Waymo LLC patent applications on March 6th, 2025
Patent Applications by Waymo LLC on March 6th, 2025
Waymo LLC: 12 patent applications
Waymo LLC has applied for patents in the areas of B60W60/00 (4), B60W30/18 (3), G01S17/86 (2), G01S17/931 (2), G01S7/481 (2) B60W30/08 (1), B60W30/09 (1), B60W60/0011 (1), B60W60/0016 (1), G01C21/34 (1)
With keywords such as: vehicle, autonomous, device, action, based, locations, driving, solution, data, and lane in patent application abstracts.
Patent Applications by Waymo LLC
Inventor(s): Eric Teller of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Peter Lombrozo of Santa Cruz CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): B60W30/08, B60K35/28, B60W30/00, B60W30/18, B60W60/00
CPC Code(s): B60W30/08
Abstract: an autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. an example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.
Inventor(s): Nathaniel Fairfield of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Vadim Furman of Los Gatos CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): B60W30/09, B60Q1/34, B60W30/18, G08G1/16
CPC Code(s): B60W30/09
Abstract: a method and apparatus for controlling a first vehicle autonomously are disclosed. for instance, one or more processors may plan to maneuver the first vehicle to complete an action and predict that a second vehicle will take a particular responsive action. the first vehicle is then maneuvered towards completing the action in a way that would allow the first vehicle to cancel completing the action without causing a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and in order to indicate to the second vehicle or a driver of the second vehicle that the first vehicle is attempting to complete the action. thereafter, when the first vehicle is determined to be able to take the action, the action is completed by controlling the first vehicle autonomously according to whether the second vehicle begins to take the particular responsive action.
Inventor(s): Qiwu Zou of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Menghui Wang of Santa Clara CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): B60W60/00
CPC Code(s): B60W60/0011
Abstract: embodiments of the present disclosure relate to configuration-based sampling of run segments for simulating autonomous vehicle behavior. in at least one implementation, a method comprises: providing a set of run segments corresponding to scenarios for simulating operation of an autonomous vehicle; receiving a user-specified configuration comprising parameters for identifying target run segments within the set of run segments; applying the user-specified configuration to the set of run segments to identify the target run segments; and causing one or more simulations to be performed using the target run segments to generate a simulation output.
Inventor(s): Jared Stephen Russell of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Clovis Scotti of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): B60W60/00
CPC Code(s): B60W60/0016
Abstract: an autonomous vehicle is operated along a route according to a nominal driving solution that takes into account one or more first constraints including a first predicted trajectory for an agent vehicle. an alternate scenario is determined based on one or more second external constraints that include a second predicted trajectory for the agent vehicle different from the first predicted trajectory. a risk factor on the nominal driving solution is determined for the alternative scenario, and a secondary driving solution is determined based on the risk factor and the one or more second external constraints. a candidate switching point is identified where the secondary driving solution diverges from the nominal driving solution, and the nominal driving solution is revised up to the candidate switching point based on the secondary driving solution. the autonomous vehicle is then operated based on the revised nominal driving solution.
Inventor(s): Peter Colijn of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Joshua Seth Herbach of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Matthew Paul McNaughton of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G01C21/34, G08G1/00
CPC Code(s): G01C21/34
Abstract: aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. as such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. the request may identify a first location. a set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. the set may be provided to the client computing device.
20250076467. Self-Driving Sensor System_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)
Inventor(s): Yi-Hui Bruce-Wen of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, YooJung Ahn of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Jared S. Gross of Belmont CA (US) for waymo llc, Joshua Newby of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Jerry Chen of Cupertino CA (US) for waymo llc, Ralph Hamilton Shepard of Menlo Park CA (US) for waymo llc, Adam Brown of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G01S7/481, B60R11/00, B60R11/04, G01S7/02, G01S7/52, G01S13/86, G01S13/931, G01S15/931, G01S17/08, G01S17/931
CPC Code(s): G01S7/4813
Abstract: the technology employs a contrasting color scheme on different surfaces for sensor housing assemblies mounted on exterior parts of a vehicle that is configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. lighter and darker colors may be chosen on different surfaces according to a thermal budget for a given sensor housing assembly, due to the different types of sensors arranged along particular surfaces, or to provide color contrast for different regions of the assembly. for instance, differing colors such as black/white or blue/white, and different finishes such as matte or glossy, may be selected to enhance certain attributes or to minimize issues associated with a sensor housing assembly.
20250076879. Controlling Vehicles Through Multi-Lane Turns_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)
Inventor(s): Jared Stephen Russell of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Jens-Steffen Ralf Gutmann of Cupertino CA (US) for waymo llc, Pei Sun of Palo Alto CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G05D1/00, B60W30/18
CPC Code(s): G05D1/0221
Abstract: the technology relates controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn. in one example, data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle in a lane of the multi-lane turn, a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, and data corresponding to positions of objects in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle may be received. a determination of whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane may be made based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the objects. the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through the lane may be adjusted based on whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane. the autonomous vehicle may be controlled based on the adjusted trajectory.
