Storage Or Planning Of Route Information Patents (Class 701/25)
  • Patent number: 8983708
    Abstract: Disclosed are a steering control device of an autonomous vehicle, an autonomous vehicle having the same, and a steering control method of an autonomous vehicle. The steering control method comprises receiving a position of an autonomous vehicle, and a first heading angle of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the north; calculating a second heading angle of the autonomous vehicle toward a tracking waypoint based on the position of the autonomous vehicle, and computing a rotation radius of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the tracking waypoint; calculating a yaw rate based on a speed of the autonomous vehicle and the computed rotation radius, and generating a steering command corresponding to the calculated yaw rate; and compensating for the steering command based on the first and second heading angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Agency for Defense Development
    Inventors: Tok Son Choe, Yong Woon Park, Jeong Sook Chae
  • Patent number: 8983685
    Abstract: In a system and method for navigating a moving object according to signals from satellite, a moving object receives satellite navigation signals from a number of satellites. The moving object also receives moving base data from a moving base. The received moving base data includes satellite measurement data of the moving base. At the moving object a relative position vector of the moving object relative to the moving base is determined, based on the received moving base data and the received satellite navigation signals. The moving object sends a signal reporting information corresponding to the relative position vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Liwen L. Dai, Yunfeng Shao
  • Patent number: 8983679
    Abstract: A movement trajectory generator 1 that generates a movement trajectory of a vehicle is provided, which includes traveling environment recognition means 10, 11, and 21 for recognizing a traveling environment, movement strategy generation means 22 for generating movement strategies for positioning in a road area according to the traveling environment that is recognized by the traveling environment recognition means, presenting means 12, 23, and 27 for presenting a passenger setting information of the movement strategies, setting means 12 and 28 for receiving an operation for the passenger to set the movement strategies based on the setting information of the movement strategies presented by the presenting means, and movement trajectory generation means 29 for generating the movement trajectory based on the movement strategies set by the setting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitahama, Shinya Kawamata, Toshiyuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8983657
    Abstract: A system and a method of managing one or more vehicles deployed in a worksite are provided. The system includes a battery management module which may receive, via a data network, battery health information and/or location co-ordinates from at least one vehicle. The battery management module is configured to issue a battery changing command, via the data network, to a battery-changing device based at least on the battery health information and the location co-ordinates of the vehicles. The battery-changing device may be configured to change at least one battery on the at least one vehicle with charged batteries based on the issued command. The battery-changing device is configured to return each of the changed battery to a central station to recharge the changed battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Evan E. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8983709
    Abstract: Provided is an autonomous travel system having an operation management unit including a map database with a combination of topological region maps, on which the range of travel of a vehicle is expressed as points and lines, and metric region maps, on which the travel range is expressed on planar maps; a vehicle position management unit for managing the position of the vehicle; and a vehicle travel planning unit for planning vehicle travel, which, if the vehicle is present near the boundary of a map, blocks the map boundary so that other vehicles will not advance into another map. The operation management unit is provided with a blockage setting unit for dividing a boundary section of a map into a plurality of regions and releasing the blockage of the boundary of a divided region in which no vehicles are present in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Bando, Yukihiro Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20150066283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
  • Patent number: 8972095
    Abstract: An automatic guided vehicle and a method for drive control enable driving of the vehicle with a coordinate system, while using designation of a movement position by address. The automatic guided vehicle measures a surrounding state by a laser, performs matching between map data and measurement data obtained by the measuring to obtain the current position, and runs, following preset route data, based on the obtained current position. The vehicle includes a data memory that stores correspondence information between addresses of certain positions in a drive area where the vehicle runs and coordinates that are set in the drive area, and a processing section that, when a movement target position is designated by address from a host computer, transforms the designated address into coordinates, based on the correspondence information between addresses and coordinates, and drives the vehicle, following the route data to the coordinates corresponding to the address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Furuno, Yoshiharu Tomioka, Yutaka Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8965619
    Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes, Forrest Buzan, Andrew Eccles
  • Patent number: 8965623
