IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,546,269
Granted Patent B2
US 12,546,269 · App. 18/345,684 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Systems and methods of detecting fluid release

Inventors: Joseph Fox-Rabinovitz (Blacksburg, VA); Walter Grigg (Blacksburg, VA)
Assignee: TORC ROBOTICS, INC.
F02D41/22G01F23/2928F02D2041/225F02D2200/0625
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,546,269
App. No.
18/345,684
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Fluid release detection is provided. A vehicle can determine, via a first sensor, a flow rate of a first fluid, such as a headspace gas, between an environment and a reservoir of the vehicle. The vehicle can receive a fluid consumption rate for a second fluid, such as a hydrocarbon fuel associated with the reservoir. The vehicle can detect, based on the flow rate and the fluid consumption rate, a fluid release of the reservoir. The vehicle can execute an action responsive to the detection of the fluid release.

Claims (45)

1 . A vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

receive a first indication of an inner surface of a reservoir associated with a first time;

determine, based on the indication of the inner surface, a first volume of a fluid of the reservoir;

receive a second indication of the inner surface of the reservoir associated with a second time;

determine, based on the second indication of the inner surface, a second volume of the fluid;

determine a rate of change of the fluid based on a first difference between the first time and the second time, and a second difference between the first volume and the second volume;

compare a fluid consumption rate to the rate of change;

detect, based on the rate of change exceeding the fluid consumption rate, a fluid release; and

execute an action responsive to the detection of the fluid release.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fluid consumption rate is a predefined maximum fuel consumption of the vehicle.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fluid consumption rate is periodically received from a vehicle controller, responsive to vehicle operation.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is configured to detect an indication of foreign objects or debris on a roadway, and determine the fluid release based on the indication.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises a navigational action.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a vision sensor and a light source, along with reservoir markings configured to interface with the light source, and be received by the vision sensor, the vision sensor comprising an oleo-phobic layer intermediating the vision sensor from the fluid.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a vision sensor and a light source is an infra-red spectrum emitter, and the reservoir markings have a reflectivity profile peaking in an infrared range.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a vision sensor is configured to detect a fluid depth based on a scattering or attenuation of light emitted by a light source.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a vision sensor is configured to determine the first volume or the second volume based on edge detection of a fluid line intermediating a headspace-reservoir junction from a fuel-reservoir junction.

10 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a first indication of an inner surface of a reservoir associated with a first time;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on the indication of the inner surface, a first volume of a fluid of the reservoir;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a second indication of the inner surface of the reservoir associated with a second time;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on the second indication of the inner surface, a second volume of the fluid;

determining, by the one or more processors, a rate of change of the fluid based on a first difference between the first time and the second time, and a second difference between the first volume and the second volume;

comparing, by the one or more processors, a fluid consumption rate to the rate of change;

detecting, by the one or more processors, based on the rate of change exceeding the fluid consumption rate, a fluid release; and

executing, by the one or more processors, an action responsive to the detection of the fluid release.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the fluid consumption rate is periodically received from a vehicle controller, responsive to vehicle operation.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the action comprises a navigational action for an autonomous vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the reservoir includes a vision sensor and a light source, along with reservoir markings configured to interface with the light source, and be received by the vision sensor, the vision sensor comprising an oleo-phobic layer intermediating the vision sensor from the fluid.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a vision sensor and a light source is an infra-red spectrum emitter, and the reservoir markings have a reflectivity profile peaking in an infrared range.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a vision sensor is configured to detect a fluid depth based on a scattering or attenuation of light emitted by a light source.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a vision sensor is configured to determine the first volume or the second volume based on edge detection of a fluid line intermediating a headspace-reservoir junction from a fuel-reservoir junction.

17 . A system, comprising one or more processors configured to:

receive a first indication of an inner surface of a reservoir associated with a first time;

determine, based on the indication of the inner surface, a first volume of a fluid of the reservoir;

receive a second indication of the inner surface of the reservoir associated with a second time;

determine, based on the second indication of the inner surface, a second volume of the fluid;

determine a rate of change of the fluid based on a first difference between the first time and the second time, and a second difference between the first volume and the second volume;

compare a fluid consumption rate to the rate of change;

detect, based on the rate of change exceeding the fluid consumption rate, a fluid release; and

execute an action responsive to the detection of the fluid release.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the fluid consumption rate is periodically received from a vehicle controller, responsive to vehicle operation.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the reservoir includes a sensor comprising an oleo-phobic layer intermediating the sensor from the fluid.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein a vision sensor is configured to detect a fluid depth based on a scattering or attenuation of light emitted by a light source.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2023
From: FOX-RABINOVITZ, JOSEPH; GRIGG, WALTER
To: TORC ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064154/0898 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250163866A1 · May 22, 2025
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