Method and system for a companion autonomous vehicle
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsTakero Arima, Christopher Tarchala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for providing a companion autonomous vehicle are described. In one embodiment, a method includes linking a companion autonomous vehicle to at least one vehicle, device, or user. The companion autonomous vehicle is tethered to the at least one vehicle, device, or user such that the companion autonomous vehicle is configured to stay within a predetermined range of the at least one vehicle, device, or user. The method further includes operating the companion autonomous vehicle to travel along with the tethered at least one vehicle, device, or user within the predetermined range.
Claims20
A method for providing services by a companion autonomous vehicle at a location, the method comprising:
- providing at least one companion autonomous vehicle to travel to a location using a propulsion system to provide a driving force and a stopping force to one or more wheels of the companion autonomous vehicle;
- including at least one first set of equipment for a selected activity at the location on the at least one companion autonomous vehicle;
- including at least one second set of equipment for another activity that is different from the selected activity within a secure storage area of the at least one companion autonomous vehicle, wherein the at least one second set of equipment is separated from the at least one first set of equipment within the at least one companion autonomous vehicle;
- equipping the at least one companion autonomous vehicle with a cellular communication component to allow the at least one companion autonomous vehicle to communicate using a cellular communication network;
- providing at least a point-of-sale interface on the at least one companion autonomous vehicle that uses the cellular communication component to communicate over the cellular communication network, wherein the point-of-sale interface is configured to provide access to the secure store area within the at least one companion autonomous vehicle;
- and
- upon acceptance of payment from a user through a payment terminal of the point-of-sale interface, unlocking or opening the secure storage area of the at least one companion autonomous vehicle so that the user may retrieve the at least one second set of equipment.
A companion autonomous vehicle comprising:
- an autonomous driving system including steering and propulsion capabilities;
- a communication interface including a cellular communication component to allow the at least one companion autonomous vehicle to communicate using a cellular communication network;
- a point-of-sale interface on the companion autonomous vehicle that uses the cellular communication component to communicate over the cellular communication network;
- at least one first set of equipment for a selected activity to be used at the location;
- a secure storage area onboard the companion autonomous vehicle, the secure storage area including at least one second set of equipment for another activity that is different from the selected activity, wherein the at least one second set of equipment is separated from the at least one first set of equipment within the companion autonomous vehicle;
- wherein the point-of-sale interface is configured to provide access to the secure store area;
- a suite of sensors including one or more of a camera, a LIDAR sensor, or a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;
- and
- a processor in communication with at least the autonomous driving system, the communication interface, the point-of-sale interface, and the suite of sensors;
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- receive instructions to travel to a location;
- operate the companion autonomous vehicle using the autonomous driving system and the suite of sensors to travel along a route to the location;
- provide services to a user at the location through the point-of-sale interface;
- and
- upon acceptance of payment from a user through a payment terminal of the point-of-sale interface, unlock or open the secure storage area so that the user may retrieve the at least one second set of equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.