SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE COLLISION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20180186366A1
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: DoorDash, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Granted Patent: US 10,259,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/085 Taking automatic action to adjust vehicle attitude in preparation for collision, e.g. braking for nose dropping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering

Abstract

A method generates and implements a real-time amelioration action for ameliorating an imminent collision between a self-driving vehicle (SDV) and an object. One or more processors detect that an imminent collision by a self-driving vehicle (SDV) is imminent with a confidence C1, and determine whether the SDV has an occupant of occupant type P with a confidence C2. One or more processors identify an object with which the imminent collision by the SDV is imminent with a confidence C3, and then generate and implement, based on C1, C2, C3, and P, a real-time amelioration action for ameliorating the imminent collision between the SDV and the object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, by one or more processors, that an imminent collision by a self-driving vehicle (SDV) is imminent with a confidence C1;

determining, by one or more processors, whether the SDV has an occupant of occupant type P with a confidence C2;

identifying, by one or more processors, an object with which the imminent collision by the SDV is imminent with a confidence C3; and

generating and implementing, by one or more processors and based on C1, C2, C3, and P, a real-time amelioration action for ameliorating the imminent collision between the SDV and the object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, confidence C1 based on an analysis of sensor data received in real-time from one or more sensors on the SDV.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the occupant type P describes animate passengers in the SDV.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the occupant type P describes inanimate passengers in the SDV.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the occupant type P describes a lack of any occupants in the SDV.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object to be imminently collided with by the SDV is another SDV that has a human passenger.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object to be imminently collided with by the SDV is another SDV that has no passenger.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object to be imminently collided with by the SDV is a pedestrian.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object to be imminently collided with by the SDV is a vehicle that is not an SDV.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object to be imminently collided with the SDV is an inanimate object located in a fixed position.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the amelioration action is to strike the object in a manner that causes energy-absorbing areas on the SDV to absorb an impact of the SDV striking the object.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the amelioration action is to cause at least one tire on the SDV to burst.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the SDV is unoccupied, and wherein the amelioration action is to prevent any airbags within the SDV from deploying in response to the SDV colliding with the object.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, a weight ratio between the SDV and the object; and

adjusting, by one or more processors, the amelioration action according to the weight ratio between the SDV and the object.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting, by one or more processors, the amelioration action based on roadway conditions for a roadway on which the SDV is traveling.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the SDV is a first SDV, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

receiving, by one or processors, executable instructions for implementing an amelioration action performed by a group of other SDVs that experienced an imminent collision that was similar to the imminent collision being experienced by the first SDV; and

executing, by one or more processors in the first SDV, the executable instructions for implementing the amelioration action performed by the group of other SDVs.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented as a cloud-based service.

18. A computer program product for generating and implementing a real-time amelioration for ameliorating an imminent collision between a self-driving vehicle (SDV) and an object, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

detect that an imminent collision by a self-driving vehicle (SDV) is imminent with a confidence C1;

determine whether the SDV has an occupant of occupant type P with a confidence C2;

identify an object with which the imminent collision by the SDV is imminent with a confidence C3; and

generate and implement, based on C1, C2, C3, and P, a real-time amelioration action for ameliorating the imminent collision between the SDV and the object.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the program instructions are provided as a service in a cloud environment.

20. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable memories operably coupled to the one or more processors;

one or more computer readable storage mediums operably coupled to the one or more computer readable memories; and

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer readable memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions configured to detect that an imminent collision by a self-driving vehicle (SDV) is imminent with a confidence C1;

program instructions configured to determine whether the SDV has an occupant of occupant type P with a confidence C2;

program instructions configured to identify an object with which the imminent collision by the SDV is imminent with a confidence C3; and

program instructions configured to generate and implement, based on C1, C2, C3, and P, a real-time amelioration action for ameliorating the imminent collision between the SDV and the object.