Arranging passenger pickups for autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11175666-B2
Application number	US-202016775882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2020
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger, the method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors of the vehicle, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup location in order to pick up the passenger;
maneuvering, by the one or more processors, the vehicle towards the predetermined pickup location;
while maneuvering the vehicle along a route towards the predetermined pickup location:
receiving, by the one or more processors via a network, location information from a client computing device associated with the passenger, the location information identifying a location of the client computing device determined at the client computing device; and
determining, by the one or more processors, a new pickup location for the passenger based on the received location information and whether the vehicle will reach the new pickup location before reaching the predetermined pickup location; and

maneuvering the vehicle, by the one or more processors, to the new pickup location in order to attempt to pick up the passenger.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the one or more processors, the new pickup location is further based on current driving conditions associated with the new pickup location.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the current driving conditions indicate whether the pickup location is on a busy street.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the current driving conditions indicate whether the vehicle picking up the passenger at the new pickup location would be disruptive to other road users.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the one or more processors, the new pickup location is further based on historical driving conditions associated with the new pickup location.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the one or more processors, the new pickup location is further based on whether the passenger is already waiting at a particular spot.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the particular spot is by a curb.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the one or more processors, the new pickup location is further based on the passenger's prior history of success meeting vehicles outside of predetermined pickup location.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the one or more processors, a notification to the client computing device indicating that the vehicle is proceeding to the new pickup location.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending, by the one or more processors, a notification to the client computing device requesting a confirmation that the passenger would like to use the new pickup location; and
in response to the notification, receiving, by the one or more processors, the confirmation that the passenger would like to use the new pickup location, wherein the vehicle is maneuvered to the new pickup location in response to receiving the confirmation.

11. A system for arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger, the system comprising a vehicle having one or more processors configured to:
receive dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup location in order to pick up the passenger;
maneuver the vehicle towards the predetermined pickup location;
while maneuvering the vehicle along a route towards the predetermined pickup location:
receive, via a network, location information from a client computing device associated with the passenger, the location information identifying a location of the client computing device determined at the client computing device; and
determine a new pickup location for the passenger based on the received location information and whether the vehicle will reach the new pickup location before reaching the predetermined pickup location; and

maneuver the vehicle to the new pickup location in order to attempt to pick up the passenger.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the new pickup location further based on current driving conditions associated with the new pickup location.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the current driving conditions indicate whether the pickup location is on a busy street.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the current driving conditions indicate whether the vehicle picking up the passenger at the new pickup location would be disruptive to other road users.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the new pickup location further based on whether the passenger is already waiting at a particular spot.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the particular spot is by a curb.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the new pickup location further based on the passenger's prior history of success meeting vehicles outside of predetermined pickup location.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide a notification to the client computing device indicating that the vehicle is proceeding to the new pickup location.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
send a notification to the client computing device requesting a confirmation that the passenger would like to use the new pickup location; and
in response to the notification, receive the confirmation that the passenger would like to use the new pickup location, wherein the vehicle is maneuvered to the new pickup location in response to receiving the confirmation.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Fairfield Nathaniel
• Herbach Joshua Seth
• Ludwick Christopher Kennedy
• Mcnaughton Matthew Paul
• Hubert Renaud-Roland
• Arden Jennifer
• Chan Min Li

Classifications

• H04W4/029 Primary

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G06Q10/02

  Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events · CPC title

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title

• G08G1/202

  Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching · CPC title

• G05D1/0088

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title