AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PICKUP AND DROP-OFF MANAGEMENT

• US 20180188731A1
• Filed: 12/31/2016
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Granted Patent: US 10,613,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Embodiments provide techniques, including systems and methods, to manage rider pickup and drop-off for autonomous vehicles. A user can request a ride through an autonomous ride request GUI. The requestor can provide pickup and drop-off locations. Based on the locations, it can be determined whether an autonomous ride is available. If not, alternative ride types can be suggested. If so, an autonomous vehicle can be sent to the pickup location. Embodiments provide pickup and drop-off graphical user interfaces (GUIs), in addition to the autonomous ride request GUI, through which localized pickup and drop-off information may be received. When an autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance of the pickup or drop-off location, the corresponding GUI can be displayed. The GUI can include one or more selectable localized location elements. The requestor may then select the element corresponding to a desired location to be picked-up or dropped-off.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a requestor computing device, a ride request including a pickup location and a drop-off location;

determining, by a ride matching system, that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location;

matching the ride request to an autonomous vehicle;

causing a pickup location graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed on the requestor computer device;

receiving a localized pickup location identifier from the requestor computing device; and

sending the autonomous vehicle to a localized pickup location corresponding to the localized pickup location identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mapping a route between the pickup location and drop-off location; and

sending the route to the autonomous vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by a ride matching system, that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location further comprises:

determining the pickup location and the drop-off location are both located in an autonomous region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by a ride matching system, that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location further comprises:

determining at least one autonomous route exists between the pickup location and the drop-off location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a localized pickup location identifier from the requestor computing device further comprises:

identifying the localized pickup location in a stop data store using the localized pickup identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the drop-off location GUI is displayed on a display of an in-vehicle computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message from the autonomous vehicle indicating the autonomous ride has started;

determining a distance between the drop-off location and a current location of the autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance;

causing a drop-off location GUI to be displayed;

receiving a localized drop-off location identifier; and

sending the autonomous vehicle to a localized drop-off location corresponding to the localized drop-off location identifier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving a localized drop-off location identifier further comprises:

receiving a selection of the localized drop-off location identifier through the drop-off location GUI on the display of an in-vehicle computing device.

10. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the ride matching system to:

map a route between the pickup location and drop-off location; and

send the route to the autonomous vehicle.

11. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the instructions to determine that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location further cause the ride matching system to:

determine the pickup location and the drop-off location are both located in an autonomous region.

12. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the instructions to determine that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location further cause the ride matching system to:

determine at least one autonomous route exists between the pickup location and the drop-off location.

13. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the instructions to receive a localized pickup location identifier from the requestor computing device further cause the ride matching system to:

identify the localized pickup location in a stop data store using the localized pickup identifier.

14. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the drop-off location GUI is displayed on a display of an in-vehicle computing device.

15. The ride matching system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the ride matching system to:

receive a message from the autonomous vehicle indicating the autonomous ride has started;

determine a distance between the drop-off location and a current location of the autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance;

cause a drop-off location GUI to be displayed;

receive a localized drop-off location identifier; and

send the autonomous vehicle to a localized drop-off location corresponding to the localized drop-off location identifier.

16. The ride matching system of claim 15, wherein the instructions to receive a localized drop-off location identifier further cause the ride matching system to:

receiving a selection of the localized drop-off location identifier through the drop-off location GUI on the display of an in-vehicle computing device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to arriving at the drop-off location, receiving a stop request; and

causing the autonomous vehicle to end the autonomous ride.

9. A ride matching system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor, to cause the ride matching system to;

receive, from a requestor computing device, a ride request including a pickup location and a drop-off location;

determine that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location;

match the ride request to an autonomous vehicle;

cause a pickup location graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed on the requestor computer device;

receive a localized pickup location identifier from the requestor computing device;

send the autonomous vehicle to a localized pickup location corresponding to the localized pickup location identifier.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, from a requestor computing device, a ride request including a pickup location and a drop-off location;

determining, by an ride matching system, that an autonomous ride is available between the pickup location and the drop-off location;

matching the ride request to an autonomous vehicle;

causing a drop-off location graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed on the requestor computer device;

receiving a localized drop-off location identifier from the requestor computing device; and

sending the autonomous vehicle to a localized drop-off location corresponding to the localized pickup location identifier.18. The method of claim 17, further comprising;

receiving an unlock request for the autonomous vehicle from the requestor device;

determining the autonomous vehicle is at the localized drop-off location; and

receiving a ride complete message from the requestor device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining the autonomous vehicle is not at the localized drop-off location; and

sending an error message to the requestor device indicating the autonomous vehicle cannot be unlocked.