Inventor(s): Son-Ca Nguyen of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Ganesh Balachandran of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Renaud-Roland Hubert of Gilroy CA (US) for waymo llc, Victor Chan of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Celia Zhang of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, Steven Kleiser of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Kai Ying of Dublin CA (US) for waymo llc, Kerry Chen of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Alfred Wang of South San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G05D1/02
CPC Code(s): G05D1/0291
Abstract: aspects of the disclosure provide for enabling distribution or prepositioning of roadside assistance vehicles within a service area for a fleet of autonomous vehicles. for instance, a clustering approach may be used to determine an assignment identifying a plurality of cluster locations and respective assigned ones of the roadside assistance vehicles. the clustering approach uses a number of clusters corresponding to the number of the roadside assistance vehicles. distribution information may be sent to computing devices associated with technicians of the respective assigned ones of the roadside assistance vehicles. the distribution information may enable the technicians of the respective assigned ones of the roadside assistance vehicles to proceed to the cluster locations of the determined assignment.
Inventor(s): Hang Yan of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, Zhengyu Zhang of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Yan Wang of Sunnyvale CA (US) for waymo llc, Jingxiao Zheng of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Dmitry Kalenichenko of Marina Del Ray CA (US) for waymo llc, Vasiliy Igorevich Karasev of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc, Alper Ayvaci of San Jose CA (US) for waymo llc, Xu Chen of Livermore CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G06V20/56, B60W60/00, G01S13/89, G06V10/764, G06V10/80
CPC Code(s): G06V20/588
Abstract: a method includes obtaining, by a processing device, input data derived from a set of sensors of an autonomous vehicle (av), generating, by the processing device using a set of lane detection classifier heads, at least one heatmap based on a fused bird's eye view (bev) feature generated from the input data, obtaining, by the processing device, a set of polylines using the at least one heatmap, wherein each polyline of the set of polylines corresponds to a respective track of a first set of tracks for a first frame, and generating, by the processing device, a second set of tracks for a second frame after the first frame by using a statistical filter based on a set of extrapolated tracks for the second frame and a set of track measurements for the second frame, wherein each track measurement of the set of track measurements corresponds to a respective updated polyline obtained for the second frame.
Inventor(s): Ruichi Yu of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Xu Chen of Livermore CA (US) for waymo llc, Shiwei Sheng of Cupertino CA (US) for waymo llc, Luming Tang of Ithica NY (US) for waymo llc, Chieh-En Tsai of Burlingame CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): G11C16/04, G11C7/20, G11C8/08, G11C16/14, G11C16/34
CPC Code(s): G11C16/04
Abstract: the described aspects and implementations enable efficient calibration of a sensing system of a vehicle. in one implementation, disclosed is a method and a system to perform the method, the system including the sensing system configured to obtain a plurality of images associated with a corresponding time of a plurality of times. the system further includes a data processing system operatively coupled to the sensing system and configured to generate a plurality of sets of feature tensors (fts) associated with one or more objects of the environment depicted in a respective image. the data processing system is further to obtain a combined ft and process the combined ft using a neural network to identify one or more tracks characterizing motion of a respective object.
20250080700. ROTATING LIDAR WITH CO-ALIGNED IMAGER_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)
Inventor(s): Pierre-Yves Droz of Los Altos CA (US) for waymo llc, Simon Verghes of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Brendan Hermalyn of San Francisco CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): H04N7/18, G01S7/481, G01S17/86, G01S17/87, G01S17/89, G01S17/931, H04N23/60, H04N23/69
CPC Code(s): H04N7/183
Abstract: example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. one example device includes a light detection and ranging (lidar) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. the device also includes a lidar receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. the device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. the device also includes a platform that supports the lidar transmitter, the lidar receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. the device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
20250080872. 3D ToF Vision System_simplified_abstract_(waymo llc)
Inventor(s): Nirav Shailesh kumar Dharia of Milpitas CA (US) for waymo llc, Lucian Ion of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc, Simon Verghese of Mountain View CA (US) for waymo llc
IPC Code(s): H04N25/705, G01S17/86, G01S17/894, G06V10/82, H04N25/13, H04N25/78, H04N25/79
CPC Code(s): H04N25/705
Abstract: example embodiments relate to devices, systems, and methods involving three-dimensional time-of-flight/visible image sensors. an example embodiment includes a device that includes a plurality of time of flight sensor (tof) pixels and a plurality of visible image sensor (vis) pixels. the device also includes a tof communication channel configured to provide tof image data indicative of one or more tof pixels and a vis communication channel configured to provide vis image data indicative of one or more vis pixels. the plurality of tof pixels and the plurality of vis pixels are arranged along a plane. the plurality of tof pixels is disposed in an arrangement among the plurality of vis pixels.
- Waymo LLC
- B60W30/08
- B60K35/28
- B60W30/00
- B60W30/18
- B60W60/00
- CPC B60W30/08
- Waymo llc
- B60W30/09
- B60Q1/34
- G08G1/16
- CPC B60W30/09
- CPC B60W60/0011
- CPC B60W60/0016
- G01C21/34
- G08G1/00
- CPC G01C21/34
- G01S7/481
- B60R11/00
- B60R11/04
- G01S7/02
- G01S7/52
- G01S13/86
- G01S13/931
- G01S15/931
- G01S17/08
- G01S17/931
- CPC G01S7/4813
- G05D1/00
- CPC G05D1/0221
- G05D1/02
- CPC G05D1/0291
- G06V20/56
- G01S13/89
- G06V10/764
- G06V10/80
- CPC G06V20/588
- G11C16/04
- G11C7/20
- G11C8/08
- G11C16/14
- G11C16/34
- CPC G11C16/04
- H04N7/18
- G01S17/86
- G01S17/87
- G01S17/89
- H04N23/60
- H04N23/69
- CPC H04N7/183
- H04N25/705
- G01S17/894
- G06V10/82
- H04N25/13
- H04N25/78
- H04N25/79
- CPC H04N25/705
