Generation of autonomy map for autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12078993-B2
Application number	US-202016787667-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2020
Priority date	May 9, 2019
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

Generation of an autonomy map for assisting an autonomous vehicle includes extracting the historical autonomy information associated one or more route segments of one or more routes. An autonomy level for each route segment is determined based on the extracted historical autonomy information. A digital autonomy map is generated including each route segment of at least one route such that each route segment is tagged with the determined autonomy level. The autonomy level of each route segment is dynamically updated in real-time for providing real-time driving assistance to the autonomous vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving assistance method, comprising:
extracting, by a server from a database, historical autonomy levels of one or more route segments of a route connecting a source location and a destination location of a first autonomous vehicle,
wherein the historical autonomy levels are generated based on at least one or more historical driving conditions on the one or more route segments of one or more third autonomous vehicles that have traversed historically via one or more routes connecting the source location and the destination location;

determining, by the server, one or more autonomy levels for the one or more route segments, respectively, based on the extracted historical autonomy levels to manage and control transit operation between the source location and the destination location;
rendering, by the server, a digital autonomy map including the one or more route segments of the route,
wherein the one or more route segments on the digital autonomy map are tagged with the determined one or more autonomy levels, respectively, and
wherein the rendered digital autonomy map is utilized by the first autonomous vehicle for controlling transit operations between the source location and the destination location;

receiving, by the server, real-time autonomy levels from one or more second autonomous vehicles that are currently traversing the one or more route segments,
wherein the one or more second autonomous vehicles are traversing the one or more route segments ahead of the first autonomous vehicle;

proportionately adjusting, by the server, the one or more autonomy levels of the one or more route segments, respectively, on the digital autonomy map based on vehicle category, wherein proportionately adjusting the one or more autonomy levels corresponds to dynamically updating the one or more autonomy levels of the first autonomous vehicle by a value in accordance with the one or more autonomy levels of the second autonomous vehicle, wherein the value by which the one or more autonomy levels of the first autonomous vehicles is adjusted is different from the one or more autonomy levels of the second autonomous vehicles based on the vehicle category, wherein the first autonomous vehicle belongs to a first vehicle category and the second autonomous vehicle belongs to a second vehicle category,
and wherein the first autonomous vehicle controls transit operations on remaining part of the route based on updated digital autonomy map; and

generating, by the server, one or more notifications to alert a user of the first autonomous vehicle that is currently traversing on a first route segment tagged with a first autonomy level in the digital autonomy map, of a potential change in vehicle settings of the first autonomous vehicle,
wherein the one or more notifications indicating the potential change in the vehicle settings are generated based on and prior to a switch of the first autonomous vehicle from the first route segment to a second route segment that is tagged with a second autonomy level on the digital autonomy map,
wherein the one or more route segments include the first route segment and the second route segment, and
wherein the one or more notifications include an estimated time duration and/or a distance after which the first autonomous vehicle is to switch from the first autonomy level to the second autonomy level.

2. The driving assistance method of claim 1 , wherein the historical autonomy levels are generated based on the one or more historical driving conditions of the one or more route segments of the route and historical configuration of one or more sensors and processing components of the one or more third autonomous vehicles.

3. The driving assistance method of claim 2 , wherein the historical autonomy levels are extracted based on a time or a time duration of a day associated with the first autonomous vehicle.

4. The driving assistance method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the server, first sensor data from the first autonomous vehicle and second sensor data from the one or more second autonomous vehicles,
wherein the first sensor data and the second sensor data include global positioning system (GPS) data, image data of an exterior environment, radio detection and ranging (RADAR) data, ultrasonic data, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data.

5. The driving assistance method of claim 4 , further comprising retrieving, by the server, real-time route information of the route from a route database, real-time traffic information of the route from a traffic database, and real-time weather information of the route from a weather database.

6. The driving assistance method of claim 5 , wherein the real-time route information includes a route segment type, speed restriction information, and obstruction information of each route segment of the one or more route segments, the real-time traffic information includes real-time traffic conditions associated with each route segment of the route, and the real-time weather information includes real-time temperature, fog, light, humidity, and pollution information associated with each route segment of the route.

7. The driving assistance method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more autonomy levels of the one or more route segments, respectively, are further dynamically updated on the digital autonomy map based on the first sensor data, the second sensor data, the real-time route information, the real-time traffic information, and the real-time weather information.

8. The driving assistance method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more autonomy levels of the one or more route segments, respectively, are further dynamically updated based on:
a vehicle category of at least one of the first autonomous vehicle and the one or more second autonomous vehicles, and
an operating state of one or more sensors and processing components of the first autonomous vehicle and the one or more second autonomous vehicles that are traversing the one or more route segments ahead of the first autonomous vehicle.

9. The driving assistance method of claim 1 , further comprising rendering, by the server, the digital autonomy map on a navigation device of the first autonomous vehicle,
wherein the transit operations between the source location and the destination location are controlled based on navigation and autonomy information indicated by the rendered digital autonomy map.

10. The driving assistance method of claim 1 , wherein the digital autonomy map is generated based on a number of sensors and processing components in the first autonomous vehicle, the one or more second autonomous vehicles, and the one or more third autonomous vehicles.

11. The driving assistance method of claim 1 , wherein the management and the control of the transit operation between the source location and the destination location is based on at least a necessity of a driver for driving the first autonomous vehicle,
wherein the necessity of the driver for driving the first autonomous vehicle is determined based on the one or more autonomy levels for the one or more route segments of a selected route to render optimized utilization of available resources.

12. A driving assistance system, comprising:
a server comprising circuitry configured to:
extract, from a database, historical autonomy levels associated with one or more route segments of a route that connects a source location and a destination location of a first autonomous vehicle,
wherein the historical autonomy levels are generated based on at least one or more historical driving conditions on the one or more route segments of one or more third autonomous vehicles that have traver

Assignees

• Ani Tech Private Ltd

Inventors

• Nagarajan Sathya Narayanan
• Agarwal Gaurav

Classifications

• G05D1/247

  using signals provided by artificial sources external to the vehicle, e.g. navigation beacons · CPC title

• G05D1/648

  Performing a task within a working area or space, e.g. cleaning · 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

• G01C21/3804

  Creation or updating of map data · CPC title

• G01C21/3691

  Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions (arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09) · CPC title