IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,269,501
Granted Patent B2
US 12,269,501 · App. 17/870,691 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Systems and techniques for monitoring and maintaining cleanliness of an autonomous vehicle

Inventors: Jeffrey Brandon (Phoenix, AZ); Domenico Rusciano (Concord, CA)
Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
B60W60/001B60W60/0025G06T7/0004G06T7/70B60W2420/403B60W2420/54B60W2530/00B60W2540/043B60W2540/049B60W2555/20G06T2207/30268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,269,501
App. No.
17/870,691
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for maintaining cleanliness of an autonomous vehicle. In some examples, an autonomous vehicle fleet management device may receive cleanliness data corresponding to at least one autonomous vehicle. In some aspects, the autonomous vehicle fleet management device may determine, based on the cleanliness data, one or more parameters corresponding to at least one cleanliness issue associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle. In some cases, a remediation plan for the at least one cleanliness issue may be determined based on the one or more parameters. In some instances, at least one driving instruction may be sent to the at least one autonomous vehicle that is based on the remediation plan.

Claims (33)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an autonomous vehicle fleet management device, cleanliness data corresponding to at least one autonomous vehicle;

determining, based on the cleanliness data, one or more parameters corresponding to at least one cleanliness issue associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the one or more parameters includes a cleanliness issue type, a cleanliness issue location, and a cleanliness issue severity;

determining, based on the one or more parameters, a remediation plan for the at least one cleanliness issue, wherein the remediation plan includes an appropriate service facility from a plurality of service facilities for routing the at least one autonomous vehicle and a timeframe for performing service on the at least one autonomous vehicle, which indicates a time period during which the remediation plan is to commence for the at least one cleanliness issue, based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location, and the cleanliness issue severity;

sending, based on the remediation plan, at least one driving instruction to the at least one autonomous vehicle, which causes the autonomous vehicle to begin maneuvering to the service facility within the timeframe;

detecting a trigger for requesting the cleanliness data from a passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the trigger is based on at least one of a pick-up location, a drop-off location, a travel route, a time of day, a number of passengers, a type of goods, an animal presence, and a weather condition; and

sending, in response to detecting the trigger, a request for the cleanliness data to the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle,

wherein the cleanliness data is received from the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the cleanliness data includes at least one of image data and video data from a camera of the passenger device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based on a pose of the image data, a location of the at least one cleanliness issue.

3. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory comprising instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions and cause the apparatus to:

receive cleanliness data corresponding to at least one autonomous vehicle;

determine based on the cleanliness data, one or more parameters corresponding to at least one cleanliness issue associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the one or more parameters includes a cleanliness issue type, a cleanliness issue location, and a cleanliness issue severity;

determine, based on the one or more parameters, a remediation plan for the at least one cleanliness issue, wherein the remediation plan includes an appropriate service facility from a plurality of service facilities for routing the at least one autonomous vehicle and a timeframe for performing service on the at least one autonomous vehicle, which indicates a time period during which the remediation plan is to commence for the at least one cleanliness issue, based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location, and the cleanliness issue severity;

send, based on the remediation plan, at least one driving instruction to the at least one autonomous vehicle, which causes the autonomous vehicle to begin maneuvering to the service facility within the timeframe;

detect a trigger for requesting the cleanliness data from a passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the trigger is based on at least one of a pick-up location, a drop-off location, a travel route, a time of day, a number of passengers, a type of goods, an animal presence, and a weather condition; and

send, in response to detecting the trigger, a request for the cleanliness data to the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle,

wherein the cleanliness data is received from the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the cleanliness data includes at least one of image data and video data from a camera of the passenger device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

determine, based on a pose of the image data, a location of the at least one cleanliness issue.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive cleanliness data corresponding to at least one autonomous vehicle;

determine based on the cleanliness data, one or more parameters corresponding to at least one cleanliness issue associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the one or more parameters includes a cleanliness issue type, a cleanliness issue location, and a cleanliness issue severity;

determine, based on the one or more parameters, a remediation plan for the at least one cleanliness issue, wherein the remediation plan includes an appropriate service facility from a plurality of service facilities for routing the at least one autonomous vehicle and a timeframe for performing service on the at least one autonomous vehicle, which indicates a time period during which the remediation plan is to commence for the at least one cleanliness issue, based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location, and the cleanliness issue severity;

send, based on the remediation plan, at least one driving instruction to the at least one autonomous vehicle, which causes the autonomous vehicle to begin maneuvering to the service facility within the timeframe;

detect a trigger for requesting the cleanliness data from a passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the trigger is based on at least one of a pick-up location, a drop-off location, a travel route, a time of day, a number of passengers, a type of goods, an animal presence, and a weather condition; and

send, in response to detecting the trigger, a request for the cleanliness data to the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle,

wherein the cleanliness data is received from the passenger device associated with the at least one autonomous vehicle, wherein the cleanliness data includes at least one of image data and video data from a camera of the passenger device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleanliness issue severity is determined based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location within the at least one autonomous vehicle, and a cleanliness issue size.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cleanliness issue severity is determined based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location within the at least one autonomous vehicle, and a cleanliness issue size.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the cleanliness issue severity is determined based on the cleanliness issue type, the cleanliness issue location within the at least one autonomous vehicle, and a cleanliness issue size.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: BRANDON, JEFFREY; RUSCIANO, DOMENICO
To: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 060585/0537 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240029486A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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