System and method for repositioning vehicles in a geographic area based on utilization metric

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12597299-B2
Application number	US-202217881545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2022
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for managing personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) across a geographic region. One or more sensor-equipped vehicles traverse the region and collect sensor data, which is used by a computing system to determine the respective state and location of PMVs. Based on these determinations, the system generates a utilization value for the PMVs and compares it to a predefined utilization metric reflecting desired deployment levels. The system then provides instructions to reposition PMVs within the region to satisfy the utilization metric, enabling automated, demand-responsive fleet balancing and reduced reliance on manual monitoring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
determining, by a computing system, respective states and respective locations of one or more personal mobility vehicles in a geographic region based on sensor data collected by one or more sensor-equipped vehicles; determining, by the computing system, a utilization metric that measures utilization of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region based on the respective states and respective locations; generating, by the computing system, one or more predictions of utilization for the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the respective states, the respective locations, and contextual information comprising a date, day of week, or time of day during which the sensor data was collected; comparing, by the computing system, the one or more predictions of utilization with the utilization metric for repositioning the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region; providing, by the computing system, one or more instructions to reposition the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region or to remove personal mobility vehicles from the geographic region for fleet balancing purposes; and providing, by the computing system, one or more routing instructions to route the one or more sensor-equipped vehicles to reconnaissance along a road on which the one or more personal mobility vehicles are determined to be located based on the sensor data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing system, an issue associated with a designated location in the geographic region based on the sensor data; and providing, by the computing system, information associated with the issue to a transportation management system, wherein the transportation management system sends out notifications to reposition the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the information.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing, by the computing system, one or more instructions to the one or more sensor-equipped vehicles for routing through a portion of the geographic region to gather sensor data in the portion of the geographic region.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating, by the computing system, a map of the geographic region based on the sensor data, wherein the updating the map comprises:
updating, by the computing system, the respective location of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the map; and
updating, by the computing system, a respective label of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the map based on the respective state.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
managing, by the computing system, the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the updated map of the geographic region.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing system, designated locations for parking the one or more personal mobility vehicles; and determining, by the computing system, a number of personal mobility vehicles parked at the designated locations based on the sensor data, wherein the utilization metric is further based on a number of remaining locations among the designated locations for parking.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing system, a level of demand for personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region, wherein the utilization metric is further based on the level of demand.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the utilization metric is associated with one or more concentrations of personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region, and wherein the one or more instructions cause the one or more personal mobility vehicles to reposition in the geographic region to achieve a selected concentration.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing system, a presence of one or more riders in the one or more personal mobility vehicles, wherein the respective states of the one or more personal mobility vehicles that have the one or more riders are determined to be active.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions include notifications to reposition in the geographic region in anticipation of increased demand in the geographic region.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the respective states comprises categorizing the one or more personal mobility vehicles into one of an active state, a hazard state, a nuisance state, or an inoperable state based on the sensor data.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data indicates whether personal mobility vehicle obstructs road or pedestrian traffic, is not parked at a designated location, is not in an upright position, or is physically damaged.

13 . A system comprising:
at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform:
determining respective states and respective locations of one or more personal mobility vehicles in a geographic region based on sensor data collected by one or more sensor-equipped vehicles;
determining a utilization metric that measures utilization of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region based on the respective state and respective location;
generating one or more predictions of utilization for the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the respective states, the respective locations, and contextual information comprising a date, day of week, or time of day during which the sensor data was collected;
comparing the one or more predictions of utilization with the utilization metric for repositioning the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region;
providing one or more instructions to reposition the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the geographic region or to remove personal mobility vehicles from the geographic region for fleet balancing purposes; and
providing one or more routing instructions to route the one or more sensor-equipped vehicles to reconnaissance along a road on which the one or more personal mobility vehicles are determined to be located based on the sensor data.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to perform:
determining an issue associated with a designated location in the geographic region based on the sensor data; and providing information associated with the issue to a transportation management system, wherein the transportation management system sends out notifications to reposition the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the information.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to perform:
providing one or more instructions to the one or more sensor-equipped vehicles for routing through a portion of the geographic region to gather sensor data in the portion of the geographic region.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to perform:
updating a map of the geographic region based on the sensor data, wherein the updating the map comprises:
updating the respective location of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the map; and
updating a respective label of the one or more personal mobility vehicles in the map based on the respective state; and
managing the one or more personal mobility vehicles based on the updated map of the geographic region.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium incl

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Clément Romain
• Whinnery Joseph Patrick Wendell

Classifications

• G01S17/86

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• G06Q10/06311 Primary

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• G01S7/003

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