Automated Insurance Toggling for Self-Driving Vehicles

• US 20170124658A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael S., Kozloski, James R., Kundu, Ashish, Malkin, Peter K., Pickover, Clifford A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,607,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/54 of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy

Abstract

A method and/or computer program product automatically toggles insurance policy provisions for a self-driving vehicle (SDV) based on an operational mode of the SDV. One or more processor(s) receive an electronic signal indicating an operational mode of an SDV in real-time, where operational mode is either an autonomous mode or a manual mode. A first insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the autonomous mode, and a second insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the manual mode. The processor(s) monitor the SDV for a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV. In response to detecting a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV, the processor(s) dynamically toggle activation of the first and second insurance policy provisions consistent with the change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV.

Claims

1. A method for automatically toggling insurance policy provisions for a self-driving vehicle (SDV) based on an operational mode of the SDV, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors and from an operational mode device, an electronic signal indicating an operational mode of an SDV in real-time, wherein operational modes comprise an autonomous mode and a manual mode, wherein a first insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the autonomous mode, and wherein a second insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the manual mode;

monitoring, by one or more processors, the SDV for a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV; and

in response to detecting a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV, dynamically toggling, by one or more processors, activation of the first and second insurance policy provisions consistent with the change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from sensors within the SDV, a sensor signal indicating a quantity of passengers in the SDV; and

modifying, by one or more processors, insurance coverage for the SDV based on the quantity of passengers in the SDV, wherein the modified insurance coverage is effective only while the indicated quantity of passengers are in the SDV.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time physical condition of a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

modifying, by one or more processors, a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time physical condition of the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time physical condition of the roadway exists.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time traffic condition on a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

modifying, by one or more processors, a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time traffic condition on the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time traffic condition on the roadway exists.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by one or more processors, a first route to a destination and a second route to the destination, wherein the SDV is traveling to the destination;

identifying, by one or more processors, distances on the first route and the second route where operation of the SDV in autonomous mode is permitted;

determining, by one or more processors, that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode than the second route; and

in response to determining that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode that the second route, transmitting, by a message transmitter, an electronic instruction to an SDV on-board computer on the SDV to drive the SDV to the destination using the first route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the SDV is traveling on a roadway, and wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving, by one or more processors, driver profile information about a human driver of the SDV;

assigning, by one or more processors, the human driver of the SDV to a cohort of drivers traveling on the roadway in multiple SDVs, wherein the human driver of the SDV shares more than a predetermined quantity of traits with members of the cohort of drivers;

retrieving, by one or more processors, traffic pattern data for the multiple SDVs occupied by the cohort of drivers traveling on the roadway;

examining, by one or more processors, the traffic pattern data to determine a first traffic flow of the multiple SDVs occupied by members of the cohort of drivers, wherein the multiple SDVs in the first traffic flow are operating in the autonomous mode on the roadway;

examining, by one or more processors, the traffic pattern data to determine a second traffic flow of the multiple SDVs occupied by members of the cohort of drivers, wherein the multiple SDVs in the second traffic flow are operating in manual mode on the roadway; and

in response to determining that the first traffic flow has a lower accident rate than the second traffic flow, prohibiting, by an SDV on-board computer on the SDV, the SDV from operating in manual mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, operational readings from one or more operational sensors on the SDV, wherein the operational sensors detect a current state of mechanical equipment on the SDV;

detecting, by the one or more processors and based on received operational readings, a mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV; and

in response to detecting the mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV, modifying, by one or more processors, a price of insurance coverage for the SDV while the mechanical fault exists.

8. A computer program product for automatically toggling insurance policy provisions for a self-driving vehicle (SDV) based on an operational mode of the SDV, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, from an operational mode device, an electronic signal indicating an operational mode of an SDV in real-time, wherein operational modes comprise an autonomous mode and a manual mode, wherein a first insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the autonomous mode, and wherein a second insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the manual mode;

monitoring the SDV for a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV; and

in response to detecting a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV, dynamically toggling activation of the first and second insurance policy provisions consistent with the change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from sensors within the SDV, a sensor signal indicating a quantity of passengers in the SDV; and

