Destination changes in autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495471-B2
Application number	US-201715590194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	May 9, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A method can include obtaining data associated with a destination change request from a passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The destination change request can be indicative of a request to change a first destination to a second destination. In response to obtaining data associated with the destination change request, the method can include: obtaining data indicative of one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle; determining a feedback response for responding to the destination change request based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters; and providing data associated with the feedback response for presentation via the one or more interfaces to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The feedback response can include a suggested destination. The suggested destination can be different from the second destination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of implementing one or more destination changes in an autonomous vehicle, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
receiving, over one or more networks, a destination change request from the autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:
determining one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;
based on the one or more operating parameters, determining a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;
based on the feasibility indicator, determining a suggested destination being different from the second destination;
transmitting, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;
transmitting, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;
generating a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and
providing the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of a travel time for the autonomous vehicle, a travel maneuver for the autonomous vehicle, a quantity of travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, a breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or a destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the suggested destination is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors obtain the suggested destination from a database of known autonomous vehicle drop off locations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle comprises a non-autonomous vehicle, the method further comprising:
transmitting, over the one or more networks, data indicating the non-autonomous vehicle and the suggested destination to a computing device of the passenger in the autonomous vehicle to enable the passenger to switch to the non-autonomous vehicle at the suggested destination.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors receive the destination change request while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors receive the destination change request based on a passenger input on the interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface is displayed on a display screen located in the autonomous vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface is displayed on a display screen of a computing device of the passenger.

10. A computing system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing system to:
receive, over one or more networks, a destination change request from an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:
determine one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;
based on the one or more operating parameters, determine a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;
based on the feasibility indicator, determine a suggested destination being different from the second destination;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;
generate a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and
provide the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the computing system received the destination change request while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

12. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the suggested destination comprises a drop off location within a threshold distance of the second destination.

13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback response comprises a notification that the autonomous vehicle cannot travel to the second destination.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to:
receive, over one or more networks, a destination change request from an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:
determine one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;
based on the one or more operating parameters, determine a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;
based on the feasibility indicator, determine a suggested destination being different from the second destination;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;
transmit, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;
generate a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and
provide the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of a travel time for the autonomous vehicle, a travel maneuver for the autonomous vehicle, a quantity of travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, a breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or a destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the suggested destination is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

17. The non-transitory com

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Sweeney Matthew
• Nix Molly
• Bartel Emily
• Rockmore Logan
• Levandowski Anthony

Classifications

• G01C21/3664

  Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures · CPC title

• G01C21/3611

  using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs (character input methods in general G06F3/0233) · CPC title

• G01C21/3605

  Destination input or retrieval · CPC title

• H04W4/48

  for in-vehicle communication · CPC title

• B60W50/10

  Interpretation of driver requests or demands · CPC title