IP Library Granted Patent US 12,420,636
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,636 · App. 18/183,319 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Autonomous vehicle interaction with physical environment

Inventors: Michael Alan Losh (Rochester Hills, MI); Manoj Sharma (Troy, MI); Donald K. Grimm (Utica, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B60K35/22G05D1/0038B60K35/26B60K35/28B60K35/80B60K35/85B60K2360/175B60K2360/573B60K2360/589
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,636
App. No.
18/183,319
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for facilitating interaction between an autonomous vehicle and an external interface in proximity to the autonomous vehicle including a plurality of external sensors positioned on the autonomous vehicle and adapted to collect data relative to an environment surrounding and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle, a controller having a wireless communication module, the wireless communication module adapted to facilitate wireless data exchange between the controller and remote entities, the controller adapted to receive data collected from the plurality of external sensors and identify an interaction mode for the external interface, a microphone and a speaker adapted to facilitate audible communication between the controller and the external interface, and a video display adapted to display visual information to the external interface, wherein the controller is adapted to perform an interaction with the external interface.

Claims (100)

1. A system for facilitating interaction between an autonomous vehicle and an external interface, comprising:

a plurality of external sensors positioned on the autonomous vehicle that collect data relative to an environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle;

a control processor having a wireless communication circuit;

the wireless communication circuit enabling wireless data exchange between the control processor and remote entities;

the control processor receiving data collected from the plurality of external sensors and, using a neural network based computer-vision algorithm stored therein, identify an interaction mode of the external interface;

a microphone and a speaker enabling audible communication between the control processor and the external interface; and

a video display displaying visual information to the external interface;

wherein, the control processor performs an interaction with the external interface;

wherein the video display presents a visual display within a window of the autonomous vehicle that is visible to the external interface and to occupants within the autonomous vehicle; and

wherein the video display includes:

a transparent substrate, having light emitting phosphor particles dispersed therein, positioned on the window of the autonomous vehicle;

a primary graphic projector generating a first set of images upon the window based on visible light;

a secondary graphic projector projecting ultraviolet light that excites the light emitting phosphor particles and generating a second set of images upon a secondary area the window of the vehicle based on an excitation light;

a primary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the primary graphic projector and the control processor; and

a secondary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the secondary graphic projector and the control projector.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interaction performed by the control processor is fully automatic.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control processor initiates a telepresence mode when one of:

an interaction mode cannot be identified; and

an identified interaction mode requires telepresence.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein when in telepresence mode the control processor is configured to:

facilitate communication with one of:

a remotely located owner of the autonomous vehicle;

a remotely located agent acting on behalf of the owner of the autonomous vehicle; and

an artificial intelligence agent; and

display, with the video display, one of:

a video image of the remotely located owner;

a video image of the remotely located agent; and

a video image of an avatar; and

enable a remotely located person to trigger a vehicle event.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external interface is one of a person and a human machine interface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control processor saves the identified interaction mode of the external interface, such that the identified interaction mode can be pulled from memory for future visits to the external interface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein when performing an interaction with the external interface the control processor is configured to at least one of:

display, with the video display, an image of identification credentials to the external interface;

display, with the video display, an image of at least one of an authentication card, bar code, and QR code; and

initiate a vehicle event such as door unlocking, door opening, window lowering, and trunk hatch opening.

8. A method of facilitating interaction between an autonomous vehicle and an external interface in proximity to the autonomous vehicle, comprising:

collecting, with a plurality of external sensors positioned on the autonomous vehicle, data relative to an environment surrounding and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle;

receiving, with a control processor, data collected by the plurality of external sensors;

identifying, with the control processor, using a neural network based computer-vision algorithm stored therein, an interaction mode of the external interface;

facilitating, with a wireless communication circuit, wireless data exchange between the control processor and remote entities;

facilitating, with a microphone and a speaker, audible communication between the control processor and the external interface;

displaying, with a video display, visual information to the external interface; and

performing, with the control processor, an interaction with the external interface;

wherein the displaying, with a video display, visual information to the external interface, further includes displaying, with the video display, visual information within a window of the autonomous vehicle that is visible to the external interface and to occupants within the autonomous vehicle; and

