IP Library Granted Patent US 10,168,703
Granted Patent B1
US 10,168,703 · App. 15/409,271 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Autonomous vehicle component malfunction impact assessment

Inventors: Blake Konrardy (Bloomington, IL); Scott T. Christensen (Salem, OR); Gregory Hayward (Bloomington, IL); Scott Farris (Bloomington, IL)
Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
G05D1/0088B60R16/0234G06Q40/08G07C5/006G07C5/008G07C5/0808G07C5/0816
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,168,703
App. No.
15/409,271
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. A risk of malfunction and/or cyber-attack may be determined by collecting operating data from a plurality of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes. The operating data may be analyzed to identify occurrences of a component malfunctioning. For each component, a risk associated with malfunctioning and/or cyber-attack may be determined based upon the identified occurrences. Based on the risks, at least one result associated with the malfunction and/or cyber-attack may be determined. A component profile may be generated based upon the determined risk and/or the impact of the determined results.

Claims (48)

1. A computer-implemented method for assessing a component configured for use in autonomous vehicles, comprising:

collecting, by one or more processors, operating information from a plurality of autonomous vehicles each having a plurality of components, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles includes at least one instance of the component to be assessed;

identifying, by one or more processors, occurrences of the component malfunctioning in the operating information;

determining, by one or more processors, at least one risk of malfunction associated with the component based upon the identified occurrences of the component malfunctioning;

determining, by one or more processors, at least one result of each identified occurrence of the component malfunctioning, each result indicating an impact of the occurrence of the component malfunctioning on at least one of the following: a risk of a vehicle collision or severity of a vehicle collision; and

generating, by one or more processors, a component profile for the component indicating one or more combinations of risk and impact associated with the component malfunctioning.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component is a version of a software program.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component is a type of sensor configured to provide sensor data for use in controlling autonomous vehicles.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the severity of the vehicle collision indicates at least one of damage associated with the vehicle collision, injuries associated with the vehicle collision, or costs associated with the vehicle collision.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component profile includes one or more scores that each indicate an expected value of the impact of malfunctioning of the component.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component profile indicates a plurality of combinations, each further associated with additional components configured to interact with the component within the plurality of autonomous vehicles.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component profile indicates a plurality of combinations, each further associated with adjustable settings for at least one autonomous operation feature associated with the component.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component profile indicates a plurality of combinations, each further associated with usage conditions of the plurality of autonomous vehicles.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the component profile further indicates an expected usable lifetime of the component, the expected usable lifetime being an estimate of time or distance before malfunction of the component.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the impact is further based upon one or more mitigating actions of an autonomous vehicle operating system taken in response to occurrences of the component malfunctioning.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more mitigating actions are associated with software versions of the autonomous vehicle operating system.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more mitigating actions include using data from a redundant component of the same type as the component when the component malfunctions.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information regarding a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; and

generating, by one or more processors, a risk profile for the autonomous vehicle based upon one or more component profile entries corresponding to the plurality of components.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, at least one of the plurality of components to be adjusted by repairing, replacing, updating, or upgrading the component;

generating, by one or more processors, a message recommending the at least one of the plurality of components be adjusted; and

communicating the message to at least one of an owner or an operator of the autonomous vehicle.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the message includes an indication of a reduction in risk or a reduction in a cost associated with an insurance policy associated with the recommended adjustment to the component.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operating information includes operating data associated with the plurality of autonomous vehicles.

17. A computer system configured for use in autonomous vehicles, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more transceivers adapted to communicate with autonomous vehicles; and

a non-transitory program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

collect operating information from a plurality of autonomous vehicles each having a plurality of components via the one or more transceivers, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles includes at least one instance of the component to be assessed;

identify occurrences of the component malfunctioning in the operating information;

determine at least one risk of malfunction associated with the component based upon the identified occurrences of the component malfunctioning;

determine at least one result of each identified occurrence of the component malfunctioning, each result indicating an impact of the occurrence of the component malfunctioning on at least one of the following: a risk of a vehicle collision or severity of a vehicle collision; and

generate a component profile for the component indicating one or more combinations of risk and impact associated with the component malfunctioning.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:

receive information regarding a plurality of components of an autonomous vehicle; and

generate a risk profile for the autonomous vehicle based upon one or more component profile entries corresponding to the plurality of components.

19. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:

determine at least one of the plurality of components to be adjusted by repairing, replacing, updating, or upgrading the component;

generate a message recommending the at least one of the plurality of components be adjusted; and

communicate the message to at least one of an owner or an operator of the autonomous vehicle.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that when executed cause one or more processors to:

collect operating information from a plurality of autonomous vehicles each having a plurality of components, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles includes at least one instance of the component to be assessed;

identify occurrences of the component malfunctioning in the operating information;

determine at least one risk of malfunction associated with the component based upon the identified occurrences of the component malfunctioning;

determine at least one result of each identified occurrence of the component malfunctioning, each result indicating an impact of the occurrence of the component malfunctioning on at least one of the following: a risk of a vehicle collision or severity of a vehicle collision; and

generate a component profile for the component indicating one or more combinations of risk and impact associated with the component malfunctioning.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2023
From: HYUNDAI; KIA
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062290/0655 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2022
From: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
To: HYUNDAI; KIA
Reel/Frame 062190/0037 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: KONRARDY, BLAKE; CHRISTENSEN, SCOTT T.; HAYWARD, GREGORY; FARRIS, SCOTT
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041471/0673 →
Continuity (35)
Provisional Application 62434359 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62434355 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62434361 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62434370 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62434368 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62434365 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62430215 · Dec 5, 2016
Provisional Application 62428843 · Dec 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62424078 · Nov 18, 2016
Provisional Application 62424093 · Nov 18, 2016
Provisional Application 62419017 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62418999 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62419009 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62418988 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62419023 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62419002 · Nov 8, 2016
Provisional Application 62415672 · Nov 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62415668 · Nov 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62415678 · Nov 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62415673 · Nov 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62406605 · Oct 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62406600 · Oct 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62406595 · Oct 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62406611 · Oct 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62381848 · Aug 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62380686 · Aug 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62376044 · Aug 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62373084 · Aug 10, 2016
Provisional Application 62351559 · Jun 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62349884 · Jun 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62312109 · Mar 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62303500 · Mar 4, 2016
Provisional Application 62302990 · Mar 3, 2016
Provisional Application 62287659 · Jan 27, 2016
Provisional Application 62286017 · Jan 22, 2016
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