Semantic identification of pickup locations

A method for picking up a passenger using an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, by one or more computing devices, a trip request including a pickup location and a destination location, the trip request being associated with a client device;
• causing, by the one or more computing devices, the autonomous vehicle to navigate to the pickup location;
• sending, by the one or more computing devices, a prompt to the client device to collect semantic information related to the pickup location;
• determining, by the one or more computing devices, a specified location based on the semantic information received in response to the prompt, the specified location being an actual location for picking up the client that is in a vicinity of the pickup location, wherein the semantic information includes text input provided by the client device;
• identifying, by the one or more computing devices, one or more semantic markers for the specified location from the semantic information;
• and
• sending, by the one or more computing devices, a message to the client device identifying the specified location using the one or more semantic markers.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

• receiving a trip request including a pickup location and a destination location, the trip request being associated with a client device;
• causing an autonomous vehicle to navigate to the pickup location;
• sending a prompt to the client device to collect semantic information related to the pickup location;
• determining a specified location based on the semantic information received in response to the prompt, the specified location being an actual location for picking up the client that is in a vicinity of the pickup location, wherein the semantic information includes text input provided by the client device;
• identifying one or more semantic markers for the specified location from the semantic information;
• and
• sending a message to the client device identifying the specified location using the one or more semantic markers.