize a surrounding situation of a subject vehicle that is able to be automatically driven, and a control unit (120, 160) that is configured to perform a predetermined operation with respect to a cause of obstruction to traffic of a traffic participant due to a predetermined contact of the subject vehicle in a case that the recognition unit recognizes that the predetermined contact of the subject vehicle has occurred, and the control unit differentiates an operation that is executed in a case that it is recognized that an occupant is not onboard the subject vehicle from an operation that is executed in a case that it is recognized that the occupant is onboard the subject vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Yasuda, Takafumi Hirose, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Makoto Nakatsuka, Yuki Oshitani, Susumu Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10915965
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for generating or updating usage-based insurance policies for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles may be provided. A request to generate an insurance quote may be received via wireless communication, and with the customer's permission, risk levels associated with intended usage by the customer of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined. An insurance policy may be adjusted based upon the risk levels and the intended vehicle usage. The insurance policy may then be presented on the customer's mobile device for review and approval. In some aspects, the vehicle may be rented, and the intended vehicle usage is measured in distance or duration of vehicle operation. Insurance discounts may be provided to risk averse vehicle owners based upon low risk levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Chien Che Huang, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Shawn C. Bennett, Steven C. Cielocha, Ronny S. Bryant, Stephen Kohaus, Terry Quakenbush, Richard A. Novak, Aaron Scott Chan, Craig M. Main, Weixin Wu, Torri Wollenschlager, Carol Marie Csanda, Stacey Gorsuch, Todd Binion
  • Patent number: 10913148
    Abstract: A method and system for a reconfigurable robotic platform through a plurality of interchangeable service modules and adapted to engage in both autonomous and interactive maintenance and monitoring of a service area, the robotic platform configured to execute a stored service plan for the service area, the service plan comprising a service plan sequence comprising a service treatment step, alter the service plan sequence based on detecting an object that is a treatment obstacle in the service area as detected by the sensor, the treatment obstacle preventing execution of the service treatment step at a service treatment location within the service area, wherein the altered service plan sequence comprises moving around the treatment obstacle and skipping the service treatment step, store the service treatment location for later treatment, and resume execution of the service plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Discovery Robotics
    Inventors: Larry J. Williams, Vivek Rajendran, Hardik Shah, Dharmateja Kadem, Jeffrey Blum, Ishit Shah, Manomit Bal, Britta Kathleen Ulm, David Callen, Sujith Vijaya Kumar, Naman Kumar
  • Patent number: 10906555
    Abstract: An alert control apparatus that notifies a driver in advance of a transfer of control relating to a driving operation from an automatic driving function to the driver by controlling an alert device mounted on a vehicle, which is equipped with the automatic driving function, includes: an estimator that estimates an occurrence of a change execution situation that requires a lane change under a condition in which the driving operation of the vehicle is controlled by the automatic driving function; a determiner that determines a level of difficulty of lane change control based on a plurality of travel environment factors in the change execution situation; and a notification device that notifies the driver of a possibility of the transfer of the control together with a reason of the transfer of the control with a notification mode corresponding to the level using the alert device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10891498
    Abstract: A vehicle control system including a recognizer that is configured to recognize a surroundings status of a vehicle and a driving controller that is configured to control at least steering of the vehicle on the basis of the surroundings status recognized by the recognizer, and, in a case in which a obstacle present in an advancement direction of the vehicle and traffic participants present near the obstacle are recognized by the recognizer, and the vehicle is caused to avoid the obstacle, the driving controller is configured to control the vehicle on the basis of advancement directions of the traffic participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Tsuchiya, Hideki Matsunaga, Yasuharu Hashimoto, Etsuo Watanabe, Yuki Oshitani, Ryoma Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10875511
    Abstract: Systems and methods for brake redundancy for an autonomous vehicle are provided. An autonomous vehicle braking system can include a primary brake control module comprising one or more processors. The primary brake control module can be configured to brake an autonomous vehicle in response to receiving a braking command from a vehicle autonomy system of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle braking system can further include a secondary brake control module comprising one or more processors. The secondary brake control module can be configured to determine a failure of the primary brake control module to brake the autonomous vehicle in response to receiving the braking command. In response to determining the failure of the primary brake control module to brake the autonomous vehicle, the secondary brake control module can be configured to implement a braking action for the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk John VandenBerg, III, Nicholas G. Letwin
  • Patent number: 10877474
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus for a vehicle may include: a communication control unit (CCU) configured to communicate with at least one electronic control unit (ECU) included in the vehicle and an external server; and a controller configured to diagnose the at least one ECU, to transmit a result of the diagnosis of the at least one ECU to the external server through the CCU, to receive alternative function information, indicating one or more alternative functions, generated by the external server based on the result of the diagnosis of the at least one ECU, and to perform autonomous driving control of the vehicle using the one or more alternative functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: HyunChul Yun
  • Patent number: 10875543
    Abstract: A system, comprising a first computer that includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to input an expected control input to a second computer, and then, to determine a response resulting from the expected control input. The memory stores instructions to determine a compensated control input based on the expected control input and the response, and to input the compensated control input to the second computer to achieve the expected control input. The second computer is provided to actuate a vehicle component to achieve the expected control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Yan Wang, Steven Joseph Szwabowski
  • Patent number: 10860028
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects an surrounding object around a vehicle; a first setting unit that sets a first potential for multiple divided areas resulting from division of a road area based on the road area; a second setting unit that sets a second potential for the divided areas based on the detected surrounding object; an evaluating unit that calculates an index value by evaluating a potential of a target divided area based on the first potential and the second potential set for the target divided area in the multiple divided areas and foreseen information generated for surrounding divided areas selected from a periphery of the target divided area; and a selecting unit that selects one or more divided areas along a moving direction of the vehicle from the multiple divided areas based on the calculated index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daichi Kato
  • Patent number: 10831197
    Abstract: A drone identifies situational context (based on signals from at least one sensor) and selects an action in response to the situational context, based on a personality of the drone. The drone then communicates its personality to other drones within a swarm of drones, the drone being a member of the swarm of drones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Erickson, Kala K. Fleming, Clifford A. Pickover, Komminist Weldemariam