William R Duncan

US Patent:

20130257144, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/436290

Inventors:

Kenneth G. Caldeira - Redwood City CA, US
Alistair K. Chan - Bainbridge Island WA, US
Daniel B. Cook - Seattle WA, US
William David Duncan - Kirkland WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
Jordin T. Kare - Seattle WA, US
John Latham - Boulder CO, US
Stephen H. Salter - Edinburgh, GB
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
David B. Tuckerman - Lafayette CA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

ELWHA LLC - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

B60L 1/00

US Classification:

307 91

Abstract:

The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

US Patent:

20130257145, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/436316

Inventors:

Kenneth G. Caldeira - Redwood City CA, US
Alistair K. Chan - Bainbridge Island WA, US
Daniel B. Cook - Seattle WA, US
William David Duncan - Kirkland WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
Jordin T. Kare - Seattle WA, US
John Latham - Boulder CO, US
Stephen H. Salter - Edinburgh, GB
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
David B. Tuckerman - Lafayette CA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

ELWHA LLC - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

B60L 1/00

US Classification:

307 91

Abstract:

The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

US Patent:

20190072956, Mar 7, 2019

Filed:

Nov 1, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/177611

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
HON WAH CHIN - PALO ALTO CA, US
WILLIAM DAVID DUNCAN - SAMMAMISH WA, US
RODERICK A. HYDE - REDMOND WA, US
DAVID B. TUCKERMAN - LAFAYETTE CA, US
THOMAS ALLAN WEAVER - LAFAYETTE CA, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/00
B60W 50/08
G09B 9/042
G05D 1/02

Abstract:

Described embodiments include a self-propelled vehicle, method, and system. The self-propelled vehicle includes an autonomous driving system configured to dynamically determine maneuvers operating the vehicle along a route in an automated mode without continuous input from a human driver. The vehicle includes an input device configured to receive a real-time request for a specific dynamic maneuver by the vehicle operating along the route from the human driver. The vehicle includes a decision circuit configured to select a real-time dynamic maneuver by arbitrating between (i) the received real-time request for the specific dynamic maneuver from the human driver and (ii) a real-time determination relative to the specific dynamic maneuver received from the autonomous driving system. The vehicle includes an implementation circuit configured to output the selected real-time dynamic maneuver to an operations system of the vehicle.

US Patent:

20180328757, Nov 15, 2018

Filed:

Jul 20, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/040856

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
Hon Wah Chin - Palo Alto CA, US
William D. Duncan - Sammamish WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Jordin T. Kare - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Elwha LLC - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

G01C 21/36
G08G 1/16
G01C 21/26
G01C 21/34

Abstract:

A system for informing a navigation system of a vehicle of a protrusion includes a sensor and a processing circuit. The sensor is configured to generate sensor data based on a position of cargo. The processing circuit is configured to determine a contour of the vehicle, detect protruding cargo extending outside the contour of the vehicle, where detecting the protruding cargo is based on the sensor data and the contour, and notify the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo.

US Patent:

20180259963, Sep 13, 2018

Filed:

Mar 8, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/915389

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
Hon Wah Chin - Palo Alto CA, US
William David Duncan - Sammamish WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/02
G01C 21/34
G08B 13/24
G06K 9/00

Abstract:

Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a transportation departure point accommodating a transfer of a consumer item from the robotic vehicle to a conveyance configured to transport the consumer item away from the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the departure point. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for managing a transfer of a consumer item acquired by the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment from the robotic vehicle to the conveyance at the departure point.

US Patent:

20180018895, Jan 18, 2018

Filed:

Jul 12, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/208043

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
HON WAH CHIN - PALO ALTO CA, US
WILLIAM DAVID DUNCAN - SAMMAMISH WA, US
RODERICK A. HYDE - REDMOND WA, US
DAVID B. TUCKERMAN - LAFAYETTE CA, US
THOMAS ALLAN WEAVER - SAN MATEO CA, US

International Classification:

G09B 9/042
G05D 1/00
G05D 1/02

Abstract:

Described embodiments include a self-propelled vehicle, method, and system. The self-propelled vehicle includes an autonomous driving system configured to dynamically determine maneuvers operating the vehicle along a route in an automated mode without continuous input from a human driver. The vehicle includes an input device configured to receive a real-time request for a specific dynamic maneuver by the vehicle operating along the route from the human driver. The vehicle includes a decision circuit configured to select a real-time dynamic maneuver by arbitrating between (i) the received real-time request for the specific dynamic maneuver from the human driver and (ii) a real-time determination relative to the specific dynamic maneuver received from the autonomous driving system. The vehicle includes an implementation circuit configured to output the selected real-time dynamic maneuver to an operations system of the vehicle.

US Patent:

20170242430, Aug 24, 2017

Filed:

Feb 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/046722

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
Hon Wah Chin - Palo Alto CA, US
William David Duncan - Mill Creek WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/00
G05D 1/02
G06Q 30/06

Abstract:

Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper placing a consumer item in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle along a path following the recognized individual human shopper through the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for suspending the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to suspension criteria. The package management system includes circuitry for resuming the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to resumption criteria.

US Patent:

20170242437, Aug 24, 2017

Filed:

Feb 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/046683

Inventors:

- Bellevue WA, US
Hon Wah Chin - Palo Alto CA, US
William David Duncan - Mill Creek WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/02
G08B 13/24
G06K 9/00

Abstract:

Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper. The system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. The system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for issuing an alarm upon detection of an unauthorized removal or attempted unauthorized removal of a consumer item from the secure portion of the robotic vehicle.