Generation of solution data for autonomous vehicles to negotiate problem situations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935973-B2
Application number	US-201716466748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for generating solution data for autonomous vehicles to negotiate problem situations have been disclosed. The disclosed technology generates state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle. The state data includes any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational status of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment. In response to determining that the state data satisfies a state criterion, a determination of solution profile data that matches the state data is made on the basis of a comparison of the state data to the solution profile data. Solution data is generated using the matching solution profile data to transmit the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for generating solution data, the method comprising:
generating, by a controller apparatus of a remote system, state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle, the state data including any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational state of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment;
determining, by the controller apparatus, that the state data satisfies a state criterion;
comparing, by the controller apparatus, the state data to a plurality of solution profile data to determine a matching solution profile data that matches with the state data, the plurality of solution profile data including an aggregation of solution data from past events in which assistance was provided to the vehicle;
generating, by the controller apparatus, the solution data based on the matching solution profile data; and
transmitting, by the controller apparatus, the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing, by the controller apparatus, solution complexity data to vehicle manager proficiency data, the solution complexity data being associated with the solution data and the vehicle manager proficiency data being associated with a plurality of vehicle managers; and
assigning, by the controller apparatus, the solution data to a vehicle manager of the plurality of vehicle managers based on respective vehicle manager proficiency data of the vehicle manager matching the solution complexity data.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller apparatus, a completion time associated with the solution data; and
in response to determining that the completion time satisfies a completion time criterion, generating, by the controller apparatus, new solution data using the solution data.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
in response to determining that the completion time does not satisfy the completion time criterion, assigning, by the controller apparatus, the vehicle to another one of the plurality of vehicle managers.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
adding, by the controller apparatus, the new solution data to the solution data, the new solution data including an identity of the vehicle manager associated with the new solution data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing, by the controller apparatus, the location of the vehicle to location data including a plurality of locations associated with a plurality of vehicle managers; and
assigning, by the controller apparatus, the vehicle to a vehicle manager of the plurality of vehicle managers that is associated with one of the plurality of locations that is closest in distance to the location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data includes a physical state of a predetermined area, vehicle stoppage data, construction activity data, lane direction activity data, lane closure activity data, road surface condition data, and pedestrian activity data.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution data comprises instructions to navigate the vehicle along a solution path to the destination, instructions to activate a vehicle control system of the vehicle, and instructions to deactivate a vehicle control system of the vehicle.

9. A solution generation apparatus, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
generate state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle, the state data including any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational state of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment;
determine that the state data satisfies a state criterion;
compare the state data to a plurality of solution profile data to determine a matching solution profile data that matches with the state data, the plurality of solution profile data including an aggregation of solution data from past events in which assistance was provided to the vehicle;
generate solution data based on the matching solution profile data; and
transmit the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

10. The solution generation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
compare solution complexity data to vehicle manager proficiency data, the solution complexity data being associated with the solution data and the vehicle manager proficiency data being associated with a plurality of vehicle managers; and
assign the solution data to a vehicle manager of the plurality of vehicle managers based on respective vehicle manager proficiency data of the vehicle manager matching the solution complexity data.

11. The solution generation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
determine a completion time associated with the solution data; and
in response to determining that the completion time satisfies a completion time criterion, generate new solution data using the solution data.

12. The solution generation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
compare the location of the vehicle to location data including a plurality of locations associated with a plurality of vehicle managers, and
assign the vehicle to the vehicle manager of the plurality of vehicle managers that is associated with the one of the plurality of locations that is closest in distance to the location.

13. The solution generation apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sensor data includes a physical state of a predetermined area, vehicle stoppage data, construction activity data, lane direction data, lane closure data, road surface condition data, and pedestrian activity data.

14. The solution generation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the solution data comprises instructions to navigate the vehicle along a solution path to the destination, instructions to activate a vehicle control system of the vehicle, and instructions to deactivate a vehicle control system of the vehicle.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including program instructions executable by one or more processors of a controller apparatus that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:
generating state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle, the state data including any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational state of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment;
determining that the state data satisfies a state criterion;
comparing the state data to a plurality of solution profile data to determine a matching solution profile data that matches with the state data, the plurality of solution profile data including an aggregation of solution data from past events in which assistance was provided to the vehicle;
generating the solution data based on the matching solution profile data; and
transmitting the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein operations further comprise:
comparing solution complexity data to vehicle manager proficiency d

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc
• Nasa

Inventors

• Pedersen Liam
• Sierhuis Maarten
• Utz Hans
• Penna Mauro Della
• Fong Terrence
• Allan Mark
• Bualat Maria
• Schafer Eric

Classifications

• G08G1/0133

  for classifying traffic situation · CPC title

• G08G1/096811

  where the route is computed offboard · CPC title

• G08G1/0116

  from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons · CPC title

• G08G1/20 Primary

  Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles · CPC title

• G06Q10/063112

  Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task · CPC title