Perrone Robotics has filed patent infringement lawsuits against seven major global automakers, including Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen, alleging the unauthorized use of its foundational automated vehicle and robotics operating system technologies in advanced driving systems.
The complaints were filed by Perrone Robotics, Inc. and Perrone Robotics Innovations, LLC in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Virginia. The defendants named in the lawsuits are Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and Nissan. Perrone Robotics is being represented by the litigation firm Susman Godfrey LLP.
According to the filings, Perrone Robotics claims the automakers have deployed general-purpose robotics operating systems and related applications without licensing authorization. The company argues that these systems form a core part of the automated driving and advanced driver-assistance suites used in modern vehicles. The technology traces back to work developed by founder Paul Perrone in the mid-2000s, which the company says laid important groundwork for today’s automated vehicle functions used for safety and driver convenience.
Perrone Robotics’ patent portfolio cited in the cases includes eight U.S. patents: 9,195,233; 9,833,901; 10,331,136; 10,379,007; 11,280,704; 11,314,251; 11,782,442; and 12,181,877. The company positions its general-purpose robotics operating system (GPROS) as an early platform designed to enable scalable deployment of automated driving applications across vehicle fleets.
Paul Perrone said the lawsuits are aimed at protecting the company’s long-term investment in technology development. “Today’s filings are about safeguarding that investment in American innovation,” Perrone said. He added that while Perrone Robotics supports competition and the growth of the automated vehicle market, it also expects its intellectual property rights to be respected.
Despite the legal actions, Perrone Robotics said it continues to deploy its autonomous vehicle technologies globally and remains focused on its TONY AV & ADAS Kits and MAX software platforms. The company said it also remains open to collaboration with industry partners as it continues to develop scalable autonomy solutions for the transportation sector.
