Devices, systems, and methods for remote authorization of autonomous vehicle operation
First Claim
1. A method of remotely authorizing vehicle automation for one or more vehicles out of a plurality of vehicles, the vehicle automation including autonomous operation of the one or more vehicles, the method comprising:
- analyzing, at a network operations center (NOC), external conditions in a vicinity of one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the external conditions being selected from the group consisting of location, time of day, road conditions, weather, and traffic; and
responsive to the analyzing of the external conditions, authorizing, at the NOC, the autonomous operation of at least one of the plurality of vehicles;
the authorizing enabling the at least one vehicle to engage in autonomous operation which enables forming a platoon between at least two of the plurality of vehicles, the platoon including a lead vehicle and one or more following vehicles,the autonomous operation comprising specifying which of the plurality of vehicles are authorized to form the platoon and which of those vehicles will be the lead vehicle and which will be the one or more following vehicles.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking to form a platoon. In one aspect, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration or deceleration, and speed. In some aspects, vehicle onboard systems supply various data (breadcrumbs) to a Network Operations Center (NOC), which in turn provides data (authorization data) to the vehicles to facilitate platooning. The NOC suggests vehicles for platooning based on, for example, travel forecasts and analysis of relevant roadways to identify platoonable roadway segments. The NOC also can provide traffic, roadway, weather, or system updates, as well as various instructions. In some aspects, a mesh network ensures improved communication among vehicles and with the NOC. In some aspects, a vehicle onboard system may provide the authorization data.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of remotely authorizing vehicle automation for one or more vehicles out of a plurality of vehicles, the vehicle automation including autonomous operation of the one or more vehicles, the method comprising:
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analyzing, at a network operations center (NOC), external conditions in a vicinity of one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the external conditions being selected from the group consisting of location, time of day, road conditions, weather, and traffic; and responsive to the analyzing of the external conditions, authorizing, at the NOC, the autonomous operation of at least one of the plurality of vehicles; the authorizing enabling the at least one vehicle to engage in autonomous operation which enables forming a platoon between at least two of the plurality of vehicles, the platoon including a lead vehicle and one or more following vehicles, the autonomous operation comprising specifying which of the plurality of vehicles are authorized to form the platoon and which of those vehicles will be the lead vehicle and which will be the one or more following vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system to remotely authorize vehicle automation for one or more vehicles out of a plurality of vehicles, the vehicle automation including autonomous operation of the one or more vehicles, the system comprising:
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a network operations center (NOC) including at least one processor and associated non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory containing instructions which, when executed, enable performance of the following; analyzing, at the NOC, external conditions in a vicinity of one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the external conditions being selected from the group consisting of location, time of day, road conditions, weather, and traffic; and responsive to the analyzing of the external conditions, authorizing, at the NOC, the autonomous operation of at least one of the plurality of vehicles; the authorizing enabling the at least one vehicle to engage in autonomous operation which enables forming a platoon between at least two of the plurality of vehicles, the platoon including a lead vehicle and one or more following vehicles, the autonomous operation comprising specifying which of the plurality of vehicles are authorized to form the platoon and which of those vehicles will be the lead vehicle and which will be the one or more following vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28)
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24. In a system to remotely authorize vehicle automation for one or more vehicles out of a plurality of vehicles, the vehicle automation including autonomous operation of the one or more vehicles, a non-volatile memory containing instructions which, when executed, enable performance of the following:
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analyzing, at a network operations center (NOC), external conditions in a vicinity of one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the external conditions being selected from the group consisting of location, time of day, road conditions, weather, and traffic; and responsive to the analyzing of the external conditions, authorizing, at the NOC, the autonomous operation of at least one of the plurality of vehicles; the authorizing enabling the at least one vehicle to engage in autonomous operation which enables forming a platoon between at least two of the plurality of vehicles, the platoon including a lead vehicle and one or more following vehicles, the autonomous operation comprising specifying which of the plurality of vehicles are authorized to form the platoon and which of those vehicles will be the lead vehicle and which will be the one or more following vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 29)
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Specification