IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,940,815
Granted Patent B1
US 11,940,815 · App. 17/939,089 · Granted Mar 26, 2024

Apparatus and methods for autonomously controlling vehicles at a specified location

Inventor: Anuja Sonalker (Ellicott City, MD)
G05D1/0291G01C21/3682G05D1/0088G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,940,815
App. No.
17/939,089
Granted
Mar 26, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

Aspects relate to apparatus and methods for autonomously controlling vehicles at a specified location. Apparatus includes a processor configured to receive a map of a location, communicate with a plurality of vehicles at the location, and communicate with a monitor device. Communicating with the plurality of vehicles includes receiving status data from the vehicles and transmitting a waypath to the vehicles.

Claims (36)

1. An apparatus for autonomously controlling vehicles at a specified location, the apparatus comprising:

at least a processor; and

a memory communicatively connected to the at least a processor, the memory containing instructions configuring the at least a processor to:

receive a map of a location, wherein the map comprises a parking location and a fueling location;

communicate with a plurality of vehicles at the location, wherein communicating further comprises:

receiving status data from the plurality of vehicles;

receiving site-specific driving rules for the location;

determining a waypath for the plurality of vehicles based on the status data and the site-specific driving rules; and

transmitting the waypath to the plurality of vehicles; and

communicate with a monitor device, wherein the monitor device is configured to monitor movements of the plurality of vehicles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monitor device receives data on locally operated autonomous functions for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the status data comprises data on a condition of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waypath comprises a plurality of sub-waypaths, wherein the plurality of sub-waypaths may be conditionally transmitted to the plurality of vehicles as a function of the status data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least a processor is further configured to determine the plurality of sub-waypaths based on a selection by a user of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waypath comprises a plurality of sub-waypaths, wherein the plurality of sub-waypaths may be conditionally performed autonomously by the plurality of vehicles as a function of the status data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein transmitting a waypath to the plurality of vehicles comprises transmitting as a function of an access datum.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory contains instructions further configuring the at least a processor to receive updated status data from the plurality of vehicles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises a plurality of delivery vehicles.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the location comprises a distribution center.

11. A method for autonomously controlling vehicles at a specified location, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a map of a location, wherein the map comprises a parking location and a fueling location;

communicating, by the processor, with a plurality of vehicles at the location, wherein communicating further comprises:

receiving status data from the plurality of vehicles;

receiving site-specific driving rules for the location;

determining a waypath for the plurality of vehicles based on the status data and the site-specific driving rules; and

transmitting the waypath to the plurality of vehicles; and

communicating, by the processor, with a monitor device, wherein the monitor device is configured to monitor movements of the plurality of vehicles.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the monitor device receives data on locally operated autonomous functions for each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the status data comprises data on a condition of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the waypath comprises a plurality of sub-waypaths, wherein the plurality of sub-waypaths may be conditionally transmitted to the plurality of vehicles as a function of the status data.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining, by the processor, the plurality of sub-waypaths based on a selection by a user.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the waypath comprises a plurality of sub-waypaths, wherein the plurality of sub-waypaths may be conditionally performed autonomously by the plurality of vehicles as a function of the status data.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting a waypath to the plurality of vehicles comprises transmitting as a function of an access datum.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, an updated status data from the plurality of vehicles.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises a plurality of delivery vehicles.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the location comprises a distribution center.