IP Library Granted Patent US 11,960,301
Granted Patent B2
US 11,960,301 · App. 17/592,860 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Systems and methods for remote inspection of a vehicle

Inventors: Robert Evan Miller (San Mateo, CA); Alden James Woodrow (Oakland, CA); Eyal Cohen (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: UATC, LLC
G05D1/0291G05D1/0225G05D1/0297G07C5/008
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 11,960,301
App. No.
17/592,860
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes determining vehicle diagnostics information associated with a first autonomous vehicle that is part of a fleet of vehicles controlled by a first entity to provide a vehicle service to a second entity. The method includes determining remote inspection information that includes an assessment of one or more categories pertaining to a third entity, based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information. The method includes providing the remote inspection information to the third entity to provide the vehicle service.

Claims (61)

1. 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, the operations comprising:

obtaining a transportation route along which an autonomous vehicle is or will be travelling;

based on determining that a first location of the autonomous vehicle along the transportation route is within a first region:

determining a first entity associated with the first region;

determining first information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on vehicle diagnostics information associated with the autonomous vehicle and the first entity, the first information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the first entity; and

providing the first information to the first entity; and

based on determining that a second location of the autonomous vehicle is within a second region different than the first region:

determining a second entity associated with the second region;

determining second information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information and the second entity, the second information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the second entity; and

providing the second information to the second entity.

2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises an assessment of one or more first categories pertaining to the first entity.

3. The computing system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more first categories are associated with at least one of: (i) speed, (ii) weight, (iii) distance travelled, (iv) fuel consumption, (v) vehicle emissions, (vi) coolant level, or (vii) component wear.

4. The computing system of claim 2 , wherein determining the first information comprises:

determining the one or more first categories pertaining to the first entity;

determining the assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the first entity based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information and the one or more first categories pertaining to the first entity; and

generating the first information based at least in part on the assessment pertaining to the first entity.

5. The computing system of claim 4 ,

wherein the second information comprises an assessment of one or more second categories pertaining to the second entity, and

wherein at least one of the second categories is different than at least one of the first categories.

6. The computing system of claim 5 , wherein determining the second information comprises:

determining the one or more second categories pertaining to the second entity;

determining the assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the second entity based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information and the one or more second categories pertaining to the second entity; and

generating the second information based at least in part on the assessment pertaining to the second entity.

7. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the transportation route comprises one or more locations or transfer hubs associated with generating the vehicle diagnostics information.

8. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the first region is associated with a first transportation route and the second region is associated with a second transportation route different from the first transportation route.

9. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is performing a vehicle service.

10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle service is a delivery service of a cargo item.

11. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle diagnostics information comprises at least one of:

(i) information associated with a system on-board the autonomous vehicle, or

(ii) information associated with an environment in which the autonomous vehicle operates.

12. An autonomous vehicle 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 autonomous vehicle to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining a transportation route along which the autonomous vehicle is or will be travelling;

based on determining that a first location of the autonomous vehicle along the transportation route is within a first region:

determining a first entity associated with the first region;

determining first information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on vehicle diagnostics information associated with the autonomous vehicle and the first entity, the first information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the first entity; and

providing the first information to the first entity; and

based on determining that a second location of the autonomous vehicle is within a second region different than the first region:

determining a second entity associated with the second region;

determining second information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information and the second entity, the second information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the second entity; and

providing the second information to the second entity.

13. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is performing a delivery service, wherein the delivery service comprises transporting a cargo item.

14. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first information comprises an assessment of one or more categories pertaining to the first entity and wherein the second information comprises an assessment of one or more second categories pertaining to the second entity.

15. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first information comprises a status of at least one category pertaining to the first entity and wherein the second information comprises a status of at least one category pertaining to the second entity.

16. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle diagnostics information comprises at least one of: (i) information associated with a system on-board the autonomous vehicle, or (ii) information associated with an environment in which the autonomous vehicle operates.

17. The autonomous vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first entity is a different type of entity than the second entity.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining a transportation route along which an autonomous vehicle is or will be travelling;

based on determining that a first location of the autonomous vehicle along the transportation route is within a first region:

determining a first entity associated with the first region;

determining first information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on vehicle diagnostics information associated with the autonomous vehicle and the first entity, the first information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the first entity; and

providing the first information to the first entity; and

based on determining that a second location of the autonomous vehicle is within a second region different than the first region:

determining a second entity associated with the second region;

determining second information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle diagnostics information and the second entity, the second information comprising an assessment of the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the second entity; and

providing the second information to the second entity.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is an autonomous truck.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first information or the second information comprises one or more characteristics associated with the autonomous truck.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: UATC, LLC
To: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067733/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 066448/0369 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: UATC, LLC
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 065874/0446 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: WOODROW, ALDEN JAMES; COHEN, EYAL
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 061674/0558 →
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: MILLER, ROBERT
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 061887/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 061887/0421 →