Self-driving vehicle systems and methods

• US 10,240,938 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2018
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drivent LLC
• Original Assignee: Drivent Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Wengreen, Eric John, Schwie, Wesley Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US16/167,126
• Time in Patent Office: 155 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A vehicle management system can send a first pick-up location to a remote computing device of a prospective rider. A location tracking system is configured to monitor a location of the rider as the rider walks to rendezvous with the vehicle. The vehicle management system can later determine, based on the location of the rider as the rider walks to rendezvous with the vehicle, that the vehicle could rendezvous with the rider sooner by using a second pick-up location. The vehicle management system can prompt the vehicle navigation system to cease directing the vehicle toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the vehicle toward the second pick-up location. The vehicle management system can prompt the remote computing device to cease directing the rider toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the rider toward the second pick-up location.

Claims

1. A vehicle management system comprising:

a vehicle having a vehicle navigation system, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to send a first pick-up location to the vehicle navigation system;

a communication system configured to send the first pick-up location to a remote computing device of a rider, wherein the communication system is configured to send a first wireless communication to the remote computing device, the first wireless communication is configured to enable the remote computing device to direct the rider toward the first pick-up location; and

a location tracking system configured to monitor a location of the rider, wherein the location tracking system is configured to analyze a walking speed of the rider, and the vehicle management system is configured to suggest a second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location and located closer than the first pick-up location to the location of the rider in response to determining that the walking speed is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The vehicle management system of claim 1,

wherein the vehicle management system is configured to determine, based on the location of the rider, that the vehicle could rendezvous with the first rider faster by using the second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location,

wherein the communication system is configured to send a second communication to the vehicle navigation system, the second communication is configured to prompt the vehicle navigation system to cease directing the vehicle toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the vehicle toward the second pick-up location, and

wherein the communication system is configured to send a third wireless communication to the remote computing device, the third wireless communication is configured to prompt the remote computing device to cease directing the rider toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the rider toward the second pick-up location.

3. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system comprises a rendezvous mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct both the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location, and

the vehicle management system comprises a rescue mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct the vehicle toward the location of the rider and is configured to prompt the rider to remain at the location of the rider,

wherein the vehicle management system is configured to exit the rendezvous mode and enter the rescue mode in response to determining, by the location tracking system, that the rider is moving away from at least one of the first pick-up location and a first walking route to the first pick-up location.

4. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to send a second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to vehicle management system determining that the walking speed is below the predetermined threshold, and the second wireless communication is configured to prompt the remote computing device to present an option for the rider to replace the first pick-up location with the second pick-up location.

5. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to send a second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to vehicle management system determining that the walking speed is below the predetermined threshold, and the second wireless communication is configured to suggest the second pick-up location.

6. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to send a second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to the location tracking system determining that the rider is moving away from a first walking route to the first pick-up location, and the second wireless communication is configured to prompt the remote computing device to present an option for the rider to replace the first pick-up location with the second pick-up location.

7. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to suggest the second pick-up location in response to determining that the rider is not advancing toward the first pick-up location.

8. The vehicle management system of claim 7, wherein the second pick-up location is within a predetermined distance of the location of the rider.

9. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to send a second communication to the vehicle navigation system in response to determining, by the vehicle management system, that the rider is no longer advancing toward the first pick-up location,

wherein the second communication is configured to prompt the vehicle navigation system to cease directing the vehicle toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the vehicle toward the second pick-up location.

10. The vehicle management system of claim 1, wherein the location tracking system comprises the remote computing device having a movement analysis system configured to monitor the walking speed of the rider, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to suggest the second pick-up location to the rider via the remote computing device in response to the movement analysis system determining that the walking speed is below the predetermined threshold.

11. A vehicle management system comprising:

a vehicle having a vehicle navigation system, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to send a first pick-up location to the vehicle navigation system;

a communication system configured to send the first pick-up location to a remote computing device of a rider, wherein the communication system is configured to send a first wireless communication to the remote computing device, and the first wireless communication is configured to enable the remote computing device to direct the rider toward the first pick-up location; and

a location tracking system configured to monitor a location of the rider, wherein the location tracking system is configured to analyze a walking speed of the rider, the communication system is configured to send a second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to the location tracking system determining that the walking speed is below a predetermined threshold, and the second wireless communication is configured to prompt the remote computing device to present an option for the rider to replace the first pick-up location with a second pick-up location located closer than the first pick-up location to the location of the rider.

12. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the communication system is configured to send the second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to the location tracking system determining that the rider is moving away from at least one of the first pick-up location and a first walking route to the first pick-up location.

13. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the location tracking system comprises the remote computing device having a movement analysis system configured to monitor movement of the rider, wherein the remote computing device is configured to present the option, in response to the movement analysis system determining that the movement is below the predetermined threshold, for the rider to replace the first pick-up location with the second pick-up location.

14. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the communication system is configured to send a third communication to the vehicle navigation system, and the third communication is configured to prompt the vehicle navigation system to cease directing the vehicle toward the first pick-up location and instead direct the vehicle toward the second pick-up location.

15. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the communication system is configured to send the second wireless communication to the remote computing device in response to the location tracking system determining that the rider is no longer advancing toward the first pick-up location.

16. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle management system comprises a rendezvous mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct both the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location, and

the vehicle management system comprises a rescue mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct the vehicle toward the location of the rider,

wherein the vehicle management system is configured to exit the rendezvous mode and enter the rescue mode in response to determining, by the location tracking system, that the rider is moving away from at least one of the first pick-up location and a first walking route to the first pick-up location.

17. The vehicle management system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle management system comprises a rendezvous mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct both the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location, and

the vehicle management system comprises a rescue mode in which the vehicle management system is configured to direct the vehicle toward the location of the rider,

wherein the vehicle management system is configured to exit the rendezvous mode and enter the rescue mode in response to determining that the walking speed is below the predetermined threshold.

18. A method of using a vehicle management system, the method comprising:

receiving, by the vehicle management system, a first pick-up location for a rider;

directing, by the vehicle management system, a vehicle to move toward the first pick-up location by following a first driving route;

directing, by the vehicle management system, the rider to move toward the first pick-up location by following a first walking route; and

after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location;

analyzing, by a location tracking system, a walking speed of the rider, and

choosing, by the vehicle management system, a second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location and located closer than the first pick-up location to a location of the rider in response to determining, by the vehicle management system, that the walking speed is below a predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location:

monitoring, by the vehicle management system, the location of the rider,

determining, by the vehicle management system, that the vehicle could rendezvous with the rider faster by using the second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location,

directing, by the vehicle management system, the vehicle to move toward the second pick-up location by following a second driving route, and

directing, by the vehicle management system, the rider to move toward the second pick-up location by following a second walking route.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising prompting, by the vehicle management system in response to determining that the walking speed is below the predetermined threshold, the rider to replace the first pick-up location with the second pick-up location.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location:

monitoring, by the vehicle management system, the location of the rider, and

prompting, by the vehicle management system, the rider to replace the first pick-up location with the second pick-up location in response to determining that the rider is moving away from at least one of the first pick-up location and the first walking route.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising in response to the choosing:

directing, by the vehicle management system, the vehicle to move toward the second pick-up location by following a second driving route.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle management system comprises a rendezvous mode in which the vehicle management system directs both the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location, and the vehicle management system comprises a rescue mode in which the vehicle management system directs the vehicle toward the location of the rider, the method further comprising, after entering the rendezvous mode and directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location:

monitoring, by the vehicle management system, the location of the rider, and

exiting the rendezvous mode and entering the rescue mode in response to determining that the rider is moving away from at least one of the first pick-up location and the first walking route.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location:

determining, by the vehicle management system, that the second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location is better suited to picking up the rider, and

directing, by the vehicle management system, the vehicle to move toward the second pick-up location by following a second driving route.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining that the second pick-up location is better suited comprises determining that the rider has moved away from the first walking route.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein determining that the second pick-up location is better suited comprises analyzing a movement speed of the rider, estimating a first arrival time of the rider at the first pick-up location based on the movement speed, and estimating a second arrival time of the rider at the second pick-up location based on the movement speed.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein determining that the second pick-up location is better suited comprises identifying the second pick-up location, estimating a first time until the vehicle would arrive at the first pick-up location, estimating a second time until the rider would arrive at the first pick-up location, estimating a third time until the vehicle would arrive at the second pick-up location, estimating a fourth time until the rider would arrive at the second pick-up location, and determining that a greater of the first time and the second time is greater than a greater of the third time and the fourth time.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location:

choosing, by the vehicle management system, the second pick-up location located away from the first pick-up location and located closer than the first pick-up location to the location of the rider in response to determining, by the vehicle management system, that the rider is not advancing toward the first pick-up location.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second pick-up location is within a predetermined distance of the location of the rider.

30. The method of claim 28, after directing the vehicle and the rider toward the first pick-up location, the method further comprising directing, by the vehicle management system, the vehicle to move toward the second pick-up location by following a second driving route.