modifying insurance coverage for the SDV based on the quantity of passengers in the SDV, wherein the modified insurance coverage is effective only while the indicated quantity of passengers are in the SDV.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time physical condition of a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

modifying a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time physical condition of the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time physical condition of the roadway exists.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time traffic condition on a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

modifying a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time traffic condition on the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time traffic condition on the roadway exists.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a first route to a destination and a second route to the destination, wherein the SDV is traveling to the destination;

identifying distances on the first route and the second route where operation of the SDV in autonomous mode is permitted;

determining that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode than the second route; and

in response to determining that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode that the second route, transmitting, by a message transmitter, an electronic instruction to an SDV on-board computer on the SDV to drive the SDV to the destination using the first route.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the SDV is traveling on a roadway, and wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving driver profile information about a human driver of the SDV;

assigning the human driver of the SDV to a cohort of drivers traveling on the roadway in multiple SDVs, wherein the human driver of the SDV shares more than a predetermined quantity of traits with members of the cohort of drivers;

retrieving traffic pattern data for the multiple SDVs occupied by the cohort of drivers traveling on the roadway;

examining the traffic pattern data to determine a first traffic flow of the multiple SDVs occupied by members of the cohort of drivers, wherein the multiple SDVs in the first traffic flow are operating in the autonomous mode on the roadway;

examining the traffic pattern data to determine a second traffic flow of the multiple SDVs occupied by members of the cohort of drivers, wherein the multiple SDVs in the second traffic flow are operating in manual mode on the roadway; and

in response to determining that the first traffic flow has a lower accident rate than the second traffic flow, prohibiting, by an SDV on-board computer on the SDV, the SDV from operating in manual mode.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving operational readings from one or more operational sensors on the SDV, wherein the operational sensors detect a current state of mechanical equipment on the SDV;

detecting, based on received operational readings, a mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV; and

in response to detecting the mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV, modifying a price of insurance coverage for the SDV while the mechanical fault exists.

15. A self-driving vehicle comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

first program instructions to receive, from an operational mode device, an electronic signal indicating an operational mode of an SDV in real-time, wherein operational modes comprise an autonomous mode and a manual mode, wherein a first insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the autonomous mode, and wherein a second insurance policy provision provides coverage while the SDV is operating in the manual mode;

second program instructions to monitor the SDV for a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV; and

third program instructions to, in response to detecting a change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV, dynamically toggle activation of the first and second insurance policy provisions consistent with the change in real-time to the operational mode of the SDV; and

wherein

the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.

16. The self-driving vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive, from sensors within the SDV, a sensor signal indicating a quantity of passengers in the SDV; and

fifth program instructions to modify insurance coverage for the SDV based on the quantity of passengers in the SDV, wherein the modified insurance coverage is effective only while the indicated quantity of passengers are in the SDV; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.

17. The self-driving vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time physical condition of a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

fifth program instructions to modify a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time physical condition of the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time physical condition of the roadway exists; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.

18. The self-driving vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive, from one or more roadway sensors, a real-time traffic condition on a roadway upon which the SDV is traveling; and

fifth program instructions to modify a price of insurance coverage for the SDV based on the real-time traffic condition on the roadway, wherein the modified insurance coverage price is effective only while the real-time traffic condition on the roadway exists; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.

19. The self-driving vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to identify a first route to a destination and a second route to the destination, wherein the SDV is traveling to the destination;

fifth program instructions to identify distances on the first route and the second route where operation of the SDV in autonomous mode is permitted;

sixth program instructions to determine that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode that the second route; and

seventh program instructions to, in response to determining that the first route has more distances where operation of the SDV is permitted in autonomous mode than the second route, transmit, via a message transmitter, an electronic instruction to an SDV on-board computer on the SDV to drive the SDV to the destination using the first route; and

wherein

the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.

20. The self-driving vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive operational readings from one or more operational sensors on the SDV, wherein the operational sensors detect a current state of mechanical equipment on the SDV;

fifth program instructions to detect, based on received operational readings, a mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV; and

sixth program instructions to, in response to detecting the mechanical fault with the mechanical equipment on the SDV, modify a price of insurance coverage for the SDV as long as the mechanical fault exists; and

wherein

the fourth, fifth, and sixth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.