Steve L Roberson

US Patent:

20220314839, Oct 6, 2022

Filed:

Jun 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/849343

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US
Scott Thomas Christensen - Salem OR, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/02
B60W 30/095
B60N 2/04

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle. The system may include an interior vehicle component, an actuator component configured to adjust a physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, an external communication component configured to collect driving environment data representing an external environment of the vehicle, and one or more processors configured to receive driving environment data and detect, by processing the driving environment data, an external driving condition. When the one or more processors detect the external driving condition, the one or more processors may cause the actuator component to adjust the interior vehicle component from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration, or may cause the actuator component to restrict movement of the interior vehicle component to a predetermined range of physical configurations.

US Patent:

20220258747, Aug 18, 2022

Filed:

May 6, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/738209

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Brian M. Fields - Normal IL, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60W 50/00

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for dynamically protecting transportable articles in vehicles. A system for dynamically protecting a transportable article in a vehicle may include one or more processors and non-volatile memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to determine at least one of a characteristic or a trait of the transportable article; detect, based on sensed data, an emergency condition; select one or more article protection components based on (i) the at least one of the characteristic or the trait of the transportable article, and (ii) the detected emergency condition; and in response to detecting the emergency condition, deploy the selected one or more article protection components to protect the transportable article.

US Patent:

20230016530, Jan 19, 2023

Filed:

Sep 16, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/946839

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

G08G 1/005
G08G 1/017

Abstract:

An alert may be triggered to notify a pedestrian of the current operational mode of a nearby vehicle. For instance, a vehicle may operate in an autonomous or manual mode, and may occasionally switch from one mode to the other. A pedestrian who may be unaware of the current operational mode of a nearby vehicle may notice the alert and proceed accordingly. In one embodiment, an indication of the current operational mode of the nearby vehicle may be transmitted to an electronic device associated with the pedestrian. The device may generate a notification to the pedestrian based on the current operational mode. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the alert may be transmitted by the vehicle externally to be visible or audible to the pedestrian. In some embodiments, the alert may be triggered only for particular operational modes (e.g., only for autonomous or only for manual).

US Patent:

20210323444, Oct 21, 2021

Filed:

Feb 2, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/887353

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US
Scott T. Christensen - Salem OR, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/02
B60R 16/037

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle. The system may include an interior vehicle component, an actuator component configured to adjust a physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, a vehicle operation controller configured to generate vehicle operation data representing the operation of the vehicle, and one or more processors configured to receive vehicle operation data and detect, by processing the vehicle operation data, a specific action taken by the vehicle. When the one or more processors detect a specific action taken by the vehicle, the one or more processors may cause the actuator component to adjust the interior vehicle component from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration.

US Patent:

20210323446, Oct 21, 2021

Filed:

Apr 9, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/948204

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Brian M. Fields - Normal IL, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/02
B60R 21/013
B60N 2/427

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle. The system may include an interior vehicle component; an actuator component configured to adjust/restrict movement of a physical configuration of the interior vehicle component; one or more sensors configured to collect data corresponding to a state of the vehicle, an action of the vehicle, and/or an internal or external environment of the vehicle; and one or more processors configured to receive sensor data and detect, by processing the sensor data, a vehicle accident condition. After the one or more processors detect the vehicle accident condition, the one or more processors may cause the actuator component to adjust the interior vehicle component from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration, or may cause the actuator component to restrict movement of the interior vehicle component to a predetermined range of physical configurations.

US Patent:

20210316720, Oct 14, 2021

Filed:

May 17, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/982834

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Jon Hodel - Heyworth IL, US
Steve F. Roberson - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60W 30/09
B60W 10/18
B60W 10/20
B60W 50/16
G08G 1/16

Abstract:

An impairment analysis (“IA”) computer system for detecting a driver or vehicle impairment is provided. The IA computer system is associated with a host vehicle, and includes a plurality of sensors, and at least one processor in communication with the plurality of sensors and at least one memory device. The at least one processor is programmed to: (i) interrogate a target vehicle via the plurality of sensors by scanning at least one of the target vehicle and a target driver; (ii) receive sensor data including at least one of target driver data and target vehicle condition data; (iii) analyze the sensor data to determine whether at least one of lane drift and vehicle speed deviation for the target vehicle exceeds a respective threshold; (iv) detect an impairment of the target driver or target vehicle based upon the analysis; and/or (v) direct collision avoidance action based upon the detection.

US Patent:

20210309124, Oct 7, 2021

Filed:

Feb 2, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/887307

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US
Scott T. Christensen - Salem OR, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/02
B60W 30/095
B60N 2/04

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle. The system may include an interior vehicle component, an actuator component configured to adjust a physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, an external communication component configured to collect driving environment data representing an external environment of the vehicle, and one or more processors configured to receive driving environment data and detect, by processing the driving environment data, an external driving condition. When the one or more processors detect the external driving condition, the one or more processors may cause the actuator component to adjust the interior vehicle component from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration, or may cause the actuator component to restrict movement of the interior vehicle component to a predetermined range of physical configurations.

US Patent:

20210276502, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

May 24, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/327896

Inventors:

- Bloomington IL, US
Briam M. Fields - Normal IL, US
Stephen R. Prevatt - Normal IL, US
Steve Roberson - Normal IL, US

International Classification:

B60R 19/00
B60R 21/0134
B60R 21/0132
B60W 30/095
B60W 30/08

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for dampening impact to a vehicle. The system may include a vehicle frame component; a plurality of adjustable exterior vehicle body components coupled to the frame component, wherein the vehicle body components are on different sides of a vehicle and are configurable to dampen an external force exerted on the vehicle; a plurality of actuator components configured to adjust physical configurations of the vehicle body components relative to the frame component; a component configured to collect data representing an external environment of the vehicle; and one or more processors configured to detect, by processing the data, an external driving condition, wherein the external driving condition is an impending collision between the vehicle and one or more objects external to the vehicle, and when the external driving condition is detected, cause the actuator components to correspondingly adjust the physical configurations of the vehicle body components.