Remote control and concierge service for an autonomous transit vehicle fleet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964948-B2
Application number	US-201715429261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Apr 20, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems for assisting autonomous vehicles are provided. The methods and systems can help increase safety and consumer satisfaction with autonomous vehicles and help bridge the gap towards completely autonomy. A method for assisting autonomous vehicles can include providing an autonomous vehicle having sensory inputs and providing a remote control center having two-way communication with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can send its sensory input information to the control center and the control center can send control information to the autonomous vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for assisting autonomous vehicles, the method comprising:
providing an autonomous vehicle having a navigation system comprising sensory inputs; and
providing a control center having two-way communication with the autonomous vehicle, including the autonomous vehicle sending sensory input information to the control center and the control center sending control information to the autonomous vehicle;
the autonomous vehicle communicating events to the control center,
the events including when the autonomous vehicle determines that a threshold risk level has been met,
the determination that the threshold risk level has been met occurring when at least one of the following occurs: a pedestrian exhibiting unpredictable behavior in a roadway ahead of the autonomous vehicle; a pedestrian or bicyclist being in proximity to the autonomous vehicle or approaching the autonomous vehicle at a speed that exceeds a threshold approach speed; and the navigation system of the autonomous vehicle not functioning properly,
the control center comprising a simulator capable of controlling the autonomous vehicle in response to the autonomous vehicle determining that the threshold risk level has been met,
the simulator comprising a brake, an accelerator, a visual display, and a steering wheel.

2. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the events include a passenger pressing a passenger assistance button or a passenger pressing an emergency stop button.

3. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the sensory inputs include one or more exterior front-facing video cameras and one or more exterior rear-facing video cameras.

4. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 3 , wherein the control center controls steering, braking, and acceleration of the autonomous vehicle.

5. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 4 , wherein the control center controls the locking of doors, and opening and closing of doors and windows of the autonomous vehicle.

6. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 4 , wherein the control center controls a horn, one or more inside speakers, and one or more outside speakers of the autonomous vehicle.

7. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the control center controls and receives information from a plurality or fleet of autonomous vehicles.

8. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 6 , wherein the control center includes a user interface, including one or more speakers, one or more microphones, and one or more visual displays.

9. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 8 , wherein the control center is manned by an operator and the operator selects which sensory inputs are displayed via the user interface.

10. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the central server applies machine learning or fuzzy logic methods to analyze data from the sensory inputs to determine or respond to events.

11. A method for assisting autonomous vehicles, the method comprising:
providing an autonomous vehicle having a navigation system comprising sensory inputs; and
providing a control center having two-way communication with the autonomous vehicle, including the autonomous vehicle sending sensory input information to the control center and the control center sending control information to the autonomous vehicle;
the autonomous vehicle communicating events to the control center,
the sensory input information being saved,
the events including when the autonomous vehicle determines that a threshold risk level has been met,
the determination that the threshold risk level has been met occurring when at least one of the following occurs: a pedestrian exhibiting unpredictable behavior in a roadway ahead of the autonomous vehicle; a pedestrian or bicyclist being in proximity to the autonomous vehicle or approaching the autonomous vehicle at a speed that exceeds a threshold approach speed; and the navigation system of the autonomous vehicle not functioning properly,
the control center comprising a simulator capable of controlling the autonomous vehicle in response to the autonomous vehicle determining that the threshold risk level has been met,
the simulator comprising a brake, an accelerator, a visual display, and a steering wheel.

12. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 11 , the control center being capable of taking control of the autonomous vehicle without requiring the events.

13. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 11 , further comprising providing a central server that saves the sensory input information from the autonomous vehicle and the control information from the control center.

14. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 11 , wherein an operator of the control center replays the saved sensory input information.

15. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 13 , wherein the central server applies machine learning or fuzzy logic methods to analyze data from the sensory inputs to determine or respond to events.

16. A method for assisting autonomous vehicles, the method comprising:
providing an autonomous vehicle having a navigation system comprising sensory inputs, including one or more exterior front-facing video cameras and one or more exterior rear-Facing video cameras;
providing a control center having two-way communication with the autonomous vehicle, including the autonomous vehicle sending sensory input information to the control center and the control center sending control information to the autonomous vehicle;
controlling steering, braking, and acceleration of the autonomous vehicle from the control center;
providing a central server applies machine learning or fuzzy logic methods to analyze data from the sensory inputs to determine or respond to events; and
providing an immersive simulator within the control center;
the autonomous vehicle communicating the events to the control center,
the events including when the autonomous vehicle determines that a threshold risk level has been met,
the determination that the threshold risk level has been met occurring when at least one of the following occurs: a pedestrian exhibiting unpredictable behavior in a roadway ahead of the autonomous vehicle; a pedestrian or bicyclist being in proximity to the autonomous vehicle or approaching the autonomous vehicle at a speed that exceeds a threshold approach speed; and the navigation system of the autonomous vehicle not functioning properly,
the control center comprising a simulator capable of controlling the autonomous vehicle in response to the autonomous vehicle determining that the threshold risk level has been met,
the simulator comprising a brake, an accelerator, a visual display, and a steering wheel.

17. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 1 , the determination that the threshold risk level has been met occurring when the navigation system of the autonomous vehicle is not functioning properly.

18. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 11 , the determination that the threshold risk level has been met occurring when the navigation system of the autonomous vehicle is not functioning properly.

19. The method for assisting autonomous vehicles according to claim 16 , the determination that the threshold r

Assignees

• Ullrich Oliver
• Rishe Naphtali
• The Florida International Univ Board Of Trustees

Inventors

• Ullrich Oliver
• Rishe Naphtali

Classifications

• B60W2554/4026

  Cycles · CPC title

• B60W2554/4029

  Pedestrians · CPC title

• B60W60/005

  Handover processes (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227) · CPC title

• B60W60/0015

  specially adapted for safety · CPC title

• B60W60/0059

  Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity · CPC title