Autonomous Vehicles Patent Application Trends 2024

Autonomous Vehicles patent applications in 2024

The year 2024 has witnessed significant advancements in the field of autonomous vehicles, with a notable increase in patent application filings. This executive summary provides an overview of the latest trends, key technology areas, top companies, and emerging technologies in the autonomous vehicle sector.

The first half of 2024 has seen a substantial rise in the number of patent applications related to autonomous vehicles. The graph illustrates monthly filings up to June 2024, reflecting a growing interest and investment in this technology.

Top Technology Areas in Autonomous Vehicles

Top CPC Codes

• G01S17/931 (RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES)
  • Count: 164 patents
  • Example: 20240230848. TWO DIMENSIONAL TRANSMITTER ARRAY-BASED LIDAR simplified abstract (Innovusion, Inc.)
• G01S17/89 (for mapping or imaging)
  • Count: 158 patents
  • Example: 20240230857. LIGHT-RECEIVING DEVICE AND LIDAR simplified abstract (LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.)
• G01S7/4817 (Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements)
  • Count: 115 patents
  • Example: 20240230848. TWO DIMENSIONAL TRANSMITTER ARRAY-BASED LIDAR simplified abstract (Innovusion, Inc.)
• B60W60/001 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks})
  • Count: 108 patents
  • Example: 20240227852. METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE simplified abstract (RENAULT S.A.S.)
• B60W60/0015 ({specially adapted for safety})
  • Count: 73 patents
  • Example: 20240227828. OPERATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS simplified abstract (TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA)
• G01S7/4816 ({of receivers alone})
  • Count: 72 patents
  • Example: 20240230850. PHOTODETECTION ELEMENT AND LIDAR DEVICE simplified abstract (DENSO CORPORATION)
• G05D1/0088 (Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles)
  • Count: 68 patents
  • Example: 20240231358. ARCHITECTURE AND METHODOLOGY FOR DEFENSIVE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING USING A PROBABILISTIC CONTROL STRATEGY simplified abstract (GM Global Technology Operations LLC)
• G06V20/58 (IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING)
  • Count: 64 patents
  • Example: 20240230362. A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR WEATHER-BASED HAZARD WARNING GENERATION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE simplified abstract (HERE Global B.V.)
• B60W2420/52 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT)
  • Count: 63 patents
  • Example: 20240230370. ROUTING OF AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IN A FLOOD CONDITION simplified abstract (GM Cruise Holdings LLC)
• G01S7/497 (Means for monitoring or calibrating)
  • Count: 62 patents
  • Example: 20240230861. CLOSE RANGE INTERFERENCE REDUCTION simplified abstract (Luminar Technologies, Inc.)

Top Companies in Autonomous Vehicles

GM Cruise Holdings LLC

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 132
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60W60/001 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks}): 23 patents
  • B60W2420/52 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 18 patents
  • B60W50/0205 (Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures): 15 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240043032. TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING MAP REFERENCE PRIORS FOR AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PLANNING STACK simplified abstract (GM Cruise Holdings LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240044745. HYPERPLANE SEARCH-BASED VEHICLE TEST simplified abstract (GM Cruise Holdings LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240046324. DIGITAL TOKEN GENERATION AND OUTPUT FOR RIDERS OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES simplified abstract (GM Cruise Holdings LLC) (20240208)

Waymo LLC

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 56
• Top CPC codes:
  • G01S17/931 (RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES): 16 patents
  • G01S17/89 (for mapping or imaging): 10 patents
  • G01S7/4817 (Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements): 9 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240045060. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Device Range Aliasing Resilience by Multiple Hypotheses simplified abstract (Waymo LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240045424. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES simplified abstract (Waymo LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240045438. Actively Modifying a Field of View of an Autonomous Vehicle in View of Constraints simplified abstract (Waymo LLC) (20240208)

Aurora Operations, Inc.

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 30
• Top CPC codes:
  • G01S17/931 (RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES): 17 patents
  • B60W60/001 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks}): 7 patents
  • G01S7/4817 (Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements): 6 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240151820. Silicon Photonics Device for LIDAR Sensor and Method for Fabrication simplified abstract (Aurora Operations, Inc.) (20240509)
  • 20240043037. SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATED TO CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE(S) simplified abstract (Aurora Operations, Inc.) (20240208)
  • 20240045034. LIDAR SENSOR SYSTEM simplified abstract (Aurora Operations, Inc.) (20240208)

Kodiak Robotics, Inc.

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 29
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60Q1/507 (for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking): 9 patents
  • B60W60/001 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks}): 7 patents
  • B60Q1/52 (for indicating emergencies): 5 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240045070. DENSE SENSOR POD ASSEMBLY simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.) (20240208)
  • 20240045071. CONNECTING ASSEMBLY FOR A SENSOR POD simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.) (20240208)
  • 20240049423. VENTED SENSOR POD SYSTEMS AND METHODS simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.) (20240208)

SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 29
• Top CPC codes:
  • G01S7/4817 (Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements): 11 patents
  • G01S7/4816 ({of receivers alone}): 6 patents
  • G01S17/89 (for mapping or imaging): 6 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240027621. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING PARAMETERS OF LIDAR, AND LIDAR simplified abstract (SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.) (20240125)
  • 20240045028. LIDAR DETECTION METHOD AND DETECTION APPARATUS simplified abstract (SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.) (20240208)
  • 20240045031. LIDAR AND LIDAR DESIGN METHOD simplified abstract (SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.) (20240208)

