Controlling autonomous vehicles to optimize traffic characteristics

• US 9,947,052 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Slusar, Mark, Kumar, Surender, Chintakindi, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Jos, Basil T.
• Application Number:
  US15/385,344
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling autonomous vehicles to optimize traffic characteristics. A computing platform may receive vehicle guidance data from autonomous vehicle control systems of vehicles. Subsequently, the computing platform may identify a number of the vehicles currently operating in an autonomous mode based on the vehicle guidance data. Thereafter, the computing platform may identify a target number of the vehicles to be operated in an autonomous mode in order to optimize traffic characteristics. Then, the computing platform may generate messages directing selected vehicles to switch into autonomous mode in order to achieve the target number. Subsequently, the computing platform may send the messages directing the selected vehicles to switch into autonomous mode in order to receive incentives. Thereafter, the computing platform may award the incentives to the selected vehicles that switch into the autonomous mode as directed by the messages.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at an autonomous vehicle management computing platform comprising at least one processor, memory, and a communication interface;

receiving, by the at least one processor, via the communication interface, vehicle guidance data from a plurality of vehicles having an autonomous mode;

identifying, by the at least one processor, based on the vehicle guidance data, an actual number of vehicles currently operating in the autonomous mode;

identifying, by the at least one processor, a target number of vehicles currently operating in a non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode;

in response to identifying the target number, generating, by the at least one processor, a first message instructing a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present a first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

sending, by the at least one processor, via the communication interface, the first message instructing the first vehicle to present the first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

receiving, by the at least one processor, via the communication interface, a notification from the first vehicle indicating acceptance of the first incentive; and

in response to receiving the notification, causing, by the at least one processor, the first incentive to be awarded to a driver of the first vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the autonomous vehicle management computing platform, generating, by the at least one processor, a second message instructing a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present a second incentive to switch out of the autonomous mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the autonomous vehicle management computing platform, generating, by the at least one processor, a third message instructing a third vehicle to present a third incentive to follow an alternate route.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third vehicle is a non-autonomous vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising, at the autonomous vehicle management computing platform, causing, by the at least one processor, a portion of the third incentive to be awarded based on an indication that the third vehicle followed a portion of the alternate route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on the actual number of vehicles currently operating in autonomous mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on driver information corresponding to one or more drivers of the plurality of vehicles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on vehicle information corresponding to one or more of the plurality of vehicles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on road conditions corresponding to one or more roads associated with the plurality of vehicles.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first message instructing the first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present the first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode comprises selecting the first incentive based on one or more of a driver score associated with the driver of the first vehicle and a vehicle score associated with the first vehicle.

11. A computing platform comprising:

at least one processor;

a communication interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing platform to;

receive, via the communication interface, vehicle guidance data from a plurality of vehicles having an autonomous mode;

identify, based on the vehicle guidance data, an actual number of vehicles currently operating in the autonomous mode;

identify a target number of vehicles currently operating in a non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode;

in response to identifying the target number, generate a first message instructing a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present a first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

send the first message instructing the first vehicle to present the first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

receive a notification from the first vehicle indicating acceptance of the first incentive; and

in response to the received notification, cause the first incentive to be awarded to a driver of the first vehicle.

12. The computing platform of claim 11, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing platform to:

generate a second message instructing a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present a second incentive to switch out of the autonomous mode.

13. The computing platform of claim 11, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing platform to:

generate a third message instructing a third vehicle to present a third incentive to follow an alternate route.

14. The computing platform of claim 13, wherein the third vehicle is a non-autonomous vehicle.

15. The computing platform of claim 13, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing platform to:

cause a portion of the third incentive to be awarded based on an indication that the third vehicle followed a portion of the alternate route.

16. The computing platform of claim 11, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on the actual number of vehicles currently operating in autonomous mode.

17. The computing platform of claim 11, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on driver information corresponding to one or more drivers of the plurality of vehicles.

18. The computing platform of claim 11, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on vehicle information corresponding to one or more of the plurality of vehicles.

19. The computing platform of claim 11, wherein identifying the target number of vehicles currently operating in the non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode comprises identifying the target number of vehicles based on road conditions corresponding to one or more roads associated with the plurality of vehicles.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a computing platform comprising at least one processor, memory, and a communication interface, cause the computing platform to:

receive, via the communication interface, vehicle guidance data from a plurality of vehicles having an autonomous mode;

identify, based on the vehicle guidance data, an actual number of vehicles currently operating in the autonomous mode;

identify a target number of vehicles currently operating in a non-autonomous mode to switch to the autonomous mode;

in response to identifying the target number, generate a first message instructing a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to present a first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

send the first message instructing the first vehicle to present the first incentive to switch to the autonomous mode;

receive a notification from the first vehicle indicating acceptance of the first incentive; and

in response to the received notification, cause the first incentive to be awarded to a driver of the first vehicle.