System and method for externally interfacing with an autonomous vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle at an external interface, the autonomous vehicle having an external interface, an onboard computer processor, and a powertrain, the method comprising:
- at the external interface, operably in communication with the autonomous vehicle;
allowing an entity in a proximity of an outside of the autonomous vehicle to interact with the external interface;
receiving, from the entity, one or more control inputs; and
controlling, based on control inputs from the entity, one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more control inputs received using the external interface,wherein the external interface comprises one or more pressure-sensitive areas positioned on an external surface of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein, based on an application of pressure to one or more sections of the one or more pressure-sensitive areas, the one or more pressure-sensitive areas control an operation of the autonomous vehicle for movement of the autonomous vehicle from a first location to a second location;
wherein the entity comprises an operator disposed outside the autonomous vehicle;
wherein the one or more pressure-sensitive areas comprise a touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle, the touch screen configured to receive operator instructions from the operator, by sensing the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to via the operator'"'"'s engagement of the touch screen;
wherein the step of receiving the one or more control inputs comprises receiving the operator instructions from the operator, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to, via sensing of the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle; and
wherein the method further comprises implementing the operator instructions, via the computer processor disposed onboard the autonomous vehicle, by automatically, physically moving the autonomous vehicle, via computer instructions provided by the computer processor and implemented by the powertrain of the autonomous vehicle, to the second location as requested via the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle.
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Abstract
A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle using an external interface is disclosed. The method includes an external interface that is in operable communication with one or more control systems of the autonomous vehicle. The method allows an entity in proximity of an outside of the autonomous vehicle to interact with the external interface; receives from the entity one or more control inputs, and controls one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more control inputs.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle at an external interface, the autonomous vehicle having an external interface, an onboard computer processor, and a powertrain, the method comprising:
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at the external interface, operably in communication with the autonomous vehicle; allowing an entity in a proximity of an outside of the autonomous vehicle to interact with the external interface; receiving, from the entity, one or more control inputs; and controlling, based on control inputs from the entity, one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more control inputs received using the external interface, wherein the external interface comprises one or more pressure-sensitive areas positioned on an external surface of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein, based on an application of pressure to one or more sections of the one or more pressure-sensitive areas, the one or more pressure-sensitive areas control an operation of the autonomous vehicle for movement of the autonomous vehicle from a first location to a second location; wherein the entity comprises an operator disposed outside the autonomous vehicle; wherein the one or more pressure-sensitive areas comprise a touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle, the touch screen configured to receive operator instructions from the operator, by sensing the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to via the operator'"'"'s engagement of the touch screen; wherein the step of receiving the one or more control inputs comprises receiving the operator instructions from the operator, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to, via sensing of the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle; and wherein the method further comprises implementing the operator instructions, via the computer processor disposed onboard the autonomous vehicle, by automatically, physically moving the autonomous vehicle, via computer instructions provided by the computer processor and implemented by the powertrain of the autonomous vehicle, to the second location as requested via the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
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a powertrain; an external surface; a pressure-sensitive touch screen disposed on the external surface; an onboard computer processor disposed onboard the autonomous vehicle that includes a computer processor that controls one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle; and a local communication interface that communicates data between the touch screen and the onboard computer processor of the autonomous vehicle; wherein an operator that is external to and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle uses the touch screen to interact, via the local communication interface, with and control the autonomous vehicle; wherein the touch screen comprises one or more sensors that are configured to receive operator instructions from the operator, by sensing the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to via the operator'"'"'s engagement of the touch screen; and wherein the onboard computer processor is configured to implement the operator instructions by providing computer instructions to the powertrain to automatically, physically move the autonomous vehicle to the second location as requested via the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the touch screen on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
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a powertrain; an external surface; a joystick disposed on the external surface; an onboard computer processor disposed onboard the autonomous vehicle that includes a computer processor that controls one or more operations of the autonomous vehicle; and a local communication interface that communicates data between the joystick and the onboard computer processor of the autonomous vehicle; wherein an operator that is external to and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle uses the joystick to interact, via the local communication interface, with and control the autonomous vehicle; wherein the joystick comprises one or more sensors that are configured to receive operator instructions from the operator, by sensing the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the joystick, including the operator'"'"'s designation of the second location for the autonomous vehicle to be automatically moved to via the operator'"'"'s engagement of the joystick; and wherein the onboard computer processor is configured to implement the operator instructions by providing computer instructions to the powertrain to automatically, physically move the autonomous vehicle to the second location as requested via the operator'"'"'s physical engagement of the joystick on the external surface of the autonomous vehicle.
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Specification