Removeable foot holds in a truck cab for an autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle (AV) security system comprising an autonomous vehicle (AV) having a vehicle sensor subsystem, vehicle drive subsystems, an in-vehicle control computer, and vehicle drive subsystems comprising an actuator mechanism configured to receive one or more commands, from an oversight system, for extending or retracting a stairs assembly, where the oversight system transmits the one or more commands to the autonomous control subsystem based on determining a risk of hijacking the AV.
1. An autonomous vehicle (AV) security system, comprising:
an autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising:
a vehicle sensor subsystem;
vehicle drive subsystems;
an in-vehicle control computer;
an actuator mechanism configured to receive one or more commands, from an oversight system, for moving a stairs assembly between a first and second states,
wherein the oversight system receives a geographic location of the AV and transmits the one or more commands to the actuator mechanism based on determining a risk of hijacking the AV in the received geographic location.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stairs assembly is hingedly connected to a cabin of the AV and configured to rotate between the first state and the second state, wherein the first state is diametrically opposite to the second state.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stairs assembly comprises a plurality of steps configured to slide on a guided track.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein in the first state of the stairs assembly, the plurality steps are extended outwardly from the AV and in the second state, the plurality steps are extended inwardly towards a chassis of the AV.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the stairs assembly extends vertically from a cabin door of the AV.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stairs assembly is mounted on a cabin door of the AV and pivotally coupled through a hinge assembly to a bottom portion of a cabin.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a rotational axis substantially parallel to ground.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the stairs assembly is configured to rotate between the first state and the second state, wherein in the first state, the stairs assembly closes the cabin door and in the second state, the stairs assembly is vertically lowered to the ground.
9. A method for protecting an autonomous vehicle (AV) controlled via an oversight system, comprising:
receiving a geographic location of the AV;
determining a risk of hijacking the AV; and
transmitting, to an actuator mechanism of the AV, one or more commands for a moving stairs assembly between a first state and a second state.
10. The method of claim 9 , further transmitting the one or more commands if the risk of hijacking the AV is above a predetermined threshold for the received geographic location of the AV.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the determination of the risk of hijacking the AV comprises detecting an interference in communications between the oversight system and the AV.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein, in the first state, the stairs assembly provides access to a cabin of the AV and in the second state removes access to the cabin.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the one or more commands configured to signal the actuator mechanism to move the stairs assembly into the first state in response to determining presence of a member of a government agency requesting access to the cabin of the AV.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the one or more commands configured to signal the actuator mechanism to move the stairs assembly into the first state in response to receiving an authorization from an identification verifier input device.
15. A method for denying access to an autonomous vehicle (AV) via a movable stairs assembly, comprising:
receiving, from an oversight system, one or more commands at an actuator mechanism of the AV configured to mechanically control the movable stairs assembly,
wherein the receiving of the one or more commands is based on determining, at the oversight system, a geographic location of the AV and a risk of hijacking; and
signaling the actuator mechanism, through the one or more commands, to move the stairs assembly from an extended position to a retracted position.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the actuator mechanism moves the stairs assembly by rotating between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the extended position is diametrically opposite to the retracted position.
17. The method of claim 15 , the actuator mechanism moves a plurality of steps of the stairs
assembly by sliding the plurality of steps on a guided track between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein, in the extended position, the plurality of steps are extended outwardly from the AV and, in the retracted position, the plurality steps are extended inwardly towards a chassis of the AV.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the actuator mechanism moves the stairs assembly by vertically pivoting between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein, in the retracted position, the stairs assembly closes a cabin door and, in the extended position, the stairs assembly is lowered to ground.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving the one or more commands in response to transmitting an authorization information from an identification verifier input device.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determination of the risk of hijacking is further based on detecting an interference in communication between the oversight system and the AV.