IP Library Granted Patent US 11,377,045
Granted Patent B2
US 11,377,045 · App. 16/174,960 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

Distinct user and item delivery for autonomous vehicles

Inventors: Min Kyu Park (South Pasadena, CA); Christopher Matthew D'Eramo (Bethel Park, PA)
Assignee: UATC, LLC
B60R13/0823B60N2/0224B60N2/30G01C21/343G01G19/12G05D1/0088G05D1/0212G06F3/0482G06Q10/06315G06Q30/0283G06Q50/28G08G1/0125G05D1/021G05D2201/0212G05D2201/0213G06F16/29
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 11,377,045
App. No.
16/174,960
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain data indicative of a service assignment associated with an autonomous vehicle. The service assignment is indicative of a destination location to which to transport a user. The computing system can obtain data indicative of an item associated with the user that is to be transported to the destination location. The computing system can determine a first drop-off location for the user and a second drop-off location for the item based at least in part on the destination location. The first drop-off location for the user is different than the second drop-off location for the item. The computing system can cause the autonomous vehicle to initiate motion control to travel to the first drop-off location for the user and to travel to the second drop-off location for the item.

Claims (37)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising;

obtaining data indicative of a service assignment associated with an autonomous vehicle, wherein the service assignment is indicative of a destination location to which to transport a user;

obtaining sensor data indicative of an item associated with the user that is to be transported to the destination location, wherein the sensor data is indicative of a weight of the item;

determining that the item is associated with an overage charge based at least in part on the weight of the item;

in response to determining that the item is associated with the overage charge based at least in part on the weight of the item, providing, for display through a user interface on a display device, data indicative of the overage charge associated with the item;

determining a first drop-off location for the user based at least in part on the service assignment;

determining, based at least in part on the sensor data and the service assignment, a second drop-off location for the item, wherein the first drop-off location for the user is different than the second drop-off location for the item;

causing the autonomous vehicle to initiate a first motion control to travel to the first drop-off location for the user; and

causing the autonomous vehicle to initiate a second motion control to travel to the second drop-off location for the item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the destination location comprises an airport, and wherein the item is a luggage item.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the first drop-off location is associated with a departure area of the airport, and wherein the second drop-off location is associated with a baggage area of the airport.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is obtained by a sensor onboard the autonomous vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first drop-off location for the user and the second drop-off location for the item comprises:

obtaining map data associated with the destination location; and

determining the first drop-off location for the user and the second drop-off location for the item based at least in part on the map data associated with the destination location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle travels to the first drop-off location for the user before the autonomous vehicle travels to the second drop-off location for the item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle travels to the second drop-off location for the item before the autonomous vehicle travels to the first drop-off location for the user.

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

obtaining through a sensor onboard the autonomous vehicle, data indicative of a weight of the item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user disembarks from the autonomous vehicle at the first drop-off location and the item is removed from the autonomous vehicle at the second drop-off location.

10. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

obtaining data indicative of a service assignment associated with an autonomous vehicle, wherein the service assignment is indicative of a destination location associated with a user;

obtaining sensor data indicative of an item associated with the user, wherein the item is onboard the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the sensor data is indicative of a weight of the item;

determining that the item is associated with an overage charge based at least in part on the weight of the item;

in response to determining that the item is associated with the overage charge based at least in part on the weight of the item, providing, for display through a user interface on a display device, data indicative of the overage charge associated with the item;

determining a first drop-off location for the user based at least in part on the service assignment;

determining, based at least in part on the sensor data and the service assignment, a second drop-off location for the item, wherein the first drop-off location for the user is different than the second drop-off location for the item; and

causing the autonomous vehicle to initiate

a first motion control to travel to the first drop-off location for the user and

a second motion control to travel to the second drop-off location for the item.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the destination location comprises an airport, and wherein the first drop-off location is associated with a departure area of the airport, and wherein the second drop-off location is associated with a baggage area of the airport.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , and wherein the item is a luggage item.

13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein determining the first drop-off location for the user and the second drop-off location for the item comprises:

obtaining map data associated with the destination location; and

determining the first drop-off location for the user and the second drop-off location for the item based at least in part on the map data associated with the destination location.

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 0495. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 051143/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 12, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 050353/0495 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: PARK, MIN KYU; D'ERAMO, CHRISTOPHER MATTHEW
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 048105/0475 →