Autonomous vehicle human driver takeover mechanism using electrodes
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
- operating an autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, wherein during the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle operates without influence of a human driver riding in the autonomous vehicle;
detecting an electrical current flowing from a first electrode to a second electrode mounted on a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first electrode is disposed on a first half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the first half of the steering wheel, and wherein the second electrode is disposed on a second half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the second half of the steering wheel;
detecting that the electrical current has been flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for a predetermined of time;
in response to the detecting the electrical current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for the predetermined period of time, transitioning the autonomous vehicle from the autonomous mode to a manual mode; and
operating the autonomous vehicle in the manual mode in response to user actions from the human driver.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an autonomous vehicle is operated in an autonomous mode, where during the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle operates without influence of a human driver riding the autonomous vehicle. An electrical current is detected flowing through a first electrode and a second electrode mounted on a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the detecting the electrical current flowing through the first and second electrodes, the autonomous vehicle is transitioned from the autonomous mode to a manual mode. Thereafter, the autonomous vehicle is operated in the manual mode in response to user actions from the human driver.
12 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
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operating an autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, wherein during the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle operates without influence of a human driver riding in the autonomous vehicle; detecting an electrical current flowing from a first electrode to a second electrode mounted on a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first electrode is disposed on a first half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the first half of the steering wheel, and wherein the second electrode is disposed on a second half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the second half of the steering wheel; detecting that the electrical current has been flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for a predetermined of time; in response to the detecting the electrical current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for the predetermined period of time, transitioning the autonomous vehicle from the autonomous mode to a manual mode; and operating the autonomous vehicle in the manual mode in response to user actions from the human driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations of operating an autonomous vehicle, the operations including
operating an autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, wherein during the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle operates without influence of a human driver riding in the autonomous vehicle; -
detecting an electrical current flowing from a first electrode to a second electrode mounted on a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first electrode is disposed on a first half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the first half of the steering wheel, and wherein the second electrode is disposed on a second half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the second half of the steering wheel; detecting that the electrical current has been flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for a predetermined of time; in response to the detecting the electrical current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for the predetermined period of time, transitioning the autonomous vehicle from the autonomous mode to a manual mode; and operating the autonomous vehicle in the manual mode in response to user actions from the human driver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data processing system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations of operating an autonomous vehicle, the operations including operating an autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, wherein during the autonomous mode, the autonomous vehicle operates without influence of a human driver riding in the autonomous vehicle; detecting an electrical current flowing from a first electrode to a second electrode mounted on a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first electrode is disposed on a first half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the first half of the steering wheel, and wherein the second electrode is disposed on a second half of the steering wheel and significantly over a surface of the second half of the steering wheel; detecting that the electrical current has been flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for a predetermined of time; in response to the detecting the electrical current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode for the predetermined period of time, transitioning the autonomous vehicle from the autonomous mode to a manual mode; and operating the autonomous vehicle in the manual mode in response to user actions from the human driver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification