Systems and Methods for Controlling Autonomous Vehicles that Provide a Vehicle Service to Users

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018342157-A1
Application number	US-201715662327-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	May 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes obtaining data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user. The method includes determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method of determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times, comprising:
obtaining, by a computing system that comprises one or more computing devices onboard an autonomous vehicle, location data associated with a user device associated with a user; determining, by the computing system, an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device; obtaining, by the computing system, data associated with the user; determining, by the computing system, an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user; and determining, by the computing system, an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device comprises:
determining, by the computing system, a heading of the user based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device, wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the heading of the user.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device comprises:
determining, by the computing system, a distance between the user and the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device, wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the distance between the user and the autonomous vehicle.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device comprises:
determining, by the computing system, an altitude of the user based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device, wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the altitude of the user.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device comprises:
obtaining, by the computing system, historic data indicative of historic start boarding times, wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the historic data.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device comprises:
determining, by the computing system, the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on a machine-learned model.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the user comprises data indicative of one or more preferences of the user.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the user comprises data indicative of one or more vehicle service parameters associated with the user.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the user comprises historic data indicative of a boarding behavior associated with one or more other users.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing, by the computing system, one or more doors of the autonomous vehicle to unlock based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to implement one or more vehicle settings associated with the user based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device.

12 . A computing system for determining autonomous vehicle user boarding times, comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising: obtaining location data associated with a user device associated with a user of an autonomous vehicle; obtaining data associated with the user of the autonomous vehicle; and determining an estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device and the data associated with the user.

13 . The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining an estimated time of boarding duration for the user based at least in part on the data associated with the user; and determining an estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device, wherein determining the estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device and the data associated with the user comprises determining the estimated time until the user completes boarding of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle and the estimated time of boarding duration for the user.

14 . The computing system of claim 13 , wherein obtaining the location data associated with the user device comprises:
obtaining the location data via at least one altimeter located onboard the autonomous vehicle, wherein the operations further comprise determining an altitude of the user based at least in part on the location data obtained via the at least one altimeter, and wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the altitude of the user.

15 . The computing system of claim 13 , wherein obtaining the location data associated with the user device comprises:
obtaining data indicative of a location of the user determined based at least in part on image data associated with the user, and wherein the estimated time until the user starts boarding the autonomous vehicle is based at least in part on the location of the user.

16 . The computing system of claim 12 , wherein obtaining the location data associated with the user device comprises:
obtaining the location data based at least in part on a triangulation of signals via at least one of multiple input, multiple output communication between the autonomous vehicle and the user device, one or more Bluetooth low energy beacons located onboard the autonomous vehicle, or a light signal handshake between the user device and the autonomous vehicle.

17 . An autonomous vehicle comprising:
a communication system;

Assignees

• Uber Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Donnelly Richard Brian
• Aitken Michael

Classifications

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• G08G1/09623

  Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle (G08G1/0967 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/0112

  from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD] · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G01C21/3438

  Rendezvous; Ride sharing · CPC title