The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2024
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2022
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US);
Brendan F. Diamond, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Marguerite Kimball, Brighton, MI (US);
Annette L. Huebner, Highland, MI (US);
John R. Van Wiemeersch, Novi, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle operates in a Follow Mode, wherein an apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle includes an exterior monitoring system comprising at least one sensor to monitor an exterior region and to detect a location of a target user. A controller is configured to A) interactively map an activity zone having a selected expanse in the exterior region relative to the vehicle, B) compare a monitored location of the target user to the activity zone, C) detect a relocation event when the comparison of the monitored location of the target user to the activity zone exceeds a predetermined deviation, and D) send a navigation command in response to detecting the relocation event in order to autonomously reposition the vehicle so that a relative location of the target user is restored to the activity zone.