System and method for anti-theft control for autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875503-B2
Application number	US-201815863912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2018
Priority date	Jan 6, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A method and a system for theft prevention from an autonomous vehicle are provided. The method includes acquiring data from one or more sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle and analyzing, using processing circuitry, the data to determine whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with. An alert is output to an electronic device associated with a user of the vehicle when a whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with. Further, an alert is output the user that the autonomous vehicle is no longer safe to be operated when at least one of the one or more exterior systems tampered with belongs to a predefined category. Further, a signal is output to the vehicle to control one or more systems of the vehicle when whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for theft prevention from an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
acquiring data from one or more sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle;
analyzing, using processing circuitry, the data to determine whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with;
outputting an alert to an electronic device associated with a user of the autonomous vehicle when one or more exterior systems are tampered with;
alerting the user, via a message sent to a device associated with the user, that the autonomous vehicle is no longer safe to be operated when at least one of the one or more exterior systems tampered with belongs to a predefined category; and
outputting a signal to the autonomous vehicle to control one or more systems of the autonomous vehicle when the one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating a watch mode when the autonomous vehicle is parked.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the one or more systems include activating an autonomous mode of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein activating the autonomous mode of the vehicle includes moving the vehicle from a first location to a second location.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the one or more systems include activating an audio/visual alarm.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing the data includes determining whether the acquired data is valid.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deactivating the autonomous mode when the vehicle is not safely operational in the autonomous mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are positioned on an outer surface of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating one or more cameras of the vehicle when an individual is detected within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and
outputting recordings of the one or more cameras when an incident has occurred to an electronic device associated with a third party.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating one or more cameras of the vehicle when an individual is detected within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and
activating an audio/visual alarm.

11. A system for theft prevention from an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising:
processing circuitry configured to
acquire data from one or more sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle;
analyze the data to determine whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with;
output an alert to an electronic device associated with a user of the autonomous vehicle when one or more exterior systems are tampered with;
alert the user, via a message sent to a device associated with the user, that the autonomous vehicle is no longer safe to be operated when at least one of the one or more exterior systems tampered with belongs to a predefined category; and
output a signal to the autonomous vehicle to control one or more systems of the autonomous vehicle when the one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controlling the one or more systems include activating an autonomous mode of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein activating the autonomous mode of the vehicle includes moving the vehicle from a first location to a second location.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controlling the one or more systems include activating an audio/visual alarm.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing the data includes determining whether the acquired data is valid.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
deactivate the autonomous mode when the vehicle is not operational in the autonomous mode.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
activate one or more cameras of the vehicle when an individual is detected within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and
output recordings of the one or more cameras when an incident has occurred to an electronic device associated with a third party.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions therein which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for theft prevention from an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
acquiring data from one or more sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle;
analyzing the data to determine whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with;
outputting an alert to an electronic device associated with a user of the vehicle when one or more exterior systems are tampered with;
alerting the user, via a message sent to a device associated with the user, that the autonomous vehicle is no longer safe to be operated when at least one of the one or more exterior systems tampered with belongs to a predefined category; and
outputting a signal to the autonomous vehicle to control one or more systems of the autonomous vehicle when the one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Frederick Scott L
• Robison Scott P
• Holmstrom Adam D

Classifications

• B60W60/0051

  from occupants to vehicle · CPC title

• B60R25/10 Primary

  actuating a signalling device · CPC title

• B60R25/305

  using a camera · CPC title

• B60R25/34 Primary

  of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors · CPC title

• B60R2025/1016

  Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals · CPC title