Secure Start System for an Autonomous Vehicle

1 . A computing system for securely enabling an autonomous mode of an autonomous vehicle, the computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, from an autonomous vehicle, one or more authentication credentials;

authenticating, using the one or more authentication credentials, an identifier associated with the autonomous vehicle;

receiving, from an interface device, secure information to enable an autonomous mode of the autonomous vehicle; and

based on the authentication of the identifier and the secure information, transmitting a key to the autonomous vehicle that enables the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

2 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:

authenticating the identifier associated with the autonomous vehicle by performing a lookup on an access list to determine a match;

wherein a match indicates that the autonomous vehicle is authorized to enable the autonomous mode.

3 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more authentication credentials comprise an electronic token.

4 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the key transmitted to the autonomous vehicle is an encryption key configured to decrypt one or more files stored by the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

5 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the key transmitted to the autonomous vehicle is an encryption key configured to decrypt one or more drives of the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

6 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:

verifying, using a verification key, that a data element stored by the autonomous vehicle was cryptographically signed by a known authority.

7 . The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the data element is a file of an autonomous vehicle operating system.

8 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:

causing the autonomous vehicle to switch from an initial operating mode to a full autonomy mode, wherein the initial operating mode is associated with limited functionality.

9 . The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the initial operating mode allows for network communications but not autonomous driving functionality.

10 . A secure start system onboard an autonomous vehicle for securely enabling an autonomous mode of the autonomous vehicle, the secure start system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the secure start system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

transmitting, from the autonomous vehicle to a backend system, one or more authentication credentials;

receiving, from the backend system, a key that enables the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode, wherein receiving the key is conditioned on:

authentication of an identifier of the autonomous vehicle; and

receipt of secure information from an interface device; and

enabling, using the key, an autonomous drive function.

11 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein the authentication is based on a lookup on an access list to determine a match, wherein a match indicates that the autonomous vehicle is authorized to enable the autonomous mode.

12 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more authentication credentials comprise an electronic token.

13 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein enabling, using the key, the autonomous drive function comprises:

decrypting, using the key, one or more files stored by the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

14 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein enabling, using the key, the autonomous drive function comprises:

decrypting, using the key, one or more drives of the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

15 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein receiving the key is conditioned on verification that a data element stored by the autonomous vehicle was cryptographically signed by a known authority.

16 . The secure start system of claim 15 , wherein the data element is a file of an autonomous vehicle operating system.

17 . The secure start system of claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise:

causing the autonomous vehicle to switch from an initial operating mode to a full autonomy mode, wherein the initial operating mode is associated with limited functionality.

18 . The secure start system of claim 17 , wherein the initial operating mode allows for network communications but not autonomous driving functionality.

19 . A computer-implemented method for securely enabling an autonomous mode of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, from an autonomous vehicle, one or more authentication credentials;

authenticating, using the one or more authentication credentials, an identifier associated with the autonomous vehicle;

receiving, from an interface device, secure information to enable an autonomous mode of the autonomous vehicle; and

based on the authentication of the identifier and the secure information, transmitting a key to the autonomous vehicle that enables the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous mode.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , comprising:

authenticating the identifier associated with the autonomous vehicle by performing a lookup on an access list to determine a match;

wherein a match indicates that the autonomous vehicle is authorized to enable the autonomous mode.