Autonomous Driving under User Instructions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018292829-A1
Application number	US-201715484060-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2017
Priority date	Apr 10, 2017
Publication date	Oct 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

System and method for a user to navigate an autonomous vehicle. In an aspect, if the user submits a forward command, the vehicle is arranged to go straight within a given distance. In another aspect, if the user submits a turn-right command, the vehicle is arranged to turn right and then go straight within a given distance. In yet another aspect, if the user doesn't enter any additional command within a given distance, the vehicle is arranged to go to a scheduled destination. In addition, multiple options including gadget-free methods are provided for vehicle check-in process.

First claim

1 . A method performed for navigating an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
1) receiving instructions requesting a driving maneuver from a user in the autonomous vehicle; 2) calculating a first and a second route segments in response to the instructions, the total length of the first and second route segments arranged equal to a predetermined value; 3) the first route segment generated for performing the driving maneuver; 4) the second route segment generated for navigating the autonomous vehicle after the driving maneuver is performed; 5) navigating the autonomous vehicle to travel along the first route segment autonomously; and 6) navigating the autonomous vehicle to travel along the second route segment autonomously.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the second route segment is arranged such that the autonomous vehicle travels straight through one or more intersections which are located on the second route segment when traveling straight through the one or more intersections is allowed.

3 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the driving maneuver is selected among no more than five options.

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the instructions are submitted by the user via pushing a button or shifting a knob of a joystick.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to a destination if the user doesn't request any additional driving maneuver during a time period when the user travels along the second route segments, the destination arranged before the receiving step happens.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further including stopping the autonomous vehicle at a place if the user doesn't request any additional driving maneuver during a time period when the autonomous vehicle travels along the second route segments.

7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the second route segment is arranged such that when travelling along the second route, the autonomous vehicle turns right at an intersection where only two options, turn-right and turn-left, are provided.

8 . A method performed for navigating an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
1) receiving instructions requesting a driving maneuver for passing through an intersection from a user in the autonomous vehicle; 2) performing the driving maneuver to navigate the autonomous vehicle to pass through the intersection; 3) monitoring a distance the autonomous vehicle travels starting from a location where the receiving step happens; and 4) after the driving maneuver is performed, navigating the autonomous vehicle to travel straight through one or more other intersections when the distance is below a predetermined value and traveling straight through the one or more other intersections is allowed.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further including receiving further instructions from the user and implementing additional driving maneuvers.

10 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the driving maneuver is selected among no more than five options.

11 . The method according to claim 8 wherein the instructions are submitted by the user via pushing a button or shifting a knob of a joystick.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to a destination if the user doesn't request any additional driving maneuver during a time period when the distance the autonomous vehicle travels is below the predetermined value, the destination arranged before the receiving step happens.

13 . The method according to claim 8 , further including stopping the autonomous vehicle at a place if the user doesn't request any additional driving maneuver during a time period when the distance the autonomous vehicle travels is below the predetermined value.

14 . The method according to claim 8 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to turn right at one of the one or more intersections where only two options, turn-right and turn-left, are provided.

15 . A method performed for navigating an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
1) providing no more than four navigational options for a user to select; 2) the no more than four navigational options containing forward, backward/U-turn, turn-left, and turn-right options, wherein the backward/U-turn option is arranged to represent a backward or U-turn command depending on road conditions; 3) monitoring whether the user submits first instructions to choose one of the no more than four navigational options; and 4) causing the autonomous vehicle to perform a driving maneuver after receiving the first instructions from the user, wherein the first instructions chooses one of the no more than four navigational options.

16 . The method according to claim 15 wherein the backward/U-turn option is arranged to represent a U-turn command when it is allowable to perform a U-turn and not allowed to drive the autonomous vehicle backwards.

17 . The method according to claim 15 wherein the backward/U-turn option is arranged to represent a backward command when it is allowed to drive the autonomous vehicle in reverse.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to travel straight through one or more intersections when traveling straight through the one or more intersections is allowed and a distance the autonomous vehicle travels is below a given value, wherein the distance starts from a location where the first instructions are received.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to a destination if the user doesn't submit any further instructions within a given distance starting from a location where the first instructions are received, the destination arranged before the causing step happens.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , further including navigating the autonomous vehicle to turn right at an intersection within a given distance starting from a location where the first instructions are received, wherein the intersection provides two options only, turn-right and turn-left.

Assignees

• Li Chian Chiu

Inventors

• Li Chian Chiu

Classifications

• B60W60/001

  Planning or execution of driving tasks · CPC title

• B60W2556/50

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

• B60W2540/215

  Selection or confirmation of options · CPC title

• G01S5/0027

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title