Autonomous vehicle accident and emergency response

• US 10,007,263 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Fields, Brian Mark, Huang, Chien Che, Wazeer, Mohamed A., Bennett, Shawn C., Cielocha, Steven C., Bryant, Ronny S., Kohaus, Stephen, Quakenbush, Terry, Novak, Richard A., Chan, Aaron Scott, Main, Craig M., Wu, Weixin, Wollenschlager, Torri, Csanda, Carol Marie, Gorsuch, Stacey, Binion, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/934,371
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0071 Controller overrides driver automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0073 Driver overrides controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0215 Sensor drifts or sensor failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 : External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 : Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2900/00 : Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 : Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 : Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 : the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 : related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 : Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 : Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 : Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 : Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 : from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0059 : Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/007 : Emergency override Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 : Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 : specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 : with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 : in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 : using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 : Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 : Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 : involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 : using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 : having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 : indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, with the customer'"'"'s permission, it may be detected by sensors that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency. A nearby medical facility may be determined based upon the vehicle location and the detected medical emergency. A route from the current vehicle location to the medical facility may be determined, and the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be automatically directed or routed to the medical facility. A message may also be generated and transmitted to the medical facility to alert them that a person in need of timely medical assistance is on the way. Life and auto insurance discounts may be generated for risk averse customers based upon their vehicles having the emergency response functionality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for directing a route of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle during an emergency, the method comprising:

detecting, by one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency;

identifying, by the one or more processors, a medical facility based upon a vehicle location of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors, one or more routes from the vehicle location to the medical facility;

causing, by the one or more processors, the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to the medical facility along the determined one or more routes, wherein the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is controlled by one or more autonomous operation features during travel along the route; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors, a message to at least one of the following;

the medical facility, a police department, a fire department, or a family member of the occupant, wherein the message indicates the determined one or more routes to the medical facility.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the medical emergency is detected by a biometric device within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle location is determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detected medical emergency includes one or more of the following:

a heart attack, a stroke, or a seizure.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to a medical facility further comprises:

causing, by the one or more processors, the one or more autonomous operation features to engage;

causing, by the one or more processors, the one or more autonomous operation features to control the operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle along the determined one or more routes to the medical facility; and

causing, by the one or more processors, the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to park at an appropriate location upon arrival at the medical facility.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more autonomous operation features of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle perform at least one of the following functions:

steering;

accelerating;

braking;

parking;

pedestrian detection;

artificial intelligence;

vehicle navigation;

vehicle positioning;

or

remote vehicle location determination.

7. A computer system for directing a route of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle during an emergency, comprising:

one or more processors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle and communicatively connected to the one or more processors;

a communication component communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and

a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer system to;

detect that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency based upon data from the one or more sensors;

identify a medical facility based upon a vehicle location of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determine one or more routes from the vehicle location to the medical facility;

cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to the medical facility along the determined one or more routes, wherein the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is controlled by one or more autonomous operation features during travel along the determined one or more routes; and

transmit, by the communication component, a message to at least one of the following;

the medical facility, a police department, a fire department, or a family member of the occupant, wherein the message indicates the determined one or more routes to the medical facility.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors that detect the medical emergency include a biometric device within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

9. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver communicatively connected to the one or more processors, wherein the wherein the vehicle location is determined using the GPS receiver.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the detected medical emergency includes one or more of the following:

a heart attack, a stroke, or a seizure.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the executable instructions that cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to a medical facility further comprise executable instructions that cause the computer system to:

cause the one or more autonomous operation features to engage;

cause the one or more autonomous operation features to control the operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle along the determined one or more routes to the medical facility; and

cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to park at an appropriate location upon arrival at the medical facility.

12. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for directing a route of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle during an emergency that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, cause the computer system to:

detect that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency;

identify a medical facility based upon a vehicle location of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determine one or more routes from the vehicle location to the medical facility;

cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to the medical facility along the determined one or more routes, wherein the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is controlled by one or more autonomous operation features during travel along the determined one or more routes; and

transmit a message to at least one of the following;

the medical facility, a police department, a fire department, or a family member of the occupant, wherein the message indicates the determined one or more routes to the medical facility.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the medical emergency is detected using a biometric device within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the vehicle location is determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the detected medical emergency includes one or more of the following:

a heart attack, a stroke, or a seizure.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions that cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to automatically travel to a medical facility further comprise executable instructions that cause the computer system to:

cause the one or more autonomous operation features to engage;

cause the one or more autonomous operation features to control the operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle along the determined one or more routes to the medical facility; and

cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to park at an appropriate location upon arrival at the medical facility.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the one or more autonomous operation features of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle perform at least one of the following functions:

steering;

accelerating;

braking;

parking;

pedestrian detection;

artificial intelligence;

vehicle navigation;

vehicle positioning;

or

remote vehicle location determination.