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for attending to an environmental condition by an electronic cleaning device. A computer receives one or more data signals from one or more sensors through a network, with each of the one or more sensors associated with a physical location. The computer determines that due to an environmental condition a signal strength of the one or more data signals received from the one or more sensors is out of a threshold value range. The computer determines an optimal route from a current location of the electronic cleaning device to the one or more physical locations of the one or more sensors associated with the one or more data signals experiencing signal strength out of the threshold value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Publication number: 20150051782
    Abstract: An automatic motor vehicle driving and guidance system that does not require the intervention of a human driver while the vehicle is in motion along a roadway that is equipped with this invention of an Automatic Driverless Motor Vehicle Driving and Guidance System. This invention can reduce motor vehicle accidents that occur due to driver fatigue or distraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Wayne Anthony Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20150051783
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method and system of planning autonomous mission, the mission being executed by one or more autonomous agents. A generic mission template is obtained, the generic mission template being constructed from a plurality of mission-objects and defines logical connections between the plurality of mission-objects, wherein each mission-object is configured to logically represent a respective type of mission-element; one or more mission-object in the generic mission template are associated with a respective real world mission-element, thereby generating a specific mission plan; with the help of a processor an agent-specific mission plan is generated for the one or more agents, based on the generic mission template and the specific mission plan, wherein an agent specific mission plan comprises tasks assigned to a respective designated agent and is compatible with the technical requirement of the respective designated agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Assaf Tamir, Amira Sharon
  • Publication number: 20150046017
    Abstract: A method for determining the physical location of a vehicle being guided with an onboard navigational positioning system capable of detecting and generating a positioning location vector for the vehicle. The method includes the steps of detecting and receiving a plurality of electromagnetic radiation signals. A plurality of ambient parameter measurements is also received. A confirming location position is calculated from the plurality of electromagnetic radiation signals and the plurality of ambient parameter measurements. The confirming location position is compared to the positioning location vector generated by the onboard system to create a differential vector. If the confirmation location position and the positioning location vector are greater than a predetermined value, the positioning location vector generated by the onboard navigational positioning system is prevented from being used in directing the movement of the vehicle until the position differential is below a predetermined error value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Guy Torti, James R. Reed
  • Patent number: 8954853
    Abstract: An after-action, mission review tool that displays camera and navigation sensor data allowing a user to pan, tilt, and zoom through the images from front and back cameras on an vehicle, while simultaneously viewing time/date information, along with any available navigation information such as the latitude and longitude of the vehicle at that time instance. Also displayed is a visual representation of the path the vehicle traversed; when the user clicks on the path, the image is automatically changed to the image corresponding to that position. If aerial images of the area are available, the path can be plotted on the geo-referenced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robotic Research, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy, Anne Rachel Schneider, Raymond Paul Wilhelm, III
  • Patent number: 8954252
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to notifying a pedestrian of the intent of a self-driving vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include sensors which detect an object such as a pedestrian attempting or about to cross the roadway in front of the vehicle. The vehicle's computer may then determine the correct way to respond to the pedestrian. For example, the computer may determine that the vehicle should stop or slow down, yield, or stop if it is safe to do so. The vehicle may then provide a notification to the pedestrian of what the vehicle is going to or is currently doing. For example, the vehicle may include a physical signaling device, an electronic sign or lights, a speaker for providing audible notifications, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Ian James Mahon, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Jiajun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8954260
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a target proximate a vehicle. A location and a velocity of the target are obtained. The location and the velocity of the target are mapped onto a polar coordinate system via a processor. A likelihood that the vehicle and the target will collide is determined using the mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gandhi, Chad T. Zagorski
  • Patent number: 8948719
    Abstract: A Commercial Mobile Alert Message System (CMAS) message comprises a message identifier indicative of the type of alert message in the CMAS message. The identifier is used by a mobile device configured to receive and process CMAS messages to determine if the message alert is to be rendered via the mobile device. The identifier also can be used to place the mobile device in a power conservation state. In an example configuration, the mobile device interprets the message identifier to determine if a subscriber wants the message rendered. If the subscriber wants the message rendered, the mobile device processes and renders the message appropriately. If the subscriber does not want the message rendered, the message is ignored and optionally, the mobile device is placed in a power conservation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kevin Daly, DeWayne Allan Sennett
