IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,221,625
Granted Patent B2
US 11,221,625 · App. 16/816,873 · Granted Jan 11, 2022

On-site notification from autonomous vehicle for traffic safety

Inventors: Zixuan Zhou (Palo Alto, CA); Xiang Yu (Santa Clara, CA); Tiancheng Lou (Milpitas, CA); Jun Peng (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
G05D1/0088B60Q1/50B60Q5/006G05D1/0055G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,221,625
App. No.
16/816,873
Granted
Jan 11, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system included and a computer-implemented method performed in an autonomous-driving vehicle are described. The system performs: detecting one or more movable traffic objects; determining one or more target movable traffic objects from the one or more detected movable traffic objects; determining a type of the one or more target movable traffic objects and an traffic object that has a right of way (ROW) in a situation involving the autonomous-driving vehicle. The system further performs: determining a manner of generating a vehicle behavior notification to the target movable traffic object based on the type of the one or more target movable traffic objects and the ROW; and causing a vehicle behavior notification of the determined manner to be generated to the one or more target movable traffic objects.

Claims (50)

1. A notification system for an autonomous-driving vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

determining a target traffic object from traffic objects in an environment within which the autonomous-driving vehicle operates, wherein determining the target traffic object from the traffic objects comprises:

determining a route associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle;

determining predicted routes associated with the traffic objects;

determining, based on the route and the predicted routes, at least one traffic object from the traffic objects that is predicted to be within a predetermined distance of the autonomous-driving vehicle within a predetermined period of time; and

identifying the at least one traffic object as the target traffic object;

determining, based at least in part on the target traffic object with respect to the environment, whether the autonomous-driving vehicle has a right of way in the environment; and

generating, based on the determination of whether the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way, a vehicle behavior notification—to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle.

2. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein the target traffic object and the traffic objects are identified based on attributes of the target traffic object and the traffic objects.

3. The notification system of claim 2 , wherein the attributes of the target traffic object and the traffic objects are captured through sensors onboard the autonomous-driving vehicle, and wherein the sensors onboard the autonomous-driving vehicle include at least one of a Lidar or a camera.

4. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein the route associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle is determined based on two or more of a current location, a destination, traffic conditions, weather conditions, environmental conditions, or a number of turns in the route.

5. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein the right of way in the environment is determined based on one or more of traffic rules, traffic signals, or traffic signs associated with a location of the autonomous-driving vehicle and in relation to the target traffic object.

6. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way;

determining, based on traffic conditions, that the autonomous-driving vehicle is able to safely proceed; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle to proceed.

7. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way;

determining, based on traffic conditions, that the autonomous-driving vehicle is unable to safely proceed; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle not to proceed.

8. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle does not have the right of way; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle to yield to the target traffic object.

9. The notification system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle behavior notification is at least one of a visual or an acoustic notification, wherein the visual notification includes at least one of changing a color, a pattern, or brightness associated with light generated by at least one light emitting device associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle.

10. A computer-implemented method performed in an autonomous-driving vehicle comprising:

determining a target traffic object from traffic objects in an environment within which the autonomous-driving vehicle operates, wherein determining the target traffic object from the traffic objects comprises:

determining a route associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle;

determining predicted routes associated with the traffic objects;

determining, based on the route and the predicted routes, at least one traffic object from the traffic objects that is predicted to be within a predetermined distance of the autonomous-driving vehicle within a predetermined period of time; and

identifying the at least one traffic object as the target traffic object;

determining, based at least in part on the target traffic object with respect to the environment, whether the autonomous-driving vehicle has a right of way in the environment; and

generating, based on the determination of whether the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way, a vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the target traffic object and the traffic objects are identified based on attributes of the target traffic object and the traffic objects.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the attributes of the target traffic object and the traffic objects is captured through sensors onboard the autonomous-driving vehicle, and wherein the sensors onboard the autonomous-driving vehicle include at least one of a Lidar or a camera.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the route associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle is determined based on two or more of a current location, a destination, traffic conditions, weather conditions, environmental conditions, or a number of turns in the route.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the right of way in the environment is determined based on one or more of traffic rules, traffic signals, or traffic signs associated with a location of the autonomous-driving vehicle and in relation to the target traffic object.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way;

determining, based on traffic conditions, that the autonomous-driving vehicle is able to safely proceed; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle to proceed.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle has the right of way;

determining, based on traffic conditions, that the autonomous-driving vehicle is unable to safely proceed; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle not to proceed.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein generating the vehicle behavior notification for the target traffic object comprises:

determining that the autonomous-driving vehicle does not have the right of way; and

generating the vehicle behavior notification to indicate an intent of the autonomous-driving vehicle to yield to the target traffic object.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle behavior notification is at least one of a visual or an acoustic notification, wherein the visual notification includes at least one of changing a color, a pattern, or brightness associated with light generated by at least one light emitting device associated with the autonomous-driving vehicle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2020
From: ZHOU, ZIXUAN; YU, XIANG; LOU, TIANCHENG; PENG, JUN
To: PONY.AI, INC.
Reel/Frame 053373/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2020
From: PONY.AI, INC.
To: PONY AI INC.
Reel/Frame 053374/0083 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16158200 · Oct 11, 2018
Related Publication 20200209862A1 · Jul 2, 2020