Intelligent transitioning between autonomous and manual driving modes of a vehicle

1. A method, by a processor, for implementing intelligent transition between autonomous and manual driving modes, comprising:

generating a customized transition plan for one or more entities for transitioning between an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle according to one or more identified contextual factors and driver performance requirements; and

causing the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode according to the customized transition plan; wherein the driver performance requirements include authenticating an identified operator of the vehicle prior to causing the transition such that, when the identified operator of the vehicle cannot be authenticated, the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode is prohibited.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including determining a level of compliance with the driver performance requirements by the one or more entities.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including defining the driver performance requirements to include requirements for location of one or more extremities of the one or more entities in relation to a control mechanism of the vehicle, pedal stability, bodily position of the one or more entities, eye positions, gaze control of the one or more entities, biometric verification, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including defining the one or more identified contextual factors to include a level of traffic congestion within a selected distance from the vehicle, weather conditions, road conditions, and autonomous vehicle manufacturer conditions.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including defining an appropriate transition time required for each of the one or more entities for one or more types of vehicles to complete the customized transition plan.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including implementing a machine learning mechanism to learn the one or more identified contextual factors, the driver performance requirements, and the customized transition plan for the one or more entities, and minimum and maximum transition times required for each of the one or more entities to complete the customized transition plan.

7. A system for implementing intelligent transition between autonomous and manual driving modes, comprising:

one or more computers with executable instructions that when executed cause the system to:

generate a customized transition plan for one or more entities for transitioning between an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle according to one or more identified contextual factors and driver performance requirements; and

cause the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode according to the customized transition plan; wherein the driver performance requirements include authenticating an identified operator of the vehicle prior to causing the transition such that, when the identified operator of the vehicle cannot be authenticated, the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode is prohibited.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the executable instructions further determine a level of compliance with the driver performance requirements by the one or more entities.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the executable instructions further define the driver performance requirements to include requirements for location of one or more extremities of the one or more entities in relation to a control mechanism of the vehicle, pedal stability, bodily position of the one or more entities, eye positions, gaze control of the one or more entities, biometric verification, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the executable instructions further define the one or more identified contextual factors to include a level of traffic congestion within a selected distance from the vehicle, weather conditions, road conditions, and autonomous vehicle manufacturer conditions.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the executable instructions further determine an appropriate transition time required for each of the one or more entities for one or more types of vehicles to complete the customized transition plan.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the executable instructions further implement a machine learning mechanism to learn the one or more identified contextual factors, the driver performance requirements, and the customized transition plan for the one or more entities, and minimum and maximum transition times required for each of the one or more entities to complete the customized transition plan.

13. A computer program product for implementing intelligent transition between autonomous and manual driving modes by a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that generates a customized transition plan for one or more entities for transitioning between an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle according to one or more identified contextual factors and driver performance requirements; and

an executable portion that causes the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode according to the customized transition plan; wherein the driver performance requirements include authenticating an identified operator of the vehicle prior to causing the transition such that, when the identified operator of the vehicle cannot be authenticated, the transition between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode is prohibited.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , further including an executable portion that determines a level of compliance with the driver performance requirements by the one or more entities.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , further including an executable portion that:

defines the driver performance requirements to include requirements for location of one or more extremities of the one or more entities in relation to a control mechanism of the vehicle, pedal stability, bodily position of the one or more entities, eye positions, gaze control of the one or more entities, biometric verification, or a combination thereof; and

define the one or more identified contextual factors to include a level of traffic congestion within a selected distance from the vehicle, weather conditions, road conditions, and autonomous vehicle manufacturer conditions.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , further including an executable portion that determines an appropriate transition time required for each of the one or more entities for one or more types of vehicles to complete the customized transition plan.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , further including an executable portion that implements a machine learning mechanism to learn the one or more identified contextual factors, the driver performance requirements, and the customized transition plan for the one or more entities, and minimum and maximum transition times required for each of the one or more entities to complete the customized transition plan.