Automatic snow chain deployment

A system for autonomous vehicle operation, the system comprising a computer that includes a processor configured to implement a method comprising:

• perform a first determination, by a computer located in an autonomous vehicle, whether a use of snow chains is permitted based at least on a location where the autonomous vehicle is operating,
• wherein the first determination is performed by a selection of a snow chain rule associated with an area that includes the location where the autonomous vehicle is operating,
• wherein the snow chain rule is selected from a pre-determined list of snow chain rules that indicate whether or when snow chains are permitted in a plurality of areas,
• wherein the snow chain rule indicates a range of dates when the use of snow chains is permitted, and
• wherein the first determination includes determining that the use of the snow chain is permitted based on determining that a date when the autonomous vehicle is operating is within the range of dates when the use of snow chains is permitted;
• perform a second determination that snow chains are required for driving the autonomous vehicle on a road;
• and
• send, in response to the first determination indicating that the use of snow chains is permitted and in response to the second determination, instruction to snow chain devices located on the autonomous vehicle, wherein the instruction triggers the snow chain devices to deploy snow chains on tires of the autonomous vehicle.

A non-transitory computer readable program storage medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method comprising:

• performing a first determination, by a computer located in an autonomous vehicle, whether a use of snow chains is permitted based at least on a location where the autonomous vehicle is operating,
• wherein the first determination is performed by selecting a snow chain rule associated with an area that includes the location where the autonomous vehicle is operating,
• wherein the snow chain rule is selected from a pre-determined list of snow chain rules that indicate whether or when snow chains are permitted in a plurality of areas,
• wherein the snow chain rule indicates a range of dates when the use of snow chains is permitted, and
• wherein the first determination includes determining that the use of the snow chain is permitted based on determining that a date when the autonomous vehicle is operating is within the range of dates when the use of snow chains is permitted;
• performing a second determination that snow chains are required for driving the autonomous vehicle on a road;
• and
• sending, in response to the first determination indicating that the use of snow chains is permitted and in response to the second determination, instruction to snow chain devices located on the autonomous vehicle, wherein the instruction triggers the snow chain devices to deploy snow chains on tires of the autonomous vehicle.