Autonomous vehicle notification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12277860-B2
Application number	US-202218060161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2022
Priority date	Jan 17, 2017
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, using one or more sensors of a first vehicle, sensor data associated with an environment surrounding the first vehicle. The method includes detecting, using the sensor data, a second vehicle in the environment surrounding the first vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the sensor data, a first movement context associated with the first vehicle and a second movement context associated with the second vehicle. The method includes coordinating, via a ride matching system, movements between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the first movement context associated with the first vehicle and the second movement context associated with the second vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising, by one or more computing devices:
detecting a first vehicle and a second vehicle in an environment;
determining a first movement context associated with the first vehicle and a second movement context associated with the second vehicle; and
coordinating, via a ride matching system, an order of movements between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein the coordinating comprises:
determining, based on the first movement context and the second movement context, a first message to provide to the second vehicle, the first message indicating a first plan of action of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle;
sending, via the ride matching system, the first message to the second vehicle; and
receiving, via the ride matching system, a second message from the second vehicle, the second message indicating a second plan of action of the second vehicle relative to the first vehicle based on the first message.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plan of action of the first vehicle comprises the first vehicle waiting to let the second vehicle take a turn first; and
the second plan of action of the second vehicle comprises the second vehicle taking the turn while the first vehicle is waiting.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle are connected with each other internally via the ride matching system, and wherein the coordinating further comprises:
a first computing device of the first vehicle exchanging one or more messages with a second computing device of the second vehicle to coordinate the order of movements.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a particular message from the second vehicle to be presented to an entity within proximity of the first vehicle, wherein the entity is detected by the second vehicle;
determining a location of the entity relative to the first vehicle;
selecting a notification device of the first vehicle based on the location of the entity relative to the first vehicle; and
causing the particular message from the second vehicle to be presented to the entity by the selected notification device of the first vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the entity is one of a pedestrian, a third vehicle, or a cyclist.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first movement context comprises a first location and a first direction of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle; and
the second movement context comprises a second location and a second direction of the second vehicle relative to the first vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ride matching system is a server and is common between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle are autonomous vehicles.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting, based on the first movement context associated with the first vehicle and the second movement context associated with the second vehicle, (1) a particular message from a set of predefined messages, and (2) at least one notification device of a plurality of notification devices of the first vehicle for providing the particular message to the second vehicle; and
providing the particular message to the second vehicle utilizing the at least one notification device of the first vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the particular message to the second vehicle utilizing the at least one notification device of the first vehicle comprises:
displaying the particular message to the second vehicle utilizing the at least one notification device of the first vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting a change in the second movement context associated with the second vehicle;
selecting another notification device of the plurality of notification devices of the first vehicle based on the change in the second movement context; and
providing the particular message to the second vehicle utilizing the another notification device of the first vehicle.

12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprise instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
detect a first vehicle and a second vehicle in an environment;
determine a first movement context associated with the first vehicle and a second movement context associated with the second vehicle; and
coordinate, via a ride matching system, an order of movements between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein the coordinating comprises:
determining, based on the first movement context and the second movement context, a first message to provide to the second vehicle, the first message indicating a first plan of action of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle;
sending, via the ride matching system, the first message to the second vehicle; and
receiving, via the ride matching system, a second message from the second vehicle, the second message indicating a second plan of action of the second vehicle relative to the first vehicle based on the first message.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein:
the first plan of action of the first vehicle comprises the first vehicle waiting to let the second vehicle take a turn first; and
the second plan of action of the second vehicle comprises the second vehicle taking the turn while the first vehicle is waiting.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
receive a particular message from the second vehicle to be presented to an entity within proximity of the first vehicle, wherein the entity is detected by the second vehicle;
determine a location of the entity relative to the first vehicle;
select a notification device of the first vehicle based on the location of the entity relative to the first vehicle; and
cause the particular message from the second vehicle to be presented to the entity by the selected notification device of the first vehicle.

15. A computing system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the one or more processors and comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
detect a first vehicle and a second vehicle in an environment;
determine a first movement context associated with the first vehicle and a second movement context associated with the second vehicle; and
coordinate, via a ride matching system, an order of movements between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein the coordinating comprises:
determining, based on the first movement context and the second movement context, a first message to provide to the second vehicle, the first message indicating a first plan of action of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle;
sending, via the ride matching system, the first message to the second vehicle; and
receiving, via the ride matching system, a second message from the second vehicle, the second message indicating a second plan of action of the second vehicle relative to the first vehicle based on the first message.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing system to:
receive a particular message from

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Matthiesen Taggart
• Guo Jisi
• Brannstrom Sebastian Rolf Johan
• Garms Jess

Classifications

• B60Q1/547

  for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake · CPC title

• B60Q1/543

  for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045) · CPC title

• B60Q1/507

  specific to autonomous vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q1/5037

  the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation · CPC title

• B60Q1/346

  with automatic actuation · CPC title