IP Library Granted Patent US 10,725,473
Granted Patent B2
US 10,725,473 · App. 15/794,547 · Granted Jul 28, 2020

Systems and methods for changing a destination of an autonomous vehicle in real-time

Inventors: Molly Castle Nix (San Francisco, CA); Sean Chin (Pittsburgh, PA); Dennis Zhao (Pittsburgh, PA); Joseph Maliksi (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: UATC, LLC
G05D1/0212G01C21/3415G05D1/0088G06Q10/02G06Q10/047G06Q50/30G08G1/005G08G1/143G08G1/147G08G1/202
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,725,473
App. No.
15/794,547
Granted
Jul 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving data representing a first location associated with a service request. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location. The method includes determining a second location for the service request when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location. The method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.

Claims (69)

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, data representing a first location associated with a first service request for a first user;

controlling, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location associated with the first service request for the first user;

determining, by the computing system, a second location for the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

controlling, by the computing system; the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

receiving, by the computing system, data representing the second location associated with the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

controlling, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a second route that leads to the second location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein receiving data representing the second location associated with the first service request for the first user comprises:

receiving, by the computing system, the data representing the second location from a user computing system of the first user associated with the first service request, wherein the second location is determined by the first user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining, by the computing system, sensor data indicative of a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle; and

determining, by the computing system, the second location based at least in part on the sensor data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

providing, by the computing system, data representing the second location to a user computing system of the first user associated with the first service request; and

controlling, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a second route that leads to the second location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving, by the computing system, data representing the user's acceptance of the second location.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining, by the computing system, data representing one or more predetermined service locations; and

determining, by the computing system, the second location based at least in part on the one or more predetermined service locations.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

identifying, by the computing system, data representing one or more previous service requests associated with the first location;

identifying, by the computing system, data representing one or more previous second locations associated with each of the previous service requests; and

determining, by the computing system, the second location based at least in part on the one or more previous second locations.

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

storing, by the computing system, data representing the first and second locations associated with the first service request.

10. A computing system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving data representing a first location associated with a first service request for a first user;

controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location associated with the first service request for the first user;

determining a second location for the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

controlling the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

receiving data representing the second location associated with the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

control ling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a second route that leads to the second location.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein receiving data representing the second location associated with the first service request for the first user comprises:

receiving the data representing the second location from a user computing system of the first user associated with the first service request, wherein the second location is determined by the first user associated with the first service request.

13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining sensor data indicative of a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the sensor data.

14. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining data representing one or more predetermined service locations; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the one or more predetermined service locations.

15. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

identifying data representing one or more previous service requests associated with the first location;

identifying data representing one or more previous second locations associated with each of the previous service requests; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the one or more previous second locations.

16. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the autonomous vehicle to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving data representing a first location associated with a first service request for a first user;

controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a first route that leads to the first location associated with the first service request for the first user;

determining a second location for the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

controlling the autonomous vehicle to provide the requested service at the second location.

17. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for first service request for the first user comprises:

receiving data representing the second location associated with the first service request for the first user when the autonomous vehicle is en route to the first location; and

controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel in accordance with a second route that leads to the second location.

18. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining sensor data indicative of a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the sensor data.

19. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

obtaining data representing one or more predetermined service locations; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the one or more predetermined service locations.

20. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the second location for the first service request for the first user comprises:

identifying data representing one or more previous service requests associated with the first location;

identifying data representing one or more previous second locations associated with each of the previous service requests; and

determining the second location based at least in part on the one or more previous second locations.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: UATC, LLC
To: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067733/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM CHANGE OF NAME TO ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050353 FRAME 0884. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT CONVEYANCE SHOULD BE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 051145/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 12, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 050353/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: NIX, MOLLY CASTLE; CHIN, SEAN; ZHAO, DENNIS; MALIKSI, JOSEPH
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Reel/Frame 044408/0860 →