Autonomous vehicle control assessment and selection

• US 10,241,509 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Fields, Brian Mark, Huang, Chien Che, Wazeer, Mohamed A., Bennett, Shawn C., Cielocha, Steven C., Bryant, Ronny S., Kohaus, Stephen, Quakenbush, Terry, Novak, Richard A., Chan, Aaron Scott, Main, Craig M., Wu, Weixin, Wollenschlager, Torri, Csanda, Carol Marie, Gorsuch, Stacey, Binion, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Luat T
• Application Number:
  US14/934,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0071 Controller overrides driver automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0073 Driver overrides controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0215 Sensor drifts or sensor failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 : External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 : Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2900/00 : Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 : Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 : Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 : the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 : related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 : Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 : Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 : Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 : Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 : from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0059 : Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/007 : Emergency override Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 : Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 : specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 : with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 : in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 : using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 : Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 : Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 : involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 : using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 : having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 : indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may include identifying a vehicle operator and retrieving an associated vehicle operator profile. Operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be received that includes data from sensors disposed within the vehicle. When a request to enable an autonomous operation feature is received, (i) autonomous operation risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the autonomous operation feature based upon the received operating data, and (ii) operator risk levels associated with vehicle operation by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile are determined. Autonomous operation feature enablement may be allowed based upon a comparison of (i) autonomous operation risk levels with (ii) operator risk levels. As a result, only safe autonomous feature engagement may be facilitated, and risk averse vehicle owners may receive insurance discounts based upon this safe autonomous feature engagement functionality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, an identity of a vehicle operator;

retrieving or receiving, at one or more processors, a vehicle operator profile associated with the vehicle operator, wherein the vehicle operator profile indicates the ability of the vehicle operator to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based on vehicle operator driving history;

receiving, by one or more processors, operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the operating data includes data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

receiving, at one or more processors, a request to enable one of the one or more autonomous operation features of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determining, by one or more processors, one or more autonomous operation risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the received operating data;

determining, by one or more processors, one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile;

determining, by one or more processors, whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels; and

causing, by one or more processors, the determination regarding whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, autonomous communication data from one or more external sources,

wherein determining whether to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features is further based upon the received autonomous communication data; and

wherein determining the one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile includes comparing data or driving behavior settings stored within the vehicle operator profile with the received operating data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features includes determining not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing, by one or more processors, an option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator;

receiving, at one or more processors, a selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features; and

causing, by one or more processors, the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be enabled.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

adjusting, by one or more processors, one or more costs associated with an insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator based upon the selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the one or more costs associated with the insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator are further based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting, by one or more processors, one or more insurance policies based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels, wherein the one or more insurance policies include at least one of:

a vehicle insurance policy, a life insurance policy, home insurance policy, a rental insurance policy, a condominium insurance policy, a disability insurance policy, a business insurance policy, a health insurance policy, or a liability insurance policy.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operating data includes data regarding the vehicle environment, including one or more of the following:

traffic conditions, construction, road integrity, type of road, geographical location, time of day, precipitation, visibility, light levels, wind, or other weather conditions.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a default vehicle operator profile is received as the vehicle operator profile when the vehicle operator cannot be identified as a known vehicle operator.

10. A computer system for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle and communicatively connected to the one or more processors; and

a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer system to;

determine an identity of a vehicle operator;

retrieve or receive a vehicle operator profile associated with the vehicle operator wherein the vehicle operator profile indicates the ability of the vehicle operator to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based on vehicle operator driving history;

receive operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the operating data includes data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

receive a request to enable one of the one or more autonomous operation features of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determine one or more autonomous operation risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the received operating data;

determine one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile;

determine whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels; and

cause the determination regarding whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the program memory further includes executable instructions that cause the computer system, when the computer system determines not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, to:

cause an option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator;

receive a selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features; and

cause the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be enabled.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the program memory further includes executable instructions that cause the computer system, when the computer system determines not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, to:

adjust one or more costs associated with an insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator based upon the selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the one or more costs associated with the insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator are further based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the program memory further includes executable instructions that cause the computer system to:

adjust one or more insurance policies based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels, wherein the one or more insurance policies include at least one of;

a vehicle insurance policy, a life insurance policy, home insurance policy, a rental insurance policy, a condominium insurance policy, a disability insurance policy, a business insurance policy, a health insurance policy, or a liability insurance policy; and

wherein determining the one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile includes comparing data or driving behavior settings stored within the vehicle operator profile with the received operating data.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:

determine an identity of a vehicle operator;

retrieve or receive a vehicle operator profile associated with the vehicle operator, wherein the vehicle operator profile indicates the ability of the vehicle operator to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based on vehicle operator driving history;

receive operating data regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the operating data includes data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

receive a request to enable one of the one or more autonomous operation features of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;

determine one or more autonomous operation risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the received operating data;

determine one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile;

determine whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels; and

cause the determination regarding whether to enable the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further storing executable instructions that cause the computer system, when the computer system determines not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, to:

cause an option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be presented to the vehicle operator;

receive a selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features; and

cause the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features to be enabled.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further storing executable instructions that cause the computer system, when the computer system determines not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features, to:

adjust one or more costs associated with an insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator based upon the selection of the option to override the determination not to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more costs associated with the insurance policy associated with the vehicle operator are further based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising executable instructions that cause the computer system to:

adjust one or more insurance policies based upon the determined one or more autonomous operation risk levels and the determined one or more operator risk levels, wherein the one or more insurance policies include at least one of;

a vehicle insurance policy, a life insurance policy, home insurance policy, a rental insurance policy, a condominium insurance policy, a disability insurance policy, a business insurance policy, a health insurance policy, or a liability insurance policy.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising executable instructions that cause the computer system to receive autonomous communication data from one or more external sources, wherein the determination of whether to enable the at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features is further based upon the received autonomous communication data, and wherein determining the one or more operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator based upon the vehicle operator profile includes comparing data or driving behavior settings stored within the vehicle operator profile with the received operating data.