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Methods to operate autonomous vehicles to pilot vehicles in groups or convoys

  • US 10,216,196 B2
  • Filed: 10/18/2016
  • Issued: 02/26/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • accessing, by a central computing device, sensor data from one or more autonomous escort vehicles in a convoy moving along a route;

    detecting, by the central computing device, based on the sensor data, an environmental vehicle along or in proximity to the route of the convoy;

    determining, by the central computing device, based on the sensor data movement of the convoy along the route, that the environmental vehicle should be prevented from interfering with the movement of the convoy along the route;

    identifying, by the central computing device, a particular one of the autonomous escort vehicles that is available to modify its position to prevent the environmental vehicle from interfering with the movement of the convoy along the route;

    generating, by the central computing device, instructions for the particular one of the autonomous escort vehicles to modify its position to prevent the environmental vehicle from interfering with the movement of the convoy along the route; and

    causing, by the central computing device, the instructions to be communicated to and executed by the particular one of the autonomous escort vehicles to modify its position to prevent the environmental vehicle from interfering with the movement of the convoy along the route.

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