Vehicle, vehicle platform, vehicle control interface box, autonomous driving kit, control method of vehicle, and control method of vehicle platform for platform-adaptive control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365359-B2
Application number	US-202217890437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2022
Priority date	Oct 27, 2021
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

The VCIB includes a memory, a communication unit, and a processor. The memory stores beforehand pieces of execution information that are used to execute processes corresponding respectively to a plurality of APIs included in an API set that is a combination of APIs for requesting the VP to execute a predetermined function and requesting transmission of predetermined information from the VP. The communication unit receives, from the ADK, a request according to an API included in a permitted API set that the ADK is permitted to use beforehand. The processor executes a process corresponding to the request received by the communication unit by using execution information for an API relating to the request that is stored in the memory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising a vehicle platform having functions to run, turn, and stop, an autonomous driving kit that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle platform and gives an instruction for autonomous driving to the vehicle platform, and a vehicle control interface box that outputs a control command for controlling the vehicle platform, wherein:
the vehicle control interface box includes memory and one or more processors;
the memory being configured to store pieces of execution information that are used to execute processes corresponding respectively to a plurality of application program interfaces (APIs) included in an API set that is a combination of APIs for requesting the vehicle platform to execute a predetermined function and requesting transmission of predetermined information from the vehicle platform, the pieces of execution information being stored for a plurality of types of API sets beforehand;
the plurality of types of API sets include a first API set that corresponds to the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed and a second API set that corresponds to a vehicle platform different from the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed;
the one or more processors are configured to:
receive, from the autonomous driving kit, a request according to an API included in a permitted API set that the autonomous driving kit is permitted to use beforehand among the plurality of types of API sets; and
execute a process corresponding to the request by using execution information for an API relating to the request among the pieces of execution information for the permitted API set stored in the memory.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive authentication information that allows identification of the permitted API set from the autonomous driving kit; and
determine whether permission for use of the permitted API set identified by the authentication information is genuine; and

when the one or more processors determine that permission for use of the permitted API set is genuine, the one or more processors execute the process corresponding to the request.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a manufacturer of the vehicle, the vehicle platform, or the vehicle control interface box provides a manufacturer of the autonomous driving kit with the authentication information to use the permitted API set beforehand.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein after determining that permission for use of the permitted API set is genuine, the one or more processors are configured to execute processes corresponding to subsequent requests according to APIs included in the permitted API set without performing a determination of whether each API corresponding to each subsequent request is a permitted API, for either a predetermined number of subsequent requests or until a predetermined time period has elapsed.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the autonomous driving kit and the vehicle control interface box are connected to each other through an on-board communication network.

6. A vehicle platform having functions to run, turn, and stop, wherein:
the vehicle platform includes a vehicle control interface box that outputs a control command for controlling the vehicle platform;
the vehicle control interface box includes memory and one or more processors;
the memory stores pieces of execution information that are used to execute processes corresponding respectively to a plurality of APIs included in an API set that is a combination of APIs for requesting the vehicle platform to execute a predetermined function and requesting transmission of predetermined information from the vehicle platform, the pieces of execution information being stored for a plurality of types of API sets beforehand;
the plurality of types of API sets include a first API set that corresponds to the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed and a second API set that corresponds to a vehicle platform different from the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed;
the one or more processors receive, from an autonomous driving kit that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle platform and gives an instruction for autonomous driving to the vehicle platform, a request according to an API included in a permitted API set that the autonomous driving kit is permitted to use beforehand among the plurality of types of API sets; and
the one or more processors execute a process corresponding to the request by using execution information for an API relating to the request among the pieces of execution information for the permitted API set stored in the memory.

7. A vehicle control interface box that is installed in a vehicle platform having functions to run, turn, and stop and outputs a control command for controlling the vehicle platform, wherein:
the vehicle control interface box comprises memory and one or more processors;
the memory stores pieces of execution information that are used to execute processes corresponding respectively to a plurality of APIs included in an API set that is a combination of APIs for requesting the vehicle platform to execute a predetermined function and requesting transmission of predetermined information from the vehicle platform, the pieces of execution information being stored for a plurality of types of API sets beforehand;
the plurality of types of API sets include a first API set that corresponds to the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed and a second API set that corresponds to a vehicle platform different from the vehicle platform on which the vehicle control interface box is installed;
the one or more processors receive, from an autonomous driving kit that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle platform and gives an instruction for autonomous driving to the vehicle platform, a request according to an API included in a permitted API set that the autonomous driving kit is permitted to use beforehand among a plurality of types of API sets; and
the one or more processors execute a process corresponding to the request by using execution information for an API relating to the request among the pieces of execution information for the permitted API set stored in the memory.

8. An autonomous driving kit that is attachable to and detachable from a vehicle platform having functions to run, turn, and stop and gives an instruction for autonomous driving to the vehicle platform, the autonomous driving kit comprising a processor configured to:
transmit, to the vehicle platform, a request according to an API included in a permitted API set that the autonomous driving kit is permitted to use beforehand among a plurality of types of API sets that is each a combination of APIs for requesting the vehicle platform to execute a predetermined function and requesting transmission of predetermined information from the vehicle platform, wherein
the plurality of types of API sets include a first API set that corresponds to the vehicle platform, and a second API set that corresponds to a vehicle platform different from the vehicle platform,
in the vehicle platform, a process corresponding to the request is executed by using execution information for an API relating to the request among pieces of execution information that are used to execute processes corresponding respectively to a plurality of APIs included in the permitted API set.

9. A control method of a vehicle including a vehicle platform having functions to run, turn, and stop, an autonomous driving kit that is attach

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sasaki Tomo

Classifications

• G01S13/86

  Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder · CPC title

• G01S2013/932

  using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction · CPC title

• G01S7/003

  Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/4813

  Housing arrangements · CPC title