SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IN A CONNECTED DRIVE MODE

1 . A system for controlling multiple autonomous vehicles, the system comprising:

a server, communicatively coupled to a source device and a recipient device, the server including an electronic processor configured to

receive, from the source device, a connected mode trip request including a first starting point for a first autonomous vehicle, a destination, a first departure time, and a participant request;

receive a second starting point for a second autonomous vehicle based on the participant request;

determine a first route including a destination arrival time based on the first starting point, the destination, and the first departure time;

determine a second route based on the second starting point and the destination;

determine a second departure time based on the second route and the destination arrival time;

send, to the recipient device, an invitation, including the second route and the second departure time;

receive, from the recipient device, a response to the invitation; and

send a notification based on the response to the source device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source device is one selected from a group consisting of the first autonomous vehicle and a first mobile electronic device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the recipient device is one selected from a group consisting of the second autonomous vehicle and a second mobile electronic device.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to

send, to the source device, a first reminder alert based on the first departure time; and

send, to the recipient device, a second reminder alert based on the second departure time.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to receive at least one status update;

determine at least one route adjustment based on the at least status update; and

send the at least one route adjustment to at least one a group consisting of the source device and the recipient device.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one status update is received from at least one of a group consisting of the first autonomous vehicle, the second autonomous vehicle, a first mobile electronic device, a second mobile electronic device, and an external service.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to

determine a merge point based on the first route and the second route;

determine a first merge route, including a merge point arrival time and a merge destination arrival time, based on the first route and the merge point;

determine a second merge route based on the second route and the merge point; and

determine a merge route departure time based on the second merge route, the merge point arrival time, and the merge destination arrival time;

wherein the invitation further includes the second merge route and the merge route departure time.

8 . A method for controlling multiple autonomous vehicles, the method comprising:

receiving, from a source device, a connected mode trip request including a first starting point for a first autonomous vehicle, a destination, a first departure time, and a participant request;

receiving a second starting point for a second autonomous vehicle based on the participant request;

determining, with an electronic processor, a first route including a destination arrival time, based on the first starting point, the destination, and the first departure time;

determining, with the electronic processor, a second route based on the second starting point and the destination;

determining, with the electronic processor, a second departure time based on the second route and the destination arrival time;

sending, to a recipient device, an invitation, including the second route and the second departure time;

receiving, from the recipient device, a response to the invitation; and

sending, to the source device, a notification based on the response.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the connected mode trip request includes receiving the connected mode trip request from one selected from a group consisting of the first autonomous vehicle and a first mobile electronic device.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein sending the invitation includes sending the invitation to one selected from a group consisting of the second autonomous vehicle and a second mobile electronic device.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

sending, to the source device, a first reminder alert based on the first departure time; and

sending, to the recipient device, a second reminder alert based on the second departure time.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, with the electronic processor, at least one status update;

determining, with the electronic processor, at least one route adjustment based on the at least status update; and

sending, with the electronic processor, the at least one route adjustment to at least one a group consisting of the source device and the recipient device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving the at least one status update includes receiving the at least one status update from at least one of a group consisting of the first autonomous vehicle, the second autonomous vehicle, a first mobile electronic device, a second mobile electronic device, and an external service.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining, with the electronic processor, a merge point based on the first route and the second route;

determining, with the electronic processor, a first merge route, including a merge point arrival time and a merge destination arrival time, based on the first route and the merge point;

determining, with the electronic processor, a second merge route based on the second route and the merge point; and

determining, with the electronic processor, a merge route departure time based on the second merge route, the merge point arrival time, and the merge destination arrival time;

wherein sending the invitation includes sending the second merge route and the merge route departure time.