IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,366,476
Granted Patent B2
US 11,366,476 · App. 15/890,383 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Systems and methods for deploying warning devices from an autonomous vehicle

Inventors: Zac Vawter (Sunnyvale, CA); Alden James Woodrow (Oakland, CA)
Assignee: UATC, LLC
G05D1/0214B60Q7/00G05D1/0274G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,366,476
App. No.
15/890,383
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to deploying warning devices by an autonomous vehicle. In one example, a system includes one or more processors and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data indicating that a vehicle stop maneuver is to be implemented for an autonomous vehicle. The operations further include determining whether one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver based in part on the obtained data. The operations further include, in response to determining one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle, determining a dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices, and providing one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems to perform the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices.

Claims (37)

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining data indicating that a vehicle stop maneuver is to be implemented for an autonomous vehicle;

determining whether one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver based in part on the obtained data;

in response to determining the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle, determining a dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices based at least in part on a type of the one or more warning devices, wherein the one or more warning devices are one of a plurality of different types of warning devices of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises adjusting a vehicle stop trajectory of the autonomous vehicle to affect a shape in which the one or more warning devices are placed; and

providing one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems to perform the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver comprises determining whether the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on a motion plan of the autonomous vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on the vehicle stop trajectory.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises determining one or more of timing or positioning of dispensing the one or more warning devices.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on one or more of map data, road conditions, surface characteristics, or warning device characteristics.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises determining the dispensing maneuver based at least in part on one or more perceived objects within a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle.

7. A computer-implemented method for deployment of a warning device comprising:

obtaining, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, data indicating that a vehicle stop maneuver is to be implemented for an autonomous vehicle;

determining, by the computing system, whether one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver based in part on the obtained data;

in response to determining the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle, determining, by the computing system, a dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices based at least in part on a type of the one or more warning devices, wherein the one or more warning devices are one of a plurality of different types of warning devices of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises adjusting a vehicle stop trajectory of the autonomous vehicle to affect a shape in which the one or more warning devices are placed; and

providing, by the computing system, one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems to perform the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining whether the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver comprises determining whether one or more the warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on a motion plan of the autonomous vehicle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on the vehicle stop trajectory.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises determining one or more of timing or positioning of dispensing the one or more warning devices.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on one or more of map data, road conditions, or surface characteristics.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises determining the dispensing maneuver based at least in part on one or more perceived objects within a surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle.

13. An autonomous vehicle comprising:

a vehicle computing system, the vehicle computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining data indicating that a vehicle stop maneuver is to be implemented for an autonomous vehicle;

determining whether one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver based in part on the obtained data;

in response to determining one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle, determining a dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices based at least in part on a type of the one or more warning devices, wherein the one or more warning devices are one of a plurality of different types of warning devices of the autonomous vehicle,

wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises adjusting a vehicle stop trajectory of the autonomous vehicle to affect a shape in which the one or more warning devices are placed; and

providing one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems to perform the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices.

14. The autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein determining whether the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver comprises determining whether the one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on a motion plan of the autonomous vehicle.

15. The autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on the vehicle stop trajectory.

16. The autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices comprises determining one or more of timing or positioning of dispensing the one or more warning devices.

17. The autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein determining the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices is based at least in part on one or more of map data, road conditions, or surface characteristics.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: UATC, LLC
To: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067733/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM CHANGE OF NAME TO ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050353 FRAME 0884. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT CONVEYANCE SHOULD BE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 051145/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 12, 2019
From: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UATC, LLC
Reel/Frame 050353/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2018
From: VAWTER, ZAC; WOODROW, ALDEN JAMES
To: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 046137/0638 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62617409 · Jan 15, 2018
Related Publication 20190220026A1 · Jul 18, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,202,405 US 12,565,168