×

Generating state information for autonomous vehicles

  • US 10,048,700 B1
  • Filed: 12/01/2015
  • Issued: 08/14/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

  • a plurality of sensors configured to detect environmental data and operational data associated with the autonomous vehicle, the plurality of sensors comprising at least one camera and a location detection system, the environmental data associated with surroundings of the autonomous vehicle and the operational data being associated with an operational health of the autonomous vehicle;

    a communications interface configured to facilitate communication with a roadway management system that is configured to receive data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles and a plurality of external data sources;

    a controller configured to control operation of the autonomous vehicle, the controller being configured to cause the autonomous vehicle to at least;

    detect the environmental data and operational data associated with the autonomous vehicle based upon the plurality of sensors, the environmental data comprising a location of the autonomous vehicle, a velocity of the autonomous vehicle, and imagery from the at least one camera;

    generate a state of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part upon the environmental data and operational data;

    transmit the environmental data and operational data to the roadway management system via the communications interface;

    obtain an update to the state of the autonomous vehicle from the roadway management system, the update based at least in part upon environmental data and operational data obtained from at least a portion of the plurality of autonomous vehicles in communication with the roadway management system and at least one of the plurality of external data sources associated with a roadway on which the autonomous vehicle is located;

    identify a first vector associated with the autonomous vehicle from the environmental data;

    identify a second vector associated with another one of the plurality of autonomous vehicles from the environmental data;

    determine, based upon the first vector and the second vector, whether a collision between the autonomous vehicle and the other one of the plurality of autonomous vehicles is imminent;

    generate a collision alert in response to a determination of an imminent collision;

    generate a routing instruction for the autonomous vehicle to navigate on the roadway based at least in part upon the update to the state of the autonomous vehicle and the collision alert;

    generate a request for assistance for the roadway management system based upon the environmental data and the operational data associated with the autonomous vehicle, the request comprising a type of assistance; and

    transmit the request for assistance to the roadway management system, wherein the roadway management system selects another of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to direct to a current location of the autonomous vehicle based upon the type of assistance.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×