Method for operating an autonomous vehicle on a courier route
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a motor vehicle capable of autonomous operation, comprising:
- for a route having a first and a second address requiring accomplishment of respective first and second tasks, calculating, by an electronic control system of the vehicle, respective first and second route efficiencies for
1) autonomously controlling the vehicle by the electronic control system to move the vehicle from a first stop associated with the first address to a second stop associated with the second address after an occupant enters the vehicle, and
2) autonomously controlling the vehicle by the electronic control system to move the vehicle from the first stop to the second stop without the occupant; and
if the second efficiency is greater than the first efficiency, causing the vehicle to drive autonomously from the first stop to the second stop without the occupant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a motor vehicle when the driver thereof needs to accomplish a series of tasks (such as delivery and/or pick-up of items) along a route that each require the driver to park the motor vehicle, to leave it and to cover certain distances on foot. The motor vehicle is able to operate both under the control of a human driver aboard the motor vehicle or autonomously without driver intervention. When the driver parks the motor vehicle for the purpose of task accomplishment, an electronic plan of the tasks is checked to determine whether it is more efficient for task accomplishment if the driver returns to the motor vehicle at the first parking location or if the vehicle drives autonomously to a next stopping point situated in the direction of travel and the human driver walks to meet it at the next stopping point.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a motor vehicle capable of autonomous operation, comprising:
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for a route having a first and a second address requiring accomplishment of respective first and second tasks, calculating, by an electronic control system of the vehicle, respective first and second route efficiencies for
1) autonomously controlling the vehicle by the electronic control system to move the vehicle from a first stop associated with the first address to a second stop associated with the second address after an occupant enters the vehicle, and
2) autonomously controlling the vehicle by the electronic control system to move the vehicle from the first stop to the second stop without the occupant; andif the second efficiency is greater than the first efficiency, causing the vehicle to drive autonomously from the first stop to the second stop without the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle comprising:
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for a route requiring delivery and/or pick-up of items at multiple addresses, calculating, by a task planning module, respective first and second route times corresponding to
1) leaving the vehicle parked at a first stop until a person returns to the vehicle from a first address before proceeding to a second stop, and
2) moving the vehicle autonomously to the second stop using an activation controller without the person in the vehicle; andif the second time is less than the first time, autonomously moving the vehicle to the second stop without the person in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a vehicle comprising:
autonomously moving the vehicle by a vehicle controller to a second location in response to a first efficiency, calculated by the controller, of a vehicle passenger proceeding to the second location from an intermediate location without the vehicle being greater than a second calculated efficiency associated with parking the vehicle at a first location until the vehicle passenger returns to the first location from the intermediate location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification