Google Inc.

Waymo LLC

Mission Motor Company

Newton Security, Inc.

Seth Michael LaForge

James Christopher Norris

Andrew Robert Kirmse

Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen

Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen

Bret Steven Taylor

Stephen Ma

Craig Lewin Robinson

John Tisdale

Noel Phillip Gordon

Russell Leigh Smith

Paul Karplus

Noel Philip Gordon

Adam Douglas Smith

Ramesh Balakrishnan

David S Young

Jon Wagner

David Eustis

Kenson W Yee

Guoqiang Pan

John W Bramblet

Carl R Witty

Example systems and methods are disclosed for determining vehicle pose data for an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle computer system may receive pose data from multiple pose measurement systems of the autonomous vehicle. Each pose measurement system may include one or more corresponding sensors of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle computer system may determine a pose data quality for the received pose data for each pose measurement system. The vehicle computer system may set the vehicle pose data to the pose data of the pose measurement system with the highest pose data quality. The vehicle computer system may control the autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle pose data.

System and method for determining pose data for a vehicle

In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

Devices and methods for a sensor platform of a vehicle

One example device includes a rotor platform that rotates about an axis of rotation. The device also includes a ring magnet mounted to the rotor platform to provide a rotor-platform magnetic field. The device also includes a stator platform that includes a planar mounting surface. The device also includes a plurality of conductive structures disposed along the planar mounting surface. The conductive structures remain within a predetermined distance to the ring magnet in response to rotation of the rotor platform about the axis of rotation. The conductive structures are electrically coupled to define an electrically conductive path that at least partially overlaps the ring magnet. The device also includes circuitry that causes an electrical current to flow through the conductive path. The electrical current generates a stator-platform magnetic field that interacts with the rotor-platform magnetic field such that the rotor platform rotates about the axis of rotation.

Devices and methods for driving a rotary platform

A map image is displayed via a user interface. A user selection of a location marker or one of a set of textual driving directions is received via the user interface. In response to the received user selection, an interactive information window overlaid within the map image is generated. Generating the interactive information window includes providing additional information regarding a location related to the marker or to the one of the set of textual driving directions.

Digital mapping system

A method of displaying a map on a display page includes displaying a map image; displaying at least one zoom control object overlaid on the map image using an image overlay technique to display the at least one zoom control object within the map image, thereby increasing an area within the display page available for the map image; and changing a manner in which the map image is displayed in response to receiving a selection of the at least one zoom control object.

Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. Direction control or zoom control objects may be included as interactive overlays on the displayed map image. The displayed map image may also include route or location overlays.

A method for remotely monitoring and gathering information about a plurality of vehicles, including the steps of accessing the plurality of vehicles wherein each vehicle is individually operated, selecting vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles, communicating the vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles to a remote processor, and processing the plurality of vehicle data into population data by the remote processor. The individual operation of each vehicle preferably includes the steps of generating vehicle data, operating the vehicle based on the vehicle data with a vehicle controller, and storing the vehicle data in a database located on the vehicle.

Remote monitoring of a plurality of vehicles

The present invention relates to a geographic information system having editable maps. In an embodiment, a system provides editable maps. The system includes an edit layer dataset that stores geocoded data. At least a portion of the edit layer dataset is edited by a user. The system also includes a base layer dataset that includes trusted geocoded data and a moderation module that receives a change in the edit layer dataset. The moderation module determines whether the change is reliable and promotes the change in the edit layer dataset to the base layer dataset if the change is reliable.

Editable geographic data for maps, and applications thereof

Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. One apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes means for sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, means for receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, means for assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, means for aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and means for displaying the result as a map image. Such an apparatus may further include direction control or zoom control objects as interactive overlays on the displayed map image, and may also include route or location overlays on the map image.

Unauthorized entry into controlled access areas using tailgating or reverse entry methods is detected using machine vision methods. Camera images of the controlled area are processed to identify and track objects in the controlled area. In a preferred embodiment, this processing includes 3D surface analysis to distinguish and classify objects in the field of view. Feature extraction, color analysis, and pattern recognition may also be used for identification and tracking of objects. Integration with security monitoring and control systems provides notification when a tailgating or reverse entry event has occurred. More reliable operation in practical circumstances is thus obtained, such as when multiple people are using an entrance or exit under variable light and shadow conditions. Electronic access control systems may further be combined with the machine vision methods of the invention to more effectively prevent tailgating or reverse entry.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Seth Michael LaForge