IP Library Granted Patent US 10,495,471
Granted Patent B2
US 10,495,471 · App. 15/590,194 · Granted Dec 3, 2019

Destination changes in autonomous vehicles

Inventors: Matthew Sweeney (Pittsburgh, PA); Molly Nix (Pittsburgh, PA); Emily Bartel (Pittsburgh, PA); Logan Rockmore (Pittsburgh, PA); Anthony Levandowski (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
G01C21/3415B60W50/10G01C21/343G01C21/3423G01C21/3476G01C21/362G01C21/3617G05D1/021G06Q10/047G01C21/3492G01C21/3605H04W4/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,495,471
App. No.
15/590,194
Granted
Dec 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method can include obtaining data associated with a destination change request from a passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The destination change request can be indicative of a request to change a first destination to a second destination. In response to obtaining data associated with the destination change request, the method can include: obtaining data indicative of one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle; determining a feedback response for responding to the destination change request based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters; and providing data associated with the feedback response for presentation via the one or more interfaces to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle. The feedback response can include a suggested destination. The suggested destination can be different from the second destination.

Claims (51)

1. A method of implementing one or more destination changes in an autonomous vehicle, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:

receiving, over one or more networks, a destination change request from the autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;

in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:

determining one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;

based on the one or more operating parameters, determining a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;

based on the feasibility indicator, determining a suggested destination being different from the second destination;

transmitting, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;

transmitting, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;

generating a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and

providing the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of a travel time for the autonomous vehicle, a travel maneuver for the autonomous vehicle, a quantity of travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, a breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or a destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the suggested destination is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors obtain the suggested destination from a database of known autonomous vehicle drop off locations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle comprises a non-autonomous vehicle, the method further comprising:

transmitting, over the one or more networks, data indicating the non-autonomous vehicle and the suggested destination to a computing device of the passenger in the autonomous vehicle to enable the passenger to switch to the non-autonomous vehicle at the suggested destination.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors receive the destination change request while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors receive the destination change request based on a passenger input on the interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface is displayed on a display screen located in the autonomous vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface is displayed on a display screen of a computing device of the passenger.

10. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing system to:

receive, over one or more networks, a destination change request from an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;

in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:

determine one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;

based on the one or more operating parameters, determine a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;

based on the feasibility indicator, determine a suggested destination being different from the second destination;

transmit, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;

transmit, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;

generate a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and

provide the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the computing system received the destination change request while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

12. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the suggested destination comprises a drop off location within a threshold distance of the second destination.

13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the feedback response comprises a notification that the autonomous vehicle cannot travel to the second destination.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to:

receive, over one or more networks, a destination change request from an autonomous vehicle, the destination change request being inputted by a passenger of the autonomous vehicle and comprising a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination;

in response to receiving the destination change request from the autonomous vehicle:

determine one or more operating parameters for the autonomous vehicle;

based on the one or more operating parameters, determine a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination;

based on the feasibility indicator, determine a suggested destination being different from the second destination;

transmit, over the one or more networks, a first instruction to the autonomous vehicle, the first instruction causing the autonomous vehicle to reroute to the suggested destination;

transmit, over the one or more networks, a second instruction to a computing device associated with a second vehicle, the second instruction comprising an instruction to rendezvous with the passenger at the suggested destination and transport the passenger to the second destination;

generate a feedback response to the destination change request, the feedback response identifying the suggested destination for the passenger; and

provide the feedback response for presentation via an interface of the autonomous vehicle to the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least one of a travel time for the autonomous vehicle, a travel maneuver for the autonomous vehicle, a quantity of travel maneuvers for the autonomous vehicle, a breach of an operation rule for the autonomous vehicle, or a destination recognition for the autonomous vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the suggested destination is within a threshold distance of the second destination.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the computing system obtains the suggested destination from a database of known autonomous vehicle drop off locations.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the second vehicle comprises a non-autonomous vehicle, and wherein the executed instructions further cause the computing system to:

transmit, over the one or more networks, data indicating the non-autonomous vehicle and the suggested destination to a computing device of the passenger in the autonomous vehicle to enable the passenger to switch to the non-autonomous vehicle at the suggested destination.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the computing system receives the destination change request while the autonomous vehicle is traveling to the first destination.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the computing system receives the destination change request based on a passenger input on the interface.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054806 FRAME: 0332. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: UATC, LLC
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059692/0523 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2020
From: UATC, LLC
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054806/0332 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2020
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 052108/0976 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2019
From: NIX, MOLLY; BARTEL, EMILY; ROCKMORE, LOGAN; SWEENEY, MATTHEW; LEVANDOWSKI, ANTHONY
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 048264/0635 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180326997A1 · Nov 15, 2018