  • Patent number: 8938318
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (300) and a system (100) for navigating a robotic garden tool (202) based on one or more operating parameters for subareas (210-218) within the working area (204) and a current location of the robotic garden tool (202). The working area (204) is provided with a signal source (104) corresponding to which a sensor unit (106) is provided in the robotic garden tool (202) for detecting the one or more signals (102) from the signal source (104). The robotic garden tool (202) may include a low-accuracy positioning device (110) for providing co-ordinates of various subareas (210-218) and at any given instant, an approximate location of the robotic garden tool (202). The robotic garden tool (202) further includes a processor means (114) for comparing the coordinates of the subareas (210-218) and the approximate position of the robotic garden tool (202) to determine a current location of the robotic garden tool (202) in the working area (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Jonas Bergström, Stefan Strandberg, Patrik Jägenstedt, Mattias Kamfors
  • Publication number: 20150019064
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling driving of a vehicle are provided and the apparatus includes a sensor unit that has at least one sensor disposed at sides of a vehicle. In addition, a controller uses sensing information received from the sensor unit to confirm whether the vehicle enters a path and detects obstacles located in the path. The controller calculates a left and right width of the path based on the obstacles and then confirms whether the path is a narrow road. Further, the controller is configured to output a driving guidance to the confirmed narrow road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ki Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20150019063
    Abstract: An environment monitor has a plurality of sensors for detecting predetermined safety risks associated with a plurality of potential destination regions around a vehicle as the vehicle moves over a roadway. The environment monitor selects one of the potential destination regions having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target area. A path determination unit assembles a plurality of plausible paths between the vehicle and the target area, monitors predetermined safety risks associated with the plurality of plausible paths, and selects one of the plausible paths having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target path. An impact detector detects an impact between the vehicle and another object. A stability control is configured to autonomously steer the vehicle onto the target path when the impact is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Stephen W. Rouhana
  • Patent number: 8935018
    Abstract: An auto-guidance and control method and system are provided for use in conjunction with an aircraft electric taxi system, wherein electric taxi guidance may be performed in a manual mode by a crew or in an auto-mode by an auto-guidance and control system. First, aircraft status data and airport feature data are accessed. A processor, in response to at least the aircraft status data and the airport feature data, generates taxi guidance information and renders the taxi guidance information on a display. A guidance route is manually navigated utilizing guidance information on the display in the manual mode. In the auto mode, taxi-path commands, generated by the processor, are applied to taxi path guidance controllers in the auto-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Hughes, Joseph Nutaro, Christine Marie Haissig
  • Patent number: 8935034
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting discrete actions by traveling vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of autonomously controlled vehicles by performing a behavior analysis on mobile objects in the vicinity of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, an autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting and tracking nearby vehicles and is able to determine when these nearby vehicles have performed actions of interest by comparing their tracked movements with map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jiajun Zhu, David Ian Franklin Ferguson, Dmitri A. Dolgov
  • Patent number: 8930060
    Abstract: An environment monitor has a plurality of sensors for detecting predetermined safety risks associated with a plurality of potential destination regions around a vehicle as the vehicle moves over a roadway. The environment monitor selects one of the potential destination regions having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target area. A path determination unit assembles a plurality of plausible paths between the vehicle and the target area, monitors predetermined safety risks associated with the plurality of plausible paths, and selects one of the plausible paths having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target path. An impact detector detects an impact between the vehicle and another object. A stability control is configured to autonomously steer the vehicle onto the target path when the impact is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Stephen W. Rouhana
  • Patent number: 8930133
    Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder has a frame with device openings. The mobile drive unit is operable to dock with an inventory holder and undock with an inventory holder. When undocked from an inventory holder, the mobile drive unit is further operable to traverse a path from a first location to a second location. The path passes through at least a first device opening of the inventory holder such that the mobile drive unit passes beneath the inventory holder while moving along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Patent number: 8930059
