Transportation system including autonomous detachable engine modules and passenger module

• US 10,632,893 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2019
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Delp, Michael J., Higgins, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Rodney A
• Application Number:
  US16/278,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20190176676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/00 Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices devices specially adapted for connection between tractors and agricultural machines or implements A01B59/00; fifth-wheel couplings B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/073 Vehicle retainers specially adapted for fixing semi-trailers on railway vehicles B61D45/004
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/025 Modular vehicles superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A computing system for an autonomous engine module stores a self-driving capability and is configured to determine, by communication between an autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides and other autonomous engine modules, and responsive to a user request for use of an autonomous engine module, at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate. The computing system may also generate a notification directed to the user including information relating to the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate. The computing system may also receive a selection by the user of an autonomous engine module use candidate. The computing system may also, using the self-driving capability, autonomously drive the autonomous engine module to a designated pickup location responsive to selection by the user of the autonomous engine module as the autonomous engine module use candidate.

Claims

1. A computing system for an autonomous engine module, the computing system comprising one or more engine module computing system processors for controlling operation of the engine module computing system, and an engine module computing system memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more engine module computing system processors, the engine module computing system memory storing a self-driving capability, the engine module computing system memory also storing data and program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

determine, by communication between an autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides and at least one other autonomous engine module of a plurality of autonomous engine modules including the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides, and responsive to a request by a user for use of an autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules, at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules;

generate, responsive to a determination of at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules, a notification directed to the user including information relating to the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate;

receive a selection by the user of an autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate; and

using the self-driving capability, control the autonomous engine module to autonomously drive the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides to a designated pickup location, responsive to selection by the user of the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides as the autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate.

2. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to at least one key threshold parameter, to determine if the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides is capable of satisfying the at least one key threshold parameter.

3. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to, if the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides is capable of satisfying the at least one key threshold parameter, evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to at least one user preference, to determine if the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides is capable of satisfying the at least one key threshold parameter and also capable of satisfying the at least one user preference.

4. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to compare at least one of usage requirements and user preferences set forth in the user request for use of an autonomous engine module with known characteristics and capabilities of the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides, to determine suitability of the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides for an intended usage.

5. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides as an autonomous engine module use candidate based on a failure of the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides to satisfy at least one of a usage requirement and a user preference.

6. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate an availability of the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides during a requested date and time for a desired usage period; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate if the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides is unavailable during the requested date and time for the desired usage period.

7. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to an estimated cost of a proposed usage of the at least one autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the estimated cost.

8. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to a planned route relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the planned route.

9. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to at least one characteristic of a passenger module relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the at least one characteristic of the passenger module.

10. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to whether an object is to be towed by a passenger module relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to whether an object is to be towed by the passenger module.

11. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to fuel preference of a user of a passenger module relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the fuel preference of the user.

12. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to a type of driving desired by a user relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the type of driving desired by the user.

13. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to an engine module vendor preference of a user relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to the engine module vendor preference.

14. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the engine module computing system memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more processors to:

evaluate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides with regard to which sensors are present or absent on a passenger module relating to the request for use of an autonomous engine module; and

eliminate the autonomous engine module in which the computing system resides from consideration as a use candidate responsive to a result of the evaluation with regard to which sensors are present or absent on the passenger module.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising steps of:

determining, by communication between a first autonomous engine module and at least one other autonomous engine module of a plurality of autonomous engine modules including the first autonomous engine module, and responsive to a request by a user for use of an autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules, at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules;

generating, responsive to a determination of at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules, a notification directed to the user including information relating to the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate;

receiving a selection by the user of an autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate; and

controlling the first autonomous engine module to autonomously drive the first autonomous engine module to a designated pickup location responsive to selection by the user of the first autonomous engine module as the autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of determining comprises a step of evaluating the first autonomous engine module with regard to at least one key threshold parameter, to determine if the first autonomous engine module is capable of satisfying at least one key threshold parameter.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining comprises a step of, if the first autonomous engine module is capable of satisfying the at least one key threshold parameter, evaluating the first autonomous engine module with regard to at least one user preference, to determine if the first autonomous engine module is capable of satisfying the at least one key threshold parameter and also capable of satisfying the at least one user preference.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of determining comprises a step of comparing at least one of usage requirements and user preferences set forth in the user request for use of an autonomous engine module with known characteristics and capabilities of the first autonomous engine module, to determine suitability of the first autonomous engine module for an intended usage.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of determining comprises a step of eliminating the first autonomous engine module as an autonomous engine module use candidate based on a failure of the first autonomous engine module to satisfy at least one of a usage requirement and a user preference.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computer system to cause the computer system to perform functions, the functions comprising at least:

determining, by communication between a first autonomous engine module and at least one other autonomous engine module of a plurality of autonomous engine modules including the first autonomous engine module, and responsive to a request by a user for use of an autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules, at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules;

generating, responsive to a determination of at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate from the plurality of autonomous engine modules, a notification directed to the user including information relating to the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate;

receiving a selection by the user of an autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate; and

controlling the first autonomous engine module to autonomously drive the first autonomous engine module to a designated pickup location responsive to selection by the user of the first autonomous engine module as the autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate.