IP Library Granted Patent US 9,688,288
Granted Patent B1
US 9,688,288 · App. 15/064,219 · Granted Jun 27, 2017

Geofencing for auto drive route planning

Inventors: William Brian Lathrop (San Jose, CA); Nathaniel Paffett-Lugassy (San Francisco, CA)
Assignees: Volkswagen AG et al.; Audi AG
B60W50/14G01C21/34G05D1/0088
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,688,288
App. No.
15/064,219
Granted
Jun 27, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system of a semi-autonomous driving vehicle for transitioning from a semi- autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode. A navigation system to determine a route to a destination. A vehicle head unit to receive data that comprises information related to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination. A processor to process the received data to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in autonomous mode is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited. The semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a notification to the driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

Claims (40)

1. A system of a semi-autonomous driving vehicle for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, the system comprising:

a navigation system to determine a route to a destination;

a vehicle head unit to receive data that comprises information related to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination;

a processor to process the received data to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in autonomous driving mode is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited;

a means for notifying a driver which issues a notification to the driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited,

wherein the vehicle reengages autonomous driving mode after performing a minimal risk maneuver in response to a determination that doing so does not create a specified level of risk and the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is not within a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited after a first predetermined period of time in which the driver has not assumed control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle performs a minimal risk maneuver to prevent autonomous driving in a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited in response to determining the driver is not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on the driver not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in a second predetermined period of time after the warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is at least one of static, dynamic, stationary, and/or mobile.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited changes in size depending on an event that varies with time.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the received data is received from a mobile computing device or an application running on the mobile computing device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is established through a beacon system.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the navigation system alters a determined navigation route based on information regarding geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating a location of permanent geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is stored in a database accessible by the head unit of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

10. A method for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, the method comprising: receiving data at a head unit of an semi-autonomous driving vehicle, said data comprising information relating to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along a determined route to a destination;

processing the data in a processor of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle when the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited; and

issuing a notification to a driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited,

wherein the vehicle reengages autonomous driving mode after performing a minimal risk maneuver in response to a determination that doing so does not create a specified level of risk and the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is not within a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited after a first predetermined period of time in which the driver has not assumed control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle performs a minimal risk maneuver to prevent autonomous driving in a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited in response to determining the driver is not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on the driver not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in a second predetermined period of time after the warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is at least one of static, dynamic, stationary, and/or mobile.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited changes in size depending on an event that varies with time.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the received data is received from a mobile computing device or an application running on the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is established through a beacon system.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising altering a determined navigation route by a navigation system included within the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on information regarding geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the data indicating a location of permanent geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is stored in a database accessible by the head unit of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

19. A system of a semi-autonomous driving vehicle for transitioning from a semi-autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, the system comprising:

a navigation system to determine a route to a destination;

a vehicle head unit to receive data that comprises information related to a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination;

a processor to process the received data to determine if the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in autonomous driving mode is approaching a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited;

a notification system included in the vehicle that issues a notification to the driver of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle requesting the driver to manually drive the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in response to a determination that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited,

wherein the vehicle reengages autonomous driving mode after performing a minimal risk maneuver in response to a determination that doing so does not create a specified level of risk and the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is not within a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle issues a warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited after a first predetermined period of time in which the driver has not assumed control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the semi-autonomous driving vehicle performs a minimal risk maneuver to prevent autonomous driving in a geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited in response to determining the driver is not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle based on the driver not assuming control of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle in a second predetermined period of time after the warning notification warning that the semi-autonomous driving vehicle is approaching the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is at least one of static, dynamic, stationary, and/or mobile.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited changes in size depending on an event that varies with time.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the received data is received from a mobile computing device or an application running on the mobile computing device.

25. The system of claim 19 , wherein the geographic zone in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is established through a beacon system.

26. The system of claim 19 , wherein the navigation system alters a determined navigation route based on information regarding geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited along the determined route to the destination.

27. The system of claim 19 , wherein the data indicating a location of permanent geographic zones in which autonomous driving is discouraged or prohibited is stored in a database accessible by the head unit of the semi-autonomous driving vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: LATHROP, WILLIAM BRIAN; PAFFETT-LUGASSY, NATHANIEL
To: VOLKSWAGEN AG; AUDI AG
Reel/Frame 037923/0921 →