Adapting driving based on a transported cargo

• US 10,538,239 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hardee, Christopher J., Mukherjee, Maharaj
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US15/661,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20190031186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 701 27
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

A method includes determining, by an electronic control unit, at least one characteristic of cargo that is transported by an autonomous vehicle or a semi-autonomous vehicle. The method also includes determining a driving adaptation based at least on the at least one characteristic. The driving adaptation is selected from the group including a routing adaptation, a driving style adaptation, and an internal control adaptation. The method also includes configuring the vehicle to transport the cargo based at least on the determined driving adaptation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

determining, by an electronic control unit, at least one characteristic of cargo that is transported by an autonomous vehicle or a semi-autonomous vehicle;

determining a driving adaptation based at least on the at least one characteristic, wherein the driving adaptation is selected from a group consisting of a routing adaptation, a driving style adaptation, and an internal control adaptation; and

configuring the vehicle to transport the cargo based at least on the determined driving adaptation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises hazardous cargo.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises fragile cargo.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with inclement weather conditions, bridges, and/or heavily-populated areas.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with sharp turns.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a driving style adaptation that avoids sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining an internal control adaptation that controls a storage temperature based at least on the cargo.

8. A computer system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory;

the processor system configured to perform a method comprising;

determining at least one characteristic of cargo that is transported by an autonomous vehicle or a semi-autonomous vehicle;

determining a driving adaptation based at least on the at least one characteristic, wherein the driving adaptation is selected from a group consisting of a routing adaptation, a driving style adaptation, and an internal control adaptation; and

configuring the vehicle to transport the cargo based at least on the determined driving adaptation.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises hazardous cargo.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises fragile cargo.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with inclement weather conditions, bridges, and/or heavily-populated areas.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with sharp turns.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a driving style adaptation that avoids sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining an internal control adaptation that controls a storage temperature based at least on the cargo.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable by a processor system to cause the processor system to perform a method comprising;

determining, by an electronic control unit, at least one characteristic of cargo that is transported by an autonomous vehicle or a semi-autonomous vehicle;

determining a driving adaptation based at least on the at least one characteristic, wherein the driving adaptation is selected from a group consisting of a routing adaptation, a driving style adaptation, and an internal control adaptation; and

configuring the vehicle to transport the cargo based at least on the determined driving adaptation.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises hazardous cargo.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determining the at least one characteristic of cargo comprises determining that the cargo comprises fragile cargo.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with inclement weather conditions, bridges, and/or heavily-populated areas.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a routing adaptation that reduces encounters with sharp turns.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determining the driving adaptation comprises determining a driving style adaptation that avoids sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration.