Transportation system including autonomous detachable engine modules and passenger module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10245994-B2
Application number	US-201615239071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2016
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A transportation system includes at least one passenger module and at least one autonomous engine module configured to operatively couple with the at least one passenger module to form an autonomous passenger vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transportation system comprising:
at least one passenger module;
a plurality of autonomous engine modules, each autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules being physically separable from, and configured to operatively couple with, the at least one passenger module to form an autonomous passenger vehicle, each engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules including an engine module 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, each engine module computing system memory storing a self-driving capability;
another computing system separate from the autonomous engine module computing systems, the other computing system comprising one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, the memory storing an engine module use candidate determination capability including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
determine, responsive to a user request 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 and including information relating to the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate; and
receive a selection, by the user, of an autonomous engine module use candidate from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate,
wherein the self-driving capability of each engine module computing system includes instructions that when executed by the one or more engine module computing system processors cause the one or more engine module computing system processors to control the autonomous engine module use candidate selected from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate, to autonomously drive the selected autonomous engine module use candidate to a designated pickup location.

2. The transportation system of claim 1 wherein at least one engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules is optimized to generate a torque exceeding a predetermined threshold.

3. The transportation system of claim 1 wherein at least one engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules is optimized to provide a fuel-efficiency exceeding a predetermined threshold.

4. The transportation system of claim 1 wherein at least one engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules is optimized to generate a horsepower exceeding a predetermined threshold.

5. A transportation system comprising:
at least one passenger module;
a plurality of autonomous engine modules, each autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules being physically separable from, and configured to operatively couple with, the at least one passenger module to form an autonomous passenger vehicle, each engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules including an engine module 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 that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
determine, by communication with other autonomous engine modules of the plurality of autonomous engine modules, and responsive to a user request 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 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; and
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
control the autonomous engine module use candidate selected from the at least one suitable autonomous engine module use candidate, to autonomously drive the selected autonomous engine module use candidate to a designated pickup location.

6. The passenger vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least one passenger module is not configured for self-propulsion.

7. The transportation system of claim 1 wherein the memory of the other computing system stores instructions that when executed by the one or more processors of the other computing system cause the one or more processors to determine, responsive to the request for use of an autonomous engine module, at least one autonomous engine module use candidate capable of satisfying at least one key threshold parameter.

8. The transportation system of claim 7 wherein the memory of the other computing system stores instructions that when executed by the one or more processors of the other computing system cause the one or more processors to determine, responsive to the request for use of an autonomous engine module, at least one autonomous engine module use candidate capable of satisfying at least one user preference.

9. The transportation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one passenger module includes a first rolling surface formed on the at least one passenger module and at least one passenger module docking mechanism, and wherein the at least one autonomous engine module of the plurality of autonomous engine modules includes:
at least one engine module docking mechanism structured to dockingly engage the at least one passenger module docking mechanism;
at least one front wheel in contact with a surface on which the at least one autonomous engine module resides; and
another wheel positioned above the surface on which the at least one autonomous engine module resides, the other wheel being positioned so as to engage the first rolling surface and roll up the first rolling surface as the at least one autonomous engine module moves in a direction toward the at least one passenger module,
wherein the at least one autonomous engine module is configured to rotate about the at least one front wheel as the other wheel rolls up the first rolling surface,
and wherein rotation of the at least one engine module about the at least one front wheel as the other wheel rolls up the first rolling surface causes the at least one engine module docking mechanism to dockingly align with the at least one passenger module docking mechanism.

10. The transportation system of claim 9 wherein the at least one passenger module further includes a second rolling surface formed thereon adjacent the first rolling surface,
wherein the other wheel is positioned so as to engage the second rolling surface and roll along the second rolling surface after rolling up the first rolling surface as the at least one autonomous engine module moves in the direction toward the at least one passenger module,
and wherein movement of the at least one autonomous engine module in the direction toward the at least one passenger module as the other wheel moves along the second rolling surface causes the a

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Delp Michael J
• Higgins Christopher M

Classifications

• B62D63/025

  Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025) · CPC title

• B60D1/00

  Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices (fifth-wheel traction couplings B62D53/08) · CPC title

• G06Q50/00

  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 title

• B60P3/073 Primary

  Vehicle retainers {(specially adapted for fixing semi-trailers on railway vehicles B61D45/004)} · CPC title

• G06Q10/0631

  Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations · CPC title