Engaging and disengaging for autonomous driving

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200326-A1
Application number	US-201615075878-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Nov 30, 2012
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors from a passenger of a vehicle, a request to operate the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, using, by the one or more processors, the determination that a passenger's seat belt is not properly bucked; generating, by the one or more processors, a set of tasks based on at least the determination that the passenger's seat belt is not properly buckled, wherein a first task of the set of tasks includes properly buckling the passenger's seat belt, each task of the set of tasks being assigned a priority level; selecting the first task based on the priority levels of the set of tasks; displaying, by the one or more processors on a display of the vehicle, to the passenger of the vehicle a request to complete the first task; only upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, allowing, by the one or more processors, the vehicle to operate in the autonomous driving mode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first task has been completed; selecting a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority levels of the tasks of the set of tasks; and displaying a request to complete the second task.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
reassessing the priority levels of the set of tasks after the first task has been completed and is no longer included in the set of tasks, and wherein selecting the second task is further based on the reassessed priority levels.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks cannot be completed by the passenger and must be completed by the one or more processors.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks involves maneuvering the vehicle to a specific location by the passenger.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based on a characteristic of a roadway.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based on the location of the vehicle relative to a roadway.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based whether the vehicle has met a minimum maintenance standard.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the first task is completed, generating a new set of tasks, each task of the new set of tasks being associated with a new priority level; selecting a second task of the new set of tasks based on the new priority levels, and wherein the vehicle is allowed to operate in the autonomous driving mode only upon determining that all of the tasks of the new set of tasks are completed.

10 . A system comprising:
one or more processors of one or more computing devices associated with a vehicle, the one or more processors being configured to: receive, from a passenger of a vehicle, a request to operate the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, use the determination that a passenger's seat belt is not properly bucked; generate a set of tasks based on at least the determination that the passenger's seat belt is not properly buckled, wherein a first task of the set of tasks includes properly buckling the passenger's seat belt, each task of the set of tasks being assigned a priority level; select the first task based on the priority levels of the set of tasks; display, on a display of the vehicle to the passenger of the vehicle, a request to complete the first task; only upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, allow the vehicle to operate in the autonomous driving mode.

11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising the vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine that the first task has been completed; select a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority levels of the tasks of the set of tasks; and display a request to complete the second task.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
reassess the priority levels of the set of tasks after the first task has been completed and is no longer included in the set of tasks, and wherein selecting the second task is further based on the reassessed priority levels.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks cannot be completed by the passenger and must be completed by the one or more processors.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks involves maneuvering the vehicle to a specific location by the passenger.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based on a characteristic of a roadway.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based on the location of the vehicle relative to a roadway.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one task of the set of tasks is generated further based whether the vehicle has met a minimum maintenance standard.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
after the first task is completed, generate a new set of tasks, each task of the new set of tasks being associated with a new priority level; select a second task of the new set of tasks based on the new priority levels, and wherein the vehicle is allowed to operate in the autonomous driving mode only upon determining that all of the tasks of the new set of tasks are completed.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Cullinane Brian Douglas
• Nemec Philip
• Clement Manuel Christian
• Mariet Robertus Christianus Elisabeth
• Jonsson Lilli Ing-Marie

Classifications

• B60W60/0051 Primary

  from occupants to vehicle · CPC title

• B60W2552/30

  Road curve radius · CPC title

• B60W2554/801

  Lateral distance · CPC title

• B60W2552/20

  Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments · CPC title

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title