Accident fault determination for autonomous vehicles

• US 10,319,039 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Konrardy, Blake, Christensen, Scott T., Hayward, Gregory, Farris, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Apple, Kirsten S
• Application Number:
  US14/951,803
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous (and/or semi-autonomous) operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, operating data from sensors within or near the vehicle may be used to determine fault for a vehicle accident, such as a collision. The operating data may include information regarding use of the features at the time of the accident and may further be used to determine an allocation of fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to determine and/or adjust coverage levels for an insurance policy associated with the vehicle. The allocation of fault may further be used to adjust risk levels or profiles associated with the vehicle operator or with the autonomous operation features.

Claims

1. A computer system for reconstructing a vehicle crash, the computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more transceivers coupled to the one or more processors, and one or more program memories coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

receive vehicle operating data for a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features for controlling the vehicle, the vehicle operating data being generated and transmitted by an on-board computer or mobile device using wireless communication or data transmission, wherein the vehicle operating data includes;

(i) sensor data from one or more vehicle-mounted sensors associated with the one or more autonomous operation features, the sensor data also indicating a configuration or setting of each autonomous operation feature before and during the vehicle crash; and

(ii) a recorded log of decisions made by the one or more autonomous operation features, and commands sent from the on-board computer to control components to operate the vehicle, before and during the vehicle crash;

receive an indication of an accident involving the vehicle, or otherwise determine that the vehicle has been involved in the accident based upon processor analysis of the (i) sensor data and (ii) recorded log received;

generate a crash reconstruction representing a sequence of events involved in the accident by automatically determining, for each of a plurality of times in the sequence of events, each of the following;

(i) a location of the vehicle based upon the sensor data, (ii) a location of an obstruction involved in the accident based upon the sensor data, and (iii) a movement of the vehicle based upon the decisions in the recorded log;

determine an allocation of fault for the accident for each of the one or more autonomous operation features based at least in part upon the crash reconstruction; and

cause one or more of the following actions to be performed based upon the determined total risk level;

adjust an insurance policy associated with the vehicle, determine a coverage level associated with the insurance policy, present information regarding the determined total risk level to a reviewer via a display of a reviewer computing device to verify the determined total risk level, or present the determination to a customer via a display of a customer computing device for review of an adjustment to the insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors analyze the vehicle operating data received to determine an extent of vehicle damage, or a cost to repair the damage or replace part or all of the vehicle, the vehicle operating data including video or image data.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein determining an allocation of fault for the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features further includes the one or more processors analyzing data generated by the vehicle-mounted sensors or cameras depicting a vehicle environment and data from the sensors regarding the response of the vehicle to its environment prior to, or during, the vehicle crash.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein determining an allocation of fault for the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features further includes the one or more processors analyzing wireless communications or data transmissions to and from the vehicle, including vehicle-to-vehicle or infrastructure-to-vehicle communications.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle-mounted sensors include one or more of a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, a radar unit, a LIDAR unit, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, an accelerometer, a tachometer, or a speedometer, and at least one sensor is configured to actively or passively scan a vehicle environment of the vehicle for obstacles, including other vehicles, buildings, and pedestrians.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle-mounted sensors include one or more of an ignition sensor, an odometer, a system clock, a speedometer, a tachometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, a geolocation or GPS unit, a camera, or a distance sensor.

7. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine an allocation of fault for the accident based, at least in part, upon whether or not the vehicle was being operated in accordance with optimal use levels for a variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features based upon road, weather, or traffic conditions at the time of, or prior to, the vehicle crash, the optimal use levels being associated with a lowest risk of vehicle crash.

8. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine an optimal use level for a variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features based upon current road, weather, or traffic conditions;

compare the optimal use level with a current actual use level for the variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features; and

if the optimal use level differs from the current actual use level, generate and transmit an electronic notification to the vehicle or vehicle operator'"'"'s mobile device recommending that the optimal use level be used.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein determining the allocation of fault further includes determining, by a processor, a point of impact on the vehicle, or an indication of a state of one or more traffic signals before, or during, the vehicle crash.

10. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to receive data indicating engagement of at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features before the vehicle crash;

and

determining the allocation of fault for the vehicle crash includes the one or more processors analyzing whether the autonomous operation feature failed to take appropriate control actions or whether control signals were ineffective in controlling the vehicle immediately prior to the vehicle crash.

11. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to receive data indicating engagement or disengagement of the one or more autonomous operation features before the vehicle crash;

and

wherein determining the allocation of fault for the vehicle crash includes the one or more processors analyzing whether the vehicle had time to take action to avoid the accident but that action was not taken.

12. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors and transceivers further configured to receive data indicating engagement or disengagement of the one or more autonomous operation features before the vehicle crash;

and

wherein determining the allocation of fault for the vehicle crash includes the one or more processors determining that autonomous operation of the vehicle prior to the vehicle crash was no longer feasible due to conditions in a vehicle environment of the vehicle.

13. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more processors and transceivers configured to receive data indicating engagement of the one or more autonomous operation features before the vehicle crash;

and

wherein determining the allocation of fault for the vehicle crash includes the one or more processors determining whether the one or more autonomous operation features attempted to return control of the vehicle to the vehicle operator prior to the vehicle crash and whether or not an adequate period of time for transition was available prior to the vehicle crash.

14. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating data received via wireless communication further includes telematics data indicating vehicle operation before and during a vehicle crash, including vehicle speed, heading, acceleration, and braking;

and

the one or more processors are configured to (1) determine that the vehicle has been involved in the accident based upon processor analysis of the (i) sensor data, (ii) recorded log received, and (iii) telematics data; and

(2) determine an allocation of fault for the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features based at least in part upon the received (i) sensor data, (ii) recorded log received, and (iii) telematics data.

15. A computer-implemented method for reconstructing a vehicle crash, comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors or an associated transceiver, vehicle operating data for a vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features for controlling the vehicle, the vehicle operating data being generated and transmitted by an on-board computer or mobile device using wireless communication or data transmission, wherein the vehicle operating data includes;

(i) sensor data from one or more vehicle-mounted sensors associated with the one or more autonomous operation features, the sensor data also indicating a configuration or setting of each autonomous operation feature before and during the vehicle crash; and

(ii) a recorded log of decisions made by the one or more autonomous operation features, and commands sent from the on-board computer to control components to operate the vehicle, before and during the vehicle crash;

receiving, via the one or more processors or associated transceiver, an indication of an accident involving the vehicle, or otherwise determining, via the one or more processors, that the vehicle has been involved in the accident based upon processor analysis of the (i) sensor data, and (ii) recorded log received;

generating, by the one or more processors, a crash reconstruction representing a sequence of events involved in the accident by automatically determining, for each of a plurality of times in the sequence of events, each of the following;

(i) a location of the vehicle based upon the sensor data, (ii) a location of an obstruction involved in the accident based upon the sensor data, and (iii) a movement of the vehicle based upon the decisions in the recorded log;

determining, by the one or more processors, an allocation of fault for each of the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features based at least in part upon the crash reconstruction; and

causing, by the one or more processors, one or more of the following actions to be performed based upon the determined total risk level;

adjust an insurance policy associated with the vehicle, determine a coverage level associated with the insurance policy, present information regarding the determined total risk level to a reviewer via a display of a reviewer computing device to verify the determined total risk level, or present the determination to a customer via a display of a customer computing device for review of an adjustment to the insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein, the one or more processors analyze the vehicle operating data received to determine an extent of vehicle damage, or cost to repair the damage or replace part or all of the vehicle, the vehicle operating data including video or image data.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an allocation of fault for the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features further includes processor analysis of data generated by the vehicle-mounted sensors or cameras depicting a vehicle environment and data from the sensors regarding the response of the vehicle to its environment prior to, and during, the vehicle crash.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an allocation of fault for the accident for the one or more autonomous operation features further includes processor analysis of wireless communications or data transmissions to and from the vehicle, including vehicle-to-vehicle or infrastructure-to-vehicle communications.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, the method comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, an allocation of fault for the accident based, at least in part, upon whether or not the vehicle being operated in accordance with optimal use levels for a variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features based upon road, weather, or traffic conditions at the time of, or prior to, the vehicle crash, the optimal use levels being associated with a lowest risk of vehicle crash.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, the method comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, an optimal use level for a variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features based upon current road, weather, or traffic conditions;

comparing the optimal use level with a current actual use level for the variety of combinations of configurations and settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features; and

if the optimal use level differs from the current actual use level, generating and transmitting a notification to the vehicle or vehicle operator'"'"'s mobile device recommending that the optimal use level be used.