Granted Patent B2

US 12,253,850 · App. 18/510,352 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Inventors: Xing Sun (San Diego, CA); Wutu Lin (San Diego, CA); Liu Liu (San Diego, CA); Kai-Chieh Ma (San Diego, CA); Zijie Xuan (San Diego, CA); Yufei Zhao (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.

G05D1/0005B60R16/0236G01C21/3469G05D1/0088G05D1/228G05D1/644

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A method of autonomous vehicle control, comprising:

generating a routing that corresponds to a path on which an autonomous vehicle is to be navigated from a current position to a destination, wherein the routing includes a first set of vehicle operations with which the autonomous vehicle is controlled along the path;

determining a value that indicates an expected level of energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle traveling along the path;

obtaining, in response to determining that the value is not within a range, a second set of vehicle operations by modifying the first set of vehicle operations; and

causing the autonomous vehicle to be driven to the destination using the second set of vehicle operations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the routing and the first set of vehicle operations cause the autonomous vehicle to make sequential changes to driving related parameters of the autonomous vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sequential changes to the driving related parameters of the autonomous vehicle affect energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the driving related parameters of the autonomous vehicle include a speed of the autonomous vehicle, an acceleration of the autonomous vehicle, a gear usage of the autonomous vehicle, a throttle level of the autonomous vehicle, or a braking level of the autonomous vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value that indicates the expected level of energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle is determined with a confidence value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle travel at a lower speed compared to that in the first set of vehicle operations.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle accelerate or brake at a lower rate compared to that in the first set of vehicle operations.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle resist passing another vehicle.

9. A system comprising:

a data processor configured to:

generate a routing that corresponds to a path on which an autonomous vehicle is to be navigated from a current position to a destination, wherein the routing includes a first set of vehicle operations with which the autonomous vehicle is controlled along the path;

determine a value that indicates an expected level of energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle traveling along the path;

obtain, in response to determining that the value is not within a range, a second set of vehicle operations by modifying the first set of vehicle operations; and

cause the autonomous vehicle to be driven to the destination using the second set of vehicle operations.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle pass another vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of vehicle operations include adjusting speed or heading to maintain separation of the autonomous vehicle from other vehicles.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of vehicle operations include maneuvering the autonomous vehicle in turns.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of vehicle operations include performing a controlled acceleration of the autonomous vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of vehicle operations include stopping the autonomous vehicle.

15. A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method, comprising:

generating a routing that corresponds to a path on which an autonomous vehicle is to be navigated from a current position to a destination, wherein the routing includes a first set of vehicle operations with which the autonomous vehicle is controlled along the path;

determining a value that indicates an expected level of energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle traveling along the path;

obtaining, in response to determining that the value is not within a range, a second set of vehicle operations by modifying the first set of vehicle operations; and

causing the autonomous vehicle to be driven to the destination using the second set of vehicle operations.

16. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the value is determined using a model that is pre-defined.

17. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the value is determined using a model associated with typical energy consumption characteristics of a vehicle.

18. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations lower the expected level of energy consumption of the autonomous vehicle traveling along the path.

19. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle accelerate or brake at a lower rate compared to that in the first set of vehicle operations.

20. The non-transitory machine-useable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the second set of vehicle operations include having the autonomous vehicle resist passing another vehicle.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (197)