System and method for granting access to an autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330588-B2
Application number	US-202217931335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2022
Priority date	Sep 24, 2021
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A system for granting access to an autonomous vehicle comprises the autonomous vehicle, a control device, and a communication device associated with the autonomous vehicle. The communication device receives a signal from a device associated with a user that indicates the user requests the autonomous vehicle to pull over. The control device pulls the autonomous vehicle over to a side of road traveled by the autonomous vehicle. The control device receives a credential associated with the user. The control device determines whether the credential is verified. In response to determining that the credential is verified, the control device grants the user to access the autonomous vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a control device associated with an autonomous vehicle and comprising:
a communication device configured to receive, from a computing device associated with a user, a signal comprising a request for the autonomous vehicle to come to a safe stop, wherein the computing device is remote with respect to the autonomous vehicle; and
at least one processor, operably coupled with the communication device, and configured to perform operations comprising:
in response to receiving the signal;
causing the autonomous vehicle to perform a safe stop maneuver;
receiving a credential associated with the user;
determining whether the credential associated with the user is verified; and
in response to determining that the credential associated with the user is verified, granting the user access to the autonomous vehicle;
wherein the control device is further configured to:
detect that a particular part of a road does not receive enough light based on a particular portion of an image received from sensors having a light condition level less than a threshold light level; and
adjust a headlight of the autonomous vehicle to illuminate the particular part of the road that is shown in the particular portion of the image.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining that the credential associated with the user is not verified, denying the user access to the autonomous vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a computing device, including a laptop, a mobile phone, or a tablet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is located in a compartment external to a cab of the autonomous vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is located inside a cab of the autonomous vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein granting access to the autonomous vehicle comprises making the communication device accessible from outside of the autonomous vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein granting access to the autonomous vehicle comprises displaying data associated with the autonomous vehicle, and
wherein the data associated with the autonomous vehicle comprises at least one of a cargo carried by the autonomous vehicle, health data associated with one or more components of the autonomous vehicle, and a routing plan of the autonomous vehicle.

8. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a control device, a signal comprising a request for an autonomous vehicle to come to a safe stop, wherein the signal is received from a computing device associated with a user, wherein the computing device is remote with respect to the autonomous vehicle;
in response to receiving the signal;
causing the autonomous vehicle to perform a safe stop maneuver; receiving a credential associated with the user;
determining whether the credential associated with the user is verified; and
in response to determining that the credential associated with the user is verified, granting the user access to the autonomous vehicle;
detecting that a particular part of a road does not receive enough light based on a particular portion of an image received from sensors having a light condition level less than a threshold light level; and
adjusting a headlight of the autonomous vehicle to illuminate the particular part of the road that is shown in the particular portion of the image.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein granting the user access to the autonomous vehicle comprises unlocking a door of a cab of the autonomous vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein granting the user access to the autonomous vehicle comprises providing audio and/or video communication between the user and a remote operator via a network communication path.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein granting the user access to the autonomous vehicle comprises allowing downloading data associated with the autonomous vehicle, and
wherein the data associated with the autonomous vehicle comprises at least one of cargo carried by the autonomous vehicle, health data associated with one or more components of the autonomous vehicle, and a routing plan of the autonomous vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the credential associated with the user comprises an identification card, and wherein determining that the credential associated with the user is verified comprises:
capturing, by a camera coupled to the control device, a first image of the identification card;
comparing the first image of the identification card and a second image of the identification card previously stored in a memory associated with the control device; and determining that the first image of the identification card matches the second image of the identification card.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the credential associated with the user comprises a quick response code, and wherein determining that the credential associated with the user is verified further comprises:
capturing a first image of the quick response code by a camera coupled to the control device;
comparing the first image of the quick response code with a second image of the quick response code stored in a memory associated with the control device; and
determining that the first image of the quick response code matches the second image of the quick response code.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the credential associated with the user comprises a biometric feature, and wherein determining that the credential associated with the user is verified further comprises:
capturing a first scan of the biometric feature by a biometric scanner coupled to the control device;
comparing the first scan of the biometric feature with a second scan of the biometric feature previously stored in a memory associated with the control device; and
determining that the first scan of the biometric feature matches the second scan of the biometric feature.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the biometric feature comprises at least one of a fingerprint and a retinal scan of features associated with the user, and
wherein the biometric scanner comprises at least one of a fingerprint scanner and a retinal scanner.

16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving sensor data from a sensor located on the autonomous vehicle;
detecting, based on the sensor data, an indication that the autonomous vehicle should come to a safe stop; and
in response to the indication being detected, causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the safe stop maneuver.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a microphone, a camera, a light detection and ranging sensor, an infrared sensor, and a radar.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting the indication that the autonomous vehicle should come to a safe stop comprises detecting one or more of a sound emitted by a siren device of another vehicle, a speech command emitted by a loudspeaker device of the another vehicle, and flashing lights produced by warning light source on the another vehicle.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the autonomous vehicle comprises a semi-truck tractor unit attached to a trailer.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive, from a computing device associated with a user, a signal comprising a request for an autonomous vehicle to come to a safe stop, wherein the computing device is r

Assignees

• Tusimple Inc

Inventors

• Hsu Yu-Ju
• Han Xiaoling

Classifications

• B60W60/0015

  specially adapted for safety · CPC title

• B60R2325/20

  Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G08G1/0965

  responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle · CPC title

• B60W2300/145

  Semi-trailers · CPC title