AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20080027599A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Logan
• Original Assignee: James Logan
• Inventors: Northup, David, Vestal, Matthew, Logan, James
• Application Number:
  US11/829,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0253 extracting relative motion information from a plurality of images taken successively, e.g. visual odometry, optical flow determining position or orientation from images G06T7/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing one-way rides by autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the invention operates as a personal ski lift that includes an autonomous snowmobile or all terrain vehicle for providing a low-cost and flexible means to ascend ski-able terrain to bring a skier to a high-altitude skiing destination, so that the skier may depart the vehicle and ski down the terrain independent from the vehicle. The vehicle of the exemplary embodiment may meanwhile travel autonomously to a lower-altitude rendezvous point to meet the skier upon completion of his skiing. Other embodiments within the invention for providing one-way rides by various types of vehicles for various purposes are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transport system comprising a vehicle driven by a passenger from a first location to a second location and adapted for traveling under track-free self-control either from said second location to a third location or to said first location, absent said passenger.

2. The transport system of claim 1 wherein said third location is said first location.

3. The transport system of claim 2 wherein said vehicle comprises access-denial means preventing driving by unauthorized passengers.

4. The transport system of claim 3 wherein said access-denial means comprises one or more of a pass code specific to said passenger or an operation key.

5. The transport system of claim 2 further comprising said passenger, and wherein said passenger is equipped with identification means and said vehicle is equipped with recognition means for recognizing said identification means and for denying the driving of said vehicle absent said recognition.

6. The transport system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location means for identifying the geographic position of said vehicle.

7. The transport system of claim 6 wherein said vehicle location means comprises one of the Global Positioning System or Radio Frequency Identification.

8. The transport system of claim 7 wherein said first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

9. The transport system of claim 6 further comprising said passenger, and wherein said passenger comprises passenger location means for identifying the geographic position of said passenger.

10. The transport system of claim 9 wherein said vehicle location means comprises one or more of the Global Positioning System or Radio Frequency Identification.

11. The transport system of claim 10 wherein said first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

12. The transport system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location control means for controlling the geographic position of said vehicle.

13. The transport system of claim 12 wherein said vehicle location control means comprises one of GPS-based navigation, RFID markers, Dead-Reckoning, radio-enabled wiring, a visual recognition system, a homing beacon, a passenger following system, and human-guided remote control.

14. The transport system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location identification and control means for identifying and controlling the geographic position of said vehicle.

15. The transport system of claim 14 wherein said vehicle is a first vehicle and said system further comprises a second vehicle and said second vehicle comprises second vehicle location identification and control means for identifying and controlling the geographic position of said second vehicle, and wherein said first and second vehicles comprise means employing said vehicle location identification and control means to avoid a collision with each other.

16. The transport system of claim 15 wherein said system further comprises said passenger, and wherein said passenger comprises a passenger location means for identifying the geographic position of said passenger, and wherein said first vehicle comprises means employing said passenger location means for controlling the geographic position of said first vehicle.

17. The transport system of claim 16 wherein said first vehicle is an all terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

18. The transport system of claim 17 wherein said first vehicle comprises control means for avoiding and circumventing hazards.

19. The transport system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle has autonomy to alter said third location upon recognition of some predetermined conditions.

20. A method of transportation wherein a passenger drives a vehicle from a first location to a second location and said vehicle travels under track-free self control either from said second location to a third location or to said first location, absent said passenger.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said third location is said first location.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said vehicle comprises access-denial means preventing driving by unauthorized passengers.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said access-denial means comprises one or more of a pass code specific to said passenger, or an operation key.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said passenger is equipped with identification means and said vehicle is equipped with recognition means for recognizing said identification means and for denying the driving of said vehicle absent said recognition.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location means for identifying the geographic position of said vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said vehicle location means comprises one of the Global Positioning System or Radio Frequency Identification.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said passenger comprises passenger location means for identifying the geographic position of said passenger.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said vehicle location means comprises one of the Global Positioning System or Radio Frequency Identification.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location control means for controlling the geographic position of said vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said vehicle location control means comprises one of GPS-based navigation, RFID markers, Dead-Reckoning, radio-enabled wiring, a visual recognition system, a homing beacon, a passenger following system, and human-guided remote control.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein said vehicle further comprises vehicle location identification and control means for identifying and controlling the geographic position of said vehicle.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said vehicle is a first vehicle and wherein a second vehicle and said second vehicle comprises second vehicle location identification and control means for identifying and controlling the geographic position of said second vehicle, and wherein said first and second vehicles comprise means employing said vehicle location identification and control means to avoid a collision with each other.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said passenger comprises a passenger location means for identifying the geographic position of said passenger, and wherein said first vehicle comprises means employing said passenger location means for controlling the geographic position of said first vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said first vehicle is an all terrain vehicle or a snowmobile.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said first vehicle comprises control means for avoiding and circumventing hazards.

38. The method of claim 20 wherein said vehicle has autonomy to alter said third location upon recognition of some predetermined conditions.

39. A transport system comprising a passenger and a vehicle of the type taken from the group including an all-terrain vehicle and a snowmobile, wherein said vehicle is driven by said passenger from a downhill location to an uphill location, and wherein said vehicle then travels under track-free self-control, absent said passenger, from said uphill location to a meeting location, and said passenger travels independently of said vehicle from said uphill location to said meeting location to meet with said vehicle there-at.

40. The transport system of claim 39 further including a ski slope, and wherein said uphill location is atop said ski slope, said meeting location is at a lower altitude on or at the lower terminus of said ski slope, and said passenger travels from said uphill location to said meeting location by skiing down said ski slope.