Autonomous vehicle component maintenance and repair
Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control relating to malfunctions are disclosed. Malfunctioning sensors or software of autonomous vehicles may be identified from operating data of the vehicle, and a component maintenance requirement status associated with such malfunctioning component may be generated. Based upon such status, usage restrictions may be enacted to limit operation of the vehicle while the component is malfunctioning. This may include disabling or restricting use of certain autonomous or semi-autonomous features of the vehicle until the component is repaired or replaced. Repair may be accomplished by automatically scheduling repair of the vehicle or installing an updated or uncorrupted version of a software program, in various embodiments.
1. A computer-implemented method for maintaining components of vehicles having one or more autonomous operation features, comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors, operating data regarding operation of the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle in controlling one or more aspects of operation of the vehicle;
accessing, by one or more processors, baseline data collected at a time when the components of the vehicle are known to be functioning properly and that is associated with proper functioning of the one or more autonomous operation features;
detecting, by one or more processors, a performance change of a component of the vehicle based upon the operating data and the baseline data:
determining, by one or more processors, a plurality of predictions of probabilities of a malfunction of the component at a corresponding plurality of future times; and
enforcing, by one or more processors, usage restrictions associated with at least one of the autonomous operation features based upon the predictions of probabilities of the malfunction of the component, comprising enforcing a first of the usage restrictions when a first time of the plurality of future times is reached and a second of the usage restrictions when a second time of the plurality of future times is reached.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, one or more risk levels associated with operation of the vehicle using the at least one of the autonomous operation features associated with the component; and
wherein the usage restrictions associated with the at least one of the autonomous operation features are based upon the one or more risk levels.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein enforcing the second usage restriction includes disabling the at least one autonomous operation feature.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
the component is a sensor providing sensor data to at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features; and
the operating data includes sensor data generated by the sensor.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, a component maintenance requirement status associated with the component based upon the detected performance change of performance, wherein the component maintenance requirement status indicates a predicted future malfunction of the component;
generating, by one or more processors, a notification including information regarding the component maintenance requirement status and a recommendation to repair or replace the component; and
presenting, by one or more processors, the notification to an owner, operator, or other party associated with the vehicle.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors, additional operating data associated with the component following presentation of the notification;
determining, by one or more processors, whether the component has been repaired or replaced based upon the additional operating data and the baseline data; and
when the component has been repaired or replaced, removing, by one or more processors, at least one of the first and second usage restrictions.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein:
the component maintenance requirement status includes the determined plurality predictions of probabilities of the malfunction of the component at the determined plurality of future times; and
one or more risk levels are associated with the plurality of future times and are determined based at least in part upon the plurality of predictions of probabilities.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein determining the component maintenance requirement status includes evaluating the operating data using a machine learning model, the machine learning model having previously been trained using historical operating data associated with known statuses of components.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the component maintenance requirement status includes an indication of a type of repair or replacement associated with the component, and further comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, a repair facility capable of performing the type of repair or replacement; and
automatically communicating, via a computer communication network, with a computing device associated with the repair facility to schedule an appointment to perform the determined type of repair or replacement.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein:
the component is a software component associated with the one or more autonomous operation features;
the operating data includes software data regarding operation of the software component; and
the component maintenance requirement status indicates an update or patch to the software component to be installed.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the performance change is detected by determining that the software component is a corrupted copy of a software program or not a current version of the software program.
12. A computer system for maintaining components of vehicles having one or more autonomous operation features, comprising:
one or more processors disposed within the vehicle; and
a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:
monitor operating data regarding operation of the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle in controlling one or more aspects of operation of the vehicle;
access baseline data collected at a time when the components of the vehicle are known to be functioning properly and that is associated with proper functioning of the one or more autonomous operation features;
detect a performance change of a component of the vehicle based upon the operating data and the baseline data;
determine a plurality of predictions of probabilities of a malfunction of the component at a corresponding plurality of future times; and
enforce usage restrictions associated with at least one of the autonomous operation features based upon the predictions of probabilities of the malfunction of the component, including enforcing a first of the usage restrictions when a first time of the plurality of future times is reached and a second of the usage restrictions when a second time of the plurality of future times is reached.
13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the computer system to:
determine one or more risk levels associated with operation of the vehicle using the at least one of the autonomous operation features associated with the component; and
wherein the usage restrictions associated with the at least one of the autonomous operation features are based upon the one or more risk levels.
14. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein:
the component is a sensor providing sensor data to at least one of the one or more autonomous operation features; and
the operating data includes sensor data generated by the sensor.
15. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein:
the component is a software component associated with the one or more autonomous operation features;
the operating data includes software data regarding operation of the software component; and
the component maintenance requirement status indicates an update or patch to the software component to be installed.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the performance change is detected by determining that the software component is a corrupted copy of a software program or not a current version of the software program.
17. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the computer system to:
determine a component maintenance requirement status associated with the component based upon the detected performance change, wherein the component maintenance requirement status indicates a predicted future malfunction of the component;
generate a notification including information regarding the component maintenance requirement status and a recommendation to repair or replace the component; and
present the notification to an owner, operator, or other party associated with the vehicle.
18. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions for maintaining components of vehicles having one or more autonomous operation features that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
monitor operating data regarding operation of the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle in controlling one or more aspects of operation of the vehicle;
access baseline data collected at a time when the components of the vehicle are known to be functioning properly and that is associated with proper functioning of the one or more autonomous operation features;
detect a performance change of a component of the vehicle based upon the operating data and the baseline data;
determine a plurality of predictions of probabilities of a malfunction of the component at a corresponding plurality of future times; and
enforce usage restrictions associated with at least one of the autonomous operation features based upon the predictions of probabilities of the malfunction of the component, including enforcing a first of the usage restrictions when a first time of the plurality of future times is reached and a second of the usage restrictions when a second time of the plurality of future times is reached.
19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further storing executable instructions cause the computer system to:
determine one or more risk levels associated with operation of the vehicle using the at least one of the autonomous operation features associated with the component;
wherein the usage restrictions associated with the at least one of the autonomous operation features are based upon the one or more risk levels.
20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further storing executable instructions cause the computer system to:
determine a component maintenance requirement status associated with the component based upon the detected performance change, wherein the component maintenance requirement status indicates a predicted future malfunction of the component;
generate a notification including information regarding the component maintenance requirement status and a recommendation to repair or replace the component; and
present the notification to an owner, operator, or other party associated with the vehicle.