Connection of an autonomous vehicle with a second vehicle to receive goods

• US 10,166,976 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cheaz, Nixon, Cochran, William T., Diaz, Anthony M., Segobiano, Bradley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US15/217,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0293 Convoy travelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

Connecting a first autonomous vehicle with a second vehicle to control the second vehicle during the transfer of goods to the first autonomous vehicle while moving. The first autonomous vehicle: receives a request from the second vehicle to connect to the second vehicle; initiates control over the second vehicle, such that the first autonomous vehicle synchronizes driving control with the second vehicle; initiates physical connection of the first autonomous vehicle with the second vehicle for transfer of the goods when the first and the second vehicles are in motion; after the physical connection between the first and the second vehicle is established, initiating transfer of the goods from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle; and when the transfer of goods between the first and the second vehicle is complete, the first autonomous vehicle breaking the connection with the second vehicle and relinquishing control of the second vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a first autonomous vehicle with a second vehicle to control the second vehicle during the transfer of goods to the first autonomous vehicle while moving comprising the steps of:

the first autonomous vehicle receiving a request from the second vehicle to connect to the second vehicle;

the first autonomous vehicle initiating control over the second vehicle, such that the first autonomous vehicle synchronizes driving control with the second vehicle;

the first autonomous vehicle initiating physical connection of the first autonomous vehicle with the second vehicle for transfer of the goods when the first and the second vehicles are in motion;

after the physical connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is established, the first autonomous vehicle initiating transfer of the goods from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle; and

when the transfer of goods between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is complete, the first autonomous vehicle breaking the connection with the second vehicle and relinquishing control of the second vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request by the second vehicle to connect to the first autonomous vehicle comprises:

information regarding the goods to be provided to the first autonomous vehicle by the second vehicle;

a vehicle identifier specific to the vehicle in which goods were requested; and

authorization from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle to synchronize and overtake control of the second vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein driving control further comprises:

speed control of the second vehicle, steering of the second vehicle, distance between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle, and braking of the second vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation of the connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle comprises:

instructions regarding alignment of the second vehicle relative to the first autonomous vehicle and speed to maintain by the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein after the step of the first autonomous vehicle relinquishing control of the second vehicle further comprising the step of:

the first autonomous vehicle sending a notification regarding the completed goods transfer to a server computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is autonomous.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the step of the first autonomous vehicle receiving a request to connect to the second vehicle, the method comprising the step of the first autonomous vehicle sending a request regarding the goods needed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the goods are selected from a group consisting of:

fuel, first aid supplies, food, and battery charge.

9. A computer program product for connecting a first autonomous vehicle with a second vehicle to control the second vehicle during the transfer of goods to the first autonomous vehicle while moving, the first autonomous vehicle comprising a computer for executing the computer program product, the computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more computer readable storage media, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request from the second vehicle to connect to the second vehicle;

initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, control over the second vehicle, such that the first autonomous vehicle synchronizes driving control with the second vehicle;

initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, physical connection of the first autonomous vehicle with the second vehicle for transfer of the goods when the first and the second vehicles are in motion;

after the physical connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is established, initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, transfer of the goods from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle; and

when the transfer of goods between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is complete, breaking, by the first autonomous vehicle, the connection with the second vehicle and relinquishing control of the second vehicle.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the request by the second vehicle to connect to the first autonomous vehicle comprises:

information regarding the goods to be provided to the first autonomous vehicle by the second vehicle;

a vehicle identifier specific to the vehicle in which goods were requested; and

authorization from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle to synchronize and overtake control of the second vehicle.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein driving control further comprises:

speed control of the second vehicle, steering of the second vehicle, distance between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle, and braking of the second vehicle.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the initiation, by the first autonomous vehicle, of the connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle comprises:

instructions regarding alignment of the second vehicle relative to the first autonomous vehicle and speed to maintain by the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein after the step of the relinquishing control of the second vehicle further comprising the program instructions of sending, by the first autonomous vehicle a notification regarding the completed goods transfer to a server computer.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein prior to the step of receiving, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request to connect to the second vehicle, the program instructions further comprising sending, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request regarding the goods needed.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the goods are selected from a group consisting of:

first aid supplies, food, fuel and battery charge.

16. A computer system of a first autonomous vehicle for connecting a first autonomous vehicle with a second vehicle to control the second vehicle during the transfer of goods to the first autonomous vehicle while moving, the computer system of the first autonomous vehicle comprising a computer comprising at least one processor, one or more memories, one or more computer readable storage media having program instructions executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request from the second vehicle to connect to the second vehicle;

initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, control over the second vehicle, such that the first autonomous vehicle synchronizes driving control with the second vehicle;

initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, physical connection of the first autonomous vehicle with the second vehicle for transfer of the goods when the first and the second vehicles are in motion;

after the physical connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is established, initiating, by the first autonomous vehicle, transfer of the goods from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle; and

when the transfer of goods between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is complete, breaking, by the first autonomous vehicle, the connection with the second vehicle and relinquishing control of the second vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the request by the second vehicle to connect to the first autonomous vehicle comprises:

information regarding the goods to be provided to the first autonomous vehicle by the second vehicle;

a vehicle identifier specific to the vehicle in which goods were requested; and

authorization from the second vehicle to the first autonomous vehicle to synchronize and overtake control of the second vehicle.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein driving control further comprises:

speed control of the second vehicle, steering of the second vehicle, distance between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle, and braking of the second vehicle.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the initiation, by the first autonomous vehicle, of the connection between the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle comprises:

instructions regarding alignment of the second vehicle relative to the first autonomous vehicle and speed to maintain by the first autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein prior to the step of receiving, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request to connect to the second vehicle, the program instructions further comprising sending, by the first autonomous vehicle, a request regarding the goods needed.