Sensory stimulation system for an autonomous vehicle

• US 10,112,623 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sweeney, Matthew, Bartel, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler D
• Application Number:
  US15/651,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20170313326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00764 the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/185 characterised by the drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions

Abstract

A sensory stimulation system for autonomous vehicle (AV) can determine a set of maneuvers of the AV. Based on each respective maneuver, the sensory stimulation system can determine a set of visual stimulation outputs to provide a passenger of the AV with visual indications of the respective maneuver. The sensory stimulation system can then display the set of visual stimulation outputs on a display unit within the interior of the AV prior to executing each respective maneuver.

Claims

1. A sensory stimulation system for an autonomous vehicle (AV), the sensory stimulation system comprising:

at least one display unit within an interior of the AV;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the sensory stimulation system to;

determine a set of maneuvers to be executed by the AV;

based on each respective maneuver of the set, determine a set of visual stimulation outputs to provide a passenger of the AV with visual indications of the respective maneuver; and

prior to the AV executing the respective maneuver, preemptively display the set of visual stimulation outputs on the at least one display unit.

2. The sensory stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the set of maneuvers comprise acceleration, braking, and change of direction actions executed by the AV.

3. The sensory stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the executed instructions cause the sensory stimulation system to determine the set of maneuvers by receiving action data from a control system of the AV, the action data indicating an immediate action plan corresponding to the set of maneuvers to be executed by the AV.

4. The sensory stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the executed instructions further cause the sensory stimulation system to:

display a live presentation on the at least one display unit, the live presentation presenting the AV operating along a current route.

5. The sensory stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the live presentation comprises LIDAR data from at least one LIDAR sensor of the AV, the LIDAR data providing a sensor view of a surrounding environment of the AV.

6. The sensory stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the live presentation comprises live video data from one or more cameras of the AV.

7. The sensory stimulation system of claim 6, wherein the executed instructions cause the sensory stimulation system to display the live presentation by generating augmented reality features presented on the live video data, the augmented reality features representing actual features in a surrounding environment of the AV.

8. The sensory stimulation system of claim 7, wherein the augmented reality features comprise (i) an augmented reality representation of the AV traveling along the current route, and (ii) generated representations of proximate external entities to the AV.

9. The sensory stimulation system of claim 8, wherein the proximate external entities comprise proximate pedestrians, proximate bicyclists, and proximate vehicles to the AV.

10. The sensory stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the live presentation includes a live map indicating route information of the current route traveled by the AV.

11. An autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising:

a sensor system to generate sensor data indicating a situational environment of the AV;

at least one display unit within an interior of the AV;

acceleration, steering, and braking systems; and

a control system comprising one or more processing resources executing instructions that cause the control system to;

determine a set of maneuvers to execute to autonomously control the acceleration, steering, and braking systems;

based on each respective maneuver of the set, determine a set of visual stimulation outputs to provide a passenger of the AV with visual indications of the respective maneuver; and

prior to executing the respective maneuver, preemptively display the set of visual stimulation outputs on the at least one display unit.

12. The AV of claim 11, wherein the set of maneuvers comprise acceleration, braking, and change of direction actions executed by the acceleration, steering, and braking systems.

13. The AV of claim 11, wherein the executed instructions cause the control system to (i) generate action data indicating an immediate action plan corresponding to the set of maneuvers, and (ii) determine the set of visual stimulation outputs based on the action data.

14. The AV of claim 11, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

display a live presentation on the at least one display unit, the live presentation presenting the AV operating along a current route.

15. The AV of claim 14, wherein the live presentation comprises LIDAR data from at least one LIDAR sensor of the sensor system, the LIDAR data providing a sensor view of a surrounding environment of the AV.

16. The AV of claim 14, wherein the live presentation comprises live video data from one or more cameras of the sensor system.

17. The AV of claim 16, wherein the executed instructions cause the control system to display the live presentation by generating augmented reality features presented on the live video data, the augmented reality features representing actual features in a surrounding environment of the AV.

18. The AV of claim 17, wherein the augmented reality features comprise (i) an augmented reality representation of the AV traveling along the current route, and (ii) generated representations of proximate external entities to the AV.

19. The AV of claim 18, wherein the proximate external entities comprise proximate pedestrians, proximate bicyclists, and proximate vehicles to the AV.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for providing sensory stimulation for one or more riders to indication motion of an autonomous vehicle (AV), wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

determine a set of maneuvers to be executed by the AV;

based on each respective maneuver of the set, determine a set of visual stimulation outputs to provide a passenger of the AV with visual indications of the respective maneuver; and

prior to the AV executing the respective maneuver, preemptively display the set of visual stimulation outputs on at least one display unit of the AV.