    Abstract: Each respective vehicle of a plurality of vehicles transports a vehicle navigation system. A position determining system determines a position and a velocity of the respective vehicle and an information acquisition system is operable to determine a displacement and velocity between the respective vehicle and a vehicle adjacent to the respective vehicle. An information communication system of a respective vehicle is operable to transmit first information (that vehicle's velocity and position) to other vehicles and to receive information from other vehicles regarding their velocities and positions. A vehicle routing system can determine a target routing and target velocity for moving the respective vehicle over a path including the roadway. Based on the received or determined information, the velocity of the respective vehicle can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Ryan A. Neff
  • Patent number: 8930043
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite having a resource. The control system may have a worksite controller configured to divide a common travel path into a plurality of segments, including at least a spot segment at the resource and a stage segment. The worksite control may further be configured to receive a first input indicative of a desire for a first of the plurality of mobile machines to leave the spot segment, and to direct the first of the plurality of mobile machines out of the spot segment based on the first input. The worksite controller may be further configured to receive first location information for the first of the plurality of mobile machines, and to direct the second of the plurality of mobile machines from the stage segment into the spot segment based on the first location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Michael Siemer, Craig L. Koehrsen, Andrew J. Vitale, John R. Ellwood
  • Patent number: 8930058
    Abstract: The present invention provides an unmanned fully autonomous threat representative mobile land target for testing modern weapon systems and training personnel. The invention implements novel navigation and vehicle control algorithms which allow any predefined course to be represented spatially and temporally with continuously and smoothly varying curvatures having no discontinuities of curvature, direction, or acceleration that enable the target vehicle to traverse a predefined course with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and maneuverability without the need for communication with any remotely located station. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Donald G. Quist, David Reed Robinson, Carl M. Zorzi, Brian J. Wolfe, William S. Wight, Joseph R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8924050
    Abstract: In a railway signalling system which transmits a control order to an on-board signalling system by a trackside signalling system, the on-board signalling system being mounted on a train running on a line and the control order being compliant with a signalling system of the line, the present invention allows the train to run through into lines with different signalling systems using a single on-board signalling system. When the train enters a line with a different signalling system from a current line, the on-board signalling system installs a train control application program compliant with the signalling system of the entering line. Then, the on-board signalling system executes the train control application program, allowing the train to be controlled on the entering line according to a control order created by the trackside signalling system of the entering line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Katsuta, Yoichi Sugita, Keiji Maekawa, Naoki Shibata, Kenji Imamoto, Motonari Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8924146
    Abstract: Disclosed is drive mode guide system for a vehicle provided with a plurality of drive modes. More specifically, a road information storage unit stores information related a road state. A real-time information storage unit receives and stores environmental information in real time. A vehicle information storage unit stores information related to the vehicle. A control unit then extracts a possible-traveling path and a drive mode and an outputs the possible-traveling path. A suggested drive mode received from the control unit based on the information stored in the road information storage unit, the real-time information storage unit, and the vehicle information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seunggil Choi, Jeong Woo Lee, Jung Do Kee
  • Patent number: 8924069
    Abstract: A method and system for control of a first aircraft relative to a second aircraft. A desired location and desired orientation are estimated for the first aircraft, relative to the second aircraft, at a subsequent time, t=t2, subsequent to the present time, t=t1, where the second aircraft continues its present velocity during a subsequent time interval, t1?t?t2, or takes evasive action. Action command sequences are examined, and an optimal sequence is chosen to bring the first aircraft to the desired location and desired orientation relative to the second aircraft at time t=t2. The method applies to control of combat aircraft and/or of aircraft in a congested airspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: John T. Kaneshige, Kalmanje S. Krishnakumar
  • Patent number: 8924068
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile body includes a storage unit arranged to store a size D2 of the autonomous mobile body, a laser range sensor arranged to acquire obstacle information, an obstacle identification unit arranged to identify, based on the acquired obstacle information, edge points indicating positions of both ends of a region in which an interfering obstacle exists, the both ends being both ends on a plane parallel or substantially parallel to a passage plane in a direction which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a moving target direction of the autonomous mobile body, a direction setting unit arranged to set a pull-off direction based on the size D2 of the autonomous mobile body and the edge points, and a mobile controller arranged and programmed to control the autonomous mobile body to move toward the pull-off direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Shitamoto, Tsuyoshi Nakano, Shoji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8918243