NVIDIA Corporation

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 25
• Top CPC codes:
  • G06N3/08 (Learning methods): 6 patents
  • B60W60/0011 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks}): 6 patents
  • G06V10/82 (IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING): 6 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240029447. MULTI-VIEW DEEP NEURAL NETWORK FOR LIDAR PERCEPTION simplified abstract (NVIDIA Corporation) (20240125)
  • 20240044662. UPDATING HIGH DEFINITION MAPS BASED ON LANE CLOSURE AND LANE OPENING simplified abstract (NVIDIA Corporation) (20240208)
  • 20240045426. SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAFE AND RELIABLE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES simplified abstract (NVIDIA Corporation) (20240208)

Motional AD LLC

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 25
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60W60/0015 ({specially adapted for safety}): 6 patents
  • B60W2420/42 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 4 patents
  • B60W60/0027 ({using trajectory prediction for other traffic participants}): 4 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240042995. VEHICLE OPERATION USING A DYNAMIC OCCUPANCY GRID simplified abstract (Motional AD LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240046605. VISIBILITY DETERMINATIONS IN PHYSICAL SPACE USING EVIDENTIAL ILLUMINATION VALUES simplified abstract (Motional AD LLC) (20240208)
  • 20240048853. Pulsed-Light Optical Imaging Systems for Autonomous Vehicles simplified abstract (Motional AD LLC) (20240208)

Zoox, Inc.

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 24
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60W50/0097 (Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit {, e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces}): 6 patents
  • G05D2201/0213 (SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES): 5 patents
  • B60W60/0011 ({Planning or execution of driving tasks}): 5 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240110811. Modifying Map Elements Associated with Map Data simplified abstract (Zoox, Inc.) (20240404)
  • 20240217548. TRAJECTORY PREDICTION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES USING ATTENTION MECHANISM simplified abstract (Zoox, Inc.) (20240704)
  • 20240028031. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FLEET SERVICE AND SYSTEM simplified abstract (Zoox, Inc.) (20240125)

TUSIMPLE, INC.

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 23
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60W10/18 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 5 patents
  • B60W2420/403 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 4 patents
  • G06V20/56 (IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING): 3 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240028040. DATA-DRIVEN CONTROL FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING simplified abstract (TUSIMPLE, INC.) (20240125)
  • 20240046489. SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE REAL-TIME MULTI-OBJECT TRACKING simplified abstract (TUSIMPLE, INC.) (20240208)
  • 20240046654. IMAGE FUSION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATION simplified abstract (TUSIMPLE, INC.) (20240208)

Hyundai Motor Company

• Number of Autonomous Vehicles patents: 22
• Top CPC codes:
  • B60W60/0053 ({Handover processes (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements): 7 patents
  • B60W2420/52 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 4 patents
  • B60W2520/14 (CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT): 4 patents
• Recent patents:
  • 20240071091. Vehicle Control Device and Control Method Thereof simplified abstract (Hyundai Motor Company) (20240229)
  • 20240149922. System and Method for Controlling Switching to Manual Driving Mode of Autonomous Vehicle simplified abstract (Hyundai Motor Company) (20240509)
  • 20240046658. Object Recognition Apparatus and Vehicle Having the Same simplified abstract (Hyundai Motor Company) (20240208)

New Companies in Autonomous Vehicles (Last Month)

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No new companies detected in the last month.

Emerging Technology Areas in Autonomous Vehicles

• H04N5/22521 (PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240049423. VENTED SENSOR POD SYSTEMS AND METHODS simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.)
• H05K7/20845 (Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240049423. VENTED SENSOR POD SYSTEMS AND METHODS simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.)
• H05K7/20209 (Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240049423. VENTED SENSOR POD SYSTEMS AND METHODS simplified abstract (Kodiak Robotics, Inc.)
• B60Q1/249 ({for illuminating the field of view of a sensor or camera})
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240048853. Pulsed-Light Optical Imaging Systems for Autonomous Vehicles simplified abstract (Motional AD LLC)
• H04N5/2354 (PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240048853. Pulsed-Light Optical Imaging Systems for Autonomous Vehicles simplified abstract (Motional AD LLC)
• G05D1/0202 (SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240046807. MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION-BASED AIRCRAFT DETECTION, TRACKING, AND DOCKING simplified abstract (Honeywell International Inc.)
• B64D45/00 (Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for (camouflage)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240046807. MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION-BASED AIRCRAFT DETECTION, TRACKING, AND DOCKING simplified abstract (Honeywell International Inc.)
• G08G5/065 (for control when on the ground)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240046807. MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION-BASED AIRCRAFT DETECTION, TRACKING, AND DOCKING simplified abstract (Honeywell International Inc.)
• G08G1/082 (TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240046787. Method And System For Traffic Clearance At Signalized Intersections Based On Lidar And Trajectory Prediction simplified abstract (TONGJI UNIVERSITY)
• B60K37/00 (Dashboards (as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units)
  • Count: 1 patents
  • Example: 20240046781. DYNAMIC SPEED LIMIT FOR VEHICLES AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES simplified abstract (TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

Top Companies in Emerging Autonomous Vehicles Technologies

• Kodiak Robotics, Inc.: 3 patents
• Honeywell International Inc.: 3 patents
• Motional AD LLC: 2 patents
• TONGJI UNIVERSITY: 1 patents
• TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.: 1 patents