Destination changes in autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041731-B2
Application number	US-201916545300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	May 9, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A method for processing destination change requests from passengers of autonomous vehicles can include determining one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle, and 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, the method includes determining a suggested destination for the passenger and transmit an instruction to a computing system of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination. The method includes transmitting a set of travel directions to a computing device of the passenger, indicating a travel route from the suggested destination to 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 a destination change request inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle, the destination change request comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request:
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 one or more networks, an instruction to a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, the instruction causing the computing system to reroute the autonomous vehicle to the suggested destination; and
transmitting, over the one or more networks, a set of travel directions to a computing device of the passenger, the set of travel directions indicating a travel route from the suggested destination to the second destination.

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

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the suggested destination comprises:
accessing, by the one or more processors, a database of known autonomous vehicle drop off locations;
based on the second destination, identifying one or more candidate locations from the known autonomous vehicle drop off locations;
determining a respective feasibility indicator for each of the one or more candidate locations; and
based on the respective feasibility indicator for each of the one or more candidate locations, selecting, by the one or more processors, the suggested destination from the one or more candidate locations.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more candidate locations is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination change request is received while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination change request is received based on a passenger input via one or more interfaces of the autonomous vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more interfaces are provided on a display screen located in the autonomous vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination change request is received from the computing device of the passenger.

9. A computing system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
receive a destination change request inputted by a passenger of an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request:
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 one or more networks, an instruction to a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, the instruction causing the computing system to reroute the autonomous vehicle to the suggested destination; and
transmit, over the one or more networks, a set of travel directions to a computing device of the passenger, the set of travel directions indicating a travel route from the suggested destination to the second destination.

10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of an increased travel time for the autonomous vehicle, one or more travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

11. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the executed instructions cause the computing system to determine the suggested destination by:
accessing, by the one or more processors, a database of known autonomous vehicle drop off locations;
based on the second destination, identifying one or more candidate locations from the known autonomous vehicle drop off locations;
determining a respective feasibility indicator for each of the one or more candidate locations; and
based on the respective feasibility indicator for each of the one or more candidate locations, select, by the one or more processors, the suggested destination from the one or more candidate locations.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more candidate locations is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

13. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the destination change request is received while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

14. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the destination change request is received based on a passenger input via one or more interfaces of the autonomous vehicle.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more interfaces are provided on a display screen located in the autonomous vehicle.

16. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the destination change request is received from the computing device of the passenger.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a destination change request inputted by a passenger of an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;
in response to receiving the destination change request:
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 one or more networks, an instruction to a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, the instruction causing the computing system to reroute the autonomous vehicle to the suggested destination; and
transmit, over the one or more networks, a set of travel directions to a computing device of the passenger, the set of travel directions indicating a travel route from the suggested destination to the second destination.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of an increased travel time for the autonomous vehicle, one or more travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the executed instructions cause the one or more processors to determine the suggested destination by:
acces

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01C21/362

  received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application · CPC title

• G01C21/3611

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

• G01C21/3492

  employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• 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

• H04W4/48

  for in-vehicle communication · CPC title