AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENVIRONMENT DETECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An environment detection method, for use in a vehicle designed for the purpose of carrying human passengers, said vehicle having features for allowing a destination to be set by a human user who is physically located within said vehicle for autonomous operation of said vehicle to that destination without further human intervention by the user, comprising the steps of:
- manually setting said vehicle for autonomous operation;
detecting the presence of a hazardous material in or near the vehicle during autonomous operation by performing a sniff test by a detector carried by or within the vehicle;
automatically disabling the autonomous features and operation of the vehicle in response to the detection of said hazardous material in or near the vehicle; and
automatically enabling said vehicle to be operated manually by said human user within the vehicle upon said detection of said hazardous material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle environment detection method, for use by an autonomous vehicle having autonomous features for allowing a destination to be set by a user and then piloting the vehicle to that destination without human intervention by the user. Environmental sensors, which may be contained in or around the vehicle, or in a portable electronic device possessed and carried by the user, perform a sniff test prior to, and during automated vehicle operation. If hazardous materials are detected that indicate the presence of a weapon of mass destruction, autonomous features are disabled while manual operation of the vehicle may be permitted.
118 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An environment detection method, for use in a vehicle designed for the purpose of carrying human passengers, said vehicle having features for allowing a destination to be set by a human user who is physically located within said vehicle for autonomous operation of said vehicle to that destination without further human intervention by the user, comprising the steps of:
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manually setting said vehicle for autonomous operation; detecting the presence of a hazardous material in or near the vehicle during autonomous operation by performing a sniff test by a detector carried by or within the vehicle; automatically disabling the autonomous features and operation of the vehicle in response to the detection of said hazardous material in or near the vehicle; and automatically enabling said vehicle to be operated manually by said human user within the vehicle upon said detection of said hazardous material. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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2. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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13. An environment detection method for use by a passenger vehicle designed for conveyance of human passengers having autonomous operating features for allowing a destination to be set by a human user located within said vehicle for autonomous operation of said vehicle to that destination without further human intervention by the human user, comprising the steps of:
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setting said vehicle for autonomous operation; using a portable electronic device in the possession of said human user, said portable electronic device having sensors for detecting hazardous materials; detecting the presence of a hazardous material near the vehicle during autonomous operation by performing a sniff test by the portable electronic device; and performing one of; a) automatically disabling the autonomous features in response to the detection of a hazardous material near the vehicle, and b) allowing continued autonomous operation of the vehicle in response to not detecting hazardous materials near the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification