MANAGING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

• US 20180202822A1
• Filed: 01/19/2018
• Published: 07/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Delizio
• Original Assignee: Andrew Delizio
• Inventors: DeLizio, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,753,754 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 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method for an autonomous vehicle obtaining services can include: detecting, by the autonomous vehicle, a need for service; sending, over a network interface of the autonomous vehicle, a request for service; determining a rendezvous location at which service will be received; maneuvering, by the autonomous vehicle, to the rendezvous location; receiving, by the autonomous vehicle over a network, an authentication code; in response to receiving the authentication code, enabling, by the autonomous vehicle, access to components of the autonomous vehicle; determining, by the autonomous vehicle, that the service is complete; and transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle, an indication that the service is complete.

Claims

1. A method for an autonomous vehicle obtaining services, the method comprising:

detecting, by the autonomous vehicle, a need for service;

sending, over a network interface of the autonomous vehicle, a request for service;

determining a rendezvous location at which service will be received;

maneuvering, by the autonomous vehicle, to the rendezvous location;

receiving, by the autonomous vehicle over a network, an authentication code;

in response to receiving the authentication code, enabling, by the autonomous vehicle, access to components of the autonomous vehicle;

determining, by the autonomous vehicle, that the service is complete; and

transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle, an indication that the service is complete.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining that the service is complete comprises:

determining a first sensor state before the enabling access to the components of the autonomous vehicle; and

determining a second sensor state after the service is complete.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to the indication that the service is complete,

providing, by a fleet controller, value to an account associated with a provider of the service.

4. An autonomous vehicle comprising:

a propulsion unit configured to propel the autonomous vehicle;

a plurality of wheels configured to receive a rotational force from the propulsion unit;

a steering unit configured to control one or more of the wheels;

a driving and guidance system configured to autonomously control the propulsion unit and the steering unit to maneuver the autonomous vehicle;

a ride service controller configured to

receive ride service parameters;

receive, over a wireless network, ride requests;

select, based on the ride service parameters, certain ones of the ride requests; and

instruct the driving and guidance system to maneuver to locations associated with the certain ones of the ride requests.

5. The autonomous vehicle of claim 4, where the ride service parameters indicate information about rides completed by other autonomous vehicles in an autonomous vehicle fleet.

6. The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, wherein the information about rides completed by other autonomous vehicles includes one or more of ride pickup locations, ride destinations, ride times, or ride paths between pickup locations and destinations.

7. The autonomous vehicle of claim 5, where the information about rides completed by other autonomous vehicles includes information collected by sensors of the other autonomous vehicles.