US 12,468,306 B2
Detection and mapping of generalized retroreflective surfaces
Wade Foster, Blacksburg, VA (US); Ryan Chilton, Blacksburg, VA (US); Karan Vivek Bhargava, Blacksburg, VA (US); Gowtham Raj Gunaseela Udayakumar, Blacksburg, VA (US); Harish Pullagurla, Blacksburg, VA (US); Jason Harper, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Zachary Miller, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Torc Robotics, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by TORC Robotics, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/222,387.
Prior Publication US 2025/0021099 A1, Jan. 16, 2025
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2024.01); H04W 4/02 (2018.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01)
CPC G05D 1/027 (2013.01) [H04W 4/027 (2013.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
monitoring, by a processor, using a sensor of a first vehicle, data associated with a retroreflective feature near a road being driven by the first vehicle;
collecting, by the processor, using the sensor of the first vehicle, the data associated with the retroreflective feature;
vectorizing, by the processor, the data associated with the retroreflective feature;
generating, by the processor, a digital map including vectorized data associated with the retroreflective feature and a location associated with the retroreflective feature;
receiving, by the processor, data associated with the retroreflective feature from a second vehicle; and
executing, by the processor, a localization protocol to identify a location of the second vehicle using the digital map.