Autonomous vehicle retrieval
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for automatically retrieving a vehicle capable of autonomous operation from a parking space at a parking facility, comprising:
- generating, by one or more processors, a determination to prepare to return the vehicle to a user;
determining, by the one or more processors, a target location at which to provide access to the vehicle to the user;
determining, by the one or more processors, a holding location separate from the parking facility, which holding location is nearer the target location than is the parking facility;
determining, by the one or more processors, a movement plan for the vehicle, the movement plan including an autonomous route from the parking space to the target location and including a first portion of the route from the parking space to the holding location and a second portion of the route from the holding location to the target location;
determining, by the one or more processors, that another autonomous vehicle is obstructing the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location;
determining, by the one or more processors, an additional movement plan including an additional route for movement of the other autonomous vehicle to clear the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location for the vehicle;
causing, by the one or more processors, an additional vehicle control system of the other autonomous vehicle to operate the other autonomous vehicle according to the additional movement plan;
causing, by the one or more processors, a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the holding location according to the movement plan prior to receiving a request to provide access to the vehicle;
receiving, at one or more processors via a communication network, the request to provide access to the vehicle to the user; and
causing, by the one or more processors, the vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the target location according to the movement plan.
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Abstract
Methods and systems autonomously parking and retrieving vehicles are disclosed. Available parking spaces or parking facilities may be identified, and the vehicle may be navigated to an available space from a drop-off location without passengers. Special-purpose sensors, GPS data, or wireless signal triangulation may be used to identify vehicles and available parking spots. Upon a user request or a prediction of upcoming user demand, the vehicle may be retrieved autonomously from a parking space. Other vehicles may be autonomously moved to facilitate parking or retrieval.
909 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for automatically retrieving a vehicle capable of autonomous operation from a parking space at a parking facility, comprising:
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generating, by one or more processors, a determination to prepare to return the vehicle to a user; determining, by the one or more processors, a target location at which to provide access to the vehicle to the user; determining, by the one or more processors, a holding location separate from the parking facility, which holding location is nearer the target location than is the parking facility; determining, by the one or more processors, a movement plan for the vehicle, the movement plan including an autonomous route from the parking space to the target location and including a first portion of the route from the parking space to the holding location and a second portion of the route from the holding location to the target location; determining, by the one or more processors, that another autonomous vehicle is obstructing the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location; determining, by the one or more processors, an additional movement plan including an additional route for movement of the other autonomous vehicle to clear the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location for the vehicle; causing, by the one or more processors, an additional vehicle control system of the other autonomous vehicle to operate the other autonomous vehicle according to the additional movement plan; causing, by the one or more processors, a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the holding location according to the movement plan prior to receiving a request to provide access to the vehicle; receiving, at one or more processors via a communication network, the request to provide access to the vehicle to the user; and causing, by the one or more processors, the vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the target location according to the movement plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system for automatically retrieving a vehicle capable of autonomous operation from a parking space at a parking facility, comprising:
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one or more processors; a communication unit configured to communicate between the one or more processors and a computing device associated with a user of the vehicle via a communication network; and a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to; generate a determination to prepare to return the vehicle to a user; determine a target location at which to provide access to the vehicle to the user; determine a holding location separate from the parking facility, which holding location is nearer the target location than is the parking facility; determine a movement plan for the vehicle, the movement plan including an autonomous route from the parking space to the target location and including a first portion of the route from the parking space to the holding location and a second portion of the route from the holding location to the target location; determine that another autonomous vehicle is obstructing the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location; determine an additional movement plan including an additional route for movement of the other autonomous vehicle to clear the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location for the vehicle; cause an additional vehicle control system of the other autonomous vehicle to operate the other autonomous vehicle according to the additional movement plan; cause a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the holding location according to the movement plan prior to receiving a request to provide access to the vehicle; receive the request to provide access to the vehicle to the user via the communication network; and cause the vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the target location according to the movement plan. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for automatically retrieving a vehicle capable of autonomous operation from a parking space at a parking facility that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
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generate a determination to prepare to return the vehicle to a user; determine a target location at which to provide access to the vehicle to the user; determine a holding location separate from the parking facility, which holding location is nearer the target location than is the parking facility; determine a movement plan for the vehicle, the movement plan including an autonomous route from the parking space to the target location and including a first portion of the route from the parking space to the holding location and a second portion of the route from the holding location to the target location; determine that another autonomous vehicle is obstructing the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location; determine an additional movement plan including an additional route for movement of the other autonomous vehicle to clear the autonomous route from the parking space to the target location for the vehicle; cause an additional vehicle control system of the other autonomous vehicle to operate the other autonomous vehicle according to the additional movement plan; cause a vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the holding location according to the movement plan prior to receiving a request to provide access to the vehicle; receive the request to provide access to the vehicle to the user via a communication network; and cause the vehicle control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the target location according to the movement plan. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification