TAXI CLIENT IDENTIFICATION FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES
An automated-taxi client identification system for automated vehicles includes a communications-network, a camera, and a controller. The communications-network is used to send a transportation-request from a client to an automated-taxi, and communicate an identification-code to be displayed by the client. The camera is used by the automated-taxi to capture an image of a pickup-zone. The controller is in communication with the camera and the communications-network. The controller determines when the identification-code is detected in the image and determines a location of the client based on a position of the identification-code in the image.
1 . An automated-taxi client identification system for automated vehicles, said system comprising:
a communications-network used to send a transportation-request from a client to an automated-taxi, and communicate an identification-code to be displayed by the client;
a camera used by the automated-taxi to capture an image of a pickup-zone; and
a controller in communication with the camera and the communications-network, wherein the controller determines when the identification-code is detected in the image and determines a location of the client based on a position of the identification-code in the image.
2 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the identification-code is displayed on a personal-communications-device operated by the client.
3 . The system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the identification-code includes one of a light-pulse-sequence, a color, a color-pattern, and a color-sequence.
4 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the identification-code is displayed by a gesture performed by the client.
5 . The system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the gesture includes one of indicating a number using fingers on a hand of the client and a waving-pattern.
6 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the automated-taxi follows the client to a pickup-spot when the client moves away from the location.
7 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the system notifies the client when the location of the client has been determined.
8 . The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the client displays a follow-me message after the system notifies the client that the location of the client has been determined, and the automated-taxi follows the client to a pickup-spot when the client moves away from the location.