Transport vehicle configuration for impaired riders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11756429-B2
Application number	US-202217664517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2022
Priority date	Apr 27, 2016
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A system for an autonomous vehicle can receive profile data of a passenger of the autonomous vehicle, the profile data indicating a need of the passenger for audio assistance. Based on the profile data, the system can execute a set of configurations to assist the passenger over a trip duration between a pick-up location and a destination. Execution of the set of configurations can include dynamically monitoring the passenger to determine a state of the passenger, and based on the state of the passenger, output the audio assistance to at least aid the passenger in entering and exiting the autonomous vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport facilitation system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the transport facilitation system to perform operations comprising:
accessing transportation service request data describing a request for a transportation service from a requesting user;
accessing user profile data indicating a physical impairment of the requesting user, the physical impairment comprising a hearing impairment; and
sending, over at least one network, a transportation service instruction to a self-driving vehicle (SDV), the transportation service instruction describing the request for the transportation service, the transportation service instruction comprising the user profile data, and the transportation service instruction causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
operating at least one of an acceleration system, a braking system, or a steering system of the SDV to execute the transportation service;
monitoring the requesting user, using sensor data generated by a sensor system of the SDV; and
based on the monitoring, outputting visual assistance to aid the requesting user in at least one of entering the SDV or exiting the SDV.

2. The transport facilitation system of claim 1 , the accessing of the transportation service request data comprising receiving the transportation service request data from a mobile computing device of the requesting user.

3. The transport facilitation system of claim 2 , the user profile data indicating that the requesting user is in need of audio assistance for the transportation service, the memory further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the transport facilitation system to perform further operations comprising:
sending, to the mobile computing device, an indication of the SDV;
instructing the mobile computing device to track a location of the SDV while the SDV is enroute to a pick-up location; and
instructing the mobile computing device to initiate audio assistance when the SDV is within a predetermined distance or a predetermined time from the pick-up location.

4. The transport facilitation system of claim 2 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising initiating a speech-recognition control interface to enable the requesting user to control a plurality of configurable components of the SDV by providing voice input.

5. The transport facilitation system of claim 4 , the plurality of configurable components of the SDV comprising at least one of a seat adjustment component, an audio system, a window of the SDV, or a climate control system.

6. The transport facilitation system of claim 2 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
using the sensor system of the SDV, detecting the requesting user as the SDI′ approaches a pick-up location; and
outputting the visual assistance to aid the requesting user in entering the SDV based on the detecting of the requesting user.

7. The transport facilitation system of claim 1 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
using the sensor system of the SDV, detecting the requesting user as the SDV approaches a pick-up location; and
automatically opening a door of the SDV based on the detecting of the requesting user.

8. The transport facilitation system of claim 1 , the user profile data comprising a name of the requesting user, the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising incorporating the name of the requesting user into the visual assistance.

9. A method for facilitating transportation services, the method comprising:
accessing, by a transport facilitation system, transportation service request data describing a request for a transportation service from a requesting user, the transport facilitation system comprising at least one processor and a memory;
accessing, by the transport facilitation system, user profile data indicating a physical impairment of the requesting user, the physical impairment comprising a hearing impairment; and
sending, over at least one network, a transportation service instruction to a self-driving vehicle (SDV), the transportation service instruction describing the request for the transportation service, the transportation service instruction comprising the user profile data, and the transportation service instruction causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
operating at least one of an acceleration system, a braking system, or a steering system of the SDV to execute the transportation service;
monitoring the requesting user, using sensor data generated by a sensor system of the SDV; and
based on the monitoring, outputting visual assistance to aid the requesting user in at least one of entering the SDV or exiting the SDV.

10. The method of claim 9 , the accessing of the transportation service request data comprising receiving the transportation service request data from a mobile computing device of the requesting user.

11. The method of claim 10 , the user profile data indicating that the requesting user is in need of audio assistance for the transportation service, the method further comprising:
sending, to the mobile computing device, an indication of the SDV;
instructing the mobile computing device to track a location of the SDV while the SDV is enroute to a pick-up location; and
instructing the mobile computing device to initiate audio assistance when the SDV is within a predetermined distance or a predetermined time from the pick-up location.

12. The method of claim 9 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising initiating a speech-recognition control interface to enable the requesting user to control a plurality of configurable components of the SDV by providing voice input.

13. The method of claim 12 , the plurality of configurable components of the SDV comprising at least one of a seat adjustment component, an audio system; a window of the SDV, or a climate control system.

14. The method of claim 9 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
using the sensor system of the SDV, detecting the requesting user as the SDV approaches a pick-up location; and
outputting the visual assistance to aid the requesting user in entering the SDV based on the detecting of the requesting user.

15. The method of claim 9 , the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising:
using the sensor system of the SDV, detecting the requesting user as the SDV approaches a pick-up location; and
automatically opening a door of the SDV based on the detecting of the requesting user.

16. The method of claim 9 , the user profile data comprising a name of the requesting user, the transportation service instruction further causing the SDV to perform operations comprising incorporating the name of the requesting user into the visual assistance.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
accessing transportation service request data describing a request for a transportation service from a requesting user;
accessing user profile data indicating a physical impairment of the requesting user, the physical impairment comprising a hearing impairment; and
sending, over at least

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Bartel Emily

Classifications

• G06Q10/0283

  for travel seating · CPC title

• B60W60/00253

  Taxi operations · CPC title

• G08G1/202 Primary

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

• B60W50/0098

  Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60W2540/00

  Input parameters relating to occupants · CPC title