    Abstract: A computer system and method for storing and processing GPS data for a plurality of vehicles to provide speed reports and alerts for fleets of vehicles, including alerts for speed data. The system and method can provide, for a graphic user interface, an alert when an operational metric for a vehicle meets or exceeds at least one predetermined criterion established for the operational metric, wherein the operational metric includes a speed metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fleetmatics IRL Limited
    Inventor: Peter Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8918241
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile device is configured to move on a surface provided with a base station thereon, and is operated in one of a work state and return state. In the work state, the autonomous mobile device is operable to plot a movement route along which the autonomous mobile device moves, and is operable to adjust the movement route upon presence of an obstacle. In the return state, the autonomous mobile device is operable to plot a returning route on the surface from the current position to the base station, and to move along the returning route to the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Agait Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tien-Chen Chen, Kai-Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 8914212
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to notifying a pedestrian of the intent of a self-driving vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include sensors which detect an object such as a pedestrian attempting or about to cross the roadway in front of the vehicle. The vehicle's computer may then determine the correct way to respond to the pedestrian. For example, the computer may determine that the vehicle should stop or slow down, yield, or stop if it is safe to do so. The vehicle may then provide a notification to the pedestrian of what the vehicle is going to or is currently doing. For example, the vehicle may include a physical signaling device, an electronic sign or lights, a speaker for providing audible notifications, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Ian James Mahon, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Jiajun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140358354
    Abstract: An autoguidance interface for a hydraulic steering system for a differential steered self-propelled agricultural windrower, windrower speed and direction controlled by adjustment to a control input shaft to control the output of a pair of tandem-mounted hydraulic drive pumps and provide motive power for the windrower. The control input shaft is rotatable and axially moveable. A hydraulic steering motor is operably connected to the input shaft to effect control input shaft rotation. Rotation of the hydraulic steering motor is selectively managed by a steering control valve attached to a cab-mounted windrower steering wheel or a proportional steering valve managed by the autoguidance system. A selector valve controls the active steering input. An emergency disengagement positions the selector valve to restore manual control by the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: TODD B. PIERCE, PHILIP J. EHRHART, MARK D. LAYTON, CECIL R. SUDBRACK
  • Patent number: 8903590
    Abstract: The present description relates to a robot cleaner and to a method for controlling the same, which involve generating a map of an area to be cleaned in accordance with a travel mode command, and performing a cleaning operation by avoiding obstacles on the basis of the generated map upon receipt of a cleaning mode command. For this purpose, the robot cleaner of the present invention comprises: a travel unit which travels around the area to be cleaned upon receipt of the travel mode command; a detection unit which detects an object located in the area to be cleaned during travel performed in accordance with the travel mode command; and a control unit which generates a map of an area to be cleaned on the basis of the information on the location of an obstacle, if the detected object is the obstacle, and controls a cleaning operation on the basis of the generated map upon receipt of a cleaning mode command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeongshin Jeon
  • Patent number: 8903608
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle in a driving maneuver in which the vehicle is guided automatically along a previously calculated trajectory, or the lateral guidance for travel along the trajectory is carried out automatically, and after the driving maneuver is completed, the steering of the vehicle is returned to the driver, information being provided to the driver concerning the vehicle's surroundings and suitable steering settings before and/or during the transfer of the steering to the driver. Also described is a device for carrying out the method, including a steering arrangement for steering the vehicle along a previously calculated trajectory as well as an output arrangement for outputting information concerning the vehicle's surroundings and suitable steering settings to the driver before and/or during the transfer of the steering to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Niemz, Andreas Gruetzmann
  • Patent number: 8903591
