System and method for providing enhanced passenger use of an autonomous vehicle

• US 10,391,931 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Shmueli Friedland, Yael, Degani, Asaf, Kamhi, Gila, Succary, Ori, Shemesh, Jakie
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Daniel L
• Application Number:
  US15/620,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20180354411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/041 Potential occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/10 Path keeping cruise control for automatically following a preceding vehicle B60W30/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0025 specially adapted for specific operations
• 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: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

Methods are provided for managing a passenger'"'"'s interaction with an autonomous vehicle. The method identifies a passenger approaching an autonomous vehicle and activates a recognition signal that indicates pairing the passenger with the vehicle. As the passenger approaches, and entry point for the vehicle is identified. A recognition signal for the entry point is activated and the passenger is notified. As the exit point for the bride approaches, it is identified by the vehicle and in exit indicator is activated for the passenger. Any exit obstacles are identified by the vehicle and the passenger is notified. And exit indicator is activated for the passenger to provide notification of a safe to exit status from the autonomous vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for managing a passenger'"'"'s interaction with an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

identifying the passenger prior to entering the autonomous vehicle, where the passenger is identified with a sensor onboard the autonomous vehicle;

determining an appropriate recognition indicator for an external LED lighting system to identify the autonomous vehicle for the passenger;

selecting an optimum vehicle entry point for the passenger based on the presence of any entry obstacles for the passenger, where an entry obstacles is located in proximity to the vehicle such that the entry obstacle is an impediment to the passenger entering the vehicle;

selecting an optimum vehicle exit point for the passenger based on the presence of an exit obstacle for the passenger, where the exit obstacle is located in proximity to the vehicle such that the exit obstacle is an impediment to the passenger exiting the vehicle; and

illuminating the exit obstacle with the external LED lighting system for the passenger upon exiting the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, where the appropriate recognition indicator is selected based on conditions affecting visibility for the passenger.

3. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system is located along the top of the autonomous vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system is located along the door of the autonomous vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system is located along the bottom of the autonomous vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system utilizes multiple colors of lighting as an appropriate recognition indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system utilizes variable brightness of lighting as an appropriate recognition indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system utilizes multiple locations of lighting on the autonomous vehicle as an appropriate recognition indicator.

9. The method of claim 1, where the external LED lighting system utilizes flashing of lighting on the autonomous vehicle as an appropriate recognition indicator.

10. The method of claim 1, where the sensor comprises a 3-D camera.

11. The method of claim 1, where the sensor comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor.

12. The method of claim 1, where the sensor comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

13. A system for managing a passenger'"'"'s interactions with an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

an autonomous driving system for the autonomous vehicle comprising a vehicle system processor and controller;

a plurality of sensors that collect data regarding the passenger prior to entering the autonomous vehicle, where the data is provided to the vehicle system'"'"'s processor and controller;

a passenger management system that receives the data from the vehicle system processor and controller, where the passenger management system analyzes the data and determines an optimum entry point and optimum exit point from the autonomous vehicle by the passenger, where the optimum entry point and the optimum exit point are determined based on the proximity of any obstacles to the autonomous vehicle such that the obstacles are an impediment to the passenger entering or exiting the vehicle; and

a passenger interface system that receives instructions from the passenger management system and initiates communications with the passenger.

14. The system of claim 13, where the vehicle system processor and controller receives instructions from the passenger management system to control the autonomous vehicle'"'"'s interaction with the passenger.

15. The system of claim 13, where the autonomous vehicle comprises a rental car.

16. The system of claim 13, where the autonomous vehicle comprises a bus.

17. The system of claim 13, where the autonomous vehicle comprises a taxi.

18. A method for managing a passenger'"'"'s interaction with an autonomous taxi, comprising:

receiving a request at an autonomous vehicle transportation system for a taxi;

pairing a taxi with the passenger with the autonomous vehicle transportation system;

dispatching the taxi to the passenger'"'"'s pick-up location with the autonomous vehicle transportation system;

notifying the passenger via a mobile device as the taxi approaches the passenger'"'"'s pick-up location;

identifying the passenger prior to entering the taxi, where the passenger is identified with a global positioning system (GPS), a 3D camera and an ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor onboard the taxi;

activating an external LED light on the taxi as a recognition signal for the passenger;

selecting and unlocking an entry door on the taxi for the passenger;

activating an external LED light on the taxi door as a recognition signal for the passenger to enter the taxi;

notifying the passenger as the taxi approaches the passenger'"'"'s drop-off location;

identifying exit obstacles for the passenger with the 3-D camera and the ultra-wide ban (UWB) sensor, where the exit obstacle is located in proximity to the taxi such that the exit obstacle is an impediment to the passenger exiting the taxi;

notifying the passenger via a mobile device of the location of exit obstacles from the taxi;

activating an external LED light on the taxi to illuminate exit obstacles for the passenger;

selecting and unlocking an exit door on the taxi for the passenger;

notifying the passenger of the exit door on the taxi; and

notifying the passenger that it is safe to exit the taxi.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising identifying the passenger'"'"'s persona based on the request received at an autonomous vehicle transportation system for a taxi.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting the type of notifications to the passenger based upon the passenger'"'"'s persona.