Geofencing for auto drive route planning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10300930-B2
Application number	US-201715604248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A system of a semi-autonomous driving vehicle for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode. A navigation system to determine a route to a destination. A vehicle head unit to receive data that comprises information related to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination. A processor to process the received data to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in autonomous mode is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited. The semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a notification to the driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system of a semi-autonomous driving vehicle for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, the system comprising:
a navigation system to determine a route to a destination;
a vehicle head unit to receive data that comprises information related to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination;
a processor to process the received data to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in autonomous driving mode is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited;
a means for notifying a driver which issues a notification to the driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited,
wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle performs a minimal risk maneuver to prevent autonomous driving in a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited in response to determining the driver is not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on the driver not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in a second predetermined period of time after a warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues the warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited after a first predetermined period of time in which the driver has not assumed control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is at least one of static, dynamic, stationary, and/or mobile.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited changes in size depending on an event that varies with time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the received data is received from a mobile computing device or an application running on the mobile computing device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is established through a beacon system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle reengages autonomous driving mode after performing a minimal risk maneuver in response to a determination that doing so does not create a specified level of risk and the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is not within a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the navigation system alters a determined navigation route based on information regarding geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating a location of permanent geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is stored in a database accessible by the head unit of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

10. A method for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, the method comprising:
receiving data at a head unit of an semi-autonomous driving vehicle, said data comprising information relating to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along a determined route to a destination;
processing the data in a processor of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle when the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited; and
issuing a notification to a driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited,
wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle performs a minimal risk maneuver to prevent autonomous driving in a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited in response to determining the driver is not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on the driver not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in a second predetermined period of time after the warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited after a first predetermined period of time in which the driver has not assumed control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is at least one of static, dynamic, stationary, and/or mobile.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited changes in size depending on an event that varies with time.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the received data is received from a mobile computing device or an application running on the mobile computing device.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is established through a beacon system.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle reengages autonomous driving mode after performing a minimal risk maneuver in response to a determination that doing so does not create a specified level of risk and the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is not within a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising altering a determined navigation route by a navigation system included within the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on information regarding geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the data indicating a location of permanent geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is stored in a database accessible by the head unit of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Lathrop William Brian
• Paffett-Lugassy Nathaniel

Classifications

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title

• G01C21/3697

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60W2050/0072

  Controller asks driver to take over · CPC title

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• G01C21/3461 Primary

  Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types or segments such as motorways, toll roads or ferries · CPC title