wherein the video display includes:

a transparent substrate, having light emitting phosphor particles dispersed therein, positioned on the window of the autonomous vehicle;

a primary graphic projector generating a first set of images upon the window based on visible light;

a secondary graphic projector projecting ultraviolet light that excites the light emitting phosphor particles generating a second set of images upon a secondary area the window of the vehicle based on an excitation light;

a primary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the primary graphic projector and the control processor; and

a secondary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the secondary graphic projector and the control processor.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performing, with the control processor, an interaction with the external interface is done automatically.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including initiating, with the control processor, a telepresence mode when one of:

an interaction mode cannot be identified; and

an identified interaction mode requires telepresence.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including, when in telepresence mode, facilitating, with the control processor, communication with between one of:

a remotely located owner of the autonomous vehicle;

a remotely located agent acting on behalf of the owner of the autonomous vehicle; and

an artificial intelligence agent; and

displaying, with the video display, one of:

a video image of the remotely located owner;

a video image of the remotely located agent; and

a video image of an avatar; and

enabling, with the control processor, a remotely located person to trigger a vehicle event.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein triggering a vehicle event includes triggering one of:

door unlocking, door opening, window lowering, and trunk hatch opening.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the external interface is one of a person and a human machine interface.

14. The method of claim 8 , further including, saving, with the control processor, the identified interaction mode of the external interface, such that the interaction mode can be pulled from memory for future visits to the external interface.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performing, with the control processor, an interaction with the external interface further includes at least one of:

displaying, with the video display, an image of identification credentials to the external interface;

displaying, with the video display, an image of at least one of an authentication card, bar code, and QR code for payments; and

initiating a vehicle event such as door unlocking, door opening, window lowering, and trunk hatch opening.

16. A system for facilitating interaction between an autonomous vehicle and an external interface, that is one of a person and a human machine interface, in proximity to the autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of external sensors positioned on the autonomous vehicle and that collects data relative to an environment surrounding and in proximity to the autonomous vehicle;

a control processor having a wireless communication circuit;

the wireless communication circuit facilitating wireless data exchange between the control processor and remote entities;

the control processor receiving data collected from the plurality of external sensors, identify, using a neural network based computer-vision algorithm stored therein, an interaction mode of the external interface, and save the identified interaction mode of the external interface, such that the interaction mode can be pulled from memory for future visits to the external interface;

a microphone and a speaker facilitating audible communication between the control processor and the external interface; and

a video display displaying visual information within a window of the autonomous vehicle that is visible to the external interface and to occupants within the autonomous vehicle, the video display including:

a transparent substrate, having light emitting phosphor particles dispersed therein, positioned on the window of the autonomous vehicle;

a primary graphic projector generating a first set of images upon the window based on visible light;

a secondary graphic projector projecting ultraviolet light that excites the light emitting phosphor particles generating a second set of images upon a secondary area the window of the vehicle based on an excitation light;

a primary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the primary graphic projector and the control processor; and

a secondary graphics processing unit in electronic communication with the secondary graphic projector and the control processor;

wherein, the control processor is configured to one of:

automatically perform an interaction with the external interface; and

initiate a telepresence mode when one of an interaction mode cannot be identified, and an identified interaction mode requires telepresence;

wherein, when in telepresence mode the control processor is intended to:

facilitate communication with between one of:

a remotely located owner of the autonomous vehicle;

a remotely located agent acting on behalf of the owner of the autonomous vehicle; and

an artificial intelligence agent; and

display, with the video display, one of:

a video image of the remotely located owner;

a video image of the remotely located agent; and

a video image of an avatar; and

enable a remotely located person to trigger a vehicle event;

wherein, when performing an interaction with the external interface the control processor is configured to at least one of:

display, with the video display, an image of identification credentials to the external interface;

display, with the video display, an image of at least one of an authentication card, bar code, and QR code for payments; and

initiate a vehicle event such as door unlocking, door opening, window lowering, and trunk hatch opening.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: LOSH, MICHAEL ALAN; SHARMA, MANOJ; GRIMM, DONALD K.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 062975/0324 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240308336A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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