    Abstract: A vehicle can be controlled in a first autonomous mode of operation by at least navigating the vehicle based on map data. Sensor data can be obtained using one or more sensors of the vehicle. The sensor data can be indicative of an environment of the vehicle. An inadequacy in the map data can be detected by at least comparing the map data to the sensor data. In response to detecting the inadequacy in the map data, the vehicle can be controlled in a second autonomous mode of operation and a user can be prompted to switch to a manual mode of operation. The vehicle can be controlled in the second autonomous mode of operation by at least obtaining additional sensor data using the one or more sensors of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle based on the additional sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Ferguson, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Publication number: 20140350769
    Abstract: A printed circuit board testing method includes determining a position of a robot at a predetermined time interval and determining whether the determined position of the robot is within a preset position range. The method determines whether one or more shielding boxes are open according to unique identifiers of the shielding boxes stored in a storage system when the determined position of the robot is within the preset position range. The method obtains a predetermined path of each determined open shielding box from the storage system when one or more shielding boxes are open. The method further determines a shortest predetermined path among the obtained predetermined paths, and transmits a control signal including the determined predetermined path to the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YONG LI, XI-SONG SHUAI, YUN-QING LIU
  • Publication number: 20140350770
    Abstract: In a method for operating a system, the system includes at least one path, which includes path sections. Vehicles are able to travel along the path, and an electronic circuit is included for controlling at least the speed of the vehicle. Codes are situated along the path, and the vehicle includes at least one sensor, e.g., for detecting the codes, which is connected to the electronic circuit. A data exchange is implementable between one vehicle or a plurality of vehicles and at least one stationary unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Manuel Escuriola Ettingshausen, Stephan Nicklis
  • Patent number: 8897947
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile device that moves while autonomously avoiding zones into which entry should be avoided even if no obstacle exists therein includes a laser range finder that acquires peripheral obstacle information, a storage unit that stores an environment map that shows an obstacle zone where an obstacle exists, and a no-entry zone map which shows a no-entry zone into which entry is prohibited, a self-location estimation unit that estimates the self-location of a host device by using the obstacle information acquired by the laser range finder and the environment map, and a travel control unit that controls the host device to autonomously travel to the destination by avoiding the obstacle zone and the no-entry zone based on the estimated self-location, the environment map, and the no-entry zone map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakano, Shoji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8897917
    Abstract: An electronic controller defining an autonomous mobile device includes a self-location estimation unit to estimate a self-location based on a local map that is created according to distance/angle information relative to an object in the vicinity and the travel distance of an omni wheel, an environmental map creation unit to create an environmental map of a mobile area based on the self-location and the local map during the guided travel with using a joystick, a registration switch to register the self-location of the autonomous mobile device as the position coordinate of the setting point when the autonomous mobile device reaches a predetermined setting point during the guided travel, a storage unit to store the environmental map and the setting point, a route planning unit to plan the travel route by using the setting point on the environmental map stored in the storage unit, and a travel control unit to control the autonomous mobile device to autonomously travel along the travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8898000
    Abstract: A method of implementing an optimal avoidance filter for interposing between a human operator issued movement commands and a corresponding machine control system of a movable machine, for the avoidance of collisions with objects. The method: includes inputting a detailed representation of objects in the vicinity of the movable machine; and formulating a hierarchical set of bounding boxes around the objects. The hierarchical set including refinement details depending on the current positional state of the movable machine, with objects closer to the machine having higher levels of refinement details. The method further includes utilizing the resultant hierarchical set as a set of constraints for a mixed integer optimization problem to determine any alterations to the issued movement commands so as to avoid collisions with any objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ezymine Pty Limited
    Inventors: Peter Ross Mcaree, Michael Peter Kearney
  • Publication number: 20140343783
    Abstract: A mobile device moving in a specific area including a driving unit, an environment sensing unit, a control unit and a transmittal unit is disclosed. The driving unit moves according to a first driving signal. The environment sensing unit detects an outline of the specific area to generate detection information. The control unit processes the detection information to generate first map information and position information. The transmittal unit transmits the first map information to an electronic device. The electronic device generates second map information according to the first map information, and the control unit generates the first driving signal according to the first map information, the second map information and the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: MSI COMPUTER (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yung-Shen LEE
  • Publication number: 20140343782
