Self-driving vehicle with remote user supervision and temporary override

A self-driving vehicle system comprising:

• a self-driving vehicle;
• a remotely situated vehicle control device in data communication with the self-driving vehicle and operable by a user situated outside of the vehicle;
• wherein the self-driving vehicle comprises:
• a vehicle chassis;
• a motor supported by the chassis for providing propulsive power for the vehicle;
• a braking system;
• a steering system;
• a plurality of sensors;
• a processor configured to receive signals from the sensors and to generate steering, acceleration and braking control signals for controlling the steering system, the motor and the braking system of the vehicle;
• a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver for receiving satellite signals and for determining a current location of the self-driving vehicle;
• a radiofrequency data transceiver;
• and
• a first-person view (FPV) camera for generating FPV images that are transmitted as FPV data in real-time via the radiofrequency data transceiver to the remotely situated vehicle control device, wherein the processor is further configured to receive supplemental vehicle control input from the remotely situated vehicle control device, and wherein the processor is further configured to modify the steering, acceleration and braking control signals based on the supplemental vehicle control input;
• wherein the remotely situated vehicle control device comprises:
• a device data transceiver for receiving the FPV data;
• a device processor for processing the FPV data and for generating augmented-reality FPV images;
• a device display cooperating with the device processor to display the augmented-reality FPV images, wherein the augmented-reality FPV images include an augmented reality steering guide as an augmented reality overlay over the FPV images, wherein the augmented reality steering guide includes a target steering direction/angle to remain within a safe driving envelope;
• a user input device configured to receive the supplemental vehicle control input, wherein the device processor is configured to generate supplemental vehicle control input data and to cooperate with the device data transceiver to transmit the supplemental vehicle control input data to the self-driving vehicle to modify the steering, acceleration and braking control signals while keeping the vehicle within the safe driving envelope.

A self-driving vehicle system comprising:

• a self-driving vehicle;
• a remotely situated vehicle control device in data communication with the self-driving vehicle and operable by a user situated outside of the vehicle;
• wherein the self-driving vehicle comprises:
• a vehicle chassis;
• a motor supported by the chassis for providing propulsive power for the vehicle;
• a braking system;
• a steering system;
• a plurality of sensors;
• a processor configured to receive signals from the sensors and to generate steering, acceleration and braking control signals for controlling the steering system, the motor and the braking system of the vehicle;
• a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver for receiving satellite signals and for determining a current location of the self-driving vehicle;
• a radiofrequency data transceiver;
• and
• a first-person view (FPV) camera for generating FPV images that are transmitted as FPV data in real-time via the radiofrequency data transceiver to the remotely situated vehicle control device, wherein the processor is further configured to receive supplemental vehicle control input from the remotely situated vehicle control device, and wherein the processor is further configured to modify the steering, acceleration and braking control signals based on the supplemental vehicle control input;
• wherein the remotely situated vehicle control device comprises:
• a device data transceiver for receiving the FPV data;
• a device processor for processing the FPV data and for regenerating the FPV images;
• a hybrid image headset worn by the user and cooperating with the device processor to display a composite image that is divided into two or more of a virtual reality view, a pure FPV view and an augmented reality FPV view;
• a user input device configured to receive the supplemental vehicle control input, wherein the device processor is configured to generate supplemental vehicle control input data and to cooperate with the device data transceiver to transmit the supplemental vehicle control input data to the self-driving vehicle to modify the steering, acceleration and braking control signals.