Expert mode for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192426-A1
Application number	US-201715398454-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and method are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an autonomous vehicle comprises determining that assistance is required for continued movement of the autonomous vehicle; and facilitating movement of the autonomous vehicle via implementation, by a processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, of manual instructions provided from a remote user that is remote from the autonomous vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
determining that assistance is required for continued movement of the autonomous vehicle; and facilitating movement of the autonomous vehicle via implementation, by a processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, of manual instructions provided from a remote user that is remote from the autonomous vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining the manual instructions, from the remote user, to relax a constraint of a roadway on which the autonomous vehicle is travelling that would interfere with movement of the autonomous vehicle; wherein the step of implementing the instructions comprises implementing the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle using the relaxed constraint.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining that an obstacle is obstructing proposed movement of the autonomous vehicle along an initial path; wherein:
the step of obtaining the manual instructions comprises obtaining manual instructions, from the remote user, to relax the constraint in facilitating movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle; and
the step of implementing the manual instructions comprises implementing the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of implementing the manual instructions comprises:
generating, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, an alternate path for the autonomous vehicle to move around the obstacle using the manual instructions for the relaxed constraint.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of implementing the manual instructions further comprises:
receiving manual confirmation, from the remote user, of the remote user's acceptance of the alternate path; and implementing the alternate path, upon receiving the manual confirmation, via instructions provided by the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the step of obtaining the manual instructions comprises:
obtaining manual instructions from the remote user to adjust a lane boundary of a roadway that would interfere with movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle; and
the step of implementing the manual instructions comprises:
implementing the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle using the adjusted lane boundary.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining that assistance is required comprises:
determining that assistance is required based at least in part on manual input from an individual.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determination that assistance is required is made based on a notice received from an occupant inside the autonomous vehicle seeking assistance.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determination that assistance is required is based on:
an indication received from a computer system of the autonomous vehicle regarding a condition that may require manual assistance; and a manual confirmation from the remote user confirming that manual assistance is required.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication regarding the condition is based upon a determination that the autonomous vehicle has not moved sufficiently along an initial path for at least a predetermined amount of time.

11 . A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising:
a remote computer module configured to determine that assistance is required for continued movement of the autonomous vehicle; and an autonomous vehicle computer module configured to facilitating movement of the autonomous vehicle via implementation, by a processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, of manual instructions provided from a remote user that is remote from the autonomous vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the remote computer module is configured to obtain manual instructions, from the remote user, to relax a constraint of a roadway on which the autonomous vehicle is travelling that would interfere with movement of the autonomous vehicle; and the autonomous vehicle computer module is configured to implement the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the autonomous vehicle computer module is configured to detect that an obstacle is obstructing proposed movement of the autonomous vehicle along an initial path; the remote computer module is configured to obtain manual instructions, from the remote user, to relax the constraint in facilitating movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle; and the autonomous vehicle computer module is further configured to implement the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the autonomous vehicle computer module is configured to generate, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, an alternate path for the autonomous vehicle to move around the obstacle using the manual instructions for the relaxed constraint.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the remote computer module is configured to receive manual confirmation, from the remote user, of the remote user's acceptance of the alternate path; and the autonomous vehicle computer module is configured to implement the alternate path, upon receiving the manual confirmation, via instructions provided by the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the remote computer module is configured to obtain manual instructions from the remote user to adjust a lane boundary of a roadway that would interfere with movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle; and the autonomous vehicle computer module is configured to implement the manual instructions, via the processor onboard the autonomous vehicle, to facilitate movement of the autonomous vehicle around the obstacle using the adjusted lane boundary.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the remote computer module is configured to determine that assistance is required based at least in part on manual input from an individual.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the remote computer module is configured to determine that assistance is required based on a notice received from an occupant inside the autonomous vehicle seeking assistance.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the remote computer module is configured to determine that assistance is required based on:
an indication received from a computer system of the autonomous vehicle regarding a condition that may require manual assistance, wherein the indication regarding the condition is based upon a determination that the autonomous vehicle has not moved sufficiently along an initial path for at least a predetermined amount of time; and a manual confirmation from the remote user confirming that manual assistance is required.

20 . A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising:
an interface disposed remote from the autonomous vehicle, the interface configured to receive manual instructions from a remote user, who is re

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Rust Ian

Classifications

• G08G1/00

  Traffic control systems for road vehicles (arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 {; automatic vehicle control B62D}) · CPC title

• B60W30/00 Primary

  Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units · CPC title

• G05D1/0088

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title

• G05D1/0011

  associated with a remote control arrangement · CPC title

• G05D1/0061 Primary

  for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa · CPC title