    Abstract: A method or system for controlling a vehicle comprises entering a programming mode or a guidance mode based on user input to a switch. The user can enter a guidance program in accordance with a predetermined sequence of inputs of the switch by the user, where readiness for each successive input is indicated by a light source. A guidance mode is managed for guiding a vehicle in accordance with the entered guidance program. An encoder or sensor can sense a steering angle of a steering system. The steering angle is controlled in accordance with the guidance program if the system or the data processor is operating in a guidance mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Frederick W. Nelson, Timothy A. Wilcox, Peter W. Kasap
  • Patent number: 8892294
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for providing vehicle control limits. One embodiment of a system includes a navigation system and a vehicle that includes a memory component that stores a program. Embodiments of the system are configured to receive an indication for automatic control of the vehicle, receive a route for the vehicle to reach a destination for completing a work order from the navigation system, and determine a vehicle limit, wherein the vehicle limit is based on a current state of the vehicle. Some embodiments are configured to communicate the vehicle limit from a vehicle control module (VCM) to a navigation control module (NCM), determine, via the NCM, an automatic command based on the destination and the vehicle limit and send the automatic command to a motor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Bing Zheng, Thomas L. Mallak, Steve Mangette
  • Patent number: 8886384
    Abstract: Provided is a lawn mower for forming images. The lawn mower includes: an image input unit receiving an image to be formed in a lawn area; a position detection unit detecting position information of the lawn mower on a movement path of the lawn mower; a lawn mowing unit processing a lawn according to any one of a plurality of lawn processing patterns which corresponds to each position on the movement path while the lawn mower moves along the movement path; and a control unit analyzing the image received from the image input unit, determining a lawn processing pattern, which corresponds to the position information detected by the position detection unit, to express the image in the lawn area and controlling the lawn mowing unit according to the determined lawn processing pattern and independently of the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microinfinity, Inc.
    Inventors: Hakyoung Chung, Lauro Ojeda
  • Patent number: 8886385
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile body is configured to smoothly avoid obstacles. The mobile body has a movement mechanism configured to translate in a horizontal plane and rotate around a vertical axis, and the distance to an obstacle is derived for each directional angle using an obstacle sensor. Using a model having two arcs, one at each end in a major axis direction, connected by line segments that lie in the major axis direction and containing the autonomous mobile body, the movement mechanism is driven with a combination of translation and rotation, without interference between the obstacle and the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Takahashi, Takafumi Suzuki, Toshiki Moriguchi
  • Patent number: 8880313
    Abstract: A method operates a vehicle having an acquisition device for acquiring defined route section data of an upcoming route section to be passed through via the vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle. Accordingly, the route section data, which are acquired by the acquisition device are evaluated in an evaluation device with respect to the wear reduction potential of a vehicle-side wearing part for the upcoming route section to be passed through such that, to reduce and/or optimize the wear of the wearing part. An actuating parameter, in particular an actuating time and/or an actuating duration, is predetermined for the wearing part in the upcoming route section to be passed through. An auxiliary device which supports the wearing part in its action is activated in the upcoming route section to be passed through in accordance with at least one predefined auxiliary device parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Dörner, Andreas Zimmermann, Daniel Heyes, Martin Huber, Peter Drimml, Britta Michel
  • Patent number: 8880271
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner and method of the present invention involve dividing the whole area to be cleaned into sub-areas, and easily calculating a full path using travel paths in the sub-areas and connection points between sub-areas, and in the event the whole area to be cleaned is extended or an area which has not been cleaned is found, do not involve regenerating the whole map for cleaning, but rather easily updating the full path using the pre-stored travel path in the sub-areas and the connection points between sub-areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeongshin Jeon
  • Publication number: 20140324268
    Abstract: A roadgraph may include a graph network of information such as roads, lanes, intersections, and the connections between these features. The roadgraph may also include one or more zones associated with particular rules. The zones may include locations where driving is typically challenging such as merges, construction zones, or other obstacles. In one example, the rules may require an autonomous vehicle to alert a driver that the vehicle is approaching a zone. The vehicle may thus require a driver to take control of steering, acceleration, deceleration, etc. In another example, the zones may be designated by a driver and may be broadcast to other nearby vehicles, for example using a radio link or other network such that other vehicles may be able to observer the same rule at the same location or at least notify the other vehicle's drivers that another driver felt the location was unsafe for autonomous driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Steven Montemerlo, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson