Data processing system for guidance, control, and testing autonomous vehicle features and driver response

• US 10,676,098 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundsgaard, Soren K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US16/152,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20190031201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for guidance, control, and testing of autonomous vehicle features and a driver'"'"'s response thereto. The system may activate a plurality of autonomous driving features of an autonomous vehicle. In response to a determination to initiate a driving test, the system may generate an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle of the initiation of the driving test and may deactivate or adjust parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features. The system may receive, from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle or one or more sensors of a mobile computing device within the autonomous vehicle, driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle. Based on the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle, the system may determine the driver'"'"'s response time and actions taken by the driver during the driving test. Moreover, in response to a determination to end the driving test, the system may reactivate the one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features previously deactivated or may readjust previously adjusted parameters. In some aspects, based on the driver'"'"'s response time and actions taken by the driver during the driving test, a drive score may be generated for the driver.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first computing device and a second computing device, wherein the first computing device comprises;

one or more sensors configured to measure driving data associated with an autonomous vehicle;

a transmitter configured to transmit driving data measured by the one or more sensors;

a first processor; and

first memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first computing device to;

activate a plurality of autonomous driving features of the autonomous vehicle;

determine a location of the autonomous vehicle;

based on the location of the autonomous vehicle, initiate a driving test;

based on initiating the driving test, deactivate or adjust parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features;

receive, from the one or more sensors and during the driving test, driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

send, via the transmitter, the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle, to the second computing device,

wherein the second computing device comprises;

a receiver;

a second processor; and

second memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second computing device to;

receive, via the receiver, the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

based on the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle, determine a response time of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and actions taken by the driver during the driving test.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of autonomous driving features two or more of autonomous speed control, autonomous steering, or autonomous braking.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first computing device to:

compare a current time to a time associated with the driving test, wherein initiating the driving test is based on the location of the autonomous vehicle and comparing the current time to the time associated with the driving test.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the driving test comprises a test to merge on to a road, and wherein the deactivated or adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features comprises at least autonomous lane changing and autonomous speed control.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the driving test comprises a test to maintain a safe distance from another vehicle in front of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the deactivated or adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features comprises at least autonomous speed control.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second computing device to:

generate a data log comprising an indication of the driving test, the response time, and the actions taken by the driver during the driving test.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first computing device to:

based on a determination that the driver completed the driving test or a determination that the response time exceeds a threshold time, reactivate the deactivated or readjust the adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second computing device to:

based on the response time and the actions taken by the driver during the driving test, performing one or more of the following;

generate a drive score for the driver;

or

adjust a property of insurance for the driver or the autonomous vehicle.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when read by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

activate a plurality of autonomous driving features of an autonomous vehicle;

determine a location of the autonomous vehicle;

based on the location of the autonomous vehicle, initiate a driving test;

based on initiating the driving test, deactivate or adjust parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features;

receive, during the driving test and from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle or one or more sensors of a mobile computing device within the autonomous vehicle, driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

based on the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle, determine a response time of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and actions taken by the driver during the driving test.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of autonomous driving features comprise two or more of autonomous speed control, autonomous steering, or autonomous braking.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, storing instructions that, when read by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

compare a current time to a time associated with the driving test, wherein initiating the driving test is based on the location of the autonomous vehicle and comparing the current time to the time associated with the driving test.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the driving test comprises a test to merge on to a road, and wherein the deactivated or adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features comprises at least autonomous lane changing and autonomous speed control.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the driving test comprises a test to maintain a safe distance from another vehicle in front of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the deactivated or adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features comprises at least autonomous speed control.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, storing instructions that, when read by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

generate a data log comprising an indication of the driving test, the response time, and the actions taken by the driver during the driving test.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, storing instructions that, when read by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

determine that the driver failed to initiate, within a threshold time, at least one driving operation of a plurality of driving operations associated with the driving test.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, storing instructions that, when read by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

based on the response time and the actions taken by the driver during the driving test, performing one or more of the following;

generate a drive score for the driver;

or

adjust a property of insurance for the driver or the autonomous vehicle.

17. A method, comprising:

activating, by a computing device associated with an autonomous vehicle, a plurality of autonomous driving features of the autonomous vehicle;

determining a location of the autonomous vehicle;

based on the location of the autonomous vehicle, initiating a driving test;

based on initiating the driving test, deactivating or adjusting parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features;

receiving, during the driving test and from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle or one or more sensors of a mobile computing device within the autonomous vehicle, driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle; and

based on the driving data associated with the autonomous vehicle, determining a response time of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and actions taken by the driver during the driving test.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of autonomous driving features comprise two or more of autonomous speed control, autonomous steering, or autonomous braking.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

comparing a current time to a time associated with the driving test, wherein initiating the driving test is based on the location of the autonomous vehicle and the comparing the current time to the time associated with the driving test.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the driving test comprises a test to merge on to a road, and wherein the deactivated or adjusted parameters of one or more of the plurality of autonomous driving features comprises at least autonomous lane changing and autonomous speed control.