Tusimple, Inc.

Toddco General

Tdg Aerospace, Inc.

Todd B Skinner

Qiwei Li

Yishi Liu

Xiaoling Han

Charles A Price

Juexiao Ning

Zehua Huang

Kaixin Zheng

Alan Camyre

Robert Patrick Brown

Jeffrey J Renn

Raymond Alan Thomas

Jim Giglio

Xiaodi Hou

Zhujia Shi

Thomas W Todd

David L Evans

Daniel E Fish

Andrew Wagner

Adrian Alting-Mees

Zijie Xuan

Arda Kurt

Yujia Wu

Yue Pan

Shuhan Yang

Jay Day

Zhiqi Gong

Jianqiu Cao

Provided herein is a system and method for damping the steering of a vehicle. Methods of an example include: steering a pair of steerable wheels of the vehicle with a steering mechanism about an axis substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of a respective one of the pair of steerable wheels; damping the steering mechanism at a first damping rate in response to a steering change rate of the pair of steerable wheels being below a predetermined rate; and damping the steering mechanism at a second damping rate in response to the steering change rate of the pair of steerable wheels being above the predetermined rate.

System and method for steering damping

Disclosed is a camera mounting apparatus for a vehicle that attaches the camera to the vehicle, isolates the camera from vibration at the mounting points, and accommodates thermal expansion and contraction of the vehicle and the mounting structure. The apparatus includes a camera mounting beam coupled to the camera, and one or more elastomeric vibration isolators coupled to an attachment device and coupled to the camera mounting beam. The apparatus also includes a spherical bearing coupled to the attachment device, wherein the spherical bearing is configured to accommodate misalignment of the attachment device, and one or more spring washers to generate a force holding the one or more elastomeric vibration isolators and spherical bearing in positions.

Camera mounting device for a vehicle

A camera cleaning system for an autonomous vehicle may include a platform that can accommodate multiple cameras, wiper systems, as well as a fluid delivery system. The wiper system may include a wiper, rail, and a hydraulic motion component for each camera. The platform surface that contacts the wiper system's wipers and cleaning fluid may be angled and may include a window or lens for each camera. The autonomous vehicle may include a controller that may decide when a camera cleaning protocol should be executed. Alternatively, or additionally, a camera cleaning protocol may be executed periodically, as indicated by a controller.

Autonomous driving camera cleaning system

The angle of a trailer with respect to a tow vehicle is an important parameter to the stability of the vehicle and trailer. A tow vehicle pulling a trailer in a straight line is generally more stable than when the vehicle is turning. While turning, the angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer is not a straight line but is another angle depending on how sharply the tow vehicle is turning. To safely operate a vehicle towing a trailer, for a given steering input and speed, there is a maximum angle between the tow vehicle and trailer whereby exceeding the angle causes instability and may cause the trailer or tow vehicle to roll over or jackknife. Accordingly, the angle between the trailer and tow vehicle must be determined to ensure the vehicle and trailer will continue to be in control.

Determining an angle between a tow vehicle and a trailer

Described are devices, systems and methods for managing power generation, storage and/or distribution in autonomous vehicles. In some aspects, a system for power management in an autonomous vehicle having a main power source and one or more alternators includes a vehicle control unit, a secondary power source, and a power management unit. In some embodiments, the power management unit is configured on an autonomous vehicle having a single alternator-charging system for battery charging and battery power control with different battery packs. In some embodiments, the power management unit is configured on an autonomous vehicle having multiple alternator-charging systems for battery charging and battery power control for different battery packs.

Battery power control in autonomous vehicles having alternator-charging systems

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices

Techniques are described for managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle. An exemplary method comprises performing autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, receiving one or more messages from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode, determining a cooling technique to reduce the temperature of electrical device, and performing the cooling technique.

Temperature management system for autonomous vehicles

An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence changes in wind incident on the autonomous vehicle, particularly wind gusts. The detection system may include one or more wind sensors, particularly those configured to detect wind incident on the vehicle from a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the direction of motion of the autonomous vehicle. Additionally, systems may be present that correlate the detected wind gusts to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected wind gusts by altering the vehicle's trajectory, by stopping the vehicle, or by communicating with a control center for further instructions.

Wind gust detection by an autonomous vehicle

Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for a LiDAR mirror assembly mounted on a vehicle, such as an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. For example, a LiDAR mirror assembly may include a base plate mounted on a hood of a vehicle, where the base plate is coupled to one end of a support arm. The opposite end of the support arm is attached to a housing. The housing includes a top housing enclosure coupled to a bottom housing platform, where a sensor and a mirror is coupled to the housing, and where the sensor is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top housing enclosure. The opening for the sensor is situated near an end of the housing furthest away from the base plate.

LiDAR mirror sensor assembly

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for using a rotating camera for vehicular operation. One example of a method for improving driving includes determining, by a processor in the vehicle, that a trigger has activated, orienting, based on the determining, a single rotating camera towards a direction of interest, and activating a recording functionality of the single rotating camera, where the vehicle comprises the single rotating camera and one or more fixed cameras, and where the single rotating camera provides a redundant functionality for, and consumes less power than, the one or more fixed cameras.

Vehicle-based rotating camera methods and systems

Techniques are described for compensating for movements of sensors. A method includes receiving two sets of sensor data from two sets of sensors, where a first set of sensors are located on a roof of a cab of a semi-trailer truck and a second set of sensor data are located on a hood of the semi-trailer truck. The method also receives from a height sensor a measured value indicative of a height of the rear of a rear portion of the cab of the semi-trailer truck relative to a chassis of the semi-trailer truck, determines two correction values, one for each of the two sets of sensor data, and compensates for the movement of the two sets of sensors by generating two sets of compensated sensor data. The two sets of compensated sensor data are generated by adjusting the two sets of sensor data based on the two correction values.

Techniques to compensate for movement of sensors in a vehicle

Integrated multi-purpose perception housing

An autonomous vehicle includes a detection system for identifying the presence of authorities or emergency vehicles on a road, such as law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, fire trucks, police officers, first responders, traffic cones, flares, etc. The detection system may include audio and visual detection system dedicated to the detection of authorities. Additionally, systems that correlate the detected authorities and/or any audible or visual instructions given by the authorities to changes in the behavior of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may react to the detected authorities or emergency vehicles by determining a driving related operation to safely operate around the detected authorities or emergency vehicles.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Todd B Skinner