Automated spatial separation of self-driving vehicles from manually operated vehicles
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for automatically providing spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- interrogating, by one or more processors, a driving mode module on a first SDV operating on the roadway, wherein the first SDV is capable of being operated in autonomous mode by a first SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a first SDV on-board computer on the first SDV, wherein the first SDV control mechanisms controller controls a first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV, wherein the driving mode module selectively controls whether the first SDV is operated in the autonomous mode or in manual mode, and wherein the first SDV is controlled by a first human driver of the first SDV if the first SDV is in the manual mode;
determining, by the one or more processors and based on a response from the driving mode module, that the first SDV is operating in the autonomous mode;
receiving, by one or more processors, a control mode signal from a second vehicle operating on the roadway, wherein the control mode signal describes whether a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode by a second human driver of the second vehicle or in the autonomous mode by a second SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a second SDV on-board computer on the second vehicle; and
issuing, by one or more processors, spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, wherein the spatial separation instructions direct the first SDV control mechanisms controller to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product automatically provide spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway. A first SDV operating on the roadway is operating in autonomous mode. A second vehicle may be operating in the autonomous mode or a manual mode, in which a driver is controlling the second vehicle. Processor(s) issue spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, which direct SDV control mechanisms controller on the first SDV to direct a set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle, based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode.
171 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for automatically providing spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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interrogating, by one or more processors, a driving mode module on a first SDV operating on the roadway, wherein the first SDV is capable of being operated in autonomous mode by a first SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a first SDV on-board computer on the first SDV, wherein the first SDV control mechanisms controller controls a first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV, wherein the driving mode module selectively controls whether the first SDV is operated in the autonomous mode or in manual mode, and wherein the first SDV is controlled by a first human driver of the first SDV if the first SDV is in the manual mode; determining, by the one or more processors and based on a response from the driving mode module, that the first SDV is operating in the autonomous mode; receiving, by one or more processors, a control mode signal from a second vehicle operating on the roadway, wherein the control mode signal describes whether a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode by a second human driver of the second vehicle or in the autonomous mode by a second SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a second SDV on-board computer on the second vehicle; and issuing, by one or more processors, spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, wherein the spatial separation instructions direct the first SDV control mechanisms controller to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for automatically providing spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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interrogating a driving mode module on a first SDV operating on the roadway, wherein the first SDV is capable of being operated in autonomous mode by a first SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a first SDV on-board computer on the first SDV, wherein the first SDV control mechanisms controller controls a first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV, wherein the driving mode module selectively controls whether the first SDV is operated in the autonomous mode or in manual mode, and wherein the first SDV is controlled by a first human driver of the first SDV if the first SDV is in the manual mode; determining, based on a response from the driving mode module, that the first SDV is operating in the autonomous mode; receiving a control mode signal from a second vehicle operating on the roadway, wherein the control mode signal describes whether a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode by a second human driver of the second vehicle or in the autonomous mode by a second SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a second SDV on-board computer on the second vehicle; and issuing spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, wherein the spatial separation instructions direct the first SDV control mechanisms controller to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system comprising:
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a processor, a computer readable memory, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; first program instructions to interrogate a driving mode module on a first SDV operating on a roadway, wherein the first SDV is capable of being operated in autonomous mode by a first SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a first SDV on-board computer on the first SDV, wherein the first SDV control mechanisms controller controls a first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV, wherein the driving mode module selectively controls whether the first SDV is operated in the autonomous mode or in manual mode, and wherein the first SDV is controlled by a first human driver of the first SDV if the first SDV is in the manual mode; second program instructions to determine, based on a response from the driving mode module, that the first SDV is operating in the autonomous mode; third program instructions to receive a control mode signal from a second vehicle operating on the roadway, wherein the control mode signal describes whether a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode by a second human driver of the second vehicle or in the autonomous mode by a second SDV control mechanisms controller being controlled by a second SDV on-board computer on the second vehicle; and fourth program instructions to issue spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, wherein the spatial separation instructions direct the first SDV control mechanisms controller to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode; and
whereinthe first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.
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17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second SDV control mechanisms controller and the second SDV on-board computer are absent from the second vehicle, and wherein the control mode signal from the second vehicle is a null signal.
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18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode, and wherein the computer system further comprises:
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fifth program instructions to provide the predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle by directing the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms to provide a predefined amount of physical space between the first SDV and the second vehicle; and
whereinthe fifth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.
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19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode, wherein the roadway comprises an autonomous lane reserved for autonomously-controlled vehicles and a manual lane reserved for vehicles being operated in the manual mode, and wherein the computer system further comprises:
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fifth program instructions to provide the predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle by directing the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms to steer the first SDV onto the autonomous lane and by activating the second SDV control mechanisms controller to direct a second set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the second vehicle to steer the second vehicle onto the manual lane; and sixth program instructions to, in response to the second vehicle reaching the manual lane, deactivate the second SDV control mechanisms controller in the second vehicle; and
wherein the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.
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20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode, wherein the roadway comprises an autonomous lane reserved for autonomously-controlled vehicles and a manual lane reserved for vehicles being operated in the manual mode, and wherein the computer system further comprises:
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fifth program instructions to direct the first set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms to steer the first SDV onto the autonomous lane; and sixth program instructions to electronically display, on electronic signage on the roadway, instructions to the driver of the second vehicle to manually steer the second vehicle onto the manual lane; and
whereinthe fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium for execution by one or more processors via the computer readable memory.
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Specification