VEHICLE OPERATOR TRAINING SYSTEM

• US 20170249856A1
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Evan Roger, Fernando, Jana Mahen
• Granted Patent: US 10,699,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/16 Control of vehicles or other craft simulators G09B9/02

Abstract

Examples of the disclosure are directed to an automated vehicle that can function as a vehicle operator training system. A vehicle that combines sensors, actuators, infotainment, and/or communication functions may have the capability to provide a fully autonomous training experience in a real world environment. The vehicle can administer, monitor, and communicate with a vehicle operator for competency training and/or verification for a specific vehicle feature, sub-feature, situation maneuver, and/or objective.

Claims

1. A method of providing vehicle operator training in a vehicle including one or more feedback mechanisms, one or more sensors, and one or more actuators, the method comprising:

based on first information from the one or more sensors, determining whether an environment of the vehicle is appropriate for a first training program;

in response to determining the environment is appropriate for the first training program, invoking the first training program including a plurality of training steps;

providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback instructing an operator of the vehicle to carry out a first training step associated with the first training program;

monitoring second information from the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators for a plurality of criteria associated with the first training step of the first training program;

in accordance with the second information meeting a first criterion of the plurality of criteria, providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback associated with the first criterion; and

in accordance with the second information meeting a second criterion of the plurality of criteria, manipulating the one or more actuators to automatically maneuver the vehicle according to a response associated with the second criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second information from the one or more sensors include one or more of location information from a GPS sensor and nearby object information from a camera, LIDAR, or proximity sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nearby object information includes information about one or more nearby vehicles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing feedback includes one or more of presenting a user interface on a display device of the vehicle, providing haptic feedback on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and playing audio on a speaker of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating one or more actuators includes manipulating one or more of brakes, gas pedal, and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for the plurality of criteria includes one or more of determining whether a location of the vehicle is within a threshold distance of a target location associated with the first training step, determining whether a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle is within a threshold of a target steering angle associated with the first training step, and determining whether a gas or brake pedal is depressed as specified by the first training step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the response associated with the second criterion includes automatically maneuvering the vehicle into a target location associated with the first training step.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a vehicle including one or more feedback mechanisms, one or more sensors, and one or more actuators, cause the vehicle to perform a method of providing vehicle operator training in the vehicle, the method comprising:

based on first information from the one or more sensors, determining whether an environment of the vehicle is appropriate for a first training program;

in response to determining the environment is appropriate for the first training program, invoking the first training program including a plurality of training steps;

providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback instructing an operator of the vehicle to carry out a first training step associated with the first training program;

monitoring second information from the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators for a plurality of criteria associated with the first training step of the first training program;

in accordance with the second information meeting a first criterion of the plurality of criteria, providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback associated with the first criterion; and

in accordance with the second information meeting a second criterion of the plurality of criteria, manipulating the one or more actuators to automatically maneuver the vehicle according to a response associated with the second criterion.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more feedback mechanisms;

one or more sensors;

one or more actuators; and

a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the vehicle to perform a method of providing vehicle operator training in the vehicle, the method comprising;

based on first information from the one or more sensors, determining whether an environment of the vehicle is appropriate for a first training program;

in response to determining the environment is appropriate for the first training program, invoking the first training program including a plurality of training steps;

providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback instructing an operator of the vehicle to carry out a first training step associated with the first training program;

monitoring second information from the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators for a plurality of criteria associated with the first training step of the first training program;

in accordance with the second information meeting a first criterion of the plurality of criteria, providing, via the one or more feedback mechanisms, feedback associated with the first criterion; and

in accordance with the second information meeting a second criterion of the plurality of criteria, manipulating the one or more actuators to automatically maneuver the vehicle according to a response associated with the second criterion.