Configuring an autonomous vehicle for an upcoming rider

• US 10,126,749 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2018
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rander, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith-Stewart, Demetra R
• Application Number:
  US15/911,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00357 Air-conditioning arrangements specially adapted for particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can receive a pick-up location to rendezvous with a rider and a set of configuration instructions to configure one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider. The AV can analyze sensor data to autonomously control acceleration, steering, and braking systems along a route to the pick-up location. Prior to arriving at the pick-up location, the AV can execute the set of configuration instructions to configure the one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider.

Claims

1. An autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising:

a configurable interior system;

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

acceleration, steering, and braking systems; and

a control system executing instructions that cause the control system to;

receive, over one or more networks from a transport facilitation system, (i) a pick-up location to rendezvous with a rider, and (ii) a set of configuration instructions to configure one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider;

analyze the sensor data to autonomously control the acceleration, steering, and braking systems along a route to the pick-up location; and

execute, prior to arriving at the pick-up location, the set of configuration instructions to configure the one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider.

2. The AV of claim 1, wherein the one or more adjustable components comprise at least one of adjustable seats, adjustable windows, a climate control system, one or more displays, interior lights, and an audio system of the AV.

3. The AV of claim 2, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

classify each of the one or more adjustable components for (i) immediate execution, or (ii) timed execution.

4. The AV of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more adjustable components classified for timed execution comprises the climate control system.

5. The AV of claim 4, wherein the set of configuration instructions include a preferred climate setting for the AV, and wherein the executed instructions cause the control system to determine a timing schedule for the preferred climate setting by (i) determining a travel time to the pick-up location, (ii) determining a time frame to adjust an interior temperature of the AV based on the preferred climate setting, and (iii) setting an execution time for the climate control system of the configurable interior system based on the travel time and the time frame.

6. The AV of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more adjustable components classified for immediate execution include an adjustable seat component.

7. The AV of claim 2, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

after picking up the rider at the pick-up location, monitor a location of the rider within an interior of the AV.

8. The AV of claim 7, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

based on the location of the rider, adjust a climate control focal point of the climate control system.

9. The AV of claim 7, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

based on the location of the rider, adjust an audio focal point of the audio system.

10. The AV of claim 9, wherein the executed instructions cause the control system to adjust the audio focal point by adjusting at least one of a balance or a fade of the audio system based on the location of the rider.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a control system of an autonomous vehicle (AV), cause the control system to:

receive, over one or more networks from a transport facilitation system, (i) a pick-up location to rendezvous with a rider, and (ii) a set of configuration instructions to configure one or more adjustable components of a configurable interior system of the AV for the rider;

analyze sensor data generated by a sensor system of the AV data to autonomously control acceleration, steering, and braking systems of the AV along a route to the pick-up location; and

execute, prior to arriving at the pick-up location, the set of configuration instructions to configure the one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more adjustable components comprise at least one of adjustable seats, adjustable windows, a climate control system, one or more displays, interior lights, and an audio system of the AV.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

classify each of the one or more adjustable components for (i) immediate execution, or (ii) timed execution.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein one of the one or more adjustable components classified for timed execution comprises the climate control system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the set of configuration instructions include a preferred climate setting for the AV, and wherein the executed instructions cause the control system to determine a timing schedule for the preferred climate setting by (i) determining a travel time to the pick-up location, (ii) determining a time frame to adjust an interior temperature of the AV based on the preferred climate setting, and (iii) setting an execution time for the climate control system of the configurable interior system based on the travel time and the time frame.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

after picking up the rider at the pick-up location, monitor a location of the rider within an interior of the AV.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

based on the location of the rider, adjust a climate control focal point of the climate control system.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the executed instructions further cause the control system to:

based on the location of the rider, adjust an audio focal point of the audio system.

19. A computer-implemented method of configuring an interior system of an autonomous vehicle (AV), the method being performed by a control system of the AV and comprising:

receiving, over one or more networks from a transport facilitation system, (i) a pick-up location to rendezvous with a rider, and (ii) a set of configuration instructions to configure one or more adjustable components of a configurable interior system of the AV for the rider;

analyzing sensor data generated by a sensor system of the AV to autonomously control acceleration, steering, and braking systems of the AV along a route to the pick-up location; and

executing, prior to arriving at the pick-up location, the set of configuration instructions to configure the one or more adjustable components of the configurable interior system for the rider.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more adjustable components comprise at least one of adjustable seats, adjustable windows, a climate control system, one or more displays, interior lights, and an audio system of the AV.