Methods and systems for rescue of autonomous vehicles
A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at an application server from an autonomous vehicle, telematics data, and based upon analysis of the received telematics data, determining, by the application server, that the autonomous vehicle needs to be rescued. The method includes verifying, by the application server, a health status of a communication connection with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes based upon the health status of the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle, performing, by the application server, a plurality of checks to identify one or more problems with a plurality of modules of the autonomous vehicle, and based upon the plurality of checks indicating no failure corresponding to the plurality of modules of the autonomous vehicle, dispatching a service vehicle to a location of the autonomous vehicle to rescue the autonomous vehicle.
1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, at an application server from an autonomous vehicle, telematics data;
based upon analysis of the received telematics data, determining, by the application server, that the autonomous vehicle needs to be rescued;
verifying, by the application server, a health status of a communication connection with the autonomous vehicle;
based upon the health status of the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle, performing, by the application server, a plurality of checks to identify whether an error in a vehicle interface of the autonomous vehicle exists, the error in the vehicle interface preventing the autonomous vehicle from receiving control commands to operate the autonomous vehicle; and
based upon the plurality of checks indicating no error in the vehicle interface, dispatching a service vehicle to a location of the autonomous vehicle to rescue the autonomous vehicle, wherein the service vehicle is configured to perform assessment of the autonomous vehicle by sending the control commands to the autonomous vehicle through the vehicle interface.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein verifying the health status of the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle comprises:
transmitting, from the application server to the autonomous vehicle, one or more test commands; and
receiving, at the application server from the autonomous vehicle, one or more test responses corresponding to the one or more test commands.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more test commands include a ping command or an echo command.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, based upon the health status of the communication connection indicating a failure in the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle, querying the telematics data received before the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle is disconnected.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, based upon the health status of the communication connection indicating no issue with the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle, querying current telematics data from the autonomous vehicle over the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the plurality of checks to identify whether the error in the vehicle interface of the autonomous vehicle exists comprises verifying an error status corresponding to the vehicle interface of the autonomous vehicle.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the plurality of checks to identify whether the error in the vehicle interface of the autonomous vehicle exists comprises verifying whether stalling of the autonomous vehicle is related to a power supply or an alternator of the autonomous vehicle.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises performing the plurality of checks on a power supply of the autonomous vehicle, and an alternator of the autonomous vehicle.
9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
establishing a communication link between a computing device of a service vehicle and an autonomous vehicle being rescued by attaching an electrical cable between an electrical interface of the service vehicle and an electrical interface of the autonomous vehicle;
verifying, from the computing device of the service vehicle, an operational status of a power supply of the autonomous vehicle;
powering the autonomous vehicle on based upon the operational status of the power supply of the autonomous vehicle;
performing, by the computing device of the service vehicle, a handshake operation with the autonomous vehicle;
executing, by the computing device of the service vehicle, a plurality of commands based upon successfully performing the handshake operation; and
initiating rescue of the autonomous vehicle using the service vehicle based upon a successful execution of the plurality of commands,
wherein an application server includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, the at least one processor programmed to:
receive, at the application server from the autonomous vehicle, telematics data;
based upon analysis of the received telematics data, determine, by the application server, that the autonomous vehicle needs to be rescued;
verify, by the application server, a health status of a communication connection with the autonomous vehicle;
based upon the health status of the communication connection with the autonomous vehicle, perform, by the application server, a plurality of checks to identify whether an error in the electrical interface of the autonomous vehicle exists, the error in the electrical interface preventing the autonomous vehicle from receiving control commands to operate the autonomous vehicle; and
based upon the plurality of checks indicating no error in the electrical interface, dispatch the service vehicle to a location of the autonomous vehicle to rescue the autonomous vehicle, wherein the service vehicle is configured to perform assessment of the autonomous vehicle by sending the control commands to the autonomous vehicle through the electrical interface.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical cable comprises power connections and data connections.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon verifying the operational status of the power supply of the autonomous vehicle indicating a failure in the power supply of the autonomous vehicle, powering the autonomous vehicle from an external power supply system of the service vehicle.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon verifying the operational status of the power supply of the autonomous vehicle indicating a failure in the power supply of the autonomous vehicle, or upon failure in successfully performing the handshake operation, requesting to dispatch a tow truck to a location of the autonomous vehicle being rescued.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon failure in successfully executing the commands, requesting to dispatch a service vehicle to a location of the autonomous vehicle being rescued.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the commands include commands to perform one or more of:
verifying proper steering of the autonomous vehicle using a user interface of the computing device;
verifying proper acceleration or deceleration of the autonomous vehicle;
verifying proper functioning of signaling lights, headlights, or hazard lights;
verifying proper brake release of a trailer; or verifying proper functioning of a compressor of the autonomous vehicle.