Systems and methods to obtain passenger feedback in response to autonomous vehicle driving events

• US 10,346,888 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nix, Molly Castle, Chin, Sean, Zhao, Dennis, Hertz, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/625,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20180365740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0013 specially adapted for occupant comfort
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can detect an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle and, in response, provide an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event. Thus, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can actively prompt passenger feedback in response to a particular instance of a specific type of driving event, thereby enabling improved collection of information about autonomous vehicle ride quality relative to specific types of driving events.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback, the method comprising:

detecting, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle, wherein detecting, by the computing system, the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle comprises detecting, by the computing system, the occurrence of the driving event based at least in part on one or more of;

turn-by-turn data associated with a navigational system included in the autonomous vehicle;

vehicle data collected by the autonomous vehicle;

telematics data generated by the autonomous vehicle;

data collected by a human machine interface computing device that describes motion experienced by the passenger; and

data wirelessly received from a user device associated with the passenger that describes motion experienced by the passenger;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event;

providing, by the computing system, an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle;

receiving, by the computing system, the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating, by the computing system, the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices are on-board the autonomous vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting, by the computing system, the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle comprises detecting, by the computing system, the occurrence of one or more of:

a turn event;

a lane change event;

a stopping event;

a hard brake event;

a weaving event;

a juking event;

a jerking event;

an excessive speed event;

an insufficient speed event; and

an excessive acceleration event.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises displaying the interactive user interface on a rear-seat display device that is accessible by the passenger that is located in a rear seat of the autonomous vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that provides a plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to a plurality of levels of satisfaction;

each user-selectable icon selectable by the passenger to provide the passenger feedback indicative of the corresponding level of satisfaction.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises:

providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that initially includes an initial user-selectable icon that enables the passenger to indicate a desire to provide the passenger feedback; and

receiving, by the computing system, a user selection of the initial user-selectable icon; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the initial user-selectable icon;

providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that provides the plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to the plurality of levels of satisfaction.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons, causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide a secondary menu that provides a second plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to a plurality of textual phrases that respectively describe different reasons for the indicated level of satisfaction.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide the secondary menu in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons comprises causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide the secondary menu in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons that corresponds to a negative level of satisfaction.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes a visualization of the autonomous vehicle performing the driving event.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes the visualization of the autonomous vehicle performing the driving event comprises providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes the visualization that visualizes light detection and ranging data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that is specific to and associated with the particular detected driving event, the interactive user interface that is specific to and associated with the particular detected driving event different from at least one alternative user interface that is specific to and associated with at least one alternative driving event.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that requests that the passenger provides the passenger feedback that identifies the driving event.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that requests that the passenger provides the passenger feedback relative to multiple overlapping driving events.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating, by the computing system, multiple instances of feedback data received via the interactive user interface relative to multiple detected driving events over time; and

determining, by the computing system, an aggregate performance score for at least the autonomous vehicle relative to at least one physical location based at least in part on the aggregated multiple instances of feedback data.

15. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that collectively store instructions that;

when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising;

detecting an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle, wherein detecting the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle comprises detecting the occurrence of the driving event based at least in part on one or more of;

turn-by-turn data associated with a navigational system included in the autonomous vehicle;

vehicle data collected by the autonomous vehicle;

telematics data generated by the autonomous vehicle;

data collected by a human machine interface computing device that describes motion experienced by the passenger; and

data wirelessly received from a user device associated with passenger that describes motion experienced b the passenger;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle;

receiving the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

16. The computing system of claim 15, further comprising:

a rear-seat display device that is accessible by the passenger that is located in a rear seat of the autonomous vehicle;

wherein providing the interactive user interface comprises displaying the interactive user interface on the rear-seat display.

17. The computing system of claim 15, wherein providing the interactive user interface comprises providing the interactive user interface to a user computing device associated with the passenger for display by the user computing device.

18. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the computing system comprises an autonomy system and a human machine interface device, wherein one or both of the autonomy system and the human machine interface device perform the operation of detecting the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media that collectively store instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle, wherein detecting the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle comprises detecting the occurrence of the driving event based at least in part on one or more of;

turn-by-turn data associated with a navigational system included in the autonomous vehicle;

vehicle data collected by the autonomous vehicle;

telematics data generated by the autonomous vehicle;

data collected by a human machine interface computing device that describes motion experienced by the passenger; and

data wirelessly received from a user device associated with the passenger that describes motion experienced by the passenger;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle;

receiving the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

20. A computer-implemented method to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback, the method comprising:

detecting, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing, by the computing system, an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises;

providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that initially includes an initial user-selectable icon that enables the passenger to indicate a desire to provide the passenger feedback;

receiving, by the computing system, a user selection of the initial user-selectable icon; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the initial user-selectable icon, providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that provides a plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to a plurality of levels of satisfaction, each user-selectable icon selectable by the passenger to provide the passenger feedback indicative of the corresponding level of satisfaction;

receiving, by the computing system, the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating, by the computing system, the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

21. A computer-implemented method to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback, the method comprising:

detecting, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing, by the computing system, an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing;

by the computing system, the interactive user interface that provides a plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to a plurality of levels of satisfaction, each user-selectable icon selectable by the passenger to provide the passenger feedback indicative of the corresponding level of satisfaction;

receiving, by the computing system, the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface, wherein the passenger feedback selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons;

in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons, causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide a secondary menu that provides a second plurality of user-selectable icons that respectively correspond to a plurality of textual phrases that respectively describe different reasons for the indicated level of satisfaction; and

associating, by the computing system, the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide the secondary menu in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons comprises causing, by the computing system, the user interface to provide the secondary menu in response to receiving the passenger feedback that selects one of the plurality of user-selectable icons that corresponds to a negative level of satisfaction.

23. A computer-implemented method to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback, the method comprising:

detecting, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing, by the computing system, an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes a visualization of the autonomous vehicle performing the driving event, and wherein providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes the visualization of the autonomous vehicle performing the driving event comprises providing for display, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that includes the visualization that visualizes light detection and ranging data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event;

receiving, by the computing system;

the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating, by the computing system, the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle;

a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred, and data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.

24. A computer-implemented method to obtain autonomous vehicle passenger feedback, the method comprising:

detecting, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, an occurrence of a driving event performed by an autonomous vehicle;

in response to detecting the occurrence of the driving event, providing, by the computing system, an interactive user interface that enables a passenger of the autonomous vehicle to enter passenger feedback regarding the occurrence of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, wherein providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface comprises providing, by the computing system, the interactive user interface that is specific to and associated with the particular detected driving event, the interactive user interface that is specific to and associated with the particular detected driving event different from at least one alternative user interface that is specific to and associated with at least one alternative driving event;

receiving, by the computing system, the passenger feedback entered by the passenger of the autonomous vehicle via the interactive user interface; and

associating, by the computing system, the passenger feedback with one or more of;

an identification of the driving event performed by the autonomous vehicle, a time at which the driving event occurred, a location at which the driving event occurred; and

data collected by the autonomous vehicle during performance of the driving event.