Location signaling with respect to an autonomous vehicle and a rider
Among other things, a signal is emitted from a signaling device and is captured by stimulus detectors location on a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle. Properties of the signal are analyzed, potentially in concert with other information, to determine the precise location of the signaling device and therefore the precise goal location for picking up a rider of the autonomous vehicle. In response to the calculation of the precise goal location, the autonomous vehicle attempts to travel to a location as near as possible to the precise goal location to facilitate entry of the rider into the vehicle.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by an autonomous vehicle system, a request for use of an autonomous vehicle from a user, the request including in indication of a general goal location, the general goal location having a first degree of precision and a first degree of accuracy regarding a location of the user;
instructing, by the autonomous vehicle system, the autonomous vehicle to proceed from an initial location towards the general goal location;
while the autonomous vehicle is proceeding from the initial location towards the general goal location, determining, by the autonomous vehicle system, a precise goal location, the precise goal location being within a vicinity of a general goal location, the precise location having a second degree of precision and a second degree of accuracy regarding the location of the user, wherein at least one of:
the second degree of precision is greater than the first degree of precision, or
the second degree of accuracy is greater than the first degree of accuracy, and
wherein the precise goal location is determined based on a wireless communication between the autonomous vehicle and the user when the autonomous vehicle and the user are within line-of-sight;
determining, by the autonomous vehicle system, a stopping place at which the autonomous vehicle and a user will engage in a destination goal location activity, the stopping place being within a vicinity of the precise goal location; and
instructing, by the autonomous vehicle system, the autonomous vehicle to proceed towards and stop at the stopping place.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precise goal location is the actual precise location of the user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precise goal location is determined based on a distance from the autonomous vehicle to one of the precise goal location and the general goal location.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the distance is determined comprising determining the distance repeatedly.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precise goal location is determined based on road data.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precise goal location changes over time.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle system to a mobile device associated with the user, a command to generate an image or series of images using a display of the mobile device, and
wherein determining the precise goal location comprises:
obtaining, by the autonomous vehicle system, sensor data comprising visual information regarding an environment of the autonomous vehicle,
identifying, by the autonomous vehicle system based on the sensor data, the image or the series of images in the environment of the autonomous vehicle, and
determining the precise goal location based on the identification of the image or the series of images in the environment of the autonomous vehicle.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle system to a mobile device associated with the user, a command to generate a sound using a speaker of the mobile device, and
wherein determining the precise goal location comprises:
obtaining, by the autonomous vehicle system, sensor data comprising auditory information regarding an environment of the autonomous vehicle,
identifying, by the autonomous vehicle system based on the sensor data, the sound in the environment of the autonomous vehicle, and
determining the precise goal location based on the identification of the sound in the environment of the autonomous vehicle.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the precise goal location comprises:
obtaining, by the autonomous vehicle system, sensor data comprising visual information regarding an environment of the autonomous vehicle,
identifying, by the autonomous vehicle system based on the sensor data, the user performing a pre-determined gesture in in the environment of the autonomous vehicle, and
determining the precise goal location based on the identification of the user performing the pre-determined gesture in the environment of the autonomous vehicle.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the autonomous vehicle system to a mobile device associated with the user, a command to generate a modulated sequence of light using the mobile device, and
wherein determining the precise goal location comprises:
obtaining, by the autonomous vehicle system, sensor data comprising visual information regarding an environment of the autonomous vehicle,
identifying, by the autonomous vehicle system based on the sensor data, the modulated sequence of light in the environment of the autonomous vehicle, and
determining the precise goal location based on the identification of the modulated sequence of light in the environment of the autonomous vehicle.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the precise goal location comprises:
determining, based on the wireless communication, a bearing of a user relative to the autonomous vehicle;
responsive to determining the bearing of a user relative to the autonomous vehicle, instructing the autonomous vehicle to direct a directional sensor towards the determined bearing; and
determining a distance between the user and the autonomous vehicle based on sensor data obtained from the directional sensor.