AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE REFUELING
Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous vehicles may be automatically refueled by routing the vehicles to available fueling stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A fuel level within a tank of an autonomous vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a refueling threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to refuel the vehicle may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a fueling station, refill a fuel tank, and return to its starting location in order to refuel when not in use.
1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically refueling or recharging an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, a status of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the status is one of either in use or not in use;
determining, by the one or more processors, a fuel level of one or more fuel tanks is below a maximum fuel threshold or a charge level of a battery of the autonomous vehicle is below a maximum charge threshold;
controlling, by the one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a determined location at a determined time based upon (i) the status and (ii) the determination that the fuel level is below the maximum fuel threshold or the charge level is below the maximum charge threshold;
causing, by the one or more processors, one or more of a fuel tank or a battery of the autonomous vehicle to be fully or partially filled or charged at the location; and
controlling, by the one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a return location.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, the status is not in use by (i) detecting the autonomous vehicle is shut down, (ii) detecting the autonomous vehicle is parked, (iii) determining the autonomous vehicle has been designated to park at a location, (iv) detecting a drop off of passengers, (v) determining the autonomous vehicle is proceeding to a parking location, or (vi) any combination thereof.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, the status is in use by (i) detecting the autonomous vehicle is not shut down, (ii) detecting the autonomous vehicle is not parked, (iii) determining the autonomous vehicle has not been designated to park at a location, (iv) determining the autonomous vehicle is not proceeding to a parking location, (v) detecting that a destination has been designated for the autonomous vehicle to travel to fully automatically, or (vi) any combination thereof.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising,
determining, by the one or more processors, a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to the determined location at the determined time is further based upon determining a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, a sufficient time does not exist to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle; and
determining, by the one or more processors, the fuel level is below a minimum fuel threshold or the charge level is below a minimum charge threshold.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the minimum fuel threshold or the minimum charge threshold has been previously set by an operator of the autonomous vehicle.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the one or more processors, a message to the determined location to fuel the fuel tank or charge the battery of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the determined location is a refueling station or a recharging station; and
causing, by the one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to connect to a refueling device or a recharging device.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is connected to the recharging device via a wireless connection for electric vehicle recharging.
9 . A computer system for automatically refueling or recharging an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
one or more processors;
a non-transitory 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:
detect a status of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the status is one of either in use or not in use;
determine a fuel level of one or more fuel tanks is below a maximum fuel threshold or a charge level of a battery of the autonomous vehicle is below a maximum charge threshold;
control the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a determined location at a determined time based upon (i) the status and (ii) the determination that the fuel level is below the maximum fuel threshold or the charge level is below the maximum charge threshold;
cause one or more of a fuel tank or a battery of the autonomous vehicle to be fully or partially filled or charged at the location; and
control the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a return location.
10 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine the status is not in use by causing the computer system to (i) detect the autonomous vehicle is shut down, (ii) detect the autonomous vehicle is parked, (iii) determine the autonomous vehicle has been designated to park at a location, (iv) detect a drop off of passengers, (v) determine the autonomous vehicle is proceeding to a parking location, or (vi) any combination thereof.
11 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine the status is in use by causing the computer system to (i) detect the autonomous vehicle is not shut down, (ii) detect the autonomous vehicle is not parked, (iii) determine the autonomous vehicle has not been designated to park at a location, (iv) determine the autonomous vehicle is not proceeding to a parking location, (v) detect that a destination has been designated for the autonomous vehicle to travel to fully automatically, or (vi) any combination thereof.
12 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to the determined location at the determined time is further based upon determining a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle.
13 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine a sufficient time does not exist to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle; and
determine the fuel level is below a minimum fuel threshold or the charge level is below a minimum charge threshold, wherein the minimum fuel threshold or the minimum charge threshold has been previously set by an operator of the autonomous vehicle.
14 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
transmit a message to the determined location to fuel the fuel tank or charge the battery of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the determined location is a refueling station or a recharging station; and
cause the autonomous vehicle to connect to a refueling device or a recharging device.
15 . The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is connected to the recharging device via a wireless connection for electric vehicle recharging.
16 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions for automatically refueling or recharging an autonomous vehicle, that when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
detect a status of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the status is one of either in use or not in use;
determine a fuel level of one or more fuel tanks is below a maximum fuel threshold or a charge level of a battery of the autonomous vehicle is below a maximum charge threshold;
control the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a determined location at a determined time based upon (i) the status and (ii) the determination that the fuel level is below the maximum fuel threshold or the charge level is below the maximum charge threshold;
cause one or more of a fuel tank or a battery of the autonomous vehicle to be fully or partially filled or charged at the location; and
control the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to a return location.
17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine the status by causing the computer system to (i) detect whether the autonomous vehicle is shut down, (ii) detect whether the autonomous vehicle is parked, (iii) determine whether the autonomous vehicle has been designated to park at a location, (iv) detect a drop off of passengers, (v) determine the autonomous vehicle is proceeding to a parking location, (vi) detect that a destination has been designated for the autonomous vehicle to travel to fully automatically, or (vii) any combination thereof.
18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to,
determine a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein controlling the autonomous vehicle to travel fully autonomously to the determined location at the determined time is further based upon determining a sufficient time exists to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle.
19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
determine a sufficient time does not exist to refuel or recharge the autonomous vehicle before a next predicted use of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the next predicted use is based upon a predicted use profile of the autonomous vehicle; and
determine the fuel level is below a minimum fuel threshold or the charge level is below a minimum charge threshold, wherein the minimum fuel threshold or the minimum charge threshold has been previously set by an operator of the autonomous vehicle.
20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to:
transmit a message to the determined location to charge the battery of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the determined location is a recharging station; and
cause the autonomous vehicle to connect to a recharging device, wherein the autonomous vehicle is connected to the recharging device via a wireless connection for electric vehicle recharging.