IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,620,309
Granted Patent B2
US 12,620,309 · App. 18/750,563 · Granted May 5, 2026

Systems and methods for crash detection on autonomous vehicles

Inventors: Andre Scholich (Leipzig, DE); Biswanath Behera (Stuttgart, DE); Dimitrios Tzempetzis (Stuttgart, DE); Bernd Reinhold (Stuttgart, DE)
Assignee: Torc Robotics, Inc.
G08G1/096844G08G1/0112G08G1/0133G08G1/0141G08G1/096725G08G1/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,620,309
App. No.
18/750,563
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an autonomous vehicle fleet routing system. The system includes a fleet of autonomous vehicles. Each autonomous vehicle includes an autonomy computing system. Additionally, a mission control computing system is provided, which communicates with each autonomous vehicle in the fleet. This mission control computing system includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to perform multiple functions including routing each autonomous vehicle to a designated destination. It also receives crash reports from the vehicles, which include location data related to crashes. Based on these reports, the system identifies which vehicles' routes are affected by the crash, calculates the operational losses for these routes, and generates alternative routes to minimize these losses. Commands are then transmitted to the affected vehicles to execute these alternative routes, enhancing fleet efficiency and reducing downtime caused by unforeseen incidents.

Claims (59)

1 . A system for routing a plurality of autonomous vehicles in response to a crash, the system comprising:

a mission control computing system in communication with a fleet of autonomous vehicles, the mission control computing system comprising a processor and a memory, the processor programmed to:

route each autonomous vehicle in the fleet to a destination;

receive, from an autonomy computing system on a first autonomous vehicle of the fleet of autonomous vehicles, a crash report comprising location data corresponding to a crash, the location data including a location of the crash;

based on the location of the crash, identify which autonomous vehicles in the fleet are likely to be affected by the crash;

compute an operational loss on the route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles;

generate an alternative route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles to reduce operational losses; and

transmit a respective command to each of the identified autonomous vehicles to execute the alternative route.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive an indication from a second autonomous vehicle of the fleet of a clearance of the crash.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

identify the autonomous vehicles in the fleet affected by the clearance on the alternative route;

recompute operational losses of the alternative route in response to the clearance;

modify the alternative route to reduce operational losses; and

transmit a command to the identified autonomous vehicles to execute the modified alternative route.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive an additional crash report from an additional autonomous vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further programmed to process the additional crash report to compute the operational loss.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

identify emergency services corresponding to the location data of the crash report; and

initiate transmission of an indication of the crash to the identified emergency services.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to monitor the first autonomous vehicle for execution of a remedial action.

8 . An autonomous vehicle fleet routing system comprising:

a fleet of autonomous vehicles, each autonomous vehicle comprising an autonomy computing system; and

a mission control computing system in communication with each of the autonomous vehicles of the fleet, the mission control computing system including a processor and a memory, the processor programmed to:

route each autonomous vehicle in the fleet to a destination;

receive, from the autonomy computing system on a first autonomous vehicle of the fleet of autonomous vehicles, a crash report comprising location data corresponding to a crash, the location data including a location of the crash;

based on the location of the crash, identify which of the autonomous vehicles are likely to be affected by the crash;

compute an operational loss on the route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles;

generate an alternative route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles to reduce operational losses; and

transmit a respective command to each of the identified autonomous vehicles to execute the alternative route.

9 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive an indication from the autonomous vehicle of a clearance of the crash.

10 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

identify the autonomous vehicles in the fleet affected by the clearance of the crash on the alternative route;

recompute operational losses of the alternative route in response to the clearance of the crash;

modify the alternative route to reduce operational losses; and

transmit a command to the identified autonomous vehicles to execute the modified alternative route.

11 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to receive an additional crash report from an additional autonomous vehicle.

12 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 11 , wherein the mission control computing system is further programmed to process the additional crash report to compute the operational loss.

13 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to;

identify emergency services corresponding to the location data of the crash report; and

transmit an indication of the crash to the emergency services.

14 . The autonomous vehicle fleet routing system of claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the first autonomous vehicle for execution of a remedial action.

15 . A computer-implemented method for routing a plurality of autonomous vehicles in response to a crash, the method implemented by a mission control computing system including a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

routing each autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles to a destination;

receiving, from an autonomy system on a first autonomous vehicle of the fleet of autonomous vehicles, a crash report comprising location data corresponding to a crash event, the location data including a location of the crash;

identifying which autonomous vehicles are likely to be affected by the crash based on the location of the crash;

computing an operational loss on the route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles;

generating an alternative route for each of the identified autonomous vehicles to reduce operational losses; and

transmitting a respective command to each of the autonomous vehicles to execute the alternative route.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving an indication from a second autonomous vehicle of the fleet of a clearance of the crash.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , further comprising:

identifying the autonomous vehicles in the fleet affected by the clearance of the crash on the alternative route;

recomputing operational losses of the alternative route in response to the clearance of the crash;

modifying the alternative route to reduce operational losses; and

transmitting a command to the identified autonomous vehicles to execute the modified alternative route.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving and additional crash report from an additional autonomous vehicle.

19 . The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising processing the additional crash report to compute the operational loss.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , further comprising:

identifying emergency services corresponding to the location data of the crash report; and

transmitting an indication of the crash to the emergency services.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2024
From: SCHOLICH, ANDRE; BEHERA, BISWANATH; TZEMPETZIS, DIMITRIOS; REINHOLD, BERND
To: TORC ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067802/0504 →
